Only 10 years ago, a 2000 passenger ship was considered to be large, but nowadays, 3,500 passengers is not unusual.

How do you choose between the vessels of this high quality four star market? What is it that you are looking for – great kids’ facilities, a quality spa, an interesting destination, a relaxed style of dining, a rock-climbing wall – or just a good price? You will surely need some help to guide you through the huge number of choices available.

Ships of this size tend to have the qualities of a resort, with a huge range of facilities on board; and in the same way as resorts whilst some may excel in one area, they are less impressive in another. They also tend to (but this is not invariable) repeat the same itinerary over and over again on one or two week rotations, using a home port for at least half of the year (this could be Miami or San Juan for Caribbean cruising, Vancouver for Alaska, Barcelona for the Mediterranean, or Southampton for Europe).

It’s hard therefore to summarise this ‘category’ in a sound-bite, but if your group is multi-generational or too easily bored by a ‘normal’ cruise, then you should certainly think of a cruise holiday aboard a large ship. Some of the facilities and accommodation can be superb. They can however be a bit overcrowded with not much room for the personal touch, and if this does not appeal then you should think again.