The main styles at a glance
This table sorts cruises by the kind of ship and the places it goes. Ship sizes and routes vary widely within each style, so treat it as a starting point.
| Style | Where it tends to go | What the ship is like | Often suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large ocean ship | Popular warm-weather and coastal routes, often round trips from one port | Thousands of guests; many restaurants, shows, pools and kids clubs | Families, groups and first-timers who want lots to do on board |
| Mid-size ocean ship | Similar routes plus longer and more varied itineraries | Fewer guests, quieter, easier to find your way around | Couples and travelers who care more about ports than onboard attractions |
| Small ship | Smaller harbors and islands that big ships cannot reach | A few hundred guests or fewer; simpler facilities | People who like a calm, social feel and more time in port |
| River cruise | Rivers and the towns along them, often with a stop most days | A long, low riverboat; calm water and scenery from the deck | Sightseers who want a new town most days and little sea motion |
| Expedition cruise | Remote places such as polar regions and wild coastlines | Small, rugged ships with landing craft and guides on board | Nature lovers who accept flexible plans set by weather and ice |
| Sailing ship | Coastal routes and islands | Real or assisted sails, few guests, a relaxed pace | Travelers who want the feel of a sailing voyage with cabin comfort |
Large ocean ships
The biggest ships work like floating resorts. Expect several restaurants, theaters, pools, kids clubs and often a long list of activities on sea days. They suit groups with mixed tastes, since there is something for everyone, and they tend to sail popular warm-weather routes and short round trips from a home port.
The tradeoffs are crowds and scale. Boarding and leaving the ship takes longer, popular spots fill up, and walking from one end to the other can take a while. In port, thousands of people arrive at once, so famous sights get busy.
Mid-size and small ships
Smaller ships carry fewer guests and have fewer venues. In return they are quieter, quicker to board and leave, and easier to learn your way around. The smallest can enter harbors and narrow channels that big ships cannot, so itineraries often include smaller islands and towns. These ships tend to suit travelers who see the ports as the main event.
River cruises
River boats are long and low so they can pass under bridges and through locks. The water is calm, so seasickness is rarely a concern, and you often stop at a new town every day, sometimes docking right in the center. Onboard entertainment is usually simple, and the scenery from the deck does much of the work.
River levels can rise or fall with the seasons. When water is too high or too low, operators sometimes change the route or move guests by coach for part of the trip. Read how a sailing handles this before you book.
Expedition cruises
Expedition ships go to remote places, such as polar waters and wild coastlines, where there may be no port at all. Guests go ashore in small landing boats with guides. Plans change with weather, ice and wildlife, so flexibility is part of the trip. These voyages often require a certain level of fitness and specific clothing, and some need medical forms in advance.
Sailing ships
A few ships use real sails, either alone or with engine help. They carry small numbers of guests and have a relaxed, outdoor feel. Expect more motion than on a large ship, since smaller hulls respond more to the sea.
Trip length and route shape
- Short cruises of two to five nights are a low-commitment way to see whether you like cruising.
- Week-long trips are the most common length and usually mix port days with one or two sea days.
- Long voyages of two weeks or more cover more distance and include more sea days.
- Round trips start and end in the same port, which makes travel to and from the ship simpler.
- One-way trips link two ports, so you need separate travel home. Repositioning cruises, which move a ship between seasons, are one-way and often have many sea days.
How to choose
- Decide whether the ship or the places matter more to you.
- Pick a region and season, then look at which styles sail there at that time.
- Count the sea days. Some people love them; others get restless.
- Check what the fare includes, since that varies a lot between styles.
- Read about cabins once you have a shortlist.