Are you thinking about taking a cruise?  If so, you're not alone. In a February 2009 New York Times article, Terry Dale, chief executive officer of the Cruise Line International Association, said, "Even in these tough economic times, we are forecasting that in 2009 a record 13.5 million people will take a cruise."

But how do you decide which cruise to take? Which cruise line should you go with? Should you sign up for shore excursions in advance? Do you need to pack formal dinnerwear? The ins and outs of cruising can be quite overwhelming for a first-timer. There are many things to consider, but the first thing you must decide is whether you want to travel on a small ship or a larger one.

Small cruise ships generally hold up to 150 passengers. There are many excellent small-ship cruise lines specializing in different types of itineraries or regions of the world. Some notable ones include Lindblad Expeditions, Cruise West, Sea Cloud Cruises, and Ponant Cruises. Large cruise lines such as Norwegian (NCL), Princess, Holland America, or Carnival may carry 2,000 passengers or more on their ships. There are also medium-sized vessels that combine certain features of both small and large ships; for example, Silversea Cruises is a high-end cruise line with ships that carry approximately 300 passengers but offer many of the amenities of larger vessels. SmallShipCruises.com has an extensive list of cruise lines with ships carrying fewer than 500 passengers. 

There are benefits and drawbacks to each kind of ship; which will suit you best depends on what you are looking to get out of the cruise experience as a whole.

Price

Cruising on a small ship tends to be more expensive than traveling on a large ship. If you're looking for a bargain-rack rate, you'll probably have more luck with larger cruise lines. But consider what's included in the price before ruling out a more expensive trip. Your base cruise price includes accommodation, meals, and most on-board entertainment. On a large-ship cruise, it typically does not include any activities on shore. If you want to participate in any sightseeing tours or other activities, you will either need to sign up (and pay for) a shore excursion through the ship or arrange the activity with local tour operators once in port. In contrast, many small-ship cruises include sightseeing activities along the way as part of the overall price of the trip. Checking which activities are included will give you a better sense of the true cost of your trip.

Itinerary

Small ships can go into places where larger ships can't, including out-of-the-way ports, narrow fjords, and small islands. On popular routes such as Alaska's Inside Passage, there may be as many as four large ships in port at the same time. That's an influx of roughly 8,000 visitors at once. In some places this is not very noticeable beyond the docking area, but in others it can be overwhelming. (Consider for example that Skagway, Alaska, has a permanent population of fewer than 900.)

If your goal is to visit the major ports of a traditional cruise destination such as the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, a large-ship itinerary may work well for you. If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path cruise, small-ship cruise lines are usually a better way to go. Small-ship cruises offer a more intimate experience, are often more educational in orientation, and may provide a bit more adventure than large ships. In many cases, there is no dock for the ship to use; instead, passengers are transferred to shore in Zodiacs (motorized inflatable boats).

On-board entertainment

If you like to have lots of entertainment options on board, a large ship will offer more variety. Large ships typically offer a different show every night, with both early and late performances. These shows may include concerts and musical revues, magic shows, circus-type acts such as Chinese acrobats or contortionists, and other dramatic performances. In addition, most large ships have a separate movie theatre with a different movie showing every day.

Large ships also tend to offer a wide range of activities throughout the cruise, often with several options at any given time. Some of the activities you'll typically be able to enjoy on board a large cruise ship are trivia contests, dance lessons, talent shows, bingo, art auctions, shuffleboard competitions, exercise classes, and lectures. Most large ships also have a casino that's open when the ship is at sea. (Regulations prohibit cruise lines from opening the casino while in port.)

Smaller cruise ships have more limited entertainment options but may offer occasional movies, live music (generally a soloist or small ensemble rather than an elaborate production), or games. On-board expedition staff generally give lectures about the history, natural history, or other features of the areas visited.

Dining options

On a small ship, there is typically one main dining room, with meals served at fixed times every day. The dinner menu is typically fixed but may offer a choice of entrees and soup or salad. On medium-sized ships, there may also be a second option - a buffet, for example, in addition to a la carte dining.

Larger ships generally offer more dining options, though the specifics will vary. Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its Freestyle Dining program, in which guests can choose from several restaurants for any given meal. Most NCL ships offer numerous restaurant options included as part of the cruise price, as well as a few specialty restaurants that carry an additional per-person cover charge. Some of the other large-ship cruise lines, such as Celebrity, adhere to a more traditional cruise dining experience, with a main dining room serving guests in two seatings. Other cruise lines fall somewhere in between, serving most guests in a main dining room but offering alternative restaurants by reservation. Most large ships offer a more casual buffet option for at least some meals.

 --

By determining which aspects of cruising are most important to you, you can decide whether a large, small, or medium-sized ship will suit you best. Not every cruise line is right for every traveler, and knowing what you want to get out of your time on board and in port will help you choose the cruise that will truly be the vacation of a lifetime.