There was a day when cruise ships were primarily designed to
get passengers from one port to the next. Today, the cruise ship is the
destination. But are these floating cities getting too big?
Royal Caribbean’s Icon
of the Seas is now the biggest cruise ship in the world. The nearly 1,200-foot
mega-vessel that set sail in January 2024 can accommodate 5,610 guests and
2,350 crew members. And with a 132 percent load factor, the ship has hosted
around 7,400 guests by using third and fourth berths in staterooms. That makes
a total of almost 10,000 human bodies on board a single cruise ship. Wow!
In August 2024, the Royal Caribbean Group announced it had
signed an agreement for a fourth vessel in its Icon class, with an option to
build two more. And other
cruise lines including Carnival and Norwegian are steadily increasing the
size of their ships as well, almost making it an arms race.
Cause of the Dramatic Rise in Size
After the COVID-19 pandemic, involuntary hermits were more
than ready to travel again. Bookings for cruise vacations grew at double-digit
rates. That meant the industry needed more capacity which only the bigger ships
could supply. In addition, isolation and time away from family and friends
drove the need for vacationing together. And big cruise ships could accommodate
larger groups and meet that pent-up demand.
As Kristy Mosolino, co-owner of Wishes Travel in Birmingham,
Alabama said, “We literally couldn’t keep up with the demand for cruise
vacations and had to bring in more travel advisors to our team.” But the demand
for cruises has not waned in the least.
According to an article by J.P. Morgan Research in June
2024, “The cruise industry has markedly picked up speed after taking a major
hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Cruise Lines International
Association (CLIA), about 35.7 million passengers were expected to set sail in
2024, six percent higher than in 2019.” No doubt those numbers will continue to
climb in 2025 once all the cruise ship data is released.
Pros and Cons of Mega Ship Cruising
There’s no denying the big ship is here to stay, with more
coming on the horizon. And though megaship cruising has been reimagined into a
world of endless possibilities, transforming the journey into a full-fledged
vacation, these gargantuan vessels may not be for everyone.
If you’re not into crowds, mega cruising is definitely not
for you. Though ships like the Icon of the Seas boast lots of space and places
to hang out onboard, at full capacity, it can be overwhelming and intimidating.
Keep in mind there are also port limitations due to ship
size and less personalized ambience with a large ship. Unlike smaller ocean or river
cruisers, your servers or room attendants will not likely remember your
preferences or interact with you on a personal level. Though a mega ship won’t
necessarily affect service, it may affect your overall experience.
There are also environmental concerns that can’t be ignored.
In an article by sustainability and green technology expert Inemetsit Ukpanah
for GreenMatch in October 2024, she says that “Despite technological
advancements and some monitoring efforts, cruising continues to be a source of pollution
that affects ecosystems and poses risks to public health. Furthermore, colossal
ships like the Icon of the Seas consume energy due to their size and
extravagant amenities, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions.”
As a retired registered nurse, I can’t help but also think
of health considerations. The “more the merrier” may not apply when a ship has
a major norovirus or influenza outbreak. It may be rare, but it could totally ruin
your vacation.
Frequent cruiser Richard Grant said, “During a
Thanksgiving cruise, I and my family were overwhelmed. There were so many
people everywhere, elevators were packed, and it took forever to get on and off
the ship. Buffet lines were incredibly long, and we wondered why we had booked
a cruise on a floating city. If we wanted the city, we could have taken a land
vacation anywhere.”
On a positive note, large ships offer some incredible
experiences. The variety of activities are impressive, some even including zip
lines, rock-climbing walls, escape rooms, laser tag arenas, roller coasters and
waterslides.
Food options are plentiful, entertainment venues include a
myriad of Broadway-type shows, Cirque-Solei-inspired water spectacles, and even
an ice rink for figure skating. Promenades offer lots of shopping experiences,
varied bar venues and restaurants and open areas that will make you feel as
though you’re in New York’s Central Park.
Travel advisor Kristy Mosolino explains that “Though a mega
ship may not fit everyone’s travel needs and desires, there are many who love
vacationing this way. Multi-generational families can all be together on a
cruise that can meet the needs of every family member, from the little to the
big kids and beyond. There are enough age-related activities to keep everyone
happy. Groups then have the luxury of splitting off and then meeting up for a
dinner at their own designated table.”
When all is said and done, cruising, not cruising, or
selecting the type of ship and itinerary ultimately comes down to personal
choice. The cruise industry, like the travel industry will continue to
experience change. Big or small, or somewhere in-between, cruise travelers have
lots of options. And travel trends all indicate that cruises will continue to
be a popular choice for those who love to travel.
And will the ships get bigger? Only time will tell.
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