Small or Large Ships: Which Cruise to Choose

I’ve always been a small-ship cruising type of girl. The all-inclusive experience is something I cling to tightly because I don’t like hidden fees and other expenses. But, recently, I took my first multi-thousand-person cruise on Holland America Line’s Oosterdam, and I have to say—I loved it. If you’re trying to decide between a small or large ship cruise, here’s what you need to know.

Passengers

First things first: How many passengers are on each type of ship? Small ships tend to have about 250 passengers. Mid-size ships can get up to 2,000, and large ships can be anything over 2,000 people. Those numbers fluctuate based on who you ask, so consider this a general guideline. On most all-inclusive small ships, like Viking, for example, passengers are required to be 18 or older. Larger ships allow passengers of all ages, and cruises don’t shy away from it, either. On my Holland America cruise, I toddled across the path of multiple infants and their families.

Onboard Activities

I adore the onboard activities on small ship cruises because they tend to be historical lectures that I’m particularly interested in because of the itinerary destinations. But on a large ship? It’s like being at a floating vacation resort. Every day was packed with activities, from art and gym classes to shopping events and games. The Oosterdam has a photo studio and an arcade as well. My favorite on-ship event was the bar crawl to four different bars onboard.

Staterooms

On small ships, the staterooms usually all face outside and often have balconies or windows that come halfway down. But on larger ships, you could end up with a room in the interior of the ship, with no windows, or even one that looks down over other parts of the boat, like the pools or the shopping area. Some of the rooms that face outside won’t have balconies, either—you may get a small window or porthole.

Excursions

I love a good excursion off a small ship. The groups are small, sometimes only a handful of people, and the host or guide can answer everyone’s questions. On larger ships, the excursions are still excellent—it’s just with a lot more people. One of my excursions on Oosterdam probably had about 60 people on it, which is great if you stay near the front to ask any questions. Something that surprised me, though, was that one of my excursions from Oosterdam was canceled because my guest and I were the only two people who signed up. On a ship with 2,000 people, I didn’t expect that to happen!

Food

If you’re like me, a day on your cruise probably revolves around food. What am I doing that day, and when can I fit in a meal? And is the food actually good? I have to say, the food on Oosterdam was among the best cruise ship food I’ve ever had—and I’ve cruised a lot. Small ships tend to have shorter hours and less selection; on large ships, you can usually find food around the clock that caters to every type of diet.

Extra Costs

The costs incurred on a large ship were always a sticking point for me, so I gravitated toward the all-inclusive small ships. However, those all-inclusive cruises are expensive—like $15,000 expensive. Larger ships don’t cost as much for fare, about $5,000 to $8,000, depending on the cruise destination and the ship itself. But, you then have expenses onboard. On larger ships, one or two restaurants are usually included, but anything other than those spots costs extra, such as drinks, excursions, and on-ship events. Entertainment is always included, though. One thing that really surprised me on the Oosterdam was that if you bought a bottle of wine or other alcohol off the ship, it was confiscated when you got back on the ship and held until the end of the cruise—and you’d have to pay $20 plus an 18% gratuity charge for them to hold it. Ultimately, those smaller charges add up, so you may pay an extra $500 or more when you settle the bill. Is it still cheaper than an all-inclusive? Well, that depends on how much you spend on the ship.

Ultimately, what type of cruise depends on your preference. Do you want something more expensive and adult-only without a lot of extra costs and fewer daily activities? Or do you want something cheaper for all ages but with more charges and the feel of a floating vacation resort? I, for one, recommend trying both. They each have their own charms.