Small Ship or Big Ship? How to Know Which Cruise Is Right for You

By Greta Smith

I love small ships.

I also think there are vacations where booking one would be completely the wrong decision.

Because despite what you may hear from passionate cruisers on either side, small ships aren't inherently better than large ships, and large ships aren't inherently better than small ones.

They excel at different things.

The question is which experience fits this particular journey.

Start With What You Want the Vacation to Be About

If the destination is the star, I often start looking smaller.

A smaller ship can offer access to more intimate ports, destination-intensive itineraries and an onboard experience that doesn't compete quite as hard for your attention.

But what if you're taking children and teenagers to the Caribbean? Or traveling with three generations who all want something different from the vacation?

Suddenly that enormous ship with kids’ clubs, live entertainment, multiple pools, dozens of restaurants and activities from morning until midnight starts looking awfully smart.

The same traveler might choose completely different ships for those two vacations.

Large Ships Win at Choice

There's no getting around this one.

If you want variety, large ships are incredibly good at delivering it.

More restaurants. More entertainment. More nightlife. More activities. More facilities for children and teens. More opportunities for everyone in a group to go their separate ways during the day and meet again over dinner.

For travelers who love energy, activity and choice, a large ship can be part of the reason they cruise.

Small Ships Win at Intimacy

Smaller ships generally can't, and aren't trying to, compete with that list.

Their advantages tend to show up elsewhere.

Fewer passengers. Less time waiting. More personal service. Quieter public spaces. Interesting ports. A stronger connection to the destination.

Dining may offer fewer choices but a higher baseline experience. Entertainment may be simpler, but you may be spending your evening sailing away from a tiny Mediterranean harbor you couldn't have visited on a mega-ship anyway.

Again, it's a trade-off.

The important question is whether you're trading away something you love or trading for something you value more.

Don't Forget the People You're Traveling With

This is where cruise comparisons often fall apart.

The perfect anniversary cruise and the perfect family reunion cruise don't necessarily belong on the same ship.

If I'm planning for a couple who values food, service, culture and quiet evenings, I may look toward smaller ships.

If I'm planning for grandparents, parents, college students, teenagers and a seven-year-old, my priorities change immediately.

The right cruise needs to work not just for the destination, but for the people experiencing it.

One Question That Can Help

When you picture yourself cruising, which sentence sounds more exciting?

“I can't wait to see everything the ship has.”

Or:

“I can't wait to see everywhere the ship takes me.”

It's not a scientific test, but your instinctive answer tells me quite a lot about where I'd start.

My Savvy Take

Choosing between a small and large ship isn't really a question of quality.

It's a question of priorities.

Figure out what you want the ship to contribute to your vacation, what you're unwilling to give up and what would genuinely make the experience better.

Then choose accordingly.

Know what you like, but still not sure what to book?

If you've started narrowing your preferences but need help translating them into actual ships, cruise lines and itineraries, Cruise Match is designed for exactly that stage.

I'll use your priorities, preferences and budget to research the options and recommend the cruises that best fit the way you want to travel.

Not quite there yet? Start with my complimentary Which Cruise Style Is Right for You? guide.

Prefer to listen? Hear the full conversation on Episode 3 of The Savvy Cruise Edit: Small Ship vs. Large Ship.

Greta Smith is a cruise travel advisor and owner of Savvy Travel Design, specializing in small-ship ocean, river, expedition, yacht, premium and luxury cruising. With more than a decade of experience helping travelers navigate the cruise world, and firsthand experience sailing multiple cruise lines each year, Greta believes there is no single “best” cruise, only the cruise that best fits the way you want to travel. Through Savvy Travel Design and The Savvy Cruise Edit podcast, she helps travelers make confident choices about ships, itineraries and experiences while taking the friction out of planning so they can experience more of the wonder.