THE THOMS SUNDAY TRAVEL SECTION.
With the cruise industry trying to rise from the ashes of the last year, some people are thinking of vacation.
Instead of getting into specifics on new protocols as they will probably be changing weekly, let’s look at the ships.
I have been very lucky to work and travel on all sizes of ships.
And to work on ships back in the late 1980s when the focus was on fun, not just financial.
Today, the closest thing to the cruise experience of 30+ years ago is the smaller ship.
Small Packages.
Some people like to say little ships are like smaller cars. The tinier the vehicle, the more expensive it is.
Why? In part, it’s the bells and whistles. It’s the interiors. Also, it’s the service that comes with it.
For this discussion on small ships, I am referring to any ocean-going boat under 900 guests. Please understand, this category has vessels around 700, 500, and even under 300 guests, so once again, comments are general.
So how is a small ship like a small car? Or, for that matter, a small hotel.
What is under the hood?
The rooms (interiors) include more detail than the mega-ships. Many are all-suite which means the smallest cabin (room) is 300+ square feet. Compare this to the standard 140-180 sq feet on a large cruiser.
Most of them have balconies or large windows. You do not find inside, windowless cabins on most small ships.
The bathrooms are more spacious than the big ships, some with tubs. There are closets with more space in these rooms. Some are walk-in. Better linens, better amenities, such as bathrobes, etc.
Outside the room, there is more “hands-on” attention in the gym, spa, on the pool deck. Also at the reception desk, dining room, etc. It’s common to have your favorite beverage waiting for you, at breakfast or the bar.
Small Bugs Constantly Buzzing.
Most small ships are Inclusive. In other words, the staff is not swarming you trying to get you to buy. You already paid for it in the cruise fare.
Readily available are bottles of water in the gym, in your room, and at the gangway.
Soft drinks and juice anywhere on the ship. There is a choice of white or red wine with dinner. Beer, wine, and cocktails at the bars including call brands. Some have a small charge for premium liquors.
Ala carte dining rooms do not come with cover charges like on most of the large ships. They do not require you to tip, although with the service you get, you will want to leave something.
The amenities are just better.
On the Exterior.
Some of the smaller ships even include items landside. Airfare to and from your cruise and transfers to the vessel is part of the cost. Journeys requiring an international flight to reach them may consist of a hotel room the night before.
When traveling internationally, I always recommend going a day early. Getting anywhere by plane takes longer now and delays almost seem to be the new normal.
Some cruises even have shore excursions in the price. Including tours is one feature I do not like. It restricts your day in port.
Notice I did NOT use the term “free.” None of these items are “free.” Despite what the marketing and sales departments print in their ads, these are inclusive. The question, do you want to pay upfront or have staff nickel and diming you the entire cruise?
Small Ships, The Experience.
Is it any different from a big ship? Oh yes. The staff knows you by name. They know you like blue sugar instead of pink packages.
You start seeing the same people. On a large ship, I meet people on day one, and never see them again. On smaller cruisers, this is less likely to happen.
Of course, if you are trying to dodge them…
There is open seating dining so you can choose your dining partners. That great couple from the tour today, let’s “do dinner.” The intimate setting lends itself to meeting people.
Small Ship Experience.
Another big difference between the small ships and the medium and larger ships is where they can fit.
The bigger the ship, the fewer ports it can visit. A ship carrying 3000 or more guests would overwhelm smaller ports such as Portofino or Capri. (If they would let them call). But the smaller vessels can fit into the smaller harbors.
Even in the ports where you must take a small boat (tender) from the ship to get ashore is better. On smaller vessels, it usually takes 1/4th the time as on the mega-ships. Also, less waiting in lounges, less standing in line, equals more time in the port.
Besides, small ships often stay longer in port than the larger vessels.
What about the port experience? What do you think the effect on a place is when a large ship arrives and disgorges its masses?
Picture a shopping street in your hometown. Picture 300 people are shopping, strolling, or stopping for ice cream.
Now picture 3000 in the same setting. How can you experience a destination when you cannot see it through the crowds?
The Closest Retail Price Without Going Over.
Does all this come at a price? Oui, Ja, Si, you bet your bippy! There is nothing free in this world.
However, start with the price of a cabin on a large ship. Now add all the drinks, water, juice, cocktails, wine with dinner.
Total the cost of going to the ala-carte dining rooms a few times. The gratuities on everything you buy plus for the service staff.
All of a sudden, the price gap is not as large as it was.
Now, add in the difference between the standard cabin you were pricing and a suite on the same large ship. That gap is indeed much smaller.
I like to joke it cost $499 to get on a large ship for seven days. And $4999 to get off that ship at the end of the week.
What is the downside?
So are there any negatives to small ships?
Well, that depends on you. While privacy may be a negative to one person, it might be a benefit to another.
Once again, the price is not for everyone. A small ship costs more.
Furthermore, smaller ships have smaller shows, smaller casinos, smaller lounges, fewer pools, and fewer shops.
Additionally, they don’t have rock climbing walls or water parks.
They usually do not have children’s programs which means fewer kids on board. (and this is a bad thing??)
In very rough seas, they will rock more than a more massive ship. (But ALL vessels DO rock when the waves get big enough) Nowadays, with stabilizers and modern medicines, this is not a problem for a majority of guests.
Small Ship Summary.
You need to line up the apples with the oranges. Take the time to compare.
What is important to you and what is not?
Do you want to go to a big splashy Las Vegas-type hotel? Or something smaller with a larger staff to guest ratio?
Maybe a small ship is in your future.
Warning. Once you try a small ship, it is challenging to go back to a medium or large cruiser.
Please scroll down to the “Enter your comment here” section at the bottom. Please comment or tell me your thoughts on:
“Does a small cruise ship sound inviting to you?
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“See the World” Continued on Page T3. “Taste the World” Continued on T11.