CRUISE SHIPS GETTING TOO BIG?

AGREE GLO...embarkation day is one thing...it takes as long as it takes for security etc...but everywhere else we've never had a problem, usually several gangways etc. Am looking forward to the experience on BREAKAWAY...we'd better...got 1 more on her then 2 more on GETAWAY booked. Made all possible reservations way in advance...dining, shows....and whats left will be made a few minutes after we step on board...first stop, GUEST SERVICES..even b4 the first meal mandatory buffet feeding frenzy....

Personally I enjoy being on the mega ships for the reasons mentioned. These ship manage to get passengers 0n & off quickly because they use more gangways. I like the smaller ships, too especially when visiting the smaller ports - less tendering.

I will agree that while it may be good for some we steer clear of the huge ships, I have seen and had family members go on the huge ships and come off with many complaints about taking forever to get off at ports, running out of room in shows etc, I think they'd fair better just upgrading and replacing smaller size ships, also some ports they cant even go through due to bridges etc. We sail from Baltimore MD and one of those monsters wouldn't make it through the harbor

Only if you think the raison d'etre is the casino...which is ridiculous given the captive patrons. If you mean the glitz, sure, but I can assure you there are enough well run bars and eateries so it doesn't seem that way. Been to Vegas more than a hundred times over the years..mostly for biz, but always comped..(I worked in the biz, 3 different joints)...and I can assure you no way would I cruise on a ship whose only reason for being is a "floating Vegas", Meanwhile, despite all my cruises (a mere pittance compared to some in here) I have never sailed on anything as big as BREAKAWAY coming up...it has better be good, I have one more on it , then 2 more on GETAWAY...I think it may take all our crowd avoidance skills to enjoy it the way we like, but that's ok...I like a challenge. gl2u!

I'm sailing on my first mega-ship next year! At some point though, don't the larger ships become more like a floating Vegas?

Good point re traveling with kids and grands...……….youre absolutely right...the more to do the better...while us grey heads nap heheheheh

We've sailed on the Breeze and Magic and enjoyed both. Our next cruise is Sept 30 on the NCL Escape. We are taking one set of grands and looking forward to all there is to do on the ship.

When it's just DH, DD, and I we enjoy the smaller ships as well as the larger ones. With the kids, the more to do the better :)

We've cruised the Oasis class ships and never felt crowded. RCL really does a nice job with the design. We go back and forth between the medium and large ships depending upon itinerary and who we might be sailing with.

We sailed on the Carnival Vista, and while there was a lot to do and we didn't find extremely long lines, we felt the layout of the ship a bit cramped. We also sailed the Regal Princess and we found that to be very comfortable. I do feel the cruise lines are trying to get more people onto one ship. I really enjoyed the smaller more intimate Carnival Holiday, but now my favorite class in the Carnival fleet is the Conquest class (mid-size). Bottom line: if people didn't book passage on he big ships, they wouldn't build them. They are popular because of all the "bells and whistles". There is something out there for every one.

I prefer the small to mid sized ships the ones with say 2000 to 2800 passengers. Always felt very much at home on those. Last trip was on the Breakaway with ~4000 passengers. At times it did feel over crowded. Possibly because the design was simuilar to the smaller vessels. Lots of room in good weather but when the weather was not friendly the inside areas could not comfortably accommodate everyone. Up coming cruise is also on a ship with 4100 passengers but i hear on Anthem the design is such that it is not so noticeable. From reviews and others I work with that have sailed RCCL it sounds like they know how to do large ships properly. Still i am not sure I would want to try one of the 6000 + passenger behemoths they have. That is a lot of people to dump out into a port. .