Itinerary is our first consideration when booking a cruise. We have been on both ships and prefer the smaller class ships. Pinnacle class ships have more public areas, but even though they have not been sailing at capacity, it seemed more crowded than smaller class ships. On our Nieuw Statendam cruise we had a deck 4 balcony which was the smallest cabin we've ever had. Travel companions who were in an inside cabin said theirs was much smaller than ours. I prefer the promenade decks of the non--pinnacle class ships, but the Dutch cafe is great. It depends on what is most important to you.