Small Ship Cruising

Small Ship Cruising

About Small Ship Cruising

Imagine the unique feeling of cruising the world on a small ship and sharing your journey with anywhere from 6 to less than 1,000 guests. Small ship cruises are offered across the globe, following itineraries that tend to include visits to both larger and more intimate ports; ports where larger ships simply cannot call. Small ship cruises are offered by a variety of cruise lines, catering to a range of itineraries and budgets. The onboard experience is much more intimate and small ships make it easier to know the ship, its staff and your fellow travelers. On a small cruise ship the rhythm of daily life is delightfully different. There are no long lines for embarking and disembarking the ship. Smaller ships tend to focus more on the destinations with onboard lecturers or naturalists and unique excursions. Dining is an intimate affair where you can meet for cocktails followed by gourmet fare, often in a single seating or at a time of your own choosing.

As a guest on a small ship, it seems easier to meet your fellow travelers. There is a special camaraderie that happens over drinks or at meal times when all the tables hold friendly and familiar faces. You and your fellow travelers become the best entertainment of all as you linger over coffee to share stories about the events of the day and many lifelong friendships begin with these shared, memorable experiences.

And, oh, the places you can go! Small ships can be welcomed at smaller ports and can sometimes tie up at docks where the town or places of interest are simply a short stroll away. Many small ship itineraries include overnight stays or late departures, allowing you an opportunity to try a great local restaurant or perhaps visit a local pub, attend an evening concert or simply savor the pleasure of walking through a charming town just like a local. Smaller ships often have special access to churches and museums after they close to the public, to host a unique concert or performance ranging from folk dancing to opera. Fewer guests give small ships the ability to structure tours, special meals, market visits and other events that may prove more challenging for larger ships.

Another plus of small ship cruising is that you are never very far away from anything on board. Did you forget your phone or your glasses? You are only a short walk from your stateroom. Are you running a bit late to join your sightseeing group? It only takes a short time to walk off the ship. Forgot the tour tickets or need a sweater? There's almost always time to make a quick trip back to your stateroom to retrieve the needed items. If you are on an adventure cruise, some small ships offer viewing platforms to help you get closer to the wildlife or sea life. Captains can sometimes maneuver these small ships closer to a spectacular sighting, or are able to dock the vessel in less-visited places offering once-in-a-lifetime chances to see or do something that may not be on the itinerary.

And sometimes it's just kicking back and letting the sea and sun work their magic. From laid back to luxurious, small ships take you to the places of your dreams, engage with you more personally, and create an easy, friendly environment that makes for a memorable cruise holiday.

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Best Small Ship Cruise Deals

SeaDream Yacht Club

7 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Sea Dream I itinerary St. Thomas/Charlotte Amalie to Philipsburg dates Feb 27 & Mar 26, 2028

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Emerald Cruises

7 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Emerald Azzurra itinerary Marigot to Bridgetown dates Feb 13 & Mar 13, 2027

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Lindblad Expeditions

7 Day Caribbean-Southern

ship National Geographic Quest itinerary Panama City/Panama to Cartagena/Colombia dates Oct 31 & Nov 7, 2026

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Seabourn

7 Day Caribbean-Southern

ship Seabourn Ovation itinerary Roundtrip Bridgetown dates Dec 12, 2026

Fr $2,965

Scenic Cruises

8 Day Caribbean-Southern

ship Scenic Eclipse II itinerary St. John's/Antigua to Bridgetown dates Oct 15, 2027

Fr $6,140

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Crystal Cruises

7 Day Alaska-N./S. Bound

ship Crystal Symphony itinerary Vancouver to Seward dates Sep 11, 2028

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Tauck Tours

9 Day Alaska-N./S. Bound

ship Silver Moon itinerary Vancouver to Anchorage dates Jul 29, 2026

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Tauck Tours

9 Day Alaska-N./S. Bound

ship Silver Moon itinerary Anchorage to Vancouver dates Jul 8 - Aug 5, 2026

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HX

9 Day Alaska-Tours & Cruises

ship MS Roald Amundsen itinerary Vancouver to Whittier dates May 22 - Jul 3, 2027

Fr $5,299

Fr $5,999

Fr $5,999

Star Clippers

5 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Star Clipper itinerary Roundtrip Rome/Civitavecchia dates Jul 13 & Aug 31, 2026

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SeaDream Yacht Club

6 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Sea Dream I itinerary Athens/Piraeus to Rome/Civitavecchia dates Oct 11, 2026

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Riviera River Cruises

7 Day Greece & Turkey

ship MS il Mare itinerary Roundtrip Split dates Sep 13 & 27, 2026

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Fr $2,299

Hurtigruten

5 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship MS Nordnorge itinerary Kirkenes to Bergen dates Aug 18, 2026 - Apr 17, 2027

Fr $1,109

Abercrombie & Kent

6 Day British Isles

ship Spirit of Scotland itinerary Roundtrip Inverness dates Aug 23 - Oct 25, 2026

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HX

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship MS Spitsbergen itinerary Roundtrip Tromso dates Nov 28, 2026 - Jan 30, 2027

Fr $4,167

Lindblad Expeditions

8 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship National Geographic Explorer itinerary Edinburgh to Copenhagen dates May 17 & 25, 2027

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Swan Hellenic Cruises

9 Day British Isles

ship SH Diana itinerary Lisbon to London dates May 20, 2028

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Viking Ocean Cruises

14 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Viking Astrea itinerary Stockholm to Bergen dates Sep 6, 2028

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Swan Hellenic Cruises

6 Day Africa

ship SH Diana itinerary Lisbon to Fuerteventura/Puerto del Rosario dates Sep 7, 2026

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Fr $4,948

Avalon Waterways Cruises

9 Day Nile River

ship MS Farah itinerary Roundtrip Cairo dates Sep 4 - Nov 6, 2026

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Tauck Tours

9 Day Nile River

ship Oberoi Philae itinerary Roundtrip Cairo dates Sep 13 - Nov 8, 2026

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Viking River Cruises

11 Day Nile River

ship Viking Ra itinerary Roundtrip Cairo dates Aug 28 - Nov 6, 2026

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Azamara Club Cruises

17 Day Africa

ship Azamara Onward itinerary Cape Town to Gran Canaria dates May 9, 2028

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Swan Hellenic Cruises

6 Day South America Coastal

ship SH Vega itinerary Salvador to Rio de Janeiro dates Oct 25, 2026 & Oct 28, 2027

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises

8 Day South America Coastal

ship Seven Seas Mariner itinerary Valparaiso to Lima dates Feb 18, 2029

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Seabourn

10 Day South America Coastal

ship Seabourn Pursuit itinerary San Antonio/Chile to Buenos Aires dates Nov 12, 2026

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Scenic Cruises

11 Day South America Coastal

ship Scenic Eclipse II itinerary Bridgetown to Rio de Janeiro dates Oct 23, 2027

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Quark Expeditions

11 Day Antarctic Cruises

ship Ultramarine itinerary Roundtrip Buenos Aires dates Feb 28, 2027 - Mar 10, 2028

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HX

14 Day South America Coastal

ship MS Fridtjof Nansen itinerary Valparaiso to Ushuaia dates Oct 17, 2026

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Fr $3,317

Viking Ocean Cruises

17 Day South America Coastal

ship Viking Jupiter itinerary Buenos Aires to Valparaiso dates Dec 2, 2026 - Feb 10, 2028

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Fr $6,137

Fr $6,782

Fr $6,907

Celebrity Cruises

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Celebrity Flora itinerary Roundtrip Baltra Island dates Aug 9, 2026 - Feb 21, 2027

Fr $6,925

Lindblad Expeditions

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship National Geographic Islander II itinerary Roundtrip Quito dates Jul 16 - Sep 24, 2026

Fr $7,123

Celebrity Cruises

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Celebrity Flora itinerary Roundtrip Baltra Island dates Mar 28 - Aug 1, 2027

Fr $7,954

Tauck Tours

8 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Isabela II itinerary Roundtrip Guayaquil dates Jul 9 & Nov 26, 2026

Fr $9,190

Lindblad Expeditions

11 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship National Geographic Islander II itinerary Lima to Quito dates Jul 16 - Nov 19, 2026

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Lindblad Expeditions

11 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship National Geographic Gemini itinerary Lima to Quito dates Sep 9, 2027 - Jan 27, 2028

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Tauck Tours

14 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Isabela II itinerary Lima to Guayaquil dates Sep 11 - Oct 9, 2026

Fr $14,190

Emerald Cruises

7 Day Vietnam/Cambodia Rivers

ship Emerald Harmony itinerary Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City dates Dec 5, 2026 - May 15, 2027

Fr $1,996

Avalon Waterways Cruises

7 Day Vietnam/Cambodia Rivers

ship Avalon Saigon itinerary Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City dates Dec 3, 2026 - Aug 12, 2027

Fr $3,249

Fr $4,352

Scenic Cruises

10 Day Vietnam/Cambodia Rivers

ship Scenic Spirit itinerary Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City dates Oct 3, 2026 - May 8, 2027

Fr $4,148

Viking Ocean Cruises

12 Day Southeast Asia

ship Viking Orion itinerary Laem Chabang to Benoa dates Nov 13, 2026 & Nov 11, 2027

Fr $5,999

Crystal Cruises

13 Day Japan & Far East

ship Crystal Symphony itinerary Seward to Tokyo dates Sep 18, 2028

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Viking River Cruises

14 Day Vietnam/Cambodia Rivers

ship Viking Saigon itinerary Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City dates Aug 21, 2026 - Feb 5, 2027

Fr $6,930

Scenic Cruises

7 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Scenic Eclipse II itinerary Sydney/Australia to Hobart dates Nov 10, 2028

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Azamara Club Cruises

11 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Azamara Onward itinerary Papeete/Polynesia to Auckland dates Feb 4, 2028

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Swan Hellenic Cruises

13 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship SH Minerva itinerary Dunedin to Auckland dates Mar 8, 2027 & Mar 8, 2028

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Viking Ocean Cruises

16 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Viking Orion itinerary Benoa to Sydney/Nova Scotia dates Nov 25, 2026 & Nov 23, 2027

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Viking Ocean Cruises

16 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Viking Venus itinerary Benoa to Sydney/Nova Scotia dates Nov 6, 2026 & Nov 9, 2027

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Scenic Cruises

12 Day South Pacific Islands

ship Scenic Eclipse II itinerary Papeete/Polynesia to Lautoka dates Apr 13, 2028

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Lindblad Expeditions

17 Day South Pacific Islands

ship National Geographic Resolution itinerary Santiago/Chile to Papeete/Polynesia dates Oct 16, 2026 & Mar 24, 2027

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Seabourn

19 Day South Pacific Islands

ship Seabourn Quest itinerary Brisbane to Honolulu dates Apr 15, 2027

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Viking Ocean Cruises

7 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship Viking Sea itinerary Roundtrip Reykjavik dates Jul 12, 2027 - Aug 1, 2028

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HX

7 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship MS Fridtjof Nansen itinerary Roundtrip Reykjavik dates May 19 & 26, 2027

Fr $4,983

Lindblad Expeditions

7 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship National Geographic Explorer itinerary Roundtrip Reykjavik dates Jul 19, 2026 - Jul 31, 2027

Fr $7,030

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Fr $14,959

Viking Ocean Cruises

12 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship Viking Mars itinerary Bergen to Reykjavik dates Jun 21 & Jul 15, 2028

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Crystal Cruises

16 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship Crystal Serenity itinerary Copenhagen to Portsmouth/England dates Aug 2, 2028

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All offers are based on select sailings and categories and are subject to availability at time of booking. All rates are per person based on double occupancy.

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