Sunday, April 21, 2024

Best Small Ships Fodors Travel Guide

small luxury cruise ships

The ultra-luxury Seabourn Encore features 300 suites for 600 passengers with all the amenities of Seabourn’s Odyssey-class ships. Additions to Encore include a VIP area on the top deck, a wellness program and two restaurants, The Grill by Thomas Keller and Sushi. Like her popular Viking sister ships, Jupiter features a spacious spa, several dining venues, an intimate jazz lounge, two cinemas, a pool with retractable roof and a sports deck.

Intimate is "in"

Like the ocean ships, they feature Scandinavian design, a glass-walled Explorers' Lounge and signature Viking restaurants Manfredi's and Mamsen's (offering Norwegian specialties). Viking ships have a large presence in Europe, sailing the Mediterranean and in northern Europe, but also explore the world from Alaska and the Caribbean to Asia and Australia. The destination-focused cruise line adds as many days in port as it can to each itinerary and offers a free shore excursion in every port. Get hands-on cooking experience with a class in The Culinary Center or explore the food culture ashore with a Culinary Discovery Tour.

Atlas Ocean Voyages’ ”World Voyager”

Cruise ships keep getting bigger and it's splitting the industry in 2 - Business Insider

Cruise ships keep getting bigger and it's splitting the industry in 2.

Posted: Sun, 29 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Named the best small-ship ocean cruise line in T+L's 2022 World's Best Awards, Golden said the line is known for Tahitian-inspired massage techniques in the onboard spa and noted that cruisers particularly love the wonderful staff. Our intimate, ultra-luxury ships can sail up narrow waterways into the heart of a city or tie up right at the pier while others must anchor offshore. And for those who yearn to explore the new and unknown, Silversea’s expedition ships can transport you to the furthermost boundaries of the planet. Travel is the elixir of life at Silversea, and every cruise is a voyage of discovery. Typically thought of as a midsize-ship line, Viking took top honors in this category, too, thanks to its twin ships Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis. The expedition vessels, both of which have 189 cabins, are built for out-there adventures, whether on the waters of the Great Lakes or in the Southern Ocean on the way to Antarctica.

Top 10 Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2020

small luxury cruise ships

The ship is equipped for scientific inquiry with a remote-controlled underwater robot, baited underwater camera and a FerryBox system for collecting water samples, which you can view under a microscope in the ship's science lab. Weather balloons are released on every cruise to capture info on temperature, humidity and wind speed. SH Vega cruises the Arctic region (visiting Greenland, Iceland and northern Canada), South America, the coast of Africa (including South Africa, Namibia and Angola) and the Antarctic Peninsula. For dining, there are four main restaurants, including an Italian and a French-inspired venue. The Grill is an eatery enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass for the best views in the house. L'Austral explores both polar regions and spends time in the Mediterranean, cruising along the coast of Croatia and around the smaller, less touristy Greek Islands like Amorgos, Milos and Delos.

Like Silver Endeavour, Seabourn Venture will spend the year in the polar regions, with long repositioning cruises in between, such as a 51-day Antarctica, Atlantic and Northwest Africa voyage from Buenos Aires to Malaga, Spain. Near the well-stocked library is the Expedition Study, where the 20-member expedition team is accessible for questions. Outdoor deck space includes the forward-facing bow area with an outdoor hot tub. There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures. Silversea Cruises is a pro at luxury small-ship cruising — the line has been at it for more than 30 years. With Silver Endeavour, it achieves the perfect mix of ultra-luxury surroundings with tough-as-nails expedition hardware for its focus on polar cruising.

However, they're spacious, recently refurbished, and feature wood details that evoke a classic nautical feel. High-tech toys, such as a remotely operated vehicle and underwater video camera, hydrophone, remote-controlled aerial camera and video microscope, allow guests to view footage of undersea life wherever the ships may be. I also gravitate to the off-beat itineraries small ships offer because they focus on unusual and remote places that only small vessels can access. Starting from $4,726 per person, this all-inclusive voyage fuses wine, travel, and luxury in a unique Mediterranean experience.

When considering a voyage on small cruise ships Mediterranean, weather plays a pivotal role. The Mediterranean promises a gentle climate, with variations depending on location and season. Greece is a country steeped in history, and a small cruise ship is the perfect way to explore its many ancient sites. Athens is a must-visit destination, where you can explore the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

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On board Seabourn, every desire is met promptly and with a welcoming smile. French luxury cruise line Ponant aims to make passengers feel as if they're traveling on their own private yachts. Guests enjoy Ladurée macarons, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and luxurious Hermès bath products on board. Each of the company's ships features an onboard spa with massage cabins and either a Turkish bath or sauna.

The 930-passenger Viking Sky feels more like a resort than a cruise ship, thanks to its all-veranda staterooms, tasteful decorations and elegant public spaces for reading, relaxing or socializing. Little extras, like numerous USB ports, ocean-facing lounge chairs on the pool deck and floor-to-ceiling windows in most venues, make for a comfortable sailing experience. Winter voyages on small cruise ships Mediterranean aren’t famous, with unpredictable weather and several closed attractions. Yet, some cruises sail during winter, promising lower prices and sparse crowds. This country has something for everyone, from Rome’s ancient ruins to Civitavecchia’s picturesque coastline.

"This was our second cruise to the Galápagos because we loved our previous experience on the Evolution so much," said one reader about a trip aboard the Grace. "The intimate ship size and staff attention make you feel as if you're the yacht owner." Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). What’s more authentic—and sustainable—than setting sail on a tall ship where the sails are hoisted up each day by hand?

(You can find one on the American Society of Travel Advisors' site.) But if you want to book it yourself, prepare to do your research. She recently discovered a new product out of Ecuador, Kontiki Expeditions. The company converted and renovated a motor yacht to sell as staterooms in a cruise-style format.

Tom Armstrong, a spokesman for tour operator Tauck, says small ship cruising guests "have a real thirst for learning and authenticity" that a bigger ship can't provide. "The large mega-cruise ships carry thousands of passengers are destinations in themselves. With small ship cruising, it’s really the destination that’s the star," he adds. Ahead, 12 best luxury cruise lines to embark on this year for an unforgettable ocean or river-borne adventure. All, effortlessly stretching your sea legs with best-in-class service, exceptional itineraries and awe-inspiring views. Small ship luxury cruises prove to be one of the best ways to cruise, with its limited capacity and ample safe physical distancing.

Look to South Pacific-based Paul Gauguin for an all-inclusive, high-end home base. Throughout the ship, complimentary spirits, fine wines and house Champagne flow freely. If you want to show off your heirloom jewels, go ahead, but on most nights, a jacket is optional in the ship's restaurants. If you prefer not to dress up for formal night, you can still eat well at casual alternatives. If you don't get that point at first, look down at the many yards of Carrara marble under your feet, then gaze up at the Czech crystal chandeliers.

Modeled after Europe’s stylish boutique hotels, the vibe on board is distinctly cosmopolitan. 461 sea-facing suites boast tufted leather headboards, Frette robes and spacious private terraces. Destinations run the gamut from the near tropics to the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, plus transatlantic Grand Journeys. With small ship river cruises, it is all about exploring the shores alongside flowing waters, and understanding indigenous or local experiences. Small ships are the perfect way to get the most immersive adventure into the life, culture, and diversities of countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.

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