Shipyards are busy launching ever larger cruise ships, complete with rope courses, multi-storey slides and enough restaurants to keep a small town fed. Yet when asked what they actually want, many passengers seem quietly to prefer something a little more manageable.

New research from UK travel agent cruise.co.uk, based on a survey of almost 700 cruisers, suggests that ship size still has a strong influence on booking decisions, and that mid-sized vessels are very much in favour for 2026. 

What the survey says about ship size

The headline is simple. Only a small minority of respondents actively chose the biggest ships in the current market.

In the survey, just 9 per cent of passengers said they favoured the very large, 4,000-plus guest vessels, despite a run of high profile launches such as MSC World America and Royal Caribbean’s new Star of the Seas. 

By contrast, ships in the middle of the pack came out on top. Mid-size vessels, defined here as carrying between 1,001 and 2,500 passengers, were the first choice for 41 per cent of respondents when thinking about their 2026 bookings. Larger ships with more than 2,500 guests still had a solid following at 34 per cent, while 15 per cent preferred smaller ships below the mid-size threshold. 

All of this is happening in a year when the industry continues to add capacity at the big end, with new large ships such as Star Princess and Celebrity Xcel arriving to join the fleet. So the supply is certainly there. The survey simply suggests that, for many people, “big enough” may be more appealing than “absolutely enormous”.

Why people book in the first place

Ship size is only one part of the decision, of course. The research also dug into what actually pushes someone from “interested” to “booked”.

The most common reason was the appeal of visiting several places in one trip. The ability to tick off multiple destinations on a single itinerary was cited by 39 per cent of respondents as their main motivation for booking. Value for money came next at 20 per cent, followed by on board facilities and opportunities to relax, which were key for 10 per cent. Only 6 per cent said they were primarily booking to mark a special occasion. 

Price structure also matters. Just over a quarter of those surveyed, 28 per cent, said a lower starting fare or special deal would tempt them to commit, while 24 per cent said that all inclusive pricing would make them more likely to go ahead. Whether that all inclusive bundle is wrapped around a small ship or a big one is clearly less important than the sense that the overall package represents good value.

Where UK cruisers want to sail in 2026

On destinations, the survey confirms a few familiar truths. The Mediterranean remains the UK’s go to region, with around a quarter of respondents choosing it as their preferred option for a 2026 sailing. The Caribbean sits in second place at roughly 20 per cent. 

Northern Europe continues to appeal, with 11 per cent of those surveyed favouring it, while trips to Asia attract 8 per cent and Australasia 7 per cent. The pattern is exactly what you would expect from a market that likes a reliable Med cruise but is increasingly willing to fly further for the right itinerary.

Tony Andrews, managing director of cruise.co.uk, reads this as evidence that cruising has become a broad church, pointing to the strength of demand both for “classic Mediterranean sailings and long haul itineraries” and arguing that the variety of ships and routes now available means there is “something to suit every taste and budget”.

What this means if you are choosing a ship

For passengers, the message is not that there is a single “ideal” ship size, despite what the headline might suggest. It is more that a large number of people appear to be quietly choosing middle ground. Mid-size ships offer most of the facilities of their bigger siblings, but with fewer fellow guests and, often, a slightly calmer feel. Smaller ships keep attracting a loyal minority who care more about intimacy and ports than water features.

At the same time, a third of respondents still prefer large ships, and shipyards keep launching them, so the mega vessel is not going anywhere. It just has more company in the market now, and passengers seem increasingly comfortable choosing the scale that fits how they like to travel.

If you are weighing up your own options, this survey is a useful reminder to start with how you like to spend your time, not with the latest launch video. Decide whether you value quiet corners or endless choice, destination reach or on board attractions, then pick the size that gives you more of that. The industry, judging by these numbers, will be more than happy to provide a ship that fits.