Will it walk or not?

By Virginia López Valiente

Managing Director of Cruises News Media Group and Editor of CruisesNews magazine

Editorial from CruisesNews magazine no. 62 – September 2022

Too big or small and quiet? That's the question for many cruisers who are thinking of trying a different size boat if they are veterans, or to start sailing if they are novices, and the question I receive frequently. 

With splendid and heavily advertised megaships offering a dizzying array of amenities, dining options and entertainment choices, and smaller ships offering a more intimate and often exclusive experience, the decision about size can be difficult, as with so many other things in life.

There are many issues to consider before making a decision about whether bigger is better or smaller is the way to go, because it's not just size that matters, but size often dictates the path.

For the purposes of this discussion, I will consider "small" ships to be those that can accommodate 1,500 passengers or fewer, and "large" ships to be any ship with a greater capacity. Megaships, in this context, will be vessels with a capacity of over 4,000 passengers.

First, consider whether you want a vacation to do many things in the company of many people, or if doing nothing or almost nothing and doing it without rushing is your plan for those days.

On some ships carrying over 5,000 passengers, it's unlikely you'll run into the same people twice during the trip, but you're almost guaranteed to make friends, or at least the younger ones will form a group. With so many bars, lounges, and cozy corners, it's easy to find a place that suits you, and you can keep exploring and trying new spots almost the entire journey. I wouldn't even talk about disadvantages since it all depends on your preferences, but some crowding when entering and exiting the buffet, the ship, or the theater is quite normal, although on some ships, the design and flow analysis have significantly reduced it. 

Dining options are available on many new-generation ships, large or small, but size definitely affects your chances of getting a reservation. If, like me, you don't like to book in advance, or even reserve for the entire first day of the cruise, you might miss out on trying something. There are excellent onboard reservation professionals. And remember, I'll reiterate my preference for more or less activity on a cruise, because some tourists need a week to recover after their cruise. That's certainly not my case, especially now that I don't have infants to entertain, supervise, or feed at reasonable hours. And mind you, I haven't missed a single show, even with my son asleep on me.

But again, size determines the number of activities on board, and the bigger the ship, the more activities there are. Sometimes it's hard to decide where you want to be and what you want to do; you sign up for things you wouldn't do on land and panic about "if I go to this, I'll miss out on that.". 

Smaller boats, by definition, carry fewer passengers, of course, and are usually quieter. Here you're likely to see the same faces several times, even daily; making friends or not is another story. 

They may have fewer dining and entertainment options, but they're usually associated with a higher level of service, which makes up for many shortcomings. But be aware, I'm not saying they're better; you just have to ask yourself what you want and what those traveling with you want. Reviewing your budget is definitely advisable. It's also common for them to visit quieter or even less well-known places. As I'm often asked, I'm one of those who doesn't get off the ship every day because I (and this is just my personal opinion) when I'm not working, I enjoy the "dolce far niente" (the sweetness of doing nothing) with a drink in hand and frequent the spa, which can be sublime on both large and small ships.

I probably haven't been much help, but I'm happy if you just analyze what you like and don't like before booking a cruise, and ask your travel agent lots of questions. 

If I had written this 15 years ago, my reflection would have been different, and surely it will be different again in 10 or 15 years.