After more than 200 cruises a lot of people ask me which is better, a bigger ship or a smaller one. My answer is always the same – YES! Seriously, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s a matter of personal preferences and the kind of cruise experience desired. All cruise ships start out with the same list of basic amenities and features – staterooms, dining areas, public rooms, and passenger facilities. Obviously large cruise ships can offer more exotic facilities like ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls and even bowling alleys. But, they often lack some things smaller ships provide, such as a sense of intimacy and a less hectic on board pace. The reason that ships come in all sizes is the same reason that Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors and not just vanilla. It’s all about choice. When you plan your trip with your cruise expert at www.iCruise.com , they will assess your needs and interests and make recommendations based on your input. Things like how important is a large casino to you? Or do you prefer a quiet spot in the library to a late night disco party? Are you looking for family friendly ship or rather cruise with a mostly-adult group of passengers? Do you like to have set dining times or do you own thing like on an NCL Freestyle cruise? Are you a spa aficionado or never even make it to the gym?
You see, the reason there are more than 150 contemporary cruise ships plying the seven seas, is that one size most definitely does not fit all. A little advance thought and planning and some expert advice can go a long way toward insuring you sail on the ship that is just right for you.
Happy Sailing from the Cruise Professor

The photo below is of the Regent Seven Seas Voyager which carries 700 passengers in 5 star luxury

Welcome Aboard from the Cruise Professor here at iCruise. A lot of cruisers ask about stateroom location. Is it better to be at the front of the ship or the back of the ship? Is it better to be lower or higher? Where is the smoothest part of the ship? Let’s take a look at some options and explore some good and not-so-good areas on a typical cruise ship. As ships get larger and larger, being positioned on either end (bow and stern for you nautical types) of the vessel will involve longer walks to the elevators and stair towers.  So, if walking is not your thing, then try to find a stateroom fairly near to one of the exit areas on the ship. But, remember that if you are very close to the elevator, several hundred people may be passing by your cabin every day. The farther away from elevators and stairs you get, the less hustle and bustle you’ll find in your area. Personally, I would trade the shorter walk for a quiet location.

Your iCruise personal cruise counselor at www.iCruise.com can assist you in finding the best stateroom – location as well as value. Something to consider other than proximity to elevators is deck location. While rates for similar staterooms usually increase on the higher decks, consider “mid-ship, middle decks” options for convenience and less motion. One thing to check for is the location of active public rooms on the deck right above your stateroom, particularly if you are light sleeper or are looking to catch up on some sleep.  Same thing for staterooms near or in the general traffic flow of discos, show lounges or other late night venues like casinos. Again, your cruise counselor can help you understand the options for cabin selection.  Spending a few moments studying the deck plans of your ship is wise investment and helps insure a happy voyage.  Speaking of deck plans, check back for some exciting news from iCruise about the new deck plans coming soon on our web site.
Happy Sailing,
The Cruise Professor
www.iCruise.com