What size of ships are there to choose from?
A. Within each of the major categories: Contemporary, Premium and Luxury, you can find larger ships and mid-size or smaller vessels. Vessels range from huge “cities at sea” (over 2,500 passengers), to small river barges (carrying as few as six passengers). Generally, the larger the vessel, the more amenities: spas, casinos, restaurants, bars, and more entertainment options¯ even ice skating rinks, rock-climbing walls and golf simulators! On smaller ships the experience is far more intimate. One measure of size isn’t the overall size of the ship, but the space ratio: how many passengers there are relative to the size of the ship. Some travelers assume that smaller cruise ships may offer more intimate cruise vacations. While this can be true, there are some larger ships that are designed for fewer passengers, thereby providing each passenger on board much more space. Generally, Contemporary ships have a lower space ratio per passenger than Premium or Luxury ships. Some niche cruise produ
