Look at any cruise ad and you’ll see the biggest and newest cruise ships featured. But cruise ships can have a service life of 20, 25, or even 30 years. And during the life of a ship, what’s possible on a cruise can change wildly. The difference between a new ship and old is like night and day.
But those older ships still sail full, meaning that literally millions of passengers sail on them. So what will you wish you knew before you step onboard a ship that’s old enough to buy a beer? Here’s what to know…
Ship Are an Older Style, But Kept Up Well (For the Most Part)
If you think about a cruise ship that’s had thousands of passengers onboard every day for decades, you likely think it will look shabby, run-down or dirty.
That’s not the case. Public spaces are kept up well and with refurbishments, there is an opportunity for lines to replace old and worn out areas.
I’m always stunned with how well ships are kept up. To be sure, there is a lot of older style and décor. Don’t go onboard and expect it to look modern and stylish. Things will look a bit dated. When I sailed Carnival Ecstasy a couple of years ago before it retired, it felt like a time capsule. Old style, but the interior still felt nearly new.
That said, I do notice much more age and wear in the cabins. Here you will see the years accumulate much more than in public areas, I assume because it’s harder to revamp hundreds or thousands of rooms versus a single public space. So don’t expect your room to look sparklingly new on an older ship.
Older Ships Are Much Easier to Get Around
If you asked most people why they want to sail on an older ship, the big benefit they are most likely to say is that it’s so much easier to get around. Older ships were simply built much smaller than what you see today. So instead of an 1,100-foot ship to walk, you have something that’s more like 850 feet.
And instead of 20 decks, you might have a dozen. That makes going from the room to the pool to the restaurant to the casino to the theater so much more pleasant.
An old cruise ship is still big, but the size difference is something you definitely feel when going around the ship. And it’s not just in having fewer steps or the time it takes to get from one spot to another. There are fewer venues overall so there’s just a lot less to navigate.
For those that just want cruising to be an easy experience, it’s hard to beat
Far Fewer — And More Expensive — Balconies
If you were to put a cruise ship built 20-30 years ago to one built today, the first thing you’ll notice is the obvious size difference. That’s a no-brainer. But if you have a sharp eye, then the next thing you’ll notice is the lack of balconies on older ships.
Now those ships being built with practically zero balconies have largely been aged out. But if you sail on older ship that is closer to 20-30 years in age — or those built around 2005 and before, then you’ll notice that there are far fewer balconies on these ships.
Of course, balconies are in high demand no matter which ship you sail. And with a limited number of these rooms, you’re going to have to pay up if you want one. Expect the pricing for a balcony to be a premium compared to interior rooms. For instance, Carnival Elation – one of the oldest ships in Carnival’s fleet – charges more than twice as much for a balcony compared to an interior cabin. Carnival Jubilee, a brand new ship, sees a much more reasonable premium over interior rooms by comparison.
Cheaper Prices to Sail Overall
Building on pricing, lets go even broader with the differences you’ll see between pricing on older and newer ships. Yes, you can expect a premium on balconies on older ships given that there are fewer available.
Overall, however, you can expect to get much better prices on older ships compared to newer ones. In fact, you can often sail a similar length and itinerary as a newer ship, but for drastically cheaper when you choose older.
As an example, a trip aboard Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas — an older ship — for eight nights to the eastern Caribbean in June 2026 starts at around $1,500 per person.
But a similar trip on Star of the Seas — it’s newest ship — for only seven nights starts at around $2,250.
Now, there’s no arguing this is a different experience on these ships. It’s practically night and day. But if you’re mostly worried about getting the best deal, then there’s no doubt that older ships are where the deals will be.
Be Prepared for Limited Outlet Space
One difference you’ll find between new and old is something pretty nitty-gritty, but it’s a detail that you’ll want to know.
I’m talking of course about outlet space. Ships built 20-30 years ago were for a very different time. We weren’t nearly so connected and flooded with electronics. When I travel with the family, we have two cellphones, two tablets, a Nintendo Switch and a laptop. It’s insane. Even when I sail solo, I still have a phone, tablet, and computer.
New ships have you covered no matter what you bring. Nowadays having three outlets — plus USB ports for charging — is pretty standard. But depending on your ship, the older ones can have as little as a single outlet. That’s why you want to bring an outlet adapter, but even that can be iffy. Royal Caribbean recently banned them from their ships.
So just be ready for the dance of plug roulette if you’re sailing an older ship.
Entertainment Is Far Worse
Having sailed new ships, old ships, and everything in between, I’ve seen plenty to like on older ships. But I have to call a spade a spade when it comes to entertainment.
Cruise lines have gone wild in what’s possible on a cruise ship. I’ve seen Broadway-caliber shows, in fact, even shows adapted from Broadway or London’s West End make their way onto cruise ships. There’s sometimes a stereotype that cruise entertainment is hokey or performers who couldn’t hack it elsewhere. That’s not true at all.
The cruise lines — especially Royal Caribbean brands — put some flat-out amazing stuff on their newest ships.
Older ships, however? It’s actually a lot worse. These ships were built with much smaller and less advanced theaters. As a result, the wow factor for the shows just isn’t there compared to a newer ship. What you’re likely to see in the theater are some song-and-dance numbers that, well, just aren’t that exciting. That’s especially when you compare them to what’s see on newer ships these days.
If you’re someone who doesn’t care about entertainment, it’s no big deal. I actually like seeing shows and it’s a drawback of sailing older.
There Are Way Fewer Food Options
If there’s another drawback when you put newer ships next to older ships, it’s got to be the food options onboard.
Now before I go too far, the mass market lines tend to irritate me overall when it comes to food. What was simple — buy your cruise and eat where you want — has turned into a maze of free dining and paid dining. Now if you want anything other than the main dining room for dinner on many lines, you’ve got to pay up. Meanwhile, often I pass by those specialty restaurants and see them largely empty.
So on a new ship you can have upwards of a dozen dining options, but really only 3-4 if you don’t want to pay extra every meal. On older ships, you’ll realize that the numbers fall even further. Older ships just don’t have the size for a ton of restaurants. When it comes to dining options, they are drastically reduced.
And beyond that, you’ll find fewer options in the buffet as well, further limiting what there is to eat. These spaces are simply smaller and serving fewer people, so not only is there not the space to put out more variety, but it doesn’t really make sense for feeding fewer passengers.
There Is a Different Crowd Than on Mega Ships
There’s a sneaky difference between today’s newest and biggest ships and those smaller older ships that you might not realize. But for many people, it could be a game-changer that turns them onto older ships.
You likely know that the newer ships put all the crazy attractions onboard. Full waterparks, roller coasters, go-kart tracks, virtual reality arcades.
It’s all designed to get the attention of families looking to sail. These new ships are essentially kid magnets. If a family is choosing between a ship with a modest pool or one with a full-fledged waterpark, it’s a no-brainer what they are going to choose.
That means the older ships tend to have far fewer kids onboard. For those wanting a quieter and calmer time, it’s ideal. In fact, while many people don’t like sailing the newer and bigger ships, I think they should actually be thankful those ships are there to attract away kids.
Possible Advantage: There Could Be Smaller Crowds in Port
If you love to cruise but have grown tired of the crowds, then an older cruise ship could be just the thing for you, but not for the reason you think.
First, a smaller ship doesn’t automatically mean smaller crowds. Yes, there are fewer people onboard but there’s also less space overall. I’ve been on older ships that have still felt busy and crowded though in general they do feel a bit less hectic.
But one thing you’ll want to know is that the small ship may have some advantages in port or other ships could negate it altogether. While a smaller ship can still feel crowded in some cases, if that same ship goes to a port and there are no other ships around, then it can feel like you have the place to yourself. That’s a unique feeling and can make a port of call feel completely different.
But I’ve also sailed to major ports like Cozumel when your small ship is in port with mega ships and the place is as crowded as ever.
You can lookup which other ships are going to be in port on a site like Cruisemapper.com. Just click the port and then look up the date you’ll be there. Hopefully if you sail something older you’ll visit on a day when it’s not slammed with mega ships.
What to Know about the Atmosphere on an Older Ship
While I’ve talked about some of the bits and pieces of an old ship versus a new one, what I haven’t discussed is the overall atmosphere.
I want to be clear that different cruise lines have different personalities. If you sail something like Celebrity or Princess, then no matter which ship you sail, you can expect the atmosphere to be a bit more subdued. People aren’t sailing Princess to party like it’s Spring Break.
But when I’ve sailed major lines like Carnival or Royal Caribbean — especially Royal Caribbean — I find the atmosphere on older and smaller ships is way more relaxed. For one, remember that those new ships are going to have a lot more kids and families. But beyond that, there’s just more of everything. There are more activities, more passengers, more amenities, more restaurants and entertainment options. There’s always something going on.
Those older smaller ships in comparison just have a lot less. That doesn’t mean the vibe is dead. I’ve been on some older ships that are still a bit of a party, especially on short cruises. But overall the atmosphere is just way more calm and less hectic. For some folks, that’s exactly what they want.
