How to Choose a Cruise Ship

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How Do I Choose Which Size Cruise Ship to Take?

 




It’s time for you to sit back and relax. You deserve it. While it may not be for everyone, cruises are extremely popular for many vacationers.  As soon as you step on board, everything is taken care of, including yourself. The only thing you have to be on time for is the boarding of the boat in the port. 

Choice, Choices and More Choices

There are hundreds of cruises to choose from, so how do you even begin choosing which one is the right one for you? Well, there are a few things that will help you narrow down your choices. 

1. Budget - If you've been saving for years your choice will vary greatly from those who have a tight budget. 

2. Location - Where would you like to go within your budget?  Do you want to go to a foreign country or to neighboring countries, a river cruise, or a discovery adventure cruise? 

3. Size of ship - That depends on what type of traveler you are They are less overwhelming and a great choice for first timers and older who is going with you.

4. On board activities - 

        A. Smaller ships offer the basics of dining, spas, bars, entertainment and pools and                 a smaller ration of crew to passenger ratio.   

        B. Larger ships offer exciting S for the kids, beauty salons, cinemas and fine                             dining restaurants.

  Ship Sizes

There are 6 different sizes of ships. 

1. Mega-Ships – 4,000 + passengers and 1,500 to 3,000 crews

Characters of Passengers: Diverse from singles, couples, families, kids to elders due to the vast range of entertainment options for all the generations.

Symphony of the Seas - Currently the largest ship
Harmony of the Seas
Allure of the Seas
Oasis of the Seas
AIDA Nova
MSC Meraviglia
Quantum of the Seas
Anthem of the Seas
Ovation of the Seas
Norwegian Bliss

PROS AND CONS OF MEGA SHIP

Pros
Endless dining and bar options from buffet to 5-star restaurants
Affordable price, cabins with balconies
Visiting the industry’s major and popular itineraries
Extensive facilities, programs and amenities for children
Can call in the big and popular ports around the world
Ships can be stable, fewer motions and avoiding motion sickness

Cons
Standard cabins tend to be smaller
Overwhelming noise, crowdedness and waiting lines
Impersonal guest services
Feeling lost, need a map to explore
Long queues for embarkation and disembarkation

2. Large Ships – less than 4,000 passengers and 1,000 to 1,200 crews


Characters of Passengers: Diverse from singles, couples, families, kids to elders due to the vast range of entertainment options, but less than mega ships, and suitable for all the generations.

Carnival Sunshine
Adventure of the Seas
Celebrity Solstice
Crown Princess
Diamond Princess
MSC Splendida
Carnival Splendor and many more!

Pros
Variety of options for affordable cabins with balconies
Active and lively atmosphere
Children’s programs with a range of facilities
Alternative dining options, ranging from ultra-casual to date-night formal
Visiting world’s famous ports including Bahamas, St. Martin in Caribbean and Barcelona, Venice and Rome (Civitavecchia) in Mediterranean Sea

Cons
Expect crowds and noise, including ques at buffets and at embarkation and disembarkation
Not enough deck chairs
Lots of families and kids
You are likely to have an assigned dinner time and table (though more big ships are offering flexible dining).
You may need a map to find your way around.
Service can be impersonal.

3. Midsized Ships – 2,000 – less than 3,000 passengers and 800 to 1,000 crews


Characters of Passengers: Some midsized ships have a reputation for attracting elder cruisers who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere and tailored activities. Most mid-sized ships are also family-friendly.

Celebrity Millennium
Norwegian Sky
Serenade of the Seas
Golden Princess
Queen Mary 2
Disney Magic
Celebrity Constellation










4. Small-Mid Ships – 1,000 – less than 2,000 passengers and 600 to 900 crews



Characters of Passengers: tend to attract elder coupled cruisers who prefer a relaxed and luxury atmosphere with premium prices

 5. Small Ships – less than 1,000 passengers and less than 500 crews


Characters of Passengers: attracting senior and retiree well experienced cruisers who seek more relaxed and enjoyable the voyage

Seabourn Encore
Silver Whisper
Azamara Quest
Seven Seas Navigator
Wind Spirit
Viking Orion
Crystal Symphony
Oceania Regatta 


Pros
Spacious and a feel of luxury
Visiting exotic places as well as geographically complicated places the large ships cannot cruise
Personalized and refined services, a great feeling of luxury atmosphere
Much communication and engagement with cruise staffs
No long queues for embarkation and disembarkation!

Cons
Creating motion with a strong wave crash, unsuitable for motion sickness
Limited numbers of cabins with balconies
Less variety of restaurants and entertainment facilities

6. Long Boats or River Cruises – less than 200 passengers  

Characters of Passengers: attracting senior and retiree well experienced cruisers who seek more relaxed and enjoyable voyage. Also attracts cruisers that like to explore and have an interest in history.





AmaWaterways
American Cruise Line
 American Queen
Avalon
Viking

Pros
 
All inclusive pricing sometimes including land tours
Visiting exotic places as well as geographically complicated places the large ships cannot cruise
Personalized and refined services, a great feeling of luxury atmosphere
Much communication and engagement with cruise staffs
No long queues for embarkation and disembarkation!

Cons

Stops each day, not as much time to chill out onboard
Fares are generally higher than ocean cruise
Less variety of restaurants and entertainment facilities

Note: Your Travel Advisor can give you more details on the ships and help you make the right decision for you.

How do you find the ideas on cruise ship size in this article? If you find this article useful, please share it with your friends and help them on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. Sharing is caring. Thank you for reading!





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