Liveaboards - Some Stories I've heard...are they true?

[DiveMaven]

There are boats out there that will pack 30 people on a trip. But if you look for a boat with a small crew, and one that limits itself to 10 or less passengers, you will have an excellent time, I assure you!

I have to respectfully disagree that automatically the smaller boat means the better trip. Our first liveaboard was on the Nekton Pilot where the boat can hold 32 divers. Although that's a lot of divers, the way the boat is laid out gives everyone plenty of room to spread out and relax. There's a dining area, a salon (with a large screen TV and computer), a sun deck with a hot tub (both covered and open areas), and the cabins are very large and ensuite (queen sized bed, full sized shower).

Personally, I'd rather be on a bigger boat with more people and have the amenities that Nekton offers vs a smaller boat where I feel crammed into a tiny cabin, have a bunk for privacy, or have to share a bathroom with a bunch of folks for a week. It all boils down to personal preference and what you might be willing to compromise on. For me, a private cabin with bathroom is a must, so I won't be joining any Blackbeard's cruises. :blinking:

 

[Damselfish]

There are boats out there that will pack 30 people on a trip. But if you look for a boat with a small crew, and one that limits itself to 10 or less passengers, you will have an excellent time, I assure you!

agree, this is limiting and arbitrary. For example there are many boats in the 20+/- range (a pretty common size for Aggressor, Explorer, Hughes, and others) that have nice amenities you may not get on a smaller boat and are by no means crowded. In liveaboards the number of passengers by itself doesn't tell you anything.