Compare & book Small ship cruises(845)
What is small ship cruising?
What counts as a ‘small’ ship is a bit of an ongoing debate. The truth is that the category generally includes any vessel that accommodates fewer than 1,000 guests.
Compared to megaships carrying 7,000-plus passengers, small ships range from intimate catamarans that can host a handful of sailors to yachts designed for a few hundred guests. Typically, the latter are large enough to have at least some of the amenities you’ll recognise from larger vessels: multiple restaurants, a bar, a spa, an observation deck and so on.
The three main types of small ships are as follows:
- Oceangoing small ships
- Sailing yachts
- Expedition ships
What are the best cruise lines for small ship cruises?
In today’s market, you’re spoiled for choice, with a broad range of top-tier lines offering small ship cruising. In the luxury sector, Azamara and Viking are both known for their cultural cachet and destination immersion. If you want to experience sailing yachts, meanwhile, Windstar Cruises comes highly recommended.
You can also take it a step further with ultra-luxury small ship cruising, which provides all-inclusive, top-of-the-market voyages. Front-runners include Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Crystal and Explora Journeys.
If you’re looking to take an expedition cruise to far-flung destinations, meanwhile, you’ll find a selection of cruise lines with small ships developed to sail hard-to-navigate regions such as Antarctica or the Coral Triangle in Southeast Asia.
Strong contenders include National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, Ponant, HX, Quark Expeditions and Noble Caledonia.
Note that there are also regional small ship operators serving specific geographies. For example, Havila Voyages and Hurtigruten both operate along the Norwegian coast, while Hebridean Island Cruises focuses on the Scottish Isles and Unforgettable Croatia sails the Adriatic.
Recommended lines
What are the advantages of small ship cruising?
First and foremost, it means you’re able to access places that larger ships simply cannot reach. That might mean exclusive ports normally reserved for private yachts, narrow, hard-to-navigate canals, fjords or archipelagos, and flora-and-fauna-rich destinations that big vessels can’t visit for environmental reasons.
Beyond that, there are plenty of other benefits. Notably, large cruise ships carrying several thousand guests may overwhelm small communities. Small ships put far less pressure on the ports they call at.
On board, meanwhile, you often enjoy an elevated experience. Small ships frequently have a higher crew-to-guest ratio, meaning staff members have more bandwidth to get to know you and your preferences, resulting in more personalised service.
The atmosphere in public spaces is often more intimate, too. Compared to very large vessels where it’s easier to get lost in the crowd or feel somewhat anonymous, you’re far more likely to see familiar faces and find common ground regularly.
Where do small ship cruises go?
The big advantage of small ships is that they can sail to a wide range of destinations, which larger ships frequently cannot.
In Northern Europe, you might find them exploring the narrow fjords of Norway or the remote islands of Scotland. In the Mediterranean, they’ll call at less-visited Greek or Croatian islands or exclusive ports like St Tropez and Portofino. Some may even sail the Venetian Lagoon or cruise through the Corinth Canal.
Further afield, small ship cruising can take you to unspoiled atolls in French Polynesia and wildlife-rich islands like Komodo or Borneo.
For intrepid travellers, expeditions on small ships can also reveal destinations like Antarctica, Svalbard, the Kimberley and the Galápagos.
Destinations
Cruises from/to Bali
Cruises from/to Monte Carlo
Cruises from/to St Tropez
Cruises from/to Santorini
Cruises from/to Capri
Amalfi Coast Cruises
Cruises from/to Portofino
Sicily Cruises
Cruises from/to Venice
Cruises from Rosyth 2025-27
Norwegian Fjords Cruises
Caribbean Cruises
Greenland Cruises
Iceland Cruises
Antarctica Cruises
FAQs
What’s included on a small ship cruise?
This varies considerably depending on the cruise line. Typically, at minimum, you can expect accommodation, basic toiletries, full board, port taxes and onboard amenities to be covered.
Often, for high-end small ship sailing, extras are also bundled into the fare. This can include shore excursions, gratuities, transfers, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi plans and laundry services, for instance. Ultra-luxury small ships are almost always all-inclusive, meaning you can expect very generous coverage.
One thing to note is that if your small ship features a spa, treatments almost always incur a fee.
How expensive are small ship cruises?
While this varies significantly, small ship cruising does tend to be more expensive than sailing aboard very large vessels. This is largely due to higher operating costs per passenger, a higher crew-to-guest ratio and less capacity to meet demand. Factors like suite category, destination and season can also play an important role in pricing.
For luxury small ship sailings, a week-long sailing usually begins at a couple of thousand pounds for entry-level fares. Ultra-luxury sailings, meanwhile, can easily be double that. In both cases, costs can climb considerably higher for longer, more exclusive voyages.
Small ship expedition prices typically start a bit higher. Four or five thousand pounds is by no means unusual, and for destinations like Antarctica, fares frequently top £10,000.
To find the very best fares, which can dip beneath these baselines, we recommend planning ahead and booking well in advance.
Here's our guide on when to book.
What is the best time to go on a small ship cruise?
You can find excellent small ship cruises all across the year, with different destinations coming into their own in different seasons:
- Spring: The Galápagos, Japan, the French Riviera and French Polynesia
- Summer:The Scottish Islands, the Arctic, the Kimberley and the Coral Triangle
- Autumn:Greek Islands, Croatia, Southeast Asia, the US and Canada
- Winter: Antarctica, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Venice
What is the dress code on a small ship cruise?
There is no hard and fast rule, but small ships are typically less formal than larger ones. This is especially true of expedition cruises. After all, after a day of hiking, kayaking or wildlife spotting, chances are you want to be comfortable – think comfy knits over tuxes and tiaras.
On ultra-luxury cruises, such as Seabourn or Silversea, you may feel more comfortable wearing smart casual in the evenings, but black tie isn’t par for the course. Check with your specific cruise line if you’re unsure, but as a rule of thumb, any outfit that would work in a boutique hotel is generally acceptable.
Are children allowed on small ship cruises?
Yes, several small ship cruise lines do permit children. Some, such as National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions and Ponant, even have programming specifically for kids.
However, as a rule, do not expect small ship cruises to have the sprawling family-friendly amenities that you’ll find on larger vessels. If you want a resort at sea, with waterparks, racetracks and Broadway-style musicals, we recommend opting for a mid-sized or large ship.
Also, note that a few small ship cruise lines, such as Viking, are adults-only, meaning no guests under 18 are allowed. Many others have specific age restrictions. For instance, Windstar Cruises welcomes children aged eight and over.
Who are small ship cruises well-suited to?
The reality is that small ship cruising has a lot to offer anyone who wants to reach places larger ships can’t.
That said, this style of cruising frequently attracts couples who want the intimacy and informality of a smaller environment. Solo travellers also find plenty of appeal; after all, you get a relaxed sociability that you don’t always find on bigger vessels.
