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

Azamara Club Cruises

Max occupancy 704 Guests

7 Day Caribbean-Southern

ship Azamara Quest itinerary San Juan to Bridgetown dates Nov 8 - Dec 6, 2025

Fr $1,309

Windstar Cruises

Max occupancy 342 guests

7 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Wind Surf itinerary Roundtrip Philipsburg dates Dec 14, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026

Fr $2,358

Fr $2,852

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 922 guests

7 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Explora I itinerary San Juan to Miami dates Dec 5, 2025 & Feb 5, 2026

Fr $3,149

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 $3,914

Fr $4,499

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Max Occupancy 198 Guests

7 Day Caribbean-Southern

ship World Navigator itinerary Philipsburg to Bridgetown dates Oct 14, 2026

Fr $5,003

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 $5,176

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

10 Day Caribbean-Western

ship Viking Sea itinerary Roundtrip San Juan dates Dec 29, 2025 - Feb 24, 2027

Fr $3,499

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 922 guests

10 Day Caribbean-Eastern

ship Explora II itinerary Roundtrip Miami dates Jan 15 & Feb 4, 2026

Fr $5,098

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Max occupancy 746 guests

10 Day Caribbean-Western

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

Fr $5,899

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 62 guests

5 Day Alaska-Inside Passage

ship National Geographic Sea Lion itinerary Sitka to Juneau dates Apr 29, 2025 - Aug 28, 2026

Fr $3,042

Fr $3,146

Fr $3,342

American Cruise Line

Max occupancy 174 guests

8 Day Alaska-Inside Passage

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

Fr $6,336

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 May 28, 2025 - Aug 12, 2026

Fr $8,990

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max Occupancy 930 guests

10 Day Alaska-N./S. Bound

ship Viking Orion itinerary Seward to Vancouver dates Jun 16, 2025 - Sep 11, 2027

Fr $4,999

Fr $3,632

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

Riviera River Cruises

Max occupancy 38 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-East

ship MS Adriatic Sky itinerary Roundtrip Split dates May 15 - Oct 2, 2025

Fr $2,534

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 $2,849

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

Explora Journeys

MAX OCCUPANCY 922 GUESTS

7 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Explora II itinerary Barcelona to Rome/Civitavecchia dates May 13, 2025

Fr $3,888

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 922 guests

7 Day Mediterranean-West

ship Explora II itinerary Rome/Civitavecchia to Barcelona dates Jun 9 - Sep 1, 2025

Fr $4,191

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

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Max occupancy 706 guests

7 Day Greece & Turkey

ship Seven Seas Voyager itinerary Istanbul to Venice (Trieste) dates Nov 3, 2026

Fr $5,799

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 102 guests

7 Day Greece & Turkey

ship National Geographic Orion itinerary Athens to Lavrion dates May 24, 2025 - Sep 1, 2026

Fr $7,494

Riviera River Cruises

Max occupancy 114 guests

10 Day Portugal

ship MS Riviera Rose itinerary Roundtrip Porto dates Jun 17, 2025 - Oct 20, 2026

Fr $3,752

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Viking Neptune itinerary Amsterdam to Bergen dates Jun 22, 2025 - Aug 8, 2026

Fr $4,499

Explora Journeys

Max occupancy 926 guests

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

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

Fr $5,967

Fr $7,008

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 54 guests

7 Day British Isles

ship Lord of the Glens itinerary Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh dates Jun 9 - Aug 25, 2025

Fr $7,545

SeaDream Yacht Club

Max occupancy 112 guests

7 Day Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Sea Dream II itinerary Stockholm to Oslo dates Jun 7 & Jul 19, 2025

Fr $9,015

Windstar Cruises

Max occupancy 312 guests

8 Day British Isles

ship Star Legend itinerary Dun Laoghaire to Leith dates Jul 28, 2025

Fr $2,616

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Max occupancy 198 guests

8 Day Holland & Scandinavia

ship World Voyager itinerary London to Copenhagen dates Jun 15, 2026

Fr $5,152

Windstar Cruises

Max occupancy 312 guests

9 Day Iceland, Scandinavia & Fjords

ship Star Pride itinerary Bergen to Reykjavik dates Jun 28, 2025

Fr $2,707

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 126 guests

9 Day Arctic

ship National Geographic Resolution itinerary Roundtrip Oslo dates Apr 29 - Jun 17, 2025

Fr $11,672

Fr $2,048

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

Atlas Ocean Voyages

max occupancy 198 guests

11 Day British Isles

ship World Voyager itinerary Dublin to Amsterdam dates Sep 20, 2025

Fr $6,589

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

Swan Hellenic Cruises

Max occupancy 192 guests

7 Day Africa

ship SH Diana itinerary Dakar to Casablanca dates May 1, 2026

Fr $5,780

Fr $3,942

Fr $4,418

Fr $6,043

AmaWaterways Cruises

Max occupancy 28 guests

9 Day Zambezi River (S. Africa)

ship Zambezi Queen itinerary Cape Town to Johannesburg dates Mar 20 - Jul 31, 2026

Fr $13,869

Viking River Cruises

Max occupancy 82 Guests

11 Day Nile River

ship MS Antares itinerary Roundtrip Cairo dates May 26, 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 $8,949

Lindblad Expeditions

Max occupancy 28 guests

9 Day Western Amazon Cruise

ship Delfin II itinerary Roundtrip Lima dates May 17 - Dec 20, 2025

Fr $8,208

Seabourn

Max occupancy 268 Guests

11 Day Antarctic Cruise

ship Seabourn Pursuit itinerary Buenos Aires to Ushuaia dates Nov 16, 2025 - Feb 16, 2026

Fr $13,356

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

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 $12,070

Seabourn

Max occupancy 268 Guests

15 Day South America Coastal

ship Seabourn Venture itinerary Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro dates Mar 20, 2026

Fr $10,062

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 $6,799

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 Buenos Aires to Puerto Natales dates Oct 12, 2025

Fr $23,179

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Max occupancy 198 guests

18 Day Antarctic Cruises

ship World Navigator itinerary Roundtrip Ushuaia dates Jan 8, 2026

Fr $21,987

Fr $11,699

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

Celebrity Cruises

Max Capacity 100 Guests

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Celebrity Flora itinerary Roundtrip Baltra Island dates May 18, 2025 - Dec 27, 2026

Fr $5,694

Avalon Waterways Cruises

Max Capacity 18 Guests

7 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Treasure of Galapagos itinerary Roundtrip Quito dates May 21 - Nov 19, 2025

Fr $6,194

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 $12,384

Tauck Tours

Max Capacity 40 Guests

8 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship Isabela II itinerary Roundtrip Guayaquil dates Jul 10 & Dec 11, 2025

Fr $9,190

HX

Max Capacity 102 Guests

9 Day Galapagos Cruises

ship MS Santa Cruz II itinerary Roundtrip North Seymour Island dates Jun 7, 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 May 21 - 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 Jul 13 - Nov 16, 2025

Fr $9,560

Fr $7,720

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 Venus itinerary Laem Chabang to Benoa dates Nov 2, 2025

Fr $5,999

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 $5,999

Fr $5,888

Silversea Cruises

Max Occupancy 596 Guests

10 Day Southern Australia

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

Fr $4,704

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Max occupancy 746 guests

10 Day Australia/New Zealand

ship Seven Seas Explorer itinerary Roundtrip Sydney/Australia dates Dec 19, 2026

Fr $7,999

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 $9,150

Seabourn

Max occupancy 466 guests

15 Day Australia & New Zealand

ship Seabourn Quest itinerary Auckland to Sydney/Australia dates Jan 4, 2026

Fr $8,182

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Max Occupancy 330 Guests

7 Day Tahiti

ship Paul Gauguin itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates Jun 14, 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 $3,164

Crystal Cruises

MAX OCCUPANCY 606 GUESTS

8 Day South Pacific Islands

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

Fr $4,824

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Max Occupancy 330 Guests

10 Day Tahiti

ship Paul Gauguin itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates May 14, 2025 - Dec 2, 2026

Fr $5,683

Fr $8,599

Fr $13,229

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

Fr $10,390

Windstar Cruises

Max Occupancy 312 Guests

17 Day Tahiti

ship Star Breeze itinerary Roundtrip Papeete/Polynesia dates May 12, 2025 - Nov 23, 2026

Fr $5,776

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Max occupancy 198 guests

7 Day Arctic

ship World Navigator itinerary Roundtrip Longyearbyen dates May 29 & Jun 11, 2026

Fr $6,834

Swan Hellenic Cruises

Max occupancy 192 guests

7 Day Arctic

ship SH Diana itinerary Roundtrip Longyearbyen dates Jun 20 - Jul 4, 2026

Fr $6,980

Fr $12,030

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Max occupancy 198 guests

9 Day Arctic

ship World Traveller itinerary Tromso to Longyearbyen dates Aug 17, 2025

Fr $7,627

Lindblad Expeditions

Maz occupancy 126 guests

9 Day Arctic

ship National Geographic Resolution itinerary Roundtrip Oslo dates Apr 29 - Jun 17, 2025

Fr $11,672

HX

Max occupancy 170 guests

12 Day Arctic

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

Fr $6,171

Viking Ocean Cruises

Max occupancy 930 guests

14 Day Iceland, Arctic & Norway

ship Viking Neptune itinerary Reykjavik to Bergen dates Jun 1 & Aug 10, 2025

Fr $7,299

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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