For most of the big-ship lines, the midsized ships are their oldest and smallest. Mega-ships include the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and its sister-ships the 5,282-passenger Carnival Mardi Gras, and Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Encore, to name a few.Ĭarnival Spirit in Tracy Arm Fjord on J(Photo/Aaron Saunders) Mega-ships generally stick to greatest-hits itineraries, with many stationed in the Caribbean.

The largest ships are also limited in terms of which ports can accommodate their size. This can be a pro or con, depending on what type of cabin you've booked. Mega-ships are also more likely to offer exclusive venues to suite passengers, as well as priority seating in common venues or the ability to jump lines for these cruisers. Watch your budget: More onboard attractions can often lead to more extra-fee options, and these ships typically tout the highest base cruise fares, as well. However, many modern cruise ships have good flow, so you won't always feel like you're vacationing in intimate quarters with 6,000 other people. The downside to mega-ships is that you're likely to encounter queues, and you'll often have to do more planning and make advance reservations in order to get into all the shows, restaurants and other limited-space experiences you want to enjoy.

You'll find the cool innovations you see on a cruise line's TV commercials, the Broadway shows, enormous water slides and expansive kids' facilities. Mega-ships are the biggest and newest of the big ships, generally offering the most restaurants, entertainment venues and accommodation categories in a cruise line's fleet. Oasis of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean)

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