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While a smaller cruise ship is indeed smaller in size, fewer passengers mean fewer people to deal with overall. Celebrity Xploration sets sail in the Galapagos Islands, where you can see Los Lobos and Kicker Rock. The best part is that all of the cabins on this ship have a view, with some including a private veranda. Other features include a lounge and a sun deck to relax throughout your voyage. New additions to Encore include a VIP area on the top deck, a wellness program and two new restaurants, The Grill by Thomas Keller and Sushi. The line's 148- to 342-passenger sailing ships and 312-passenger, all-suite motor yachts received praise from voters.
More Personalized Service On A Smaller Cruise Ship
Passengers choose from 10 original cabins, including Post's own suite with its Louis XIV–style bed and nightstands, marble fireplace and bathroom, chandeliers and intricate moldings. The one-of-a-kind, four-masted Sea Cloud was originally commissioned as a private luxury yacht by multi-millionaire Wall Street titan E. Hutton's extravagant heiress and businesswoman wife, Marjorie Merriweather Post, oversaw the ship's interior design, outfitting it in marble, mahogany and gold-plated fixtures. As you’re hosted by Alaskan experts, you’ll get the best experience of this stunning region, getting closer to wildlife and learning fascinating information about the area. Sea Bird offers cruises around Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and Baja California.
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These vessels, often characterized by their cozy ambiance and personalized service, provide an opportunity to explore unique destinations and hidden gems that larger ships may not reach. Here are some small cruise ships that merit consideration for your upcoming voyage. These 10 cruise ships and yachts, each with a passenger capacity of under 1,000, can get to smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships and offer a more social atmosphere where it’s easier to get to know your fellow guests. A specialist in Galápagos Islands cruises, Quasar has a two-vessel fleet that operates in the ever-compelling destination. "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."
Galapagos Islands
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. The expansive wooden sun decks on Wind Star and Wind Spirit make you want to be on topside as much as possible to enjoy the yachting life. Each has multiple dining options, both indoor and on deck, including a weekly barbecue on deck under the stars. In the winter, Royal Clipper island hops around the Caribbean, sailing round trip from Barbados to some of the lesser-known islands. During the summer, it cruises the Mediterranean along the French and Italian rivieras and explores the coast of Croatia and the Canary Islands. The line's iconic weekly beach barbecue on a remote stretch of sand, complete with Champagne and caviar in the surf, is a cruise highlight on all itineraries.
American River Cruises You'll Love - Reader's Digest
American River Cruises You'll Love.
Posted: Fri, 15 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The MS Monet, No. 8 on our list, was built to cruise the turquoise waters of the Adriatic and Aegean seas. The ship’s goal is to offer a private yacht/country house hotel experience with an attentive crew and upscale onboard areas. Indoor and outdoor dining areas give cruisers a choice of venue, and guests can enjoy their meals al fresco with ocean views. Onboard, passengers can enjoy the doting of a polished 95-person crew; locally inspired and international cuisine served up on deck or in an elegant dining salon; and included-in-the-rates wine, Champagne and cocktails. Look out for exciting extras like the option to sleep under the stars (on deck-side Balinese loungers) and a water sports platform with complimentary equipment including sailboats, paddle-boards and kayaks.
MS Panorama II (Variety Cruises)
The ship sails destination-intensive itineraries predominantly in the Caribbean, Adriatic and Middle East. Activities on shore -- most of which are included in the cruise fares -- focus on kayaking, cycling, swimming, snorkelling and hiking, with a smattering of cultural and culinary tours. The ship's marina has a swimming platform and offers water toys, such as paddleboards, Jet Skis, water skis, snorkelling equipment and kayaks. Esprit's most unusual feature is its three-person submarine (tours at additional cost). The ships are the 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star, each with four masts and six sails, and the 342-passenger five-masted Wind Surf, which is the world's largest sailing vessel.
Water sports are also a major component of each tall ship sailing cruise, with complimentary snorkelling, kayaking, sailing and other sea-based activities offered directly from the ship. Serving more as base camps for exploring the world's waters, the line's ships cruise to all seven continents, including the Galapagos, South Pacific, Antarctica and the Arctic. Smaller cruise ships typically have shorter lines and wait times because they have fewer passengers to accommodate compared to larger ships.
In 2020, expedition cruise experts Hurtigruten introduced MS Fridtjof Nansen to its fleet and it fast became one of our favourite small vessels to explore Antarctic waters. With a range of opulent finishing touches, Scenic Diamond is a luxurious ship that carries a maximum of 155 passengers and offers exceptional dining, with all meals included on board. You’ll be in the company of just 125 other guests, so attentive service is assured.
Passengers can enjoy a relatively large spa and fitness area, plus multiple dining venues, including Asian, Japanese, French and Continental restaurants. An impressively kitted-out expedition ship, Scenic Eclipse has an ice-strengthened hull with a C6 rating suited for polar cruising, including navigating the Northwest Passage. High-tech features include a GPS dynamic positioning system to maintain a location without dropping anchor. Wine and spirits are included, so take advantage of two impressive outdoor spots for a drink and stunning views — the Sky Bar at the top of the ship and the chic infinity pool at the stern of Deck 3, adjacent to a lounge and cafe.
Small cruise lines typically operate small cruise ships, while the major cruise lines usually only have ships that accommodate at least 1,000 guests. For example, the smallest vessels offered by cruise line giant Carnival Cruise Line are the Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise, which each have a guest capacity of over 2,000. Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry since 1994. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients.
Onboard facilities include 10 dining experiences, including a Champagne bar and private dining room for just eight people, the Senses Spa and suites with private hot tubs. Water sports include an inflatable trampoline, paddle-boards and kayaks and the ship has Zodiacs for wildlife spotting and shore excursions. That’s because the small-ship cruising experience tends to be more about the destinations you visit. If you want a cruise where the onboard experience is more engaging then you’ll want to stick to larger ships that host more attractions and features. The Antarctic regions are those least touched by ocean cruise lines – only a handful of ships are built to withstand the icy regions. One of these is Ocean Nova, which is currently sailing for the specialist travel group Antarctica21.
World Voyager, which sailed its maiden voyage in Antarctica this past November, is the third vessel to join the fleet of one of the newest players in small-ship expedition cruising, Atlas Ocean Voyages. The company’s 100-cabin expedition yachts are almost identical and provide a hybrid of sorts between traditional expedition and luxury cruising. The bathrooms have glass-mosaic tiled showers with rain showerheads, wall jets, and even benches. Small-ship cruising experiences don't include traditional for large liners amenities - like multiple dining venues, grand-style shows, kids programming.
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