Small ship cruising vacations

What size is a ‘small ship’?

In the world of cruising, which has become a dirty word thanks to the irresponsible practices of some of the giant cruise liners that dominate the seas, going on a small ship cruise is a bit like the difference between a traveling the world in a giant marauding motorhome as opposed to a funky Volkswagen van. Or, in the case of a traditional ‘gulet’ in Turkey, a Bahamian tall ship or a fishing ‘dhona’ in the Maldives, for example, it is more like heading off into the wilds in a head-turning classic car, with the roof down and hair flowing in the wind. What defines a ‘small ship’ varies from vacation to vacation.

A traditional schooner in Spitsbergen, for example, sleeps 20. However, a ‘small’ expedition boat to Antarctica might have up to 260 passengers. A Turkish gulet often sleeps up to about 12, but a 15m yacht going round the Greek Islands usually sleeps eight people. And sailing boats bound for the Scottish Islands may have cabins for no more than six people.

There are also restrictions in some parts of the world regarding passenger numbers. In the Galapagos Islands, for example, the law restricts passenger numbers on board to 100. In Antarctica you can have more than that, but only 100 passengers are allowed to disembark at a time.

Small group vacations

Small ship cruises, by their very nature, are nearly always small group vacations. People make all sorts of different misjudged assumptions about small group vacations. Boating snobs might think they are for wimps who can’t navigate for themselves. Young travelers may fear they will be the only person under fifty, older travelers might worry that it might be too active, and shy souls might feel under pressure to socialise.

Most of these are maritime myths, however, as there is something for everyone on a small ship cruise, although it is true to say that the truly anti-social traveler may suffer a little cabin fever. However, water lovers are, in general, people who like to look outwards, not inwards. They are also happy to go with the flow and, although conditions on board might be more cramped than in a floating hotel, seafarers know how to respect other people’s space. Whether they are taking time out on deck to savour the solace of the sea, or having some chill out time in their berth.

Colette Dubois at our partners, St. Hilda Sea Adventures:
"One thing that is really special about living on a small boat is that you become extremely close to your passengers. It is a very special week for us as well. We learn from our passengers, we teach them things too, and because we live together, eat together, we discuss all sorts of things – politics, books and so on. And it is lovely to see young children on board too, who are so fresh, enthusiastic and wanting to learn and anticipate. The people who come are usually open minded and patient, and so it feels very special."

Onboard activities

Long gone are the days of having to scrub the deck or man the rigging. Although you can learn rigging skills on a tall ship cruise vacation, you are more likely to engage in chilled out activities on board. Although unlike cruise liners, you won’t find any cinemas, casinos or cheesy singers, you might take part in a wildlife lecture, watch a David Attenborough movie, or just browse the library full of maps and books about where you are going and what you are likely to see. There are no ball gowns, no black tie, but is all very casual, relaxed and very personal. Instead of dining with the captain, you can often go up on the bridge and chat with them about where you are going and what you are up to for the day. The expert expedition leaders hang out with you on board at all times too, always full of knowledge about wildlife, geography and so on. Or you can just chill out on deck and watch the world go by, of course.

Ship mates

A lot of people, if they have travelled on a small ship, like to stay with the same ship. They ask where that ship is going next, and just follow her round wherever she goes. You get to know the ship, her skipper and crew, and so meeting them all in a completely different destination, sometimes on the other side of the world, is very exciting. A lot of the polar ships sail both north and south. So they will do Spitsbergen from June through to August or September, and then they’ll sail down and start Antarctica around the end of October/beginning of November until the end of February/beginning of March. And then if there are any updates needed on the ship, they have that time in between to go into dry dock for a couple of weeks or so.