There’s a big difference in vacation experience between these ships

I took two cruises in July, and they couldn’t have been more different.
After spending 10 days on Seabourn Pursuit, the cruise line’s 264-guest expedition vessel, I returned home for a few days before boarding Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas, which can accommodate over 20 times that.
Cruise ships range in size from yacht-like vessels to mega-ships that are more like floating resorts. And as much as cruises may be about the ports they visit, the ship you pick can shape the destination you can access and ultimately, the kind of trip you have. Here’s how they differ and how to know which is right for you.
If mega-ships can feel like cities at sea, small ships are perhaps more like quaint towns. It’s easier to find your way around, faces become familiar quickly and the server at the nearby eatery knows how you like your eggs.
“The service is just 100% going to be much more intense than any other type of sailing,” said Joanna Kuther, a New York City-based travel agent and owner of Port Side Travel Consultants. The majority of cruise lines sailing ships with capacities in the 200 to 700 range are luxury brands that already put a premium on service – though that can vary by operator – but there are practical reasons too.
Many of those ships have higher crew-to-guest ratios, making it easier to give customers a personalized experience. “We want people to feel that it’s (a) yacht-like atmosphere,” Natalya Leahy, president of Seabourn, told USA TODAY on board.
Small-ship cruises generally bundle more in their fares than those on larger vessels, from food to drinks like wine and spirits, select excursions and more. Some inclusions can be particularly extravagant.
On Seabourn, for example, guests can order caviar for delivery any time of day at no additional cost (I had to try it out for research purposes during an expedition through Western Australia’s Kimberley region).
That doesn’t necessarily mean the price tags will be higher, though. While the upfront fare may cost more, by the time guests add up drink packages, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and other extras that are typically charged separately on large mainstream ships, their expenses may not be so different.
“Don’t worry about what you’re paying when you go on,” Kuther said. “It’s what you pay when you come off.”
If the prospect of thousands of cabins and fellow guests seems overwhelming, a small ship can also offer a more manageable experience. Lines and crowds are a relative rarity and there’s less chance of getting lost trying to find your room (a situation I’ve encountered more than once on large ships).
Getting on and off is easier, Kuther added, with the vessels often docking closer to the city center or in ports that can’t accommodate larger vessels. They also stay overnight more frequently, relieving the pressure of packing sightseeing into a shorter window.
“That is amazing because if you’ve ever gotten off of a mega-ship tendering into Santorini, it’s like the most insane thing,” she said. “Like, you’re fighting for your life to get into the funicular. So, it’s definitely an elevated experience.”
While many are well-appointed, they do have a more limited number of amenities and dining options. On an Aurora Expeditions Antarctica cruise in December, the Sylvia Earle ship had only two restaurants. I enjoyed the food and some offerings rotated, but by the end of the 11-day trip I was ready to change it up.
Travelers with children may find the ships lacking in kid-friendly activities, too.
By contrast, guests on big ships are spoiled for choice. “You can’t beat the variety if that’s what you’re looking for,” said Kuther.
Larger ships offer a wide range of eateries, bars and entertainment. Carnival Cruise Line’s Jubilee ship, for example, has more than 20 dining options, from Guy’s Burger Joint to tacos and burritos at BlueIguana Cantina and Coastal Slice pizza – not to mention the BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster, a water park, and Loft 19, a quieter retreat at the top of the vessel.
Those kinds of ships can be particularly well-suited to families or large groups who want options. Royal Caribbean divided its Oasis Class – and later Icon Class – into neighborhoods with that in mind.
“Everyone has got something to do and are excited to do during the day … And then in the evening, everybody can come together in one of I don’t know how many restaurants and have a great family meal or a date night or just a burger, and then they have a fantastic show,” president and CEO Michael Bayley said in a media briefing on board Utopia.
Large ships have more to offer passengers “who really want to party” as well, Kuther noted.
The scale also allows cruise lines to create more immersive experiences. On Utopia, the second-largest cruise ship in the world, I had dinner outside one night at the Chops Grille steakhouse in the vessel’s Central Park neighborhood. With a breeze blowing through the open-air walkway and the sound of crickets in the background – which the cruise line pipes in – I could’ve been convinced I wasn’t on a ship. 
Guests are less likely to feel the movement of the waves at that size, which also can be helpful for passengers who are fearful of water or prone to seasickness, Kuther said.
A number of cruise lines have ship-within-a-ship concepts, too, that allow guests to escape the crowds in exclusive accommodations, restaurants and sun decks, while still having access to the wider range of onboard offerings (though some offer a greater degree of separation than others).
It’s worth noting, however, that “small” and “big” are relative terms, and many mainstream cruise lines operate ships in the 1,500-to-2,500-passenger range. Those can offer a kind of middle ground, with a more intimate experience often at a lower price point (though Kuther noted that’s partly because those ships tend to be older).
Still, the overall experience of a bigger ship may cause sensory overload for some travelers.
The right ship comes down to the type of vacation experience you want.
As Kuther put it, “(If) people say they don’t like cruising, I will always 100% say, ‘You just weren’t on the right cruise.’”
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].