A guide to choosing the right size cruise ship

Star Clippers’ sailing cruises offer an immersive alternative to your standard cruise experience

Don’t let them tell you otherwise: when it comes to cruising, size does matter. The problem is that ships tend to be pigeonholed as small, mid-size or large – which is not helpful given the former might hold up to 1,000 passengers, while scaling up could mean holidaying with anything from 3,000 to 7,000 others. Read on for our definitive guide to choosing a ship size that suits.

What is a mega cruise ship?

Spot on for families and couples of all ages wanting a casual holiday in the sun, these behemoths are more floating playgrounds than cruise ships – so big (we’re talking 5,000 passengers or more) you don’t know you’re moving unless you look out to sea.

And why stop to do that when you could be splashing around in pools, whizzing down fiendish water slides, finding a favourite watering hole, doing the rounds of 20 or so places to eat or catching a show?

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is the king of mega ships with its latest vessels, Icon and Star of the Seas, each holding up to 7,600 passengers and packed to the funnel with water-slides, pools, zip-wires, ice-rinks and more.

Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas has a capacity of 7,600 passengers and is packed with water-slides, pools, zip-wires, ice-rinks and more - Michel Verdure

Elsewhere, choose Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras, Jubilee and Celebration for a roller-coaster ride more than 180ft above the ocean. Or take on the Venom Drop on MSC’s giant World Europa and World America to slide from deck 20 to eight in seconds.

Starting March 2026, mega magic is coming to Singapore on the new Disney Adventure, which has so much to do (the longest rollercoaster at sea, anyone?) that it is sailing mini-cruises to nowhere so there’s time to enjoy it all.

What if I go large instead?

These ships might be a tad smaller than their colossal cousins (think around 3,000-5,000 passengers), but there’s still lots to do, plenty of places to eat – and they can also access a few more ports too.

While this is still the realm of Royal Caribbean and MSC, there are plenty of other lines to choose from, which means more variety.

Celebrity Cruises has Caribbean festivals, pool valets armed with chilled towels and boozy brunches on new ship Xcel. Choose Princess Cruises for close-up magic in Spellbound, a speakeasy where guests can enjoy performances by talented magicians over a theatrical cocktail or two on both Sun and Star Princess.

Hop on P&O Cruises for a British-style holiday at sea or plump for Disney. Here, children can be princesses or Superheroes for the day, while mums and dads escape to posh adult-only restaurants and bars.

Too tame? Adrenalin junkies can always race go-karts on Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships or cycle around a track suspended 150 feet above the ocean with Carnival.

They are all rather big

If that’s what you’re thinking, then it sounds like mid-size ships – which hold anywhere from 1,000-3,000 passengers – might be just the ticket. These open the field even more in terms of the variety of lines to choose from, the type of person they appeal to, and the number of ports the ships can visit.

Favourite cities and islands in the Med, Northern Europe and the Caribbean; they can reach them all. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ “smallish” ships, as it calls them, can even enter the lower reaches of some of Europe’s rivers.

Adrenalin junkies will be pleased with Norwegian Cruise Line’s go-Karting course - Mark Waugh / Alamy

Holland America Line and Cunard have children’s and teen’s clubs, but the lines are more formal and better suited to families interested in the places they’ll visit than water slides and go-karts. Oceania Cruises doesn’t cater to families but instead focuses on food and destination-intensive itineraries.

All are ideal for couples or solo travellers who want to avoid the razzmatazz of big ships. British favourites Fred Olsen and Ambassador Cruise Line, both loved for their traditional style, have a plentiful supply of single cabins.

Prefer an adult escape? Virgin Voyages’ four ships are reserved for grown-ups, while Fred Olsen is going that way with Borealis, which will be child-free from January 2026.

Similarly, as of March 2027, Ambassador’s two ships will be just for adults. Conversely, selected sailings on P&O Cruises’ adult-only ships, Aurora and Arcadia, will be open to all ages from December 2026.

Fancy the personal touch?

In the world of cruising, small – anything under 1,000 passengers – invariably means luxury, with suites, butlers, staff who remember your favourite tipple, and more-inclusive prices.

Choose Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) and everything from drinks and laundry to shore excursions and speciality dining is included. Play your cards right and you can leave its ships at the end of a two-week holiday with a nil bill.

Saga Cruises is reserved for passengers aged 50 or over

Azamara Cruises and Viking, both of whom ban under-18s, are not quite at that level but include a fair amount and excel when it comes to amazing destinations.

Alternatively, opt for Saga Cruises. Reserved for passengers aged 50 or over, the line has two ships that sail from the UK and feature an array of single cabins. There’s also lots included, not least a chauffeur to take you from home to the port and back.

Is there anything smaller?

How do yacht-like vessels or river ships that count their passenger numbers in the low hundreds – or even in the tens – sound?

These vessels don’t have lavish entertainment, opulent spas or multiple places to eat. Rather, they are intimate, friendly and visit ports and harbours that even small ships can’t reach.

Case in point? Variety Cruises goes island-hopping in the South Pacific and the Seychelles and sails to Greek islands few have heard of on vessels that average 50 passengers (its biggest, Voyager, holds 72).

SeaDream Yacht Club’s 112-passenger yachts offer Champagne on tap and the option to sleep under the stars - Don Hebert

SeaDream Yacht Club’s two 112-passenger yachts are more fancy, have Champagne on tap and no tipping to worry about. Fancy a night under the stars? Bag one of the Balinese beds on the top deck.

Ponant, Emerald Cruises, and Scenic all have stylish ships for fewer than 300. American Cruise Lines’ vessels hold a maximum of 180 passengers, fly the Stars and Stripes on rivers and coastal cruises in the US, and include drinks, tips and some tours.

You can also set sail – literally – on tall ships with Windstar Cruises or Star Clippers. Choose the latter to climb the masts, tie knots with the captain and help the crew hoist the canvas.

About our expert

Jane Archer

Around 25 years ago, Jane never expected to even step on a cruise ship. Now she spends more than 100 days a year at sea or on the rivers, and can’t imagine seeing the world any other way.

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