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Lines & Ships
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5 Popular Mega-Ships:
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5 Popular Large Ships:
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5 Popular Mid-Sized Ships:
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5 Popular Small Ships:
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Cabins
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Pro:
- Plentiful, affordable cabins with balconies
Con:
- Standard cabins tend to be small and cookie-cutter
- You'll definitely need a map to find your way
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Pro:
- Plentiful, affordable cabins with balconies
Con:
- Standard cabins tend to be small and cookie-cutter
- You may need a map to find your way
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Pro:
- Generally more value-priced than both smaller luxury ships and newer, larger ships
Con:
- Smaller cabins
- Balcony cabins are in limited supply
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Pro:
- Luxury, particularly in cabins, is emphasized
- Most cabins are suites on luxury small ships
Con:
- Most expensive cruise fares**
- Non-luxury small ships have a limited number of balconies; some have none at all
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Dining Options
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Pro:
- Even more alternative dining options, ranging from ultra-casual to date-night formal
Con:
- Free-for-all at buffets
- Assigned dinnertime and table (though more big ships are offering flexible dining)
- Added fees for alternative dining
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Pro:
- Alternative dining options, ranging from ultra-casual to date-night formal
Con:
- Lines at buffets
- Assigned dinnertime and table (though more big ships are offering flexible dining)
- Added fees for alternative dining
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Pro:
- A handful of alternative dining options
- Fewer lines
Con:
- You may have to eat at an assigned mealtime and at an assigned table
- Added fees for alternative dining
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Pro:
- High quality cuisine in dining rooms
- Wine is often included with meals
- Lines are virtually non-existent
- Dining is often open-seating and flexible
- Michelin-level alternative restaurants
Con:
- Quality of dining is reflected in higher overall pricetag
- Added fees for alternative dining
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Service
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- Service can often be impersonal
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- Service can be hit-or-miss, given the size of the ship and number of passengers
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- Service is friendly and efficient, though not often as personal as you would find on a small ship
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- Personalized and attentive service (as you would expect given the cost of the cruise)
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Fellow Passengers
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Pro/Con:
- Demographically diverse, ranging from families to seniors and in-between
- Lots of children
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Pro/Con:
- Demographically diverse, ranging from families to seniors and in-between
- Lots of children
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Pro/Con:
- Fewer families than on larger ships
- Passengers tend to be older
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Pro/Con:
- Families rarely travel on these ships
- Some ships have a minimum age requirement for travel
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Entertainment
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Pro:
- Theaters featuring actual Broadway musical productions
- Activities are everywhere from casual music performances to interactive video games
- Huge casinos with the latest, trendiest table games, such as Texas Hold 'Em
- Variety of nightclubs and bars; most of which feature themes and entertainment
Con:
- Many entertainment offerings cost extra
- Can be crowded and difficult to book tickets
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Pro:
- Theaters featuring Broadway-esque musical productions
- Activities aplenty, from hairy chest contests to computer classes
- Huge casinos with the latest, trendiest table games, such as Texas Hold 'Em
- Variety of nightclubs and bars; most of which feature themes and entertainment
Con:
- Many entertainment offerings cost extra
- Can be crowded and difficult to book tickets
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Pro:
- Casinos
- Substantial entertainment offerings
- Enrichment activities
Con:
- May be more sedate than bigger ships
- Quality and variety of entertainment won't match the big ships
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Pro:
- Significant enrichment programs featuring world-famous experts
- Smaller scale, more elegant entertainment
Con:
- Very low-key and can be only lightly attended
- Fewer public rooms mean less opportunity to socialize
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Disembarkation & Tendering
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- Very crowded and long lines at embarkation, disembarkation and tendering
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- Crowds and lines at embarkation, disembarkation and tendering
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- Fewer and shorter lines at embarkation, disembarkation and tendering
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- Lines are virtually non-existent, and getting on and off the ship happens at a very relaxed pace
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Pool Decks, Spa & Fitness
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Pro:
- Even more swimming pools and top-deck waterpark activities
- Big gyms with state-of-the-art equipment
- Lavish spas, often with a dedicated thalassotherapy pool
Con:
- Not enough deck chairs (you'll have to get up early to get a good one)
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Pro:
- Multiple swimming pools and top-deck waterpark activities
- Big gyms with state-of-the-art equipment
- Lavish spas, often with a dedicated thalassotherapy pool
Con:
- Not enough deck chairs (you may have to get up early to get a good one)
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Pro:
Con:
- Gyms and spas tend to be functional rather than luxurious
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Pro:
- Some luxury ships offer more personalized services, such as in-cabin massages
Con:
- Pools are generally small
- Spa and gym (if the ship has them) are likely to be small
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Shore Tours
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- Largely of the cookie cutter variety: coach tours, heavily touristed sights
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- Largely of the cookie cutter variety: coach tours, heavily touristed sights
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- Somewhere between the small ships and the big ships in terms of unique options, but generally good value given the access to more exotic itineraries
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- Smaller ports, fewer people, exclusive events and generally more options on offer
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Itineraries
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- Visit standard ports that can accommodate the oversized ships -- or tender
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- Visit ports that are rather standard (those that offer beaches, bars and shopping)
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- Interesting -- even exotic -- itineraries are often available on these ships
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- Exotic itineraries are the norm, and even mainstream itins. often call at unusual or difficult to reach ports
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Other Amenities
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Pro:
- Amenities like a big resort hotel, with lots of variety
- Multi-tiered childrens' programs with a range of facilities
Con:
- Large number of passengers makes some amenities difficult to access
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Pro:
- Amenities like a big resort hotel, with lots of variety
- Multi-tiered childrens' programs with a range of facilities
Con:
- Large number of passengers makes some amenities difficult to access
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Pro:
- Combines big ship amenities with small ship ambience
Con:
- Few lines are building mid-sized ships so they tend to be dated (unless they are refurbished*)
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Pro:
- These ships generally have up-to-date features and amenities, whether they are new ships or older ships
- Often, much is included in the fare (alcohol, gratuities)
Con:
- Limited kids programs and facilities; some ships actively discourage children from playing
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A ship's size -- and not necessarily its cruise line -- is one of the most important factors you'll need to weigh when choosing a cruise to suit your lifestyle and vacationing preferences. 
If you've read through our chart and are still in a quandary, or you're wondering how to ensure you have all the latest amenities at sea without cruising on the newest mega-ships, one good bet is to check up on ship refurbishments. You can see the full list 
