Cruise Hospitality Center – Cruise Ship Operations & Hospitality Management Training

The next time you set sail, should you pick a small or a large cruise ship? Ultimately, that is an answer you will have to determine for yourself as only you know what you hope to get out of your cruise experience. 

For example, brands like Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line operate ships that accommodate only a few hundred passengers per sailing and provide a luxurious, intimate experience. 

However, on the other end of the spectrum, the world’s largest cruise ships – Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class – host up to 7,600 guests every voyage. And of course, there are countless small and medium ships between these two extremes. 

While I can’t decide for you, I did the research for you to compare the pros and cons of big ships and small ships to help you decide what’s best for your next cruise vacation.

Examples of Small Cruise Ships:

Ship NameCruise LineGross TonsGuest CapacityCelebrity XplorationCelebrity Cruises32016MS MonetNoble Caledonia1,45350Seabourn VentureSeabourn Cruise Line23,000264

Examples of Medium Cruise Ships:

Ship NameCruise LineGross TonsGuest CapacityCarnival ElationCarnival Cruise Line71,9092,190Disney MagicDisney Cruise Line83,9692,400Radiance of the SeasRoyal Caribbean90,0902,466

Examples of Big Cruise Ships:

Ship NameCruise LineGross TonsGuest CapacityDisney AdventureDisney Cruise Line208,0006,000MSC World AmericaMSC Cruises215,8636,774Icon of the SeasRoyal Caribbean248,6637,600

The Move Toward Mega-Ships 

Most cruise fans have likely already noticed that the majority of the upcoming new builds across different brands would be classified as mega-ships, which are generally defined as vessels that can accommodate more than 3,500 passengers.

Looking just at 2025, Royal Caribbean welcomed its second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, which can accommodate 5,610 guests at double occupancy.

Similarly, the recently debuted MSC World America is quite large with a capacity of 6,792 guests.

Disney Destiny will also be able to host 4,000 guests when she enters service at the end of the year, which is the same capacity as the new Disney Treasure, which began cruising at the end of 2024.

Meanwhile, Disney Adventure, which also launches near the end of 2025, will be the largest ship in Disney’s fleet as a 208,000-gross ton vessel with a capacity for around 6,000 guests.

While that doesn’t mean other cruise lines and expedition brands aren’t coming out with smaller new-builds, the more mainstream companies have been skewing larger.

Not only does this make room for more guests to experience each sailing, but it also makes sense financially as filling more cabins equates to greater profits for the cruise lines.

The Number of Passengers

At risk of stating the obvious, smaller ships obviously have room for a lower number of passengers onboard – allowing for a calmer and more personalized, intimate experience while at sea.

When I’ve sailed on ships like Disney Magic, which has a capacity of 2,400 guests, it’s true that the crew members and I began to recognize each other quite quickly and they would work hard to anticipate my every desire.

But for passengers looking for more excitement, smaller ships might feel a tad boring. The hustle and bustle of bigger cruise ships may be preferable – especially with how adding more guests into the mix naturally lends itself to a more active and social atmosphere.

That said, mega-ships often feel like a small city – where you never see the same crew member or fellow passenger more than once. This can take away from that personalized experience a more modest vessel can provide.

More guests onboard can also lead to longer lines and crowds – especially during peak travel seasons like summer break and around the holidays.

These lines don’t just extend to the entertainment and amenities onboard, but also to the embarkation and disembarkation process and to getting on and off the ship in ports of call.

And if you do want that personalized touch on a bigger ship, you’re more likely to need to invest in a concierge suite or luxury accommodations that include butler service – as specific crew members would then be assigned to cater to you and your companions.

New Ships Bring Innovation (and Crowds)

As part of being the newest vessels to sail the high seas, the recent and upcoming mega-ships of our age offer the most modern and innovative experiences onboard, and it’s highly desirable to be among the first to see what’s new.

When Icon of the Seas launched in 2024, she debuted with new technology to promote sustainability and guest experience – and featured record-breaking attractions like the largest pool at sea and the AquaDome.

Sun Princess, which also launched in 2024, was met with much anticipation because she offers a bit of a different feel as the first in a new category of Sphere-class vessels for Princess Cruises.

As another example, MSC World America introduced new attractions like the Cliffhanger swing – which is a first-of-its-kind thrill ride where guests hang over the side of the ship about 160 feet over the open ocean.

Of course, these are only a few examples – and all of the recent and soon-to-be-sailing ships offer something new and exciting. It’s only natural to want to experience the new offerings.

But as a caveat, the newness is also more likely to draw in bigger crowds and drive up prices – especially in the first few years after a ship enters service.

While the existing smaller ships might not have all the bells and whistles, they usually offer a more peaceful and less crowded alternative.

The Entertainment and Attractions

On bigger ships, more space leads to more room to expand the fun. While most cruise ships have at least one main theater onboard for larger-scale performances, bigger cruise ships might have multiple venues for this purpose.

For example, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships feature a main stage theater – but they also offer figure skating performances in the ice rink and adrenaline-fueled stunt performances in the AquaTheater.

Mega-ships are also more likely to offer bigger attractions for thrill seekers as well. While a smaller ship might have one or two water slides, a bigger vessel may have an entire water park onboard with more daring slides.

Larger vessels like Carnival Jubilee and Mardi Gras even have their own roller coaster at sea – called BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster.

Some Royal Caribbean ships and P&O Cruises’ ships also offer their own escape rooms – which is a unique feature and often a very family friendly, team-building endeavor.

But while there are more attractions to enjoy, keep in mind that you may also have to wait in long lines or will need to make advance reservations in order to enjoy these activities.

Although bigger ships have more room for different types of entertainment, that’s not to say smaller ships don’t also have good options. I’ve always been partial to the Broadway-caliber entertainment offered by Disney Cruise Line, for example.

Smaller ships may also focus on low-key types of entertainment that might be interesting for those who would rather learn than spike their blood pressure on a thrill ride, such as onboard lectures, cultural performances that relate to the itinerary, and opportunities to engage with experts on various topics.

Going smaller may also be easier for people who tend to get overwhelmed – as the number of options onboard a larger vessel might feel like too much, or even lead to choice paralysis.

But as a note for casino fans, make sure to research if your cruise ship has a casino onboard. Smaller ships, and especially those that fall into the luxury or river cruise category, often do not.

The Dining

Let me start by saying that the size of the ship does not determine the quality of the food. It does, however, impact the number of specialty restaurants and dining venues that may be available to you during your sailing. 

If you’re only onboard for a short time period, the number of restaurants may not matter to you – especially if you wouldn’t get to eat at all of them anyway. 

Read Also: How Not to Overeat on a Cruise – And Why It Matters

But for longer sailings or foodies who appreciate variety, a bigger ship with more options might seem more tantalizing to your taste buds. 

For example, Icon of the Seas has more than 40 dining venues and bars onboard (13 of which are complimentary). This provides unlimited options for every craving, but can also be overwhelming. 

Exploring Your Cruise Ship

An important question to ask yourself is how much you care about exploring every inch of your cruise ship. Are you okay with scratching the surface, or do you want to do and see everything before you disembark? 

The ability to fully explore your cruise ship will be determined by both the length of your sailing, but also the size of the ship. Especially for port heavy itineraries, you might not have enough time to fully take advantage of everything a bigger ship offers. 

Royal Caribbean, for example, has been transitioning to shorter “getaway” sailings – which may only last for three or four days. 

This includes ships like the new Utopia of the Seas, which is a massive 236,473 gross tons, and has been met with pushback from cruise fans who feel like they don’t have enough time to experience the ships. 

In this case, you will need to prioritize the amenities and entertainment you care most about, be open to booking multiple sailings to re-experience the ship again in the future, or choose a smaller ship where it will be easier to get to everything. 

For someone like me who was not built with a good sense of direction, I also find smaller ships to be less overwhelming and easier to navigate. And even on smaller ships, I usually still need to stay close to my loved ones to avoid getting lost – especially when we first come onboard. 

The Itineraries

Of course, we don’t go on cruises just to explore the ship – well, sometimes I do – but also to see the world. 

In my experience, I’ve noticed that bigger cruise ships are often deployed to the same region for longer – or even for several years at a time – and will offer the same few itineraries back-to-back. 

That’s not to say these ships don’t sail to cool places, such as popular destinations in the Caribbean and Bahamas, but I do tend to find more variety with smaller ships. 

Smaller ships can also fit places bigger ships cannot, so some destinations may not even be reachable on a mega-ship. 

And for particularly unique destinations like expeditions to Antarctica, cruisers will definitely be limited to small vessels that are designed for the Polar sailing and typically only carry less than 500 guests – such as Seabourn Venture or Seabourn Quest.

All that said, the cruise lines can update deployments or announce future deployments at pretty much any time, so this is subject to change. As fleets change and maintenance needs pop up, redeployment may become necessary.

The Motion of the Ocean

If you are someone who is prone to sea sickness or motion sickness, the size of your cruise ship is something to think about – as you are less likely to feel the motion of the waves as the ship size increases. 

That said, other factors like where you’re sailing, the location of your cruise cabin, and the weather will also impact how rocky it feels onboard. While bigger ships generally feel more stable, it’s not guaranteed that you won’t still feel the waves beneath you. 

I’ve never gotten sea sick sailing on Disney’s more moderately sized ships, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic, or on Carnival Radiance, which has a capacity of just under 3,000 guests.

Your Cruise Vacation Budget

There are many factors that play into the cost of your cruise fare, including the length of the sailing, the time of year, the cabin type you select, and the destinations on the itinerary. 

However, I have definitely noticed a trend where bigger cruise ships tend to come with a more expensive price tag than the itineraries operated by smaller ships. 

This is likely because the bigger ships are newer and offer more amenities. While many of those amenities and entertainment offerings are included once you’re onboard, you’ll be paying more of a premium up front in order to get there. 

Read Also: 12 Smart Tricks to Stop Wasting Money on Cruises

While this varies by the cruise line, it’s also likely that the specialty dining restaurants and at least some of the attractions and/or entertainment will come at an additional cost. 

If you’re on a bigger cruise ship with more of these extras, you’re more likely to spend money on them once you’re onboard.

You may also be more inclined to purchase add-ons that allow you to skip the lines on a busier ship – such as Carnival’s Faster to the Fun (FTTF) package that costs $79.95 per cabin.

Once you’ve zeroed in on a cruise ship or two for your next voyage, it may be a good idea to look beyond the cruise fare to research further and calculate what you think you might spend once you’re onboard. This will help ensure you plan a cruise vacation that is financially feasible.

Final Thoughts – Do Your Research

Since every cruiser is different, I cannot definitively tell you which size of cruise ship is best for you. What I can say, however, is every cruise ship offers something special – regardless of its size.

But if you have multiple ships to choose from that are sailing in your desired region, do your research to pick the best option for you and your group.

I’ve even made pros and cons list in the past comparing the cruise line, ship size, cost, and amenities onboard. Once I can visualize the information in one place, a clear choice usually reveals itself.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what type of adventure you are looking for and what are the elements that will make or break your cruise vacation.

Are Smaller or Bigger Cruise Ships Better?

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