FAMILY  TRAVEL  CONCIERGE

  • Welcome

  • Beach Getaway

  • Cruise

  • Explore The World

  • Ski Resorts

  • US Destinations

  • Contact Us

  • Blog

  • Blog

  • More

    Copyright ©2015 Family Travel Concierge. All Rights Reserved. Website designed by Green Light Studio.

    Terms of Use

    28 South Ridge Rd, Farmington, CT 06032 | 860.822.2254 | info@FamilyTC.com

    Where Can Americans Visit Now?

    September 10, 2020

    Work & Learn programs from Paradise

    August 17, 2020

    Curated Luxury Properties in Hawaii

    July 1, 2020

    Curated Luxury Properties in the Caribbean

    June 29, 2020

    Caribbean All-Inclusive resorts FLASH SALE for Presidents Day Week

    June 22, 2020

    Please reload

    Recent Posts

    Best French Polynesian resorts for couples

    December 17, 2018

    Best Maldives resorts for couples

    October 19, 2018

    Unreal Restaurants Around the World

    May 5, 2020

    1/3
    Please reload

    Featured Posts

    Big Ships vs. Small Ships

    May 24, 2018

    |

    Alex Medvedovski

     

    When it comes to cruises, size matters. Big ships, the largest of which can carry more than 5,000 passengers, offer plenty of everything: restaurants, bars, entertainment, pools, and (of course) people. These cruises can be noisy, yet they allow you to retain your anonymity.

     

    Small ships on the other hand carry just a few hundred passengers; you’ll bump into shipmates often as there are fewer public spaces to choose from.

    Not sure which cruise you’d prefer? Read on to find out what size suits you best:

     

    Waiting in Lines:

    On ships carrying fewer than 1,000 passengers, it’s quicker to get off at each port, easier to get a chaise lounge by the pool, and faster to order your favorite omelet at breakfast. On the largest ships, it can take hours to get off the ship on the last morning — and the same in port — especially if the ship is anchored and you have to wait your turn to board a tender boat to get ashore. 

    Winner: Small ships 

     

    Dining:

    The biggest ships serve up lots of choices, with as many as a dozen dining venues. Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International offer a variety of styles, from giant formal dining rooms and sprawling buffet restaurants to intimate venues that serve, say, noodles or steak. The smaller, high-end ships have fewer choices, but the cuisine in the main dining room tends to be more carefully prepared.

    Winner: Draw — it depends on whether you prefer lots of variety or a bit more attention to detail

     

    Activities:

    Whether it’s a water slide or a volleyball game, big ships offer lots of opportunities to get involved. You can be busy all day long: Sea day events range from classes (line dancing anyone?) to cooking demos and singing competitions. Smaller ships have lectures about the ports, as well as trivia contests and sometimes classes, but be prepared to entertain yourself at times.

    Winner: Big ships

     

    Family-Friendly Fun:

    Big ships offers lots of opportunities for families to play together — and separately. These ships have large playrooms for young kids and distinct spaces for teens, plus video arcades, pizzerias, and ice cream stands. Smaller ships typically don’t have playrooms, or even organized activities.

    Winner: Big ships

     

    Entertainment:

    If you like comedy acts, Broadway-style song and dance shows, thumping dance clubs, and big exciting casinos clanging into the wee hours, then you’re definitely a big-ship person. On the smaller ships, entertainment is limited to a live musician or two, movies, and shared cocktails and conversation with fellow shipmates.

    Winner: Big ships 

     

    Ports:

    If you cruise because you love being on the ship and consider it the main destination, then 2,500-passenger-plus ships are winners. If you cruise to explore the destinations, then a small ship will get you closer to port — big ships often have to anchor offshore or dock farther from the main attractions. For instance, small ships get closer to the British Virgin Islands, as well as Bangkok. 

    Winner: Small ships

     

    Quiet:

    Small ships are low-key, quiet, and tend to attract far fewer families than the big ships — except during holiday weeks like Thanksgiving or Christmas. You won’t have children running down the halls, or roving ship’s photographers snapping photos at every opportunity, on a small ship. There won’t be music blasting, or a jumbo movie screen, poolside on small ships.

    Winner: Small ships

     

    Pools:

    During prime daytime hours, hot tubs and pools on the biggest ships are literally stuffed with people — including lots of kids. On smaller ships, there may be just one hot tub and one pool, but they’re rarely packed. 

    Winner: Small ships 

     

    Overall Winner? Small ships tend to offer higher-quality service and food, and an increased focus on the destination, but if entertainment is what you want, then a big ship is best for you.

    Please reload

    Follow Us
    Search By Tags

    September 2020 (1)

    August 2020 (1)

    July 2020 (1)

    June 2020 (13)

    May 2020 (9)

    April 2020 (3)

    March 2020 (1)

    February 2020 (5)

    January 2020 (5)

    December 2019 (7)

    November 2019 (2)

    October 2019 (4)

    September 2019 (1)

    August 2019 (6)

    July 2019 (3)

    June 2019 (3)

    May 2019 (1)

    April 2019 (5)

    March 2019 (3)

    January 2019 (11)

    December 2018 (2)

    November 2018 (6)

    October 2018 (2)

    September 2018 (4)

    August 2018 (7)

    July 2018 (9)

    June 2018 (5)

    May 2018 (13)

    April 2018 (2)

    March 2018 (2)

    February 2018 (3)

    January 2018 (2)

    December 2017 (1)

    November 2017 (2)

    September 2017 (4)

    August 2017 (2)

    July 2017 (3)

    April 2017 (3)

    January 2017 (4)

    December 2016 (4)

    November 2016 (2)

    October 2016 (5)

    September 2016 (10)

    August 2016 (1)

    July 2016 (4)

    June 2016 (19)

    May 2016 (15)

    April 2016 (16)

    March 2016 (14)

    February 2016 (14)

    January 2016 (12)

    December 2015 (7)

    November 2015 (11)

    October 2015 (7)

    March 2015 (13)

    February 2015 (15)

    January 2015 (6)

    February 2014 (2)

    January 2014 (29)

    December 2013 (21)

    November 2013 (8)

    October 2013 (6)

    September 2013 (6)

    August 2013 (1)

    July 2013 (1)

    June 2013 (2)

    May 2013 (3)

    April 2013 (5)

    March 2013 (2)

    January 2013 (2)

    December 2012 (1)

    October 2012 (2)

    September 2012 (3)

    August 2012 (2)

    Please reload

    Archive