Of course these ships were ordered pre covid and represent deliveries over several years. I believe around 35 ships were sold to smaller lines or for scrap in 2020. I'd tend to agree about smaller ships, though that may be my personal preference speaking. Also, the possibility of non US ports of embarkation might also argue for smaller ships, the 4,000 plus ships can't go lots of places. In any case I've little doubt they're financially committed to the purchases, meaning the financial pressure may continue for some time after full capacity cruising resumes. I don't know much about the cost factors, newer ships are more economical assuming full capacity, which is a large assumption.
“I’d tend to agree about smaller ships, though that may be my personal preference speaking.”
Below is a recent article on 40 smaller cruise ships on order, and most hold between 200-300 people and only MSC and Viking have ordered 1,000 passenger ships in that group of 40.
Looks like the big 3, CARNIVAL-ROYAL-and NORWEGIAN are going for the bigger cruise ships. -Tom
https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24441-a-look-at-the-new-luxury-cruise-ship-fleet.html
Larger the ship, the better. I get more exercise, the shows are better (cruise company can spend more to hire show people with larger base of passengers), more variety of dining, and ships move with less rocking.
The largest ship I have sailed on was Oasis of the Seas (RCCL). It had a real Oasis on board with hundreds of trees and bushes and birds were living there permanently. Funny thing is it was the least crowded cruise even though there were 6000 passengers aboard.