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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?
Borealis 28 Jan 2026 76 nights No-Fly Cruise Southampton
Exclusive savings of up to £3,800*
Exclusive FREE On Board Spend of up to £1,500*
Ocean members save 5%*
FREE Door-To-Door Transfers*
(full fare £8,999)
Inside from £8,799pp
Silver Whisper 16 Apr 2026 20 nights Fly Cruise Flights Included Tahiti (Papeete)
Exclusive Complimentary Private UK Chauffeur Service*
Exclusive Savings*
Drinks, Gratuities, Wi-Fi & Daily Excursions Included*
Luxury four night hotel stay in Papeete, French Polynesia*
(full fare £9,499)
Suite from £7,699pp
Balmoral 17 Sep 2025 57 nights No-Fly Cruise Southampton
Just a Deposit to Secure your Holiday*
FREE on board spend of up to £1,050*
FREE Door-To-Door Transfers*
Oceans Members SAVE 5%*
(full fare £6,999)
Inside from £6,789pp
Typically, 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?