Does size really matter?

I love and want to go on Symphony of the Seas. But I hear people like smaller cruise ships. My debate is , does the bigger cruise ship mean it has a better experience? I know the shore excursions are the same. Does the bigger ship have better entertainment and activities on board or does smaller ship have same level of them but smaller rooms?

Its somewhat more complicated. The huge mega ships generally have more amenities such as wave riders, climbing walls, go kart tracks, etc. When you get to the much smaller ships (such as ones with fewer then 500 passengers) they will likely have none of those amenities. But some cruisers (such as me) have no use for all that stuff and do prefer to more personalized service, higher quality cuisine, and laid back atmosphere of the small ships. Look at all the ultra luxury lines (i.e. Seabourn, Silverseas, SeaDream, Regent, etc) and none of them have huge ships.

So is bigger better? For some folks the answer is yes and for others the huge ships are something we avoid like the plague. To use another cliche....it is different strokes for different folks :).

Hank

It is often a question of what you are looking for in a vacation. The bigger ships have more entertainment and things to do. You mentioned a RC mega ship. You will have more entertainment, Aqua shows, ice shows, flow riders, rock climbing walls, comedy club, theaters; pretty much more of everything - bars, restaurants, pools, etc.

If you compare to a smaller RC ship there is really no big difference in standard cabins; there are bigger, fancier suites on the bigger ships. Buffets and MDR food are very similar regardless of the RC ship. They are very similar.

If you try different ships you will get a feel for what is important to you. Bigger ships are also sometimes restricted to where they cruise so itinerary is also important.

No. Not better experience - we have been in Harmony, and the entertainment on that ship blew away anything we have seen on any other ship - however, we have had a better overall experience on the smaller ships.

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It all depends on why you enjoy cruising. I cruise mainly for the ports and don't care as much about glitzy shows and entertainment on board ship.

After my experience last New Year on one of Princess' largest ships, I decided never again for a large ship (unless I am cruising for reasons not of my own choosing).

On smaller ships you can generally visit more interesting ports. Also, you get to know others on board because you see each other often. Dining is a better experience -- you're not jammed cheek by jowl in a MDR so loud you cannot actually converse...

I think big ships are more akin to Las Vegas. I am not a Las Vegas person. Others love it. You have to go with what works for you.

My ship standard is a walkable promenade deck with shops and restaurants and bars where I can sit and people watch and walk. The Allure has about 3 of them. I only need one. Give me Main Street and I’m happy.

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Personally, we have Zero interest in any mainstream cruise line, especially their newer mega ships We much prefer smaller ships of about 1,000 pax with better meals, no casinos, no kids, no photogs, no art shows and port lectures that actually focus on the port instead of the cruise line's shopping partners. Not interested in ice rinks, bumper cars, wave riders, etc.

BTW - on the smaller ships, you may find cabin sizes are actually larger than the equivalent cabins on a mega ship.

Most men would likely say it doesn't but most women probably would say it does. In the end it is about what you want to experience.

When I look at an upcoming cruise, I'm thinking destination, destination, destination, not the size of the ship.

Smaller ships do not automatically have smaller cabins. The size of the cabins depends on the cabin category and the type of ship (expedition, sail, luxury etc.) independent of the ship's overall size. The main difference between a mega ship and a small ship is in the number of entertainment options and the ports they can access. More passengers usually means more crowds in all venues.

Personally, we have Zero interest in any mainstream cruise line, especially their newer mega ships We much prefer smaller ships of about 1,000 pax with better meals, no casinos, no kids, no photogs, no art shows and port lectures that actually focus on the port instead of the cruise line's shopping partners. Not interested in ice rinks, bumper cars, wave riders, etc.

 

BTW - on the smaller ships, you may find cabin sizes are actually larger than the equivalent cabins on a mega ship.

The only problem with the ship you are talking about come with one small problem ! They come with a BIG price Tag

Check the deck plans for each of the ships you're considering. Some ships have smaller cabins than others....Carnival typically has larger STANDARD cabins than RCI....of course, if you get a mini-suite or above, you will have ample space on any ship!

Big doesn't necessarily mean better.

Some people like the bigger ships because they will have more perks on them. The younger generation tends to like the rock climbing walls, wave runners, etc.

Older people tend to like to sit around and watch shows and listen to music -- things like that.

Bigger ships also mean more people -- thus the buffets can be busier at times.

We know nothing about you, thus we can't tell you what size of ship you may like.

Symphony is humungous. I can’t imagine the crowds getting off and on the ship in port.

I love and want to go on Symphony of the Seas. But I hear people like smaller cruise ships. My debate is , does the bigger cruise ship mean it has a better experience? I know the shore excursions are the same. Does the bigger ship have better entertainment and activities on board or does smaller ship have same level of them but smaller rooms?

If you like quality entertainment and physical activities, yes, a ship like Symphony most certainly is better.

But what do you mean by smaller ships when compared to Symphony? RCI has "smaller" ships like Freedom and Quantum Class that also have excellent entertainment and activities. But if you mean "smaller" in the general context, like Holland America ships or the true small ships of the premium and luxury lines, no, the entertainment and activities will not be on the same level.

And to respond to the last post, I've cruised Oasis Class 4 times and the embarking/disembarking at ports was no more or less crowded than the smaller ships I've sailed.

Tendering with the large ships can be problematic so the itinerary is important in deciding which ship.

The Allure was our favorite ship--SO SO many things to do.

But Princess' ships that are half the size manage to come darn close.

As far as personalized service--we have found on every ship we have sailed our stewards, waiters, bartenders all got to know us as they saw us daily.

Yes, size definitely matters - it makes a big difference!. Whether or not it's better is a personal choice regarding what you want and what you like. We all have different reasons for cruising and different preferences. And we often change our preferences at different times of our lives.

Larger ships will have more amenities and activities, but they will also have more people making those amenities and activities more crowded. They're also more expensive to build and run, so they usually tend to pack the people on board, with smaller cabins and less "free" space. Their facilities have to service many, many more people, so there's fewer options for personalized service and changes. And they're too big to go to some ports. But being able to carry all those people does mean that the price per cabin on any individual voyage is less than mid-sized and small ships.

Small ships with <500 people are totally different, with fewer amenities and much more "free" space that's available for relaxation and not dedicated to an activity. They're generally more expensive, but have a more unique and personalized culture. For me (I love transoceanic cruises with lots of sea days), they're a little too small for my comfort -- I don't know that I want to be on something quite that small crossing the Pacific. I prefer the small-medium size of about 800-1200 people, and I like Crystals current offering of a medium sized ship with about 900 passengers. Not too small, so there are good amenities that I like, but not too big so we can still get nice personalized service (and excellent food).

Tendering with the large ships can be problematic so the itinerary is important in deciding which ship.

Symphony does not tender. This is the same for all of Oasis Class.

If you like Las Vegas, with it's glitz, crowds, and more things to do than you could ever fit into a week. The mega ships are totally your cup of tea.

If the thought of Las Vegas makes you want to curl up in a blanket fort with a book, the smaller ships are going to be more of a fit.

Me? I really don't like Las Vegas. I tolerate it for certain events, then I need to get way away from everything. On large ships, I tend to hide out in my cabin when not in port because I really dislike crowds, commotion, and constant music. I gravitate toward small ships for those reasons. Obviously, millions of people flock to Vegas because they love it. That's why it's great that there are ships to appeal to them. We should all be able to have the vacation experience we choose.

Symphony is humungous. I can’t imagine the crowds getting off and on the ship in port.

Actually Oasis class ships do a great job of moving people both getting on and off as well as around the ship. They are very well designed.

Also they do not tender, which is often a cause of lines.

My husband and I often say it would be great to have the experience to be on the big behemoths of Royal but we are fans of medium sized ships so worry it would feel less like we were on the ocean.

We have also heard about the wait times and booking things in advance all the time which isn't the way we cruise as we impulsively do things on holiday. Theres also the price which puts us off a little.

Maybe one day we will...