For those who want a vacation packed with activities and in the mean time enjoy navigating seas and oceans and the occasional sight-seeing, passenger ships might be their perfect get-away. Cruise ships developed so much over the years, that the ports of call, as the stops are called, are way down on the list of reasons why people choose to go on voyages on these ships. Now the megaships are an entertainment-filled city all on their own offering activities that range from casinos, spas, theater and cinema halls to indoor and outdoor pools, lounges, tennis courts and what not.

Large ships destined for cruising and tourism began being built in the late 1980’s. The big change was that they provided a single deck for cabins with private balconies while their predecessors only had ocean view cabins. Then verandas started to appear and the builders made room for additional entertainment solutions and an increased capacity for passengers. And it seems it has been smooth sailing ever since. In only two decades the largest cruise ships doubled their widths, increased their length by a third and the number of passengers they could accommodate boosted from a little over 2.500 to over 5.400. Also, all large ships now provide accommodation only in deck cabins with verandas.

Out of the ten world’s largest ships, eight belong to the Royal Caribbean International cruise line and two to Norwegian Cruise Line. And it was the Royal Caribbean International cruise line that offered us, in 2016, the largest cruise ship in the world: Harmony of the Seas, a slightly larger version of the ships ranked second and third that also belong to the same cruise line and are part of the Oasis Class ships.

· Harmony of the Seas

She can be the temporary home for 5,479 guests (at double occupancy) during its seven-night voyage through the eastern and western Caribbean that starts in Florida. To give you an idea of its colossal dimensions, let’s just say that its length can be covered by laying down three Statues of Liberty, pedestal included. Its attraction is the tallest slide on sea, a 10-story high dry slide called “Ultimate Abyss”.

· Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas

The twin sister ships are almost identical, having been built following the same construction specifications, although Allure of the Seas is with 5 centimeters longer. They are close in dimension as the Harmony of the Seas and can house 5,412 passengers.

Once you board a megaship you set foot in a wonderland, yet still having the comfort of urban life. The accommodation and entertainment is set in seven different neighborhoods across the decks.

What you can do on board surpasses the imagination:

· up to 20 dining venues, including a molecular gastronomy restaurant

· a Royal theater with over 1,400 seats

· a full-size basketball court

· zip lines and walls for climbing

· Central Park, a huge open air garden

· "Casino Royale" to satisfy any desire for slots and table games

· swimming pools, hot tubs, surf simulators and water slides

· spa and fitness centers

· many shops

· much, much more

If you think about taking a vacation on sea that can keep you entertained the entire time, cruise ships are for you.

And when it comes to cruise ships, size really matters. Book a voyage on one of the world’s largest cruise ships and be prepared for a big experience. And if the stress of packing is what keeps you from not going, don’t worry. Even the wardrobe space is big on these ships, so you don’t have to spend time to pack light.