Maldives cruises guide
Philosophers have wrangled over what paradise means for centuries, with heavenly images that have us walking on clouds, through pearly gates or on streets paved with gold. The Maldives Islands, with atolls floating almost cloud like on turquoise waters, effervescent coral reefs and sand banks forming natural pearly gates into this magical island nation, fit the paradise picture perfectly for many – especially when you add in the golden sun paving the way for heat seekers.
The Maldives are famous for their fragility. Being on a small boat, bobbing, sailing and floating, felt like the best way possible to respect and protect this.![]()
And being on a boat invites total immersion into this picture. What small ship cruises in the Maldives also allow is a more in depth cultural experience, with skippers who steer away from private resort islands to smaller communities of what are known as ‘local islands’. Our philosophy is that although you will glow in the presence of dolphins, fish of every hue, manta rays and whale sharks, you can’t experience Maldivian paradise without meeting and understanding its people.
Read more in our Maldives cruising vacations travel guide.
Maldives small ship cruising vacations are...
on very small boats, sleeping fewer than 20 people.
Maldives small ship cruising vacations aren’t...
all year round. The monsoon season is July to August
Go on a Maldives cruising vacation if…
Don't go on a Maldives cruising vacation if...
Best time to go on a Maldives cruise
There are two monsoon seasons in the Maldives: the southwest monsoon which is wet and the northeast monsoon which is actually dry!![]()
The skipper always knows the best time to go on a small ship cruise to the Maldives, and in most cases they certainly don’t choose the southwest monsoon months in Jul-Sept to raise anchor. Hot, calm waters are typical from Dec-Mar, and marine wildlife loves this period too. Whale sharks are resident in South Ari Atoll all year round, but particularly visible elsewhere Jan-Apr. You will get showers between Apr-Nov, but there’s nothing like swimming off the boat in a tropical shower. The best time for visibility, if you’re snorkelling or diving, is Dec-Mar.
Maldives Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
25
30
90
FEB
25
31
70
MAR
25
31
90
APR
26
32
130
MAY
26
31
220
JUN
26
30
190
JUL
25
30
165
AUG
25
30
190
SEP
25
30
220
OCT
25
30
240
NOV
25
30
208
DEC
25
30
206
Maldives cruising, month by month
Maldives vacation, wildlife cruise
Awake to the sun rising over the azure ocean
From
US $3335 to US $4620
7 days
ex flights
Maldives private gulet cruise vacation
Cruise the Maldives island paradise by Turkish Gullet
From
US $9899 to US $29000
8 days
ex flights
Maldives vacations, Dhoni cruise
Cruise the Atolls unspoilt tropical islands
From
US $1680 to US $2350
8 days
ex flights
Maldives whale shark conservation snorkeling cruise
Maldives marine conservation cruise including local experts
From
US $1899 to US $1999
8 days
ex flights
Sri Lanka tour and Maldives dhoni cruise
Join us on this trip exploring Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
From
US $3760 to US $4030
14 days
ex flights
Maldives Catamaran Cruise
Enjoy cruising the Maldives on your private catamaran
From
US $1800 to US $2800
1 day
ex flights
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Maldives cruising or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
What does a Maldives small ship cruise entail?
How big is a “small” cruise ship?
Our cruise ships in the Maldives are small and beautifully formed, and as far from the world of ‘cruise’ mania as you can possibly imagine. Such as a traditional wooden fishing boat, with sails, accommodating no more than 14 passengers in seven ensuite cabins. Another option is a more contemporary catamaran, usually sleeping up to eight passengers. A wonderful option with these trips is to book the whole boat for you and your friends or family, in which case you can tailor make the itinerary to suit your party’s interests.
What are the cabins like?
On traditional wooden boats there is usually a mix of twin and double rooms, en suite and with air conditioning (but always double check). On smaller catamarans, the norm is double cabins with a shared bathroom, and always with a view out onto the ocean, of course.Can I travel solo?
If you are traveling alone and there are no single cabins, you usually have two choices: Pay around a £350 supplement for your own double cabin, or choose to share a twin cabin with someone of the same gender, at no extra cost. If the cruise is not fully booked, you may get lucky and end up with your own double cabin without paying a supplement, but there are no guarantees. Check with your cruise company to see if it is possible to reserve a specific cabin in advance.What will the food be like?
Responsible, small ship cruises embrace local culture so local food is part of the experience. Not surprisingly, Maldivian food is based around fish, and in particular tuna, with plenty of chilli and coconut thrown into the mix. White rice and “roshi” flat breads are also omnipresent. As this is a Muslim country, pork is not allowed and the same goes for alcohol on land, or for local residents, although boats do have licences. If booze cruises are your thing, Maldives definitely won’t be, however .
Can I travel with my children?
If you go on a tailor made trip then families are welcome, although depending on the activities you choose to include, the tour operator may recommend a minimum age of around 12. Being confident swimmers is always recommended of course, given that you are living on the water for the duration of the vacation. Small group tours that have an emphasis on diving or marine wildlife are often adults only. Ask the vacation company for details.How are they responsible?
Small boat cruises in the Maldives stop off at various different islands which don’t have a luxurious resort scene, and where you can really tap into the local community culture and support it economically. The skippers and crew should be Maldivian, and food sourced locally too. And if you take an excursion on land, they should be with someone with the Maldives Ministry of Tourism Guide qualification. See our guide to keeping things local in the Maldives for more information. These small cruises also have marine wildlife experts on board, committed to conservation and responsible diving. Although these aren’t specific diving vacations, some may give the option to have a starter dive, for example. Read more about responsible diving here. Our small ship cruise operators are also extremely waste aware while traveling though these fragile marine environments.
Wildlife
Marine wildlife is what most people are hoping to see on a small ship cruise in the Maldives so do seek out a vacation that has a wildlife expert on board. Snorkellers, divers and marine biologists come to these islands to immerse themselves in a world of manta rays and stingrays, house reefs bursting with coral, schools of barracuda to butterfly fish, reef sharks to whale sharks. Birds creating the coastal cacophony include beauties such as great and lesser frigatebirds, egrets or grey herons and, with so many fish, there is also a year round carnival of cetaceans. These include bottlenose, striped and Risso’s dolphins and also some whale species. It is well known internationally for its beaked whale populations.Keen botanists might like to check out the book Maldives: Trees and Flowers of a Tropical Paradise (by Dittrich P., Galvan D.F. & Weisbauer Ali) which describes how plants grow and thrive in this archipelago which is, not surprisingly, hostile to plant growth.
More Maldives cruising articles
Discover the sorts of island idylls that almost bring tears to your eyes when you go cruising.
Take a traditional boat and a handful of inquisitive visitors and add hundreds of uninhabited islands.
