Top 10 cruise destinations
The boat is one of the oldest forms of transport known to man. And shipping charts are some of the oldest maps around too. So, when you start to explore the world from a nautical perspective, you are seeking out parts of the planet that feel as if they have been unchanged by time: uninhabited islands, beaches with seal colonies, nest covered cliff faces, ice floes carrying polar bears as well as underwater realms where corals thrive and cetaceans thrill. And in charge of it all, is the skipper – the steward of all this knowledge who, on a small ship cruise, will take you to places so far off the tourist map, they sound like they are out of ancient books, such as the Kyles of Bute in Scotland, Kamchatka in Russia or Scoresbysund in Greenland. Which are just a few of our top 10 cruises.
Our Small ship cruising vacation Vacations
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£559 to £805
8 days
ex flights
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise
The Ultimate Antarctica Experience!
From
€10500 to €12400
21 days
ex flights
Alaskas Glacier Bay small ship cruise
Get close up to Alaska where the big ships can't go
From
£3315
8 days
ex flights
Seychelles 7 day sailing cruise
Cruise the Seychelles on a beautiful wooden sailing ship
From
£965 to £1355
7 days
ex flights
Hebrides cruise, The Sounds of Mull, Luing, Shuna and Jura
Cruise the Sounds of the Hebrides: Mull, Luing, Jura, Shuna
From
£960 to £1650
7 days
ex flights
Scotland private charter sailing vacations
Private Charter a small ship around the Scottish Islands
From
£7188 to £16410
7 days
ex flights
Arctic sailing voyages, Spitsbergen
Experience sailing in the fjords
From
€3620 to €5290
8 days
ex flights
Great Barrier Reef 3 day cruise in Australia
A short, stunning exploration of Reef, Rainforest and Island
From
£1029
4 days
ex flights
Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea cruise
An inspiring, beautiful & diverse polar wilderness journey
From
€6400 to €12290
12 days
ex flights
Wildlife sailing vacation in Scotland
Extraordinary wildlife above and below the waves
From
£750 to £3600
6 days
ex flights
Luxury gulet cruise in the Aegean
5 star services while cruising the Greek Islands in luxury
From
£945 to £1185
8 days
ex flights
Dubrovnik to Venice luxury cruise
Cruise the Croatian Islands before a bus journey to Venice
From
£2135 to £2339
12 days
ex flights
Kamchatka and Chukotka wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Kamchatka's Stunning Coast - volcanoes,fjords &more
From
US $7200
13 days
ex flights
Sailing vacation in Greece, Mykonos to Santorini
The boat, the beach and inviting Greek villages
From
US $1633 to US $1708
8 days
ex flights
Arctic wildlife vacation, Polar bear explorer
A wildlife focused specialist led Arctic safari in Svalbard.
From
£7195 to £9495
11 days
ex flights
St Kilda, Outer Hebrides Cruise, Scotland
Cruise to St Kilda, Monachs, Outer Hebrides and Small Isles
From
£2750 to £2805
12 days
ex flights
Split to Dubrovnik Luxury cruise, Croatia
Cruise Split to Dubrovnik in luxury via Croatia's islands
From
£899 to £1599
8 days
ex flights
St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise, Scotland
Scottish Cruise to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides
From
£4480
11 days
ex flights
Luxury Arctic cruise Spitsbergen & Franz Josef Land
A unique expedition to rarely visited Franz Josef Land
From
£7995
15 days
ex flights
Cruising vacation in Burma, the Mergui Archipelago
A comprehensive tour of Burma including ocean sailing
From
US $6450
16 days
ex flights
Wildlife Cruise of New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
New Zealand's wildlife rich & remote Subantarctic wilderness
From
US $4600
8 days
ex flights
Skye and the Small Isles sailing vacation
Sail Scotland's Small Isles and visit spectacular Skye
From
£1280 to £2200
9 days
ex flights
Antarctic cruise and hiking in Chile
Walk in Atacama and Patagonia before cruising Antarctica
From
£13725
4 weeks
ex flights
Luxury small ship cruise in Croatia
Luxury small ship cruise through Croatia's Islands
From
£1175 to £1535
8 days
ex flights
Melanesia cruise, wildlife cruise
Explore idyllic islands of the South Pacific inc Vanuatu
From
US $5495
12 days
ex flights
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
From
US $9000
15 days
ex flights
Seychelles sailing vacation
Island hop round the Seychelles in a wooden hulled sail ship
From
£1419 to £2129
8 days
ex flights
Galapagos luxury cruise
Cruise the Galapagos on a vessel custom made for the islands
From
£5710 to £6262
8 days
ex flights
Croatia small ship cruising vacation
Croatia cruise on Motor yacht and boutique style villa Combo
From
€1300 to €1610
8 days
ex flights
1. Antarctica
2. Burma
3. Croatia
4. Galapagos
5. Greece
6. Kamchatka
7. Maldives
8. Scotland
9. Svalbard
10. Turkey
2. Burma
3. Croatia
4. Galapagos
5. Greece
6. Kamchatka
7. Maldives
8. Scotland
9. Svalbard
10. Turkey
Antarctica
1. Antarctica
We don’t think that bigger is better on Antarctica cruises. Larger boats (over 100 passengers) may reduce seasickness, but a smaller vessel gives a more personalised service, the chance of one-on-one time with the scientists and lecturers, and access to shallower harbours. Additionally, only 100 people may step ashore at a time, so passengers on bigger ships must take it in turns to see the penguins, whales, seals and albatross.
Burma
2. Burma
Scattered off the southern Burmese coast, far from the beaten track, the 800 islands of the Mergui – also known as the Myeik – Archipelago offer a glimpse of Southeast Asia's beaches long before the tourists and resorts arrived. Take a multi-day cruise to discover traditional cultures – including the boat-dwelling Moken sea gypsies - as well as untouched beaches, pristine forest and fantastic snorkelling above thriving reefs.
Croatia
3. Croatia
With over 1,000 islands off the coast of Croatia, it is not surprising that small ship cruises here are very popular. And indefatigably pretty. Let a local skipper navigate you through the Northern Islands such as Krk, or through the lesser visited Zadar archipelago. The Central Dalmatian archipelago with beauties like Brac and Hvar is one of the most popular. But wherever you go, the boats will hold a maximum of 40ish passengers.
Galapagos
4. Galapagos
A small ship cruise really is the way to go in the Galapagos, especially as some islands only allow the small ones to berth. Boats where the emphasis is on wildlife not social life and where, with fewer people on board, you won’t have to queue endlessly to embark and disembark. This gives you more time to enjoy watching boobies on San Cristóbal Genovesa, iguanas and albatross on Española or snorkel with sea lions and penguins off Floreana.
Greece
5. Greece
You’ll feel like you are on a veritable odyssey on a Greek cruise, sailing around the Cyclades or the Dodecanese, with islands that are so crammed with cultural heritage, UNESCO sites become almost a banality. With small numbers of passengers, a skipper and a cook to deal with the fundamentals, you can focus on the frolics of swimming in turquoise waters, scuba diving, dolphin-spotting and collapsing on remote island beaches.
Kamchatka
6. Kamchatka
This is a place where you need to ditch any preconceptions you may have about “cruising”; an expedition cruise in Kamchatka is no floating Las Vegas. Black tie is replaced with all-weather gear, the on board entertainment involves ecology talks and photography tips, and strict itineraries are chucked out the porthole. Cruising in Kamchatka is an exciting journey into an untamed wilderness, all on nature’s terms.
Maldives
7. Maldives
Unlike the huge liners that make Malé, the capital of the Maldives, look more like a floating caravan park than island idyll, a sailing trip around the lesser known atolls, such as Felidhoo or Meemu, and their turquoise waters, is the way to go. Visit fishing villages, immerse yourself in traditional Maldavian lifestyles, swim off uninhabited islands, fish for dinner, and sail on a traditional fishing boat known as a dhoni.
Scotland
8. Scotland
Scotland’s islands are small cruise nirvana. With nearly 800 you won’t see them all on a Scottish cruise, but you can make a good start. Try visiting the likes of Skye or Mull on a traditional wooden boat or take a small cruise boat through the Hebrides to catch sight of a Celtic cacophony of sea creatures, such as whales, dolphins and birdlife galore. You can even cruise through the Highlands too, along the Caledonian Canal from Oban to Inverness.
Svalbard
9. Svalbard
The Svalbard archipelago is the gateway for Arctic small ship cruises. Spitsbergen is the main island for people, the rest being ‘bearly’ inhabited. You can explore this magical place on a traditional schooner sailing boat, an expedition boat or a modern small cruise ship with lecture facilities, zodiac outings but all with wildlife viewing facilities. Welcome to the world of polar bears, walruses, sea lions, reindeer and Arctic fox.
Turkey
10. Turkey
Voyages on gulets – traditional sailing boats based on former sponge-diving vessels – are known as 'Blue Cruises' (mavi yolculuk), referring to the sea and sky that envelop guests along the Turquoise Coast from start point Fethiye. Drop into secluded coves, idyllic island anchorages, ancient sites and beguiling fishing hamlets, with exciting inland excursions thrown in.
Our top Small ship cruising vacation Vacation
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£559 to £805
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct
2020: 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Small ship cruising vacation or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Where to go on a small ship cruise
Cassia Jackson, from our friends at Heritage Expeditions, says:
“Russia's Wrangel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a large polar bear population, as well as Pacific walruses, Arctic foxes, snowy owls, snow geese, musk ox, reindeer and more. It is also believed to be the last home of the woolly mammoth. Mammoth tusks and bones are regularly unearthed in the riverbeds and interior of the island.”
“Russia's Wrangel Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to a large polar bear population, as well as Pacific walruses, Arctic foxes, snowy owls, snow geese, musk ox, reindeer and more. It is also believed to be the last home of the woolly mammoth. Mammoth tusks and bones are regularly unearthed in the riverbeds and interior of the island.”
Colette Dubois, co-founder of our Scottish cruise specialists St. Hilda Sea Adventures, says:
“It is hard to choose one special place on our cruise, because in fact what makes us go north or south, west or east, is the weather. But one place where we always go once, and where I love to be, is the Kyles of Bute. It is a lovely anchorage near a small group of islands called Burnt Islands – you have the Isle of Bute on one side and the mainland on the other side and then all these beautiful islands in the middle. These islands are home to bird and seal colonies and no one is allowed to land on them, so it is magic. There are so many birds, and when you anchor, they come towards us, you feel as if you are just among the birds.“
“It is hard to choose one special place on our cruise, because in fact what makes us go north or south, west or east, is the weather. But one place where we always go once, and where I love to be, is the Kyles of Bute. It is a lovely anchorage near a small group of islands called Burnt Islands – you have the Isle of Bute on one side and the mainland on the other side and then all these beautiful islands in the middle. These islands are home to bird and seal colonies and no one is allowed to land on them, so it is magic. There are so many birds, and when you anchor, they come towards us, you feel as if you are just among the birds.“
Lara Paxton at our partner The Small Ship Cruise Collection is a great source of information on where to go on a small ship cruise vacation: “Spitsbergen was the first small ship cruise that I ever did. It’s always amazing. The wildlife is just wonderful, and you learn so much too, so you come back feeling really knowledgeable about the area. The Galapagos are very special too, especially now that they have that restriction that you can only have a hundred passengers on board. That really helps. Antarctica has a bit of a ‘reputation’ for being special now, and some people go just because their neighbours have gone and it is just ticking it off a list. But it should be so much more than that, because it is one of the last places left that is a real expedition.”
More about Small ship cruising vacation
They take you to another world. To little bits of littoral loveliness you hardly knew existed. Places with names like the Mergui Archipelago, the Kyles of Bute, Wrangel Island or an island called Wolf. They take you on vessels that are the beloved babies of craftsmen and women. They take you to see whales and turtles and sea lions. They combine life on land and on sea.
Small ship cruising vacations do come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, although never enter that super size, floating hotel territory, thankfully.
When working out not only where to go but also when to go to your chosen cruise destinations, it can be tricky.
What is a small ship, anyway? It might be a family-sized yacht, a white-sailed schooner designed to tuck into orca-frequented fjords, or a 200-passenger icebreaker that delves into the frozen Arctic.
From weather, time at sea and your wildlife wish list, to low carbon credentials and accessibility – there are a boatload of considerations when choosing a small ship vacation.
These small ship cruise activities are far from the world of quoits and bad lounge singers.
Some of the most mysterious and characterful creatures on the planet can only be reached on a small ship wildlife cruise.
You don’t have to be a Jack Aubrey (or Sparrow, depending on your yen) to go on a small ship sailing cruise.
Whether you’re gliding down the Nile on a wheelchair accessible felucca, chugging along on a rescued groundnut boat in the Gambia, or exploring the lesser spotted backwaters of Kerala – river cruise vacations reveal rivers that are cultural and spiritual monoliths.
Go to southern Spain and you can see 700 years of Moorish influence, go to Morocco and see millennia of it.
Who says cruises aren’t for kids? Some of the smallest Caribbean-bound yachts can be fitted with toddler-proof safety nets, while Antarctic icebreakers come with quad rooms.
The specialist tour operators we work with know that solo travel is rapidly gaining traction.
Giant cruise ships have come in for a lot of bad press, and at Responsible Travel we believe that they really are cruising for a bruising.
Find all our small ship cruising guides in one place from Alaska and the Maldives to Scotland, Arctic cruising and many more.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Gerry van der Walt] [Antarctica: RV Navigator]
[Burma: Bobomyeik]
[Croatia: Bernd Thaller]
[Galapagos: TR Davis]
[Greece: Ben Ramirez]
[Kamchatka: kuhnmi]
[Maldives: Ahmed Mahin Fayaz]
[Scotland: Kyle Taylor]
[Svalbard & Spitsbergen: Christopher Michel]
[Turkey: Turkey Vision]
[Lara Paxton quote: topol6]
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