Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The 3 Best Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2022

small cruise lines

Misty Fjord features a hull modeled after Alaskan commercial fishing boats, while Kruzof Explorer is a converted Bering Sea crab fishing vessel. Take a low-impact voyage on MS Maud, a ship from expedition specialist Hurtigruten. Hosting just over 500 guests means you get the best of both worlds — a personalised experience but with more onboard facilities than on truly dinky ships. On a 13-day adventure in the spring or summer of 2023, you can explore the waters closest to home, visiting Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland, and the Isles of Scilly. Celebrity is known primarily for the larger cruise ships that make it one of the best cruise lines for families, but it does have three small ships in its fleet that sail the Galapagos.

Sea Cloud Cruises: Sea Cloud I

Australian river cruise and tour company Scenic made its ocean cruising debut with the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse offering all-inclusive itineraries to destinations including Antarctica, the Arctic, South America and the Baltic. The ship combines all the trappings of luxury with the thrill of expedition sailing. Standout features include two onboard helicopters and a submarine, Scenic Neptune, which can carry six passengers and dive to a depth of nearly 1,000 feet. The Sea Cloud Spirit combines the experience of decades of traditional seamanship with the modern-day luxuries of a private yacht. Cabins range from 172-square-foot single cabins to 300-square-foot balcony suites with soaking tubs.

Yachting around the Cyclades

As the Icon of the Seas Launches, Some Passengers Prefer Smaller, Older, Cheaper Cruises - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal

As the Icon of the Seas Launches, Some Passengers Prefer Smaller, Older, Cheaper Cruises - WSJ.

Posted: Wed, 17 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

For the cruise category, respondents were asked to rate individual ships; the results were combined to generate scores for cruise lines in different categories based on number of cabins. The small-ship ocean cruise line category is only for ships with 150 to 299 cabins. Some cruise lines may appear in multiple categories depending on the makeup of their fleet.

No. 10: Seabourn Ovation - Seabourn Cruise Line

Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Cruise lovers couldn't wait to get back out on the sea, and Travel + Leisure readers who prefer compact vessels have been delighted to find that the voyages have only gotten better. This year, T+L adjusted the World's Best Awards cruise categories to reflect the industry and traveler experience.

No. 5 Windstar Cruises rose five places since last year, as adventurers praised its three distinctive sailing yachts, including the Wind Spirit and Wind Star, both of which accommodate 148 guests. No. 2 Ponant also climbed five spots this year, winning over readers with an ever-expanding fleet of small ships. New on the list for 2021 is No. 10 Alaskan Dream Cruises, an Alaska Native–owned line that has a fleet of six ships, including the Kruzof Explorer, a Bering Sea crab-fishing vessel turned luxury-expedition yacht.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises for a European River Cruise

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. This cruise offers exclusive access to some of the city's most treasured buildings, like St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace — perfect if you're keen to learn more about Venice's art and architecture. For the first few days, Kirsty will be on hand to chat with guests about the history of modern Scotland - the perfect conversation as you glide past exceptional Scottish scenery.

small cruise lines

During a year and a half of living in Alaska, Sherry has cruised and spent time at every port in the Last Frontier except for Nome. She’s become an avid transatlantic cruiser since 2005, as that is the only way for her to get to Europe without flying. Sherry hopes to inspire and encourage her readers to travel slow and travel solo, experience new cuisines and cultures. Designed after the tall ship Preussen, the Royal Clipper is the world’s largest full-rigged sailing ship, complete with 42 sails.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ ”World Voyager”

small cruise lines

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. When returning from a frigid Antarctica excursion, you will appreciate the fireplaces (yes, that's right) built into the walls of all cabins. Seabourn's new Seabourn Venture (and upcoming sister Seabourn Pursuit) are on par with Silver Endeavour and Scenic Eclipse when it comes to pairing top-of-the-line luxury and pampering with incredible itineraries.

Among the larger ships on our list, Viking's new 378-passenger Viking Octantis (along with sister Viking Polaris) was designed to explore the polar regions with some pretty cool features, including a large two-level garage called the Hangar. Royal Clipper also has impressive modern niceties for a ship of its size, including three small pools and an aft marina for easy access to complimentary water sports. The ships also feature a gym, yoga studio, spa, ocean-view saunas, library and two dining venues. Sailing exclusively in French Polynesia, the 332-passenger Paul Gauguin offers an experience that is both luxurious and immersive.

Noble Caledonia (fleet, UK-based) operates chartered riverboats and owns two ships. Four dining options include Manfredi's Italian and several attractive lounges, such as the windowed Aula auditorium for lectures. The expansive Observation Lounge takes up most of Deck 7 and is the spot for expedition lectures. Thirteen Zodiacs and eight kayaks take guests on water adventures and ashore. It features an appealing seating area facing the sea and an ocean-view sauna. The Atlas Ocean Voyages ship has terrific outdoor spots for remarkable views (not hogged by a helipad or stern and aft suite balconies), including a close-to-the-water spot on Deck 5 forward and a "secret" arc of deck on Deck 6 aft.

Carnival may follow Royal Caribbean in making huge ship move - TheStreet

Carnival may follow Royal Caribbean in making huge ship move.

Posted: Sun, 21 Apr 2024 17:00:00 GMT [source]

The Earth's Arctic region includes the Arctic Ocean and territories of 8 countries (Russia, Canada, USA, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland). Arctic expedition itineraries are operated almost year-round (excluding winter months). Among Antarctica's most popular itinerary destinations are Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Elephant Island, Paulet Island, Paradise Harbor. Most of the listed here ships are actually big yachts and all can be full-chartered. Each of those is add-free and will give you a "real-life" review of the destination's highlights, and professionally presented information on the small cruising experience it provides.

A small ship Alaska cruise is one of the most intensive ways to explore Alaska's coast. Unlike the massive ships that ply the waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Inside Passage, small Alaska cruises can dock in isolated bays and fjords or picture-perfect small towns far from the crowded tourist trail. Scotland's Inner and Outer Hebrides are known and loved for their dramatic landscapes, from serene lochs to towering mountains.

UnCruise Adventures offers adventure cruises  designed to appeal to people who might not normally cruise (hence the name). The line's nine vessels, holding between 22 and 90 passengers, sail to destinations including Alaska, Costa Rica and Panama, coastal Washington, Hawaii, Galapagos Islands, British Columbia and Mexico's Sea of Cortez. UnCruise doesn't do many typical port stops, preferring to pause in inlets and bays that offer maximum exposure to nature and wildlife. No. 3 Australis moved up two spots this year, which is perhaps an indicator of readers’ eagerness to see Tierra del Fuego up close. The line’s two expedition-style ships, Stella Australis and Ventus Australis, put passengers nose-to-nose with wildlife in the waters off southernmost Chile.

Each carries fewer than 400 passengers and all are ideal for your next intimately sized travel adventure. The closest you can get to the feeling of having your own private yacht is to sail on one of Variety Cruises' three motorized sailboats -- Absolute King, Monte Carlo and Obsession -- where just 10 passengers are looked after by a crew of six. The rest of fleet comprises eight small vessels, including the 71-passenger flagship Variety Voyager and masted Panorama and Panorama II which cater for 49. One of our favourite features -- available on each of Windstar's vessels -- is the water sports platform, with its range of complimentary activities  such as snorkelling, wind-sailing, paddle-boarding and even water skiing). The ships are the 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star, each with four masts and six sails, and the 342-passenger five-masted Wind Surf, which is the world's largest sailing vessel.

Scenic Eclipse cruises to nearly every corner of the world, including French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Indonesian archipelago and Antarctica. Wine and spirits are included, so take advantage of two impressive outdoor spots for a drink and stunning views — the Sky Bar at the top of the ship and the chic infinity pool at the stern of Deck 3, adjacent to a lounge and cafe. The ship attracts a loyal fan base thanks to its roomy size and cabins that open onto covered promenade decks (rather than a central interior corridor). It even features a hot tub on deck and an elevator, a rarity on older small adventure ships like this. What the ships lack in modern touches, they make up for in experience and service. The food is excellent and served both on the romantic outdoor decks and inside the cozy restaurant.

The line's 128-passenger expedition vessel, 50 Years of Victory, is one of the world's most powerful icebreakers and has nuclear-powered capabilities to go through nearly 10 feet of ice to make the voyage to the North Pole. This year’s winner, Quasar Expeditions, is another line known for its South American cruises. Find out what else sets it apart — and the full list of the best small-ship ocean cruise lines — below. And to do it right, you need to join an accomplished crew who know how this wonderland works. In 2020, expedition cruise experts Hurtigruten introduced MS Fridtjof Nansen to its fleet and it fast became one of our favourite small vessels to explore Antarctic waters. You’ll be in the company of just 125 other guests, so attentive service is assured.

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