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

Fr $1,888

Emerald Cruises

Max occupancy 100 guests

7 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Emerald Azzurra itinerary St. John's/Antigua to San Juan dates Dec 13, 2025 - Feb 7, 2026

Fr $3,089

Fr $3,092

SeaDream Yacht Club

Max occupancy 112 guests

7 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Sea Dream I itinerary Roundtrip San Juan dates Jan 16 - Apr 10, 2027

Fr $3,629

Fr $4,992

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 100 guests

7 Day Caribbean-Southern

ship National Geographic Quest itinerary Panama City/Panama to Cartagena/Colombia dates Oct 19, 2025 - Nov 7, 2026

Fr $6,128

Crystal Cruises

Max occupancy 606 guests

8 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Crystal Symphony itinerary Fort Lauderdale to San Juan dates Feb 9, 2027

Fr $3,146

Fr $4,061

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

10 Day Caribbean-Western

ship Viking Sea itinerary Roundtrip San Juan dates Jan 8, 2026 - Feb 24, 2027

Fr $3,499

Fr $4,843

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Max occupancy 746 guests

10 Day Caribbean-Western

ship Seven Seas Grandeur itinerary Roundtrip Miami dates Dec 9, 2026

Fr $5,760

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 62 guests

5 Day Alaska-Inside Passage

ship National Geographic Sea Lion itinerary Sitka to Juneau dates Aug 25, 2025 - Aug 28, 2026

Fr $3,992

Fr $3,244

Fr $3,930

Seabourn

Max occupancy 608 guests

7 Day Alaska-N./S. Bound

ship Seabourn Encore itinerary Juneau to Vancouver dates Jun 5 - Aug 28, 2026

Fr $4,835

American Cruise Line

Max occupancy 174 guests

8 Day Alaska-Inside Passage

ship American Constellation itinerary Roundtrip Juneau dates Aug 25, 2025 - Sep 6, 2027

Fr $6,163

HX

9 Day Alaska-Northbound

ship MS Roald Amundsen itinerary Vancouver to Seward dates May 1 & 22, 2026

Fr $4,554

Tauck Tours

Max occupancy 598 guests

9 Day Alaska-N./S. Bound

ship Silver Moon itinerary Vancouver to Anchorage dates Jul 15 - Aug 12, 2026

Fr $9,190

Fr $4,999

SeaDream Yacht Club

Max occupancy 112 guests

6 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Sea Dream II itinerary Barcelona to Nice dates Sep 6, 2025

Fr $11,742

Fr $1,681

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

7 Day Greece & Turkey

ship Viking Vesta itinerary Athens/Piraeus to Istanbul dates Sep 1, 2025 - Aug 11, 2026

Fr $2,599

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Viking Neptune itinerary Barcelona to London dates Jan 20, 2026

Fr $2,599

Riviera River Cruises

Max occupancy 40 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-East

ship MS il Mare itinerary Roundtrip Split dates Aug 31, 2025 - Jun 28, 2026

Fr $2,707

Silversea Cruises

Max occupancy 596 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Silver Muse itinerary Rome/Civitavecchia to Barcelona dates Dec 14, 2025

Fr $3,264

SeaDream Yacht Club

Max occupancy 112 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Sea Dream I itinerary Nice to Barcelona dates Oct 18, 2025

Fr $5,149

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 922 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Explora II itinerary Rome/Civitavecchia to Barcelona dates Sep 1, 2025

Fr $5,280

Fr $6,191

Fr $8,194

Fr $3,838

Fr $3,781

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 218 guests

7 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship National Geographic Explorer itinerary Roundtrip Reykjavik dates May 17 - Aug 2, 2026

Call

Seabourn

Max occupancy 608 guests

7 Day Iceland & Britain

ship Seabourn Ovation itinerary Reykjavik to Dover dates Jun 6, 2026

Fr $4,454

HX

Max occupancy 170 guests

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship MS Spitsbergen itinerary Roundtrip Tromso dates Nov 28, 2026 - Mar 20, 2027

Fr $4,761

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Viking Neptune itinerary Amsterdam to Bergen dates May 30 & Aug 8, 2026

Fr $5,499

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 926 guests

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Explora III itinerary Copenhagen to Southampton dates Sep 2, 2026

Fr $6,672

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Max occupancy 298 guests

9 Day British Isles

ship Evrima itinerary Lisbon to Dublin dates Jun 20, 2026

Fr $9,800

Seabourn

Max occupancy 268 guests

10 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship Seabourn Venture itinerary Roundtrip Reykjavik dates Jul 16, 2026

Fr $11,588

Hurtigruten

Max occupancy 418 guests

11 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship MS Nordkapp itinerary Roundtrip Bergen dates Nov 5, 2025 - Jan 30, 2027

Fr $2,076

SeaDream Yacht Club

Max occupancy 112 guests

11 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Sea Dream II itinerary Oslo to Tromso dates May 23 - Jul 6, 2026

Fr $11,181

Fr $3,942

AmaWaterways Cruises

Max occupancy 28 guests

9 Day Zambezi River (S. Africa)

ship Zambezi Queen itinerary Cape Town to Johannesburg dates Oct 17 & 31, 2025

Fr $12,645

Viking River Cruises

Max occupancy 82 Guests

11 Day Nile River

ship MS Antares itinerary Roundtrip Cairo dates Aug 25, 2025 - Feb 9, 2026

Fr $6,999

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 44 guests

11 Day Nile River

ship Oberoi Philae itinerary Roundtrip Cairo dates Sep 6 - Nov 29, 2025

Fr $10,745

Fr $9,018

Tauck Tours

Max occupancy 40 guests

8 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Isabela II itinerary Roundtrip Guayaquil dates Dec 11, 2025 - Nov 26, 2026

Fr $9,190

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 28 guests

9 Day Western Amazon Cruise

ship Delfin II itinerary Roundtrip Lima dates Sep 6 - Dec 20, 2025

Fr $8,208

Uniworld River Cruises

Max occupancy 32 guests

10 Day Western Amazon

ship Aria Amazon itinerary Roundtrip Lima dates Jan 14 - Dec 2, 2026

Fr $12,870

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 922 guests

12 Day Amazon River Cruises

ship Explora I itinerary Manaus to San Juan dates Feb 17, 2027

Fr $7,959

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 378 guests

12 Day Antarctic Cruises

ship Viking Polaris itinerary Buenos Aires to Ushuaia dates Nov 3, 2025 - Feb 21, 2026

Fr $12,995

Fr $18,639

HX

14 Day South America Coastal

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

Fr $6,797

Ponant Cruises

Max occupancy 244 Guests

14 Day South America Coastal

ship Le Lyrial itinerary Valparaiso to Ushuaia dates Nov 3, 2026

Fr $12,450

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 Guests

17 Day South America

ship Viking Jupiter itinerary Valparaiso to Buenos Aires dates Dec 16, 2025 - Feb 25, 2027

Fr $7,699

Swan Hellenic Cruises

Max occupancy 192 guests

17 Day South America Coastal

ship SH Vega itinerary Buenos Aires to Ushuaia dates Nov 14, 2025

Fr $15,580

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 126 guests

17 Day Antarctica

ship National Geographic Resolution itinerary Santiago/Chile to Puerto Natales dates Oct 12, 2025

Fr $16,519

Oceania Cruises

Max occupancy 698 Guests

19 Day Amazon River Cruise

ship Insignia itinerary Roundtrip Bridgetown dates Jan 27, 2026

Fr $5,553

Fr $11,716

Crystal Cruises

MAX OCCUPANCY 606 GUESTS

25 Day Amazon River Cruises

ship Crystal Symphony itinerary Roundtrip Fort Lauderdale dates Jan 15, 2027

Fr $10,514

Avalon Waterways Cruises

Max Capacity 18 Guests

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Treasure of Galapagos itinerary Roundtrip Quito dates Sep 24 - Nov 19, 2025

Fr $6,194

Celebrity Cruises

Max Capacity 100 Guests

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Celebrity Flora itinerary Roundtrip Baltra Island dates Aug 24, 2025 - Dec 27, 2026

Fr $8,886

Silversea Cruises

Max Capacity 102 Guests

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Silver Origin itinerary Leon Dormido/Kicker Rock to San Cristobal Island dates Apr 11, 2026 - Mar 27, 2027

Fr $11,904

Silversea Cruises

Max Capacity 102 Guests

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Silver Origin itinerary Leon Dormido/Kicker Rock to San Cristobal Island dates Sep 20, 2025 - Mar 6, 2027

Fr $12,000

HX

Max occupancy 102 guests

8 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship MS Santa Cruz II itinerary Roundtrip North Seymour Island dates Aug 27, 2025 - Mar 25, 2026

Fr $6,900

Tauck Tours

Max Capacity 40 Guests

8 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Isabela II itinerary Roundtrip Guayaquil dates Dec 11, 2025

Fr $9,290

HX

Max Capacity 102 Guests

9 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship MS Santa Cruz II itinerary Roundtrip North Seymour Island dates Aug 30, 2025 - Mar 14, 2026

Fr $8,903

Avalon Waterways Cruises

Max Capacity 18 Guests

11 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Treasure of Galapagos itinerary Roundtrip Quito dates Sep 24 - Nov 19, 2025

Fr $8,490

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 96 guests

11 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship National Geographic Islander II itinerary Roundtrip Guayaquil dates Dec 18, 2025

Fr $16,929

Avalon Waterways Cruises

Max Capacity 18 Guests

14 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Treasure of Galapagos itinerary Callao to Quito dates Sep 21 - Nov 16, 2025

Call

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 922 guests

7 Day Arabian Peninsula

ship Explora II itinerary Roundtrip Dubai dates Dec 14, 2026 & Jan 11, 2027

Fr $3,648

Fr $5,398

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max Occupancy 930 Guests

12 Day Southeast Asia

ship Viking Venus itinerary Laem Chabang to Benoa dates Nov 2, 2025

Call

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 52 guests

12 Day Vietnam & Cambodia

ship Jahan itinerary Siem Reap to Saigon River dates Jan 14 - Feb 5, 2026

Call

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 Guests

12 Day Southeast Asia

ship Viking Orion itinerary Benoa to Laem Chabang dates Apr 15, 2026 & Mar 24, 2027

Fr $6,199

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Max occupancy 330 guests

13 Day Southeast Asia

ship Paul Gauguin itinerary Singapore to Darwin dates Mar 16, 2027

Fr $6,435

Tauck Tours

Max occupancy 264 Guests

13 Day Japan & Korea

ship Le Soleal itinerary Seoul to Tokyo dates Apr 10 & 26, 2026

Fr $17,140

Fr $7,488

Crystal Cruises

MAX OCCUPANCY 606 GUESTS

8 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Crystal Serenity itinerary Auckland to Melbourne dates Feb 19, 2026

Fr $4,810

Silversea Cruises

Max Occupancy 596 Guests

10 Day Southern Australia

ship Silver Moon itinerary Melbourne to Fremantle dates Feb 4, 2026

Fr $5,280

Ponant Cruises

Max occupancy 260 Guests

10 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Le Soleal itinerary Darwin to Broome dates Jun 29 - Aug 28, 2026

Fr $10,920

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

14 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Viking Venus itinerary Auckland to Sydney/Australia dates Dec 14, 2025 - Feb 28, 2027

Fr $7,399

Fr $9,600

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Max Occupancy 330 Guests

7 Day Tahiti

ship Paul Gauguin itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates Aug 23, 2025 - Dec 12, 2026

Fr $2,961

Windstar Cruises

Max Occupancy 312 Guests

7 Day Tahiti

ship Star Breeze itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates Oct 15, 2026

Fr $3,290

Crystal Cruises

MAX OCCUPANCY 606 GUESTS

9 Day South Pacific Islands

ship Crystal Serenity itinerary Papeete/Polynesia to Lautoka dates Jan 29, 2026

Fr $4,922

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Max Occupancy 330 Guests

10 Day Tahiti

ship Paul Gauguin itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates Oct 8, 2025 - Dec 2, 2026

Fr $5,683

Fr $10,302

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Max Occupancy 330 Guests

14 Day Tahiti

ship Paul Gauguin itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates May 23 - Dec 19, 2026

Fr $7,623

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

7 Day Iceland & Greenland

ship Viking Mars itinerary Roundtrip Reykjavik dates Jun 22 - Aug 10, 2026

Fr $6,099

Fr $8,053

Fr $10,460

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 926 guests

8 Day Arctic & British Isles

ship Explora IV itinerary Reykjavik to Southampton dates Jun 2, 2027

Fr $7,695

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 126 guests

9 Day Arctic

ship National Geographic Resolution itinerary Roundtrip Oslo dates May 11 - 25, 2026

Fr $14,733

HX

Max occupancy 170 guests

12 Day Arctic

ship MS Spitsbergen itinerary Glasgow to Longyearbyen dates May 7, 2026

Call

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max Occupancy 996 Guests

14 Day Iceland, Svalbard & Norway

ship Viking Vela itinerary Reykjavik to Bergen dates Aug 17, 2026

Fr $8,499

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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