Do you prefer the bigger or smaller ships?

I'd really like to hear opinions on what everyone likes in reference to ship size.

Favorite ship?

Personally I love the larger ships. Lots more to do on them, more activities and everything seems to stay open later. My next three ships are Escape, Epic and Getaway...Then Dawn.

Share a little information on why you like a certain size or a ship for my fellow CC members!

I'd really like to hear opinions on what everyone likes in reference to ship size. Favorite ship? Personally I love the larger ships. Lots more to do on them, more activities and everything seems to stay open later. My next three ships are Escape, Epic and Getaway...Then Dawn. Share a little information on why you like a certain size or a ship for my fellow CC members!

Size matters.

We like the big ships. More things to do.Better entertainment. More options. The number of people don't bother us at all. Favorite ship is current the Escape. We're booked on the Bliss next year. The Joy is not offering anything that would motivate us to fly all the way to China.

Size matters.

 

We like the big ships. More things to do.Better entertainment. More options. The number of people don't bother us at all. Favorite ship is current the Escape. We're booked on the Bliss next year. The Joy is not offering anything that would motivate us to fly all the way to China.

I agree. Not worth flying to China for the Joy. On top of that most of the ship speaks Mandarin or Chinese, which I know nothing about. I'll give you my experience of the Escape in October!

Have not done the big ships yet....doing the Breakaway in Jan. But we've done Dawn and the Gem so we will have those to compare with when we go. I think we will enjoy the extra activities and entertainment.

Generally speaking Jewel class has been about right for us (and Voyager class on Royal Carib).

However after reading some recent reports we're thinking of trying Escape.

I love the larger ships however I also love the Haven too so it really gives me both on one ship.

To me the large ships are like a floating city. Was on the Escape and there is a ton I never got to see. Smaller ships I could easily get tired of seeing the same thing every day. Only downside I had was atrium shows were always packed and never could get a good seat.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Forums mobile app

We like the larger ships with more public spaces to move around and more venues to go to.

My favorite ship to date is the NCL Sun because I really love the aft penthouse suite with the large balcony. I have cruised in the same room twice (25 nights).

But I cruised on the Epic in a deluxe owners suite this year. I would've never picked the Epic because I didn't think I wanted to cruise on the megaship but after being canceled twice on the Jade this is where we landed and I loved it.

I also love the Jewel which I have cruised on twice.

So, I guess I like them all LOL.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

If I had to choose my favourite NCL ship then I struggle to decide between the Spirit, Jade or Getaway.

I suppose that indicates how important size is to that decision for me.

Big ships all the way!

We do lots of Transatlantics. With NCL we took the Jade once - Its a nice ship - friendly crew and we came home with super memories - but there is no way it can compare to our other experiences on Getaway and Epic.

Getaway we thought was just amazing - our next three cruises are on Epic - and I fear we will miss the waterfront. Still though - Epic ticks 99% of the boxes for us :)

PS - although - I have to add - the Mini Suites on Jade are my favourite cabins of all time. They are so well fitted, spacious - and built traditionally with lots of closet space. The balcony cabin on Getaway (my favourite ship) - has my least favourite cabins - worst vanity space ever on any ship.

Guess we cant seem to have it all *sighs*.

We wont do suites any more. We took suites for many years and then figured one day with the rising costs of our flights often costing more than the suite itself, and the fact we are only ever in the cabin to sleep/dress/shower etc it was time to downsize -

Spa cabins are now our "go to". And prefer the big ships.

Now if only we could have the refurbished mini suite on the Epic with the Getaway's waterfront...

That would be perfect lol!

Definitely not the mega ships. Public spaces too crowded and I hate having to book everything. I also miss the 'Great Outdoors' and the upstairs observatory lounge/Spinnakers where I spend most nights dancing etc. I also hate the open casino- the whole midship just reeks of smoke.

The Jewel class and the Sun are my definite favourites.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Definitely not the mega ships. Public spaces too crowded and I hate having to book everything. I also miss the 'Great Outdoors' and the upstairs observatory lounge/Spinnakers where I spend most nights dancing etc. I also hate the open casino- the whole midship just reeks of smoke.

The Jewel class and the Sun are my definite favourites.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hated the Getaway. No space in the pool or hot tubs, hassle in buffet. Generally prefer smaller ships but the tradeoff is fewer activities. We generally look for port heavy itineraries so don't spend much time on ship anyway. Do miss some evening entertainment though.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Forums mobile app

My wife and I prefer the Jewel class ships, with that said I think the Sun was our favorite. We have been on the BA, Escape, Gem, Dawn, Jewel and the Sun. We just booked a 14 day on the BA.

We have done the Gem, Jade, Epic, Star and Sun.

The larger Epic was our least favorite ship. It always felt crowded.

We liked the Sun the best.

we much prefer the smaller ships.

Jewel is our fave, followed by the Star.

We are not cruise line loyal so my answer reflects that. I prefer the larger ships. IMHO they have better entertainment and more options when it comes to food. Our cruise in September on the NCL Escape reflects my preferences. DH prefers the smaller ships. He doesn't like all the walking required with the larger ships and likes the smaller ship atmosphere. Our cruise in October on the CCL Fantasy reflects his preference. We both enjoy the mid-size ship such as NCL Jewel and CCL Freedom, so much so that we have sailed both of them 2x each :D. So I guess my answer is, as a couple we like them all.

For port intensive cruises, the smaller the ship the better. For more sea days, the larger the better.

A minority opinion . . . .

First, let me state, we sail for the destinations first, the ship comes second.

Until presently, I have never been able to participate in similar conversations. But now that I have finally been on my first mega ship (Getaway), I can honestly say that I prefer the smaller ships. Not that the Getaway was so bad - it was a great ship; it is just that, IMHO, I just like the "feeling" of the smaller ships.

Maybe it is also because I am being nostalgic, having begun my cruising in the 90s, before the reign of today's mega cruisers.

I'll take a smaller ship over a big ship any day.

I'm a HUGE fan of the Oasis-class from Royal. I know Escape is a "big" ship but I'm not sure I would consider it a "mega ship". The design is a bit innovative with the Haven and the waterfront, but otherwise it seems to be a pretty standard cruise ship design. Only Royal's Oasis class seems to have done something highly innovative and new with ship design which is simply amazing. Plus it's 225,000 tons vs 160,000 Escape. It's a different class of ship.

I always see people complain about the "mega ships" being too crowded, but they are really talking about ships like Vista and Escape - which use fairly traditional designs, make them a little bigger and smash a lot more people onto them. If you haven't been on Oasis class yet, you might be shocked at how uncrowded the largest cruise ship in the world actually is.

IMO demographics play a huge role in the size of ship you prefer. The small ships offer everything that most people over fifty want, whereas the younger crowd prefers the things that are available on the larger ships, most of which the older people don't use . IMO the smaller the better.

IMO demographics play a huge role in the size of ship you prefer. The small ships offer everything that most people over fifty want, whereas the younger crowd prefers the things that are available on the larger ships, most of which the older people don't use . IMO the smaller the better.

I'd disagree. Many of the venues on the huge ships cater to the older crowd. Wine bars, piano bars, central park with live string music, jazz clubs, indoor pools/solarium etc. etc.

I love the bigger ships. NCL Epic, and in Feb. the Escape. RCI Oasis and Allure, and Carnival Vista. I can always find an out of the way place if I want to be alone, and there is always something to do if that is what I am looking for. There is just so much to choose from.

Jewel class for me :) However, I'll cruise on any of them.