Is bigger really better?

[CaptainPanda]

So, I'm checking out RC.com researching my next cruise, and I wanted to ask everyone's opinion on the larger ships vs. the sort of mid-sized ships in the RC fleet. Our previous cruise was on Explorer, just before her refit, and we loved it! In looking for our next one, there's the option to go on Explorer again (which is tempting; I'd like to see her after the facelift ) and a couple of other ships that are right around the same size (Independence & Brilliance, to be specific.) But there are also options for some of the more opulent ladies of the fleet (Allure, Harmony, Oasis & even Odyssey). I know that these ships are larger, and have more features and amenities and fun stuff to do onboard, but they're also more expensive, and seem to me like they would be more crowded, especially Odyssey.

For those that have done both, what was your experience? Would you prefer to go on the larger, newer ships, or the mid-size ships?

[twangster]

Voyager class (Explorer) is a real sweet spot for me.  Not so big, easy to get around yet big enough to have a lot to offer.  

Other Voyager class include Voyager, Navigator, Mariner and Adventure.

Freedom class is basically Voyager Plus.  They are literally a stretched version of Voyager class.  This includes Freedom, Independence and Liberty.  The extra length allows a few more venues and more cabins so more guests.

The Radiance class is notably smaller by a large margin.  Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade and Jewel.  Fine ships but no promenade.  They were built to be smaller so they could go through the original Panama Canal (the ships above couldn't fit the original canal).  No promenade means several venues are not present.  No ice skating rink, no adult water slides.  Indoor solarium for adults so good ships for all cruise seasons.  

Looking bigger than Freedom class also gets you into newer ships.  Newer ships come with more recent innovations.  Oasis class is something that everyone should experience at least once.  They are unique and much larger than previous classes.  All that extra space allows them to add more venues, activities and entertainment options.   The production shows are very good on these ships, much better than previous classes.  There is so much going on it helps to disperse the crowds so you don't feel all the additional guests.  With so much going on it's hard to try or do everything with just one cruise.  Some people feel these ships are too big and they prefer smaller ships.  That's fine, to each their own but you have to try one to see for yourself.  

[sk8erguy1978]

I enjoy the larger ships in the fleet. Although, I've only been on Voyager, Freedom, Quantum, and Oasis class ships. However, we did sail NCL Gem in 2011 at just under 94k gross tons and while no major complaints, we definitely like the larger ships. 

I would like to experience a smaller ship like the Radiance Class but for a shorter cruise. 

[jticarruthers]

Have only gone up to O class once (Allure) and was not overly impressed. Personally the Voyager/Super Voyager family is my sweet spot. 

[mac66]

We've been on Oasis class ships 3 times and Freedom/Voyager ships 5 or 6 times and a couple times on the smaller ships as well.

The Oasis class ships are nice for families and tend to have lots of kids aboard. There is lots to do (climbing walls, flow riders etc, etc) aqua theater, ice rinks, broadway shows, central park, board walk etc. The Freedom/Voyager class has many of the same things (no central park, board walk, aqua theater, or broadway shows) but on a smaller scale.

Two of the three Oasis class cruises  (once one the Oasis once on the Allure) were pretty crowded. The other one (Allure) not so much. Of course that depends in larege part on what time of the year you go.

I personally like the Freedom or Voyager class ships. The service and food seemed to me to be better than on the Oasis class ships. The bigger the ship the more you dilute the experience IMO.

Having said that we never had a bad cruise and are booked for another Oasis class ship (Harmony) in Nov. We have two Celebrity cruises booked on smaller ships before then.

[Mike Paugh]

I am probably the data point at the edge of the chart here, but I enjoy the Radiance class ships.  I love the size, feel, and light given by all the glass.  We have been on all of the Oasis ships and four of the Voyager class ships and enjoyed every cruise, but the smaller ships just appeal to me more.

As someone mentioned in another post, who you are with makes a difference as well. When we go with the grandkids it is Oasis all the way. 

We haven't been on a Freedom class yet, but will be doing back to back on Freedom in March / April.  I am sure we will enjoy that class as well.  After all, we will be on a cruise!

[Pima1988]

We done a different class on all of our cruises.  Sailed on Adventure last July which is Explorer's sister ship.  We found her to be our sweet spot, just  like Twangster.  It really is not too big like a Quantum class and not too small like Radiance.

My hubby and I are more about the ports.  

Would we sail on Enchantment again once it is repositioned to Baltimore?  Probably not.  We did it out of Miami, and the itinerary was port intensive, thus, we spent little time on the ship.  If she was doing the overnight to Bermuda out of Baltimore than I would go on Anthem.

I am not against Radiance at all.  Hubby and I keep talking about sailing out of New Orleans.  Radiance currently is the only option.  Wanted to do Cuba, but had 1 cruise on the books before they closed that option.  Ports matter to us as much as the ship.

Would I sail Anthem again over Oasis? Probably not.  Did not care for the esplanade over the promenade.  Felt the esplanade was too crowded on sea days.  The pull for me to sail on her again, would be the WJ and the Solarium.  There is nothing like that Solarium.  To me the best secret regarding this ship was the fact that the WJ has outdoor seating.

Would I sail Adventure again?  Heck yes!  Regardless of the itinerary.  Loved the feeling that you were still connected to the sea regardless of the deck, like on a Radiance class, but you had more amenities, such as, water slides, mini golf, specialty restaurants, etc.  

I must admit my hubby says I am navigationally challenged.  He can figure out to get to the MDR fastest route (cut through Casino take stairs up, cut back through another area and VOILA we are there in 3 mins)...me, I have to memorize the wall art on the stair cases/hallways and even door decorations to know which way I am turning to get back to our cabin.  Seriously, day 2 he will test me.  Lead me back to our room Pima... This has now become our favorite thing to do.   Him to see if I fail, me to prove him wrong!  I usually lose on day 2, but day 3 I can at least get us to our cabin.  Day 4 I can get us to the MDR or the helipad. 

There is everyone's laugh for the day or when they are on a cruise and see a 50 yr old woman stopping at the bottom of the staircase looking left and right.  It might be me looking at the hallway picture determining which way I turn. FWIW I am kind I don't stop at the bottom and block passengers, I do move closer to the elevator banks.  

[WAAAYTOOO]

We are sailing on Majesty out of New Orleans in May.

[Phillip Diamond Plus]

We just love cruising Royal Caribbean!!! We have been on every class and loved each one!

    On the Vision and Radiance classes, with all the glass, you get views all over the ship which is great for watching the beautiful scenery especially  on Norway or Alaska cruises. 

    We love the ships with the Royal Promenade which are present on Voyager, Freedom and Oasis class ships. (We have enjoyed the rooms overlooking the Promenade with all the action.)

     The Quantum class is so wonderfully innovative and super fun! Highly recommended!

    But I do agree that you need to experience the Oasis class sometime! It really has the WOW! You can do everything or with all the space on board you can get off to yourself...

    Also, the Empress is fun because, being smaller,  you see many of the same people and can make many friendships. ( But unfortunately there is no Diamond Event on Empress which for Diamond guest is very disappointing. But that said, we have booked an 11 day Canada and New England cruise on Empress in August because of the great itinerary.)

[monctonguy]

Bigger isn't always better...or so I have been told....

 

As for cruising bigger ships.....while we didn't not like HOS, it wasn't our favorite cruise. While there is lots to do, we found the size of the ship seemed to make it seem less active or maybe it was just that people were more spread out so it rarely seemed busy or happening anywhere. Often times we commented about how dead it was, wherever we were at the time.

 

For us, we defn enjoy the Marnier/Navigator size/class....offers pretty much everything and usually considerably cheaper than booking Oasis class.

Only class I haven't sailed yet is Quantum class and that will happen in November so can't comment on that yet.

 

[Matt]

Size isn't the end all, be all of what makes a good ship.

I do believe that the newer and bigger ships do represent some of the latest and greatest that Royal Caribbean has to offer. Ship upgrade programs, like Royal Amplified, have helped bridge that gap some.

But you can absolutely have a great time on a smaller ship.  To me, it's all about what are you looking for in a ship and what features/options are important to have. That supersedes ship size.