Thailand small ship cruising guide

State of the art motor sailers also cruise here, with between 30 and 48 passengers on board, and these rely on motor power rather than sails (although sails are occasionally raised, too). These are well equipped and staffed with a hospitality crew. There will also be between one and three local tour leaders who live on the ship and come on all shore activities. They have good knowledge of the history, religion and culture of the areas you’re cruising through and will be able to recommend activities and great places to eat when you have meals onshore. Things like beach towels, WiFi and laundry (at an extra charge), and use of kayaks, snorkels, stand up paddleboards and fishing equipment are typically offered.

Cabins are always comfortable, but on a yacht, expect space to be tight and life to be lived on deck. The cabins are mainly just for sleeping in. On a larger ship, which takes up to 170 passengers, you can expect to have an ensuite bathroom, air con, a small fridge, TV, internal phone and safe. There’s usually a choice of cabin, too, categorised according to size and view, with a range of prices.

Thai food is rightfully famous around the world, so you wouldn’t want to come all this way to eat spag bol. Two or more meals a day tend to be served on board, and you can usually expect these to be fresh Thai dishes, cooked with ingredients bought locally by the crew. There is always the chance to eat onshore, which is fun and ensures you’re putting some tourist dollar into the hands of local café and restaurant owners. There may also be a beach barbecue and a special farewell dinner on the final night.

Boats of any size aren’t the safest means of transport for children, with their exposed sides, steep stairs and ladders down to the sea, so most small ship cruising vacations carry a minimum age of 15. Some are marketed at a specific age range – 25 to 40 year olds, for instance.