How Roomy Is My Cruise Ship?

In comparing my last two cruises on two different cruise lines, I noticed the ships were very similar in size. Yet, one felt less crowded than the other. The odd thing was, the less crowded ship carried nearly 450 more passengers and crew than the other!

For many cruise travelers, a ‘less crowded’ ship (or at least the illusion of fewer people) is something rarely considered but can have a positive or negative effect on the cruise experience. It is quite possible to get an idea of how well the ship is designed for the number of passengers: by calculating the ship’s space ratio.

Many times, ship statistics (like the passenger and crew complement) are accompanied by a number identified as the ‘gross registered tonnage.’ This is the value by which cruise ship size is measured; but, it does not refer to the weight of the ship, as many think. Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) is a measurement of the volume of enclosed public space on board the ship. This means the staterooms, hallways, dining rooms, and so on. One GRT is equal to 100 cubic feet of space.

The space ratio is determined by taking the GRT and dividing it by the number of passengers. For example: a ship with a GRT of 116,000, and a passenger count of 2,670 would have a space ratio of 43. A ship with a GRT of 113,300 and a passenger count of 3,006 has a space ratio of 37.

Now that you know how to find the space ratio, and you know the value of the space ratio, what do you do with this information?

The higher the value of the space ratio, the less cramped the ship will feel. A higher space ratio means there is more space per passenger than a ship with a low space ratio. In our example above, the ship with a space ratio of 43 will feel less crowded than the ship with a ratio of 37. Looking at the numbers, we can see this makes sense: the first ship has a higher GRT, but less passengers, than the second. So, even though the ships are of a similar size, the first one is designed to hold less passengers in a bigger area, and would then be a better choice for someone who wants to feel less cramped.

Generally, a space ratio in the 30′s is a good number; premium or luxury cruise ships can have space ratios in the 40′s and even the 50′s. As a general rule, cruise lines with higher space ratios tend to cost more than those with lower ratios. The staterooms are larger, and public spaces are roomier.

It’s always interesting to look back at past cruises, calculate the space ratios, and compare it with how crowded or roomy the ship felt overall. It’s a good bet that the space ratio will be come a vital statistic when choosing your next cruise ship!