What are best Smaller cruise ships?

[fly girl]

If you want a larger but not mega ship then I would recommend Celebrity Cruise Solstice Class. You still have a lot of features (shows, casino, lectures) but a lot less people.

If you want smaller than that with focus on food and cabins, then Azamara, Regent Seven Seas, or Seabourn.

 

[easyas123]

We like Ponant. Their ships have 100-125ish rooms so 200-250 occupancy. It is a French line and the service is wonderful. The food is French/European and very good - but you can get a burger if that's what you crave. Entertainment is usually a pianist or similar - no comedians, magicians, dance shows, etc.

I’ve never heard of them, but from your description it sounds very nice. I’ll have to check them out-

 

[WDWJDS]

Well, it was my first cruise, it was free, and I was being paid to Produce 5 half hour TV shows on cruising. Rough assignment for a 23 year old who was 10 months out of College!
The first cruise I paid for was 3 years later on the SS Norway, with 2,000 passengers at the time it was the largest cruise ship on the seas. Far different experience. Broadway quality shows like all ships have now, but their hook was they also had name entertainers on board, folks you would see on the Tonight Show etc, who not only put on a show, but mingled with the passengers for the week. Did two cruises on the Norway and saw and hung out with The Fifth Dimension, Norm Crosby, Jack Jones and his dad Allan who was a big name entertainer in his own right, Shields and Yarnell. Nobody I know has name entertainers anymore on their ships.
Cruising has changed a lot since my first cruise 43 years ago. Everything seems to cost extra. And people seem to have lost the ability to have a fine dining experience. They expect fast food restaurant experiences.......dinner in an hour, not a 3 1/2 hour 12 course Production like I experienced on my first cruise.

My mom and sister were on the Fifth Dimension Norway cruise.

 

[tvguy]

My mom and sister were on the Fifth Dimension Norway cruise.

Could be the same cruise, but I think the Fifth Dimension were regulars on the Norway. Our cruise was in October 1983.

 

[John VN]

We just started cruising last year and have done 3 so far, all on different cruise lines, all big ships. We’ve done the Disney Dream, Royal Harmony of the Seas and just a couple weeks ago the Discovery Princess and they were all awesome, ships and crews on each were great. Started thinking it may be nice to try a smaller ship next time just to see the difference. What smaller ships have people been on that you loved? We are adults in our 50’s, well almost, I turn 50 next week.

Edit: guess I should say midsize instead of smaller. Just meant smaller compared to the big mega ships. The celebrity and NCL ships look very nice.

r.e. bold -- What might you want to experience that would make a smaller ship more appealing?? Do you want more personalized service or fewer venues for activities or sailings to places the bigger ships can't get to or fewer people possibly at a higher cost/cruise or???