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Cruise ships can vary in many different ways and one of those ways is size. Depending on what you’re seeking, a larger cruise ship may not be for you. But don’t worry! Smaller cruise ships offer a more intimate and personal cruising experience and there’s a number of superb vessels available for both first-time cruisers and experienced cruisers. So, why not discover a small ship cruise today?
MS Nordkapp 12 Jan 2025 11 nights Fly Cruise Flights Included Bergen
Spot the Wildlife with the experts on board
FREE Voyage if the Northern Lights do not occur*
Onboard lectures & presentations*
Flights & overseas transfers Included*
Inside from £1,399pp
View Cruise DealEmerald Azzurra 26 Oct 2024 7 nights Fly Cruise Flights Included Athens (from Piraeus)
FREE Wi-Fi & Included Gratuities*
Exclusive Savings of up to 55%*
Intimate Luxury Yacht Experience - Only 100 Guests On Board*
Expert-led Shore Excursions Included*
(full fare £4,945)
Outside from £2,449pp
Silver Wind 16 Sep 2024 18 nights Fly Cruise Flights Included Nome
All-inclusive ultra-luxury cruising*
Butler service for all suites*
Included Gratuities & FREE Wi-Fi*
All Luxury Oceanview Suites*
Balcony from £32,600pp
View Cruise DealTypically, a small cruise ship holds up to 1,300 passengers. They are perfect for those who love to cruise but are not looking for a resort at sea. What a small cruise ship may lack in innovative amenities it makes up for with a number of distinctive qualities that larger vessels can’t offer.
There are four distinct categories of small ships; oceangoing cruise ships, sailing yachts, riverboats and expedition vessels. Oceangoing cruise ships typically hold between 450 and 1,300 passengers while the capacity of sailing yachts ranges from 140 to 400, riverboats carry up to 200 passengers and expedition vessels carry up to 1,000 passengers. As passenger counts are significantly lower, embarkation and disembarkation is a breeze. This also means that queuing doesn’t take up a large portion of your day.
But it’s not just the reduced numbers that make small ship cruising special. Smaller ships have a more luxurious ambience and more personalised service - bar staff will not just remember your name but your signature drink too! What’s more, small cruise ships can cruise to more exclusive ports of call, allowing you to discover the most untouched corners of the world.
Small oceangoing cruise ships and sailing yachts explore a wide selection of destinations like the Caribbean, Mediterranean and the Far East. River cruise ships are able to navigate locks and sail beneath low bridges meaning they can sail into the heart of much-loved towns, cities and countrysides like Bordeaux, Budapest and Bucharest. While expedition cruise ships, with their shallow drafts, are able to get much closer to off-the-beaten-track destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands, offering guests once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
For those looking for the ultimate luxury cruise experience, Silversea offers the very finest at sea paired with a personal experience. APT Cruising, Emerald Cruises, Scenic River Cruises and Uniworld River Cruises all offer fascinating river itineraries in Europe. If you’re looking to delve into the culture of the Far East, why not navigate the rivers of Asia on a Mekong river cruise?