Table Of Content
- A royal-style voyage around Scottish islands
- Celebrity Xploration (Celebrity Cruises)
- Cape Cod, The Islands and Newport
- Chichagof Dream (Alaskan Dream Cruises)
- Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine
- Ocean Albatros christening marks milestone for Albatros Expeditions
- Compare the 17 Best Small Cruise Ship Lines
Not just a pretty ship, Seabourn Venture is tough, built to PC6 Polar Class standards for a focus on expedition cruising in the polar regions. The ship carries two submarines, as well as a fleet of double sea kayaks and 24 Zodiacs that can accommodate all guests at once. You can build an a la carte vacation or pay upfront for an easy trip that includes an open bar, unlimited Wi-Fi and included crew gratuities. The expansive wooden sun decks on Wind Star and Wind Spirit make you want to be on topside as much as possible to enjoy the yachting life.
A royal-style voyage around Scottish islands
Gracious service and fine dining are paramount, and your table is likely to be set with signature china, European crystal, and heavy silver, and covered with Belgian linens. Onboard the ship, which sails from Juneau, guests will enjoy an on-deck hot tub and fitness equipment. Underwater cameras allow guests to glimpse sea life and other ocean wonders found in this coastal destination.
Celebrity Xploration (Celebrity Cruises)
River cruises are ideal for seeing the diversity of a region, and there’s plenty to see hopping from place to place along the Douro River in Portugal. A-ROSA ALVA is a small river boat that promises plenty of variety on an itinerary that starts in the colourful city of Porto before sailing into the wine-growing valleys. Hosting just 500 guests, it's not the smallest ship exploring the region. When you want to explore the coastline and islands of Costa Rica, it's sensible to find a cruise where you'll visit smaller ports and go a little off the beaten track — and to do that, you're going to need a smaller ship. With a range of opulent finishing touches, Scenic Diamond is a luxurious ship that carries a maximum of 155 passengers and offers exceptional dining, with all meals included on board.
Here's what it's like onboard a luxury yacht vacation - USA TODAY
Here's what it's like onboard a luxury yacht vacation.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:07:56 GMT [source]
Cape Cod, The Islands and Newport
We only had two, one the day we arrived, and then the captain's dinner. In the evening we did not want another dinner, and were rather at a loss to find something to do, as it was getting dark by 7.30 p.m. There is no menu for meals, but when I saw the size of the galley, I was not surprised, and the chef did well to prepare nearly 40 meals for us, plus more for the crew. All the crew were pleasant and helpful, especially getting us on and off the boat safely. We thought the wine and drinks were VERY expensive, so did not drink much on the boat, and the allowance of 1/2 a litre of water per day was not very generous if it is very hot.
Lindblad Expeditions has been a leader in small-ship expedition cruising since 1966 when company founder Lars-Eric Lindblad pioneered expeditions to Antarctica, Easter Island and the Galapagos. I also gravitate to the off-beat itineraries small ships offer because they focus on unusual and remote places that only small vessels can access. Mediterranean, Baltic and Caribbean SeaDream cruises incorporate hidden-away ports and crew-led activities, which are included in the pricing.
Chichagof Dream (Alaskan Dream Cruises)
The ships also have spacious pool decks with two hot tubs, a fitness center overlooking the sea, a spa, and water toys like kayaks and paddleboards. There’s even extreme camping gear for those willing to brave an overnight under the stars in Antarctica. During North American winters, all three of Atlas’s expedition yachts sail in Antarctica.
Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine
And, finally, mass-market lines definitely offer more itineraries that embark from easy-to-reach ports in the United States and beyond. In this category, we welcome the 930-passenger sister ships from Viking Ocean Cruises' ever-growing fleet which is on course to reach 16 vessels by 2027. All of Oceania's ships -- Insignia, Nautica, Regatta, Sirena, Riviera and Marina -- fall into this grouping, as do Azamara's ships (Journey, Quest, Pursuit and the recently acquired and yet to be renamed Pacific Princess). Crystal's two traditional cruise ships -- Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony -- are small ships and most of Regent's Seven Seas fleet -- Seven Seas Explorer, Voyager and Mariner -- are in this category.
Among the most visited in this region are the islands of Fiji, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef. Europe's Baltic region is most attractive for the opportunities to visit Russia and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland). Among the world's most popular destinations here are Norwegian Fjords and St Petersburg. The UK (British Isles) itineraries visit ports in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Quasar Expeditions (QuasarEx.com) is another major player on the luxury Galapagos cruising market. The company provides professional naturalists, and most of the tours (kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, walking, hiking) are included in the fares.
Compare the 17 Best Small Cruise Ship Lines
Partake in active excursions like or snorkelling, swimming and hiking. Scotland's Inner and Outer Hebrides are known and loved for their dramatic landscapes, from serene lochs to towering mountains. There are hundreds of islands to explore, so navigating on a small ship is a comfortable and convenient way of seeing the best of the isles, without having to worry about local ferry timetables. Some of the best small ship cruises can be better for the environment, especially when you choose one that runs on biofuel to reduce emissions and departs from the UK, making your entire trip flight-free.
Quark's Antarctica trips often go longer and farther south, with more varied itineraries than other lines. Days at sea are full of lectures and presentations from scientific experts and, on some vessels, photographers. Solo travelers can avoid a single supplement by opting for the Request-Share program where they will be matched with a same gender passenger to share a cabin.
The onboard experience is also more like that of sailing on a private yacht. You'll get to know your fellow passengers -- who tend to be well off and well traveled -- and the crew will cater to your every need, quickly learning not just your name but your likes and your dislikes. Alaskan Dream Cruises operates a fleet of six small, expedition-style ships. Misty Fjord features a hull modeled after Alaskan commercial fishing boats, while Kruzof Explorer is a converted Bering Sea crab fishing vessel.
Passengers can utilize each ship's fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks and stash of snowshoes and cross-country skis that aid in exploration. In a world where gigantic megaships draw all the attention, I've always found small ships to be the best.
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