Is bigger really better?

I was chatting with a friend and former colleague the other day and we was discussing the difference of the big ships over some of the smaller ships and our personal preferences.

My friend Jen, was lucky to spend a day on the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas and although she enjoyed her experience, said she would actually not pay to cruise on this ship. Now many years ago (around 20 to be precise)  Jen used to work on the cruise ships with Carnival based out of Miami and back in the day these ships was classed as large cruise ships.

Not any longer..

Jen also got the chance to visit the MSC Poesia just a few days later and actually said that if she had to pick between Oasis of the Seas and MSC Poesia the later would be a clear winner. Her reasoning on this was that the Oasis of the Seas is too big for her liking and felt that the Poesia would offer a real cruise experience to what she was more used to.

Most recently I have had some seasoned cruisers feeding back comments of a similar gripe, that ships are getting bigger but space and cabins are really being compromised. One client referred to the Royal Princess after a recent cruise in the summer, he admitted that yes, she is beautiful but to the cost of less public spaces and less spacious cabins to allow more guests on-board making it more uncomfortable for trying to get a seat in the evening in the bar or theater.

With the maiden voyage of the Quantum of the Seas this past weekend and Anthem of the Seas next April, Royal Caribbean have certainly pulled out all the stops on the ships facilities and entertainment, but could this be to the cost of more spacious standard cabins and public areas? From the photo’s I have seen the cabins look similar to that of most of the Royal Caribbean fleet, with the exception of the virtual cabin the newest concept on these state of the art ships. There is no doubt that these cruise ships are selling well for their future itineraries and I would love to experience the facilities on board myself. But is it all too much for the traditional cruiser?

I always let my clients know that a Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line ship are ships everyone can enjoy regardless of your age and if you travel as a single, couple, with friends or with family and children. These ships cater for all types of entertainment and activities, it would be near impossible to get bored on a Royal Caribbean or NCL ship. MSC are also a family friendly cruise liner catering more for the European market base but with more style and maybe less gimmicks than their American competitors.

More and more, I have had my clients asking for smaller ships, not quiet used to these bigger ships and wanting a more relaxed cruise rather than an action packed cruise.   Just this evening someone new to cruising asked me to look for smaller ships as not wanting to be overwhelmed by the big in your face ships on her first cruise experience.

Maybe the big cruise companies should think about the other clientele that prefer a smaller more intimate ship without all the gimmicks and hype to give something for everyone?

So I pose the question is bigger really better?

Do you think that cruise companies are focusing more on newer family market of  cruising and forgetting about the traditional cruisers?

Personally, I am still open on this debate but would have to say I do lean more to the traditional smaller style of cruise ship. I enjoy the big ships but I still enjoy the smaller vessels too.

I have been lucky to be selected to go on a river cruise later in the year, so who knows my mind may be changed again!

Dawn

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