The 18 best small cruise ships sailing the world
Table Of Content
Local flavours enhance exceptional culinary flair onboard – there are even opportunities to go shopping with the chefs. Plus, top-notch educational and shore excursion programmes add to the destination experience. For the tall-ship enthusiast, there's nothing quite like sailing under a starry or sunny sky, powered by the bluster of ocean winds. If you want to float along with the wind while exploring less-travelled ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia, Star Clippers is tough to beat. The fleet's three vessels -- flagship 227-passenger Royal Clipper and 170-passenger twins Star Clipper and Star Flyer -- are some of the fastest clipper ships ever built in modern times. Feel the sails, catch the breeze, visit the captain and officers in the open bridge, or climb high in the rigging.
Authentic Adventure and Cultural Experiences
All fares are a guide (not live pricing) and subject to change without notice, please call for latest prices. Offers are capacity controlled and may be modified or withdrawn at any time. But it was Paul Gauguin Cruises, now owned by French cruise company Ponant, that emerged as the reader favorite among the best cruise lines for small ships. Family-owned SeaDream Yacht Club offers the next best thing with its twin cruising yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream II, offering sophistication sans the pretense for a maximum of 112. Newcomer Ocean Victory is large for a small cruise ship, which allows it to offer more on its Alaska expeditions.
Oceania Cruises Elevates Small Ship Luxury Offering in Alaska, with Riviera Debuting in "The Last Frontier" in Summer ... - PR Newswire
Oceania Cruises Elevates Small Ship Luxury Offering in Alaska, with Riviera Debuting in "The Last Frontier" in Summer ....
Posted: Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Celebrity Cruises
They say the size and extra level of attention make a small vessel experience rise about the rest. With small ship river cruises, it is all about exploring the shores alongside flowing waters, and understanding indigenous or local experiences. Small ships are the perfect way to get the most immersive adventure into the life, culture, and diversities of countries like Cambodia and Vietnam. To make the most of your experience amid these natural wonders, the best small ship ocean cruises approach destinations at a closer distance, presenting better opportunities for stunning views and on-shore excursions. Indonesia is home to some of the most magical spots, some truly experienced only by the waters.
Small ship cruises can be a real adventure
They do so by learning more about the cultures and interacting with locals thanks to the help of a team of expert guides on board, who are also locals of the region. You'll also find a large variety of dining options on most of these ships. Regent's largest ship has seven restaurants; Oceania's largest have eight. Crystal teams up with celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa for a popular Japanese-fusion restaurant, while Oceania's menus are created in collaboration with famed chef Jacques Pepin.
What the ships lack in modern touches, they make up for in experience and service. The food is excellent and served both on the romantic outdoor decks and inside the cozy restaurant. "The high crew-to-passenger ratios of small ships allow for unparalleled levels of personalized care and attention to detail," he says.
Best Covid-19 Travel Insurance Plans
Seabourn Sojourn enchants her guests with an array of public areas scaled to encourage a relaxed sociability. On Sea Cloud Spirit, passengers benefit from both age-old seafaring techniques and modern comforts. Grab a book and lay on our lounge daybeds, or give our custom-made jacuzzi a whirl after your excursions. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. We have just returned from a 16 day cruise to Tasmania and New Zealand on Silversea “Silver Whisper”. Hurtigruten also takes in destinations like the Galapagos, Svalbard and the Northwest Passage, and the West Coast of Africa, together with the explorations in search of the Northern Lights.
Norwegian-based cruise line Hurtigruten plies the poles with 16 ships of varying sizes. The fleet's latest vessels -- the 530-passenger MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen -- are eco-friendly hybrid propulsion ships that reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20 percent. The ships feature suites and cabins with balconies, as well as ocean-view cabins. But behind the scenes, cruise lines have taken steps to ensure the safety of their guests post-pandemic.
Sailing to worldwide destinations that include Greece, Cuba, the Seychelles, Costa Rica, Panama, West Africa and Cape Verde, the vessels moor in secluded bays and private marinas that are inaccessible to larger ships. The onboard vibe is casual and low-key, with very personal levels of service and the opportunity to dine on deck and swim and snorkel off the back of the ships. UnCruise Adventures offers adventure cruises designed to appeal to people who might not normally cruise (hence the name). The line's nine vessels, holding between 22 and 90 passengers, sail to destinations including Alaska, Costa Rica and Panama, coastal Washington, Hawaii, Galapagos Islands, British Columbia and Mexico's Sea of Cortez. UnCruise doesn't do many typical port stops, preferring to pause in inlets and bays that offer maximum exposure to nature and wildlife.
Mediterranean, Baltic and Caribbean SeaDream cruises incorporate hidden-away ports and crew-led activities, which are included in the pricing. Swimsuits, cover-ups and T-shirts are typical daytime attire on these windjammer cruises, and dress for dinner and evenings remains refreshingly casual. Cabins come with air-conditioning, and all but two offer portholes and private bathrooms.
Consider No. 2 Windstar Cruises, which recently rebuilt three of its small ships at an investment of $250 million, adding more suites, improved culinary options, and enhanced spa facilities to each. “I'm never going to be able to get on another cruise line,” said one convert, who traveled on Star Legend. One of our favourite features -- available on each of Windstar's vessels -- is the water sports platform, with its range of complimentary activities such as snorkelling, wind-sailing, paddle-boarding and even water skiing). The ships are the 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star, each with four masts and six sails, and the 342-passenger five-masted Wind Surf, which is the world's largest sailing vessel.
Australian river cruise and tour company Scenic made its ocean cruising debut with the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse offering all-inclusive itineraries to destinations including Antarctica, the Arctic, South America and the Baltic. The ship combines all the trappings of luxury with the thrill of expedition sailing. Standout features include two onboard helicopters and a submarine, Scenic Neptune, which can carry six passengers and dive to a depth of nearly 1,000 feet.
What hasn’t changed, however, is the exceptional onboard service and comfort. All-inclusive excursions remain too, bringing each stop to life with the help of expert guides and lecturers. As their name suggests, Aurora Expeditions specialise in adventurous cruises to the likes of Antarctica, Patagonia, and the Arctic. With just two ships in their fleet – the Sylvia Earle and Greg Mortimer – they’re a perfect example of quality over quantity. The ship's 12 crew members include wellness professionals (wellness is a big focus for the brand), naturalist guides and a local chef.
"It was an amazing experience, as the small ship allows for access to places a larger ship would not be able to get to, as well as a yacht charter-esque experience for a fraction of the cost," she says. "When you go on a small cruise ship, you won't have to deal with crowds or lengthy wait times," says Mathew Bowley, an avid cruiser. "It's simple to obtain a table at one of the restaurants, a drink at the tavern, a cup of coffee at the café, or explore the ship in general."
From luxury hotels to on-shore explorations with a difference, private transfers and home chauffeur pick-ups, we’re here to provide a seamless journey. Though better known for its big ships, Celebrity Cruises has been a leader in offering Galapagos itineraries on intimate vessels since it first launched the 98-passenger Celebrity Xpedition in 2004. Since then, two more small ships -- the intimate 16-passenger Celebrity Xploration and 100-passenger Celebrity Flora – have joined the fleet. Expedition cruising with Silversea means you'll visit a good mix of mainstream and less-crowded destinations (Galapagos, Polynesia, Micronesia and more) throughout the world's seven continents. Itineraries include complimentary shore excursions, such as Zodiac tours, nature hikes with certified guides, snorkelling and kayaking.
She recently discovered a new product out of Ecuador, Kontiki Expeditions. The company converted and renovated a motor yacht to sell as staterooms in a cruise-style format. "The cabins were barely long enough for us to get into the room. I had to share a cabin with another woman. That was OK, but the beds were smaller than twin size. We had one high porthole window which I could not open." "We had to provide a specific amount of medical insurance and have written medical clearance, which was reviewed and approved by Viking no less than 45 days before the cruise," she says. "First, people’s prioritization of their bucket list travels has changed," says Skjeldam. "Before the pandemic, they would say they wanted to go to a dream destination within the next ten years. That has now changed to within the next two years."
Seabourn's new Seabourn Venture (and upcoming sister Seabourn Pursuit) are on par with Silver Endeavour and Scenic Eclipse when it comes to pairing top-of-the-line luxury and pampering with incredible itineraries. For dining, there are four main restaurants, including an Italian and a French-inspired venue. The Grill is an eatery enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass for the best views in the house. Itineraries focus on the Mediterranean during the summer, with mostly one- to two-week cruises that call on ports along the coasts of Croatia, Albania, Italy, France, Turkey and the Greek Islands. Fares include everything from wine, beer and spirits to daily excursions.
Comments
Post a Comment