Small Ship Cruising
Small ship cruising allows you to sail right into small harbours and ports that the bigger ships can't or can only access via tender. While there might only be a few dining options onboard compared to a bigger vessel, you can still expect delicious food, quite often with a regional flair. These cruises tend to focus on immersing yourself in a destination so there are often more than one night in a particular port and because they can dock quite close to town, there could be the opportunity to experience the nighlife of a destination as well. There are many options for this style of cruise - from yachts to small ships - with each offering something different so here are a few of our favourites or contact us and we'll help choose the best cruise line for your perfect holiday.
Image credit: Windstar Cruises
Aqua Expeditions
Enjoy a series of tailor-made excursions with opportunities to snorkel, dive, and hike in search of rare endemic species. While on board our luxurious superyachts, continue your exploration through cuisine inspired by the region and curated by world-renowned chefs. With a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, the Aqua experience is guaranteed to cater to your every need.
A few of our favourites:
9-night Raja Ampat - every day in this East Indonesian paradise is an opportunity for new discoveries with dramatic landscapes, secret lagoons, beaches and one of the richest coral reef ecosystems. You'll be able to tour on tenders, explore by kayak, go snorkeling or diving and enjoy cultural excursions and spotting wildlife.
7-night Spice Islands & Coral Triangle Expedition - Aqua Blu's Spice Islands cruise heads across the Banda Sea to the Maluku Islands. You'll find some of the world's most pristine sites for diving and snorkeling with the opportunity to encounter tropical fish, rays, sea snakes and possibly hammerhead sharks.
7-night Bali & Komodo National Park Expedition - explore pristine natural environments while sailing in absolute luxury from Benoa (Bali) to Labuan Bajo (Flores) or reverse. Head to Moyo Island to dive or snorkel the shallow reef, discover wildlife and the spectacular waterfall. Encounter friendly whale sharks and kayak in the crater of the extinct Sattonda volcano at Saleh Bay. See Komodo dragons up close on Komodo Island. View indigenous Rusa Deer roaming sandy beaches and hike up the savannah hill of Padar Island for iconic views. Sail onto Horseshoe Bay where you can visit sea eagles or Komodo dragons via tender before heading to Pink Beach. Enjoy a swim from the ship at Tattawa Besar before disembarking in Labuan Bajo for your flight home.
Save up to 30% off selected cabins and voyages in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Book by 31 March 2025*
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits apply to selected cruises*
Click here for full Terms and Conditions
Aurora Expeditions
Certified B Corporation, Aurora Expeditions, have just announced the launch of their small ship cruises, adding to their Polar expeditions range. You'll travel aboard intimately scaled ships to discover the Mediterranean, Atlantic Coast, British Isles and Ireland. These cruises are for travellers keen to delve into the rich tapestry of traditional cultures, ancient histories, artistic legacies and of course, the food!
New cruises:
12-day Sailing the Greek Islands - a round trip from Athens. Each island offers a unique charm and you'll visit Rhodes, Patmos, Mykonos, Delos, Santorini, Syros, Crete and Ephesus.
11-day Ireland: The Luck of the Irish - on this round trip from Dublin, you'll discover the rugged beauty of the Ring of Kerry, Skellig Islands, Cliffs of Moher, Slieve League Cliffs and Giant's Causeway as well as Cobh, Kinsale and Londonderry.
13-day Morocco and Spain: Moor than a Myth - from Marrakech to Barcelona. You'll explore the labyrinths of Morocco's medinas, Moorish architecture, Spanish citadels and Andalusian villages.
Receive a US$2,000 per person air credit PLUS save up to 20% off 2025-26 Antarctica expeditions*
Save up to 25% on selected 2026-27 Antarctica voyages*
Save up to 20% PLUS enjoy a free stateroom upgrade on selected 2025 Arctic expeditions*
Save up to 25% on selected 2026 Arctic & Beyond voyages*
Book by 31 March 2025
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits may apply to selected cruises*
Click here for full Terms and Conditions
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten has been sailing and caring for the Norwegian coast since 1893. They bring you an unfiltered and authentic Norway that they know and love. There are two main ways to sail with Hurtigruten:
Signature Voyages
These are all-inclusive food and drink voyages with award-winning Norway's Coastal Kitchen cuisine and a wide choice of drinks. You'll cruise to the top-handpicked destinations. with a large Expedition Team on board and experience up to 14 ports with several hours in each.
Original Voyages
The Coastal Express is Hurtigruten's famous route, founded over 130 years ago. You'll visit up to 34 ports and enjoy Norwegian ingredients, sourced from the ports. You can sail the roundtrip route or tailor your voyage.
A few of our favourites:
14-day Savour the Northern Lights - Signature Voyage - you'll visit iconic Nordic locations such as Lofoten's natural wonders, Hurtigruten's birthplace and the Northern Lights Village. Experience a snowmobile sleigh ride, husky dogsledding and stay in a Glass Igloo and Glass Villa.
14-day The North Cape Line - Signature Voyage - key highlights include North Cape where you'll experience breathtaking views from Norway's northern point, the charming port of Kristiansand and Tromso, the gateway to the north. This voyage embarks in Oslo and disembarks in Bergen.
15-day The Svalbard Line - Signature Voyage - this is the complete Svalbard adventure offering majestic fjords and diverse landscapes with plenty of optional excursions. You'll sail along Norway's dramatic Arctic coastline, discover Longyearbyen's fascinating history, spot iconic wildlife and indulge in fresh Arctic cuisine.
12-day The Coastal Express - Original Voyage - experience Hurtigruten's original and iconic rout with 34 ports from Bergen to Kirkenes. You'll enjoy breathtaking scenery with fjords, mountains and remote islands. Discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites Bryggen in Bergen and beautiful Geirangerfjorden (seasonal) and enjoy locally sourced ingredients in Norway's Coastal Kitchen.
Enjoy up to $4,000 off per cabin plus up to $250 per person bonus onboard credit on selected Signature and Original Coastal Express voyages or $500 per person onboard credit on selected Savour the Northern Lights departures.
Book by 31 March 2025.*
Flash Sale! 2 for 1 on selected Coastal Express - South departures or save up to 30% off selected premium Signature Voyages. Book by 14 February 2025*
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits apply to selected cruises*
Click here for full Terms and Conditions
SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream - "It's Yachting, Not Cruising" - provides a casual yachting experience that will exceed your expectations as you explore the world's most amazing destinations. Providing unprecedented levels of luxury and service for up to 112 travellers, each guestroom has an ocean view and your experience includes gourmet meals, open bar with select premium brands, use of water equipment such as stand-up paddle boards, snorkel gear and kayaks, gratuities a fitness centre and mountain bikes for shoreside exploration.
A few of our favourites:
7-day Enchanting Greece, Sicily & Malta - SeaDream I - From Athens to Mykonos to Hydra, Itea and Zakynthos before heading to Sicily's Taormina and disembarking in Valletta, Malta.
8-day Spanish Riviera Revealed - SeaDream I - Set sail from Barcelona and head to Valencia, Cartagena and then onto Granada, Tangier, Cadiz, Gibraltar and Puerto Banus before disembarking in Malaga.
7-day Caribbean Dream - SeaDream II - Sail from San Juan to White Bay before taking in the coral reefs of Anguilla's Sandy Ground and overnighting in St Barts. Head to Iles des Saintes then to Charlestown and Sint Eustatius, disembarking in St John's in Antigua.
Save up to US$1,000 on selected yachting voyages when booked by 21 January 2025*
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits apply to selected cruises*
Click here for full Terms and Conditions
Four Seasons Yachts
Embark on a journey of unmatched luxury, where every yacht moment is elevated, and your every need is anticipated. Explore the world’s wonders by yacht, visit iconic isles, and discover remote locales. Combining legendary service and marvels of innovation, this is Four Seasons Yachts.
A few of our favourites:
7-night The Rivieras featuring Cassis and Portofino - set off on an escape through the Rivieras that combines Palma's thriving culture with the radiance of Cassis, the glamour of Cannes, and the allure of Portofino, ending in the glamour of Monte Carlo, for a true taste of Mediterranean elegance.
7-night Adriatic featuring Opatija and Korcula - navigate from Venice's iconic waterways to Dubrovnik's majestic ramparts, with stops at the pristine island of Vis and the cultural heart of Šibenik. Enjoy the journey while exploring the splendor of the Adriatic.
7-night Lesser Antilles featuring Antigua & St Lucia - Barbados unlocks the wonder of the Lesser Antilles on this scenic voyage. Once a haven for buccaneers, these isles are now a playground for the yachting aficionados. Discover pink-sand shores in Aruba, choose from over 300 beaches in Antigua, and revel in magnificent views of Cape Macré in Martinique.
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits may apply to selected cruises*. Ask us for more information
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
A voyage with The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection offers an unprecedented opportunity to be untethered. Here, freedom and flexibility allow immersion in life's exceptional experiences; exploration of earth's exquisite and unexpected hideaways; and stirring of passions and curiosities that create new and deepened connections. All of this delivered in an intimate setting with a heightened level of care and attention. Enlivened and enlightened, marvel at the beauty of the world through fresh eyes. Live untethered, live fully.
A few of our favourites:
10-night Lisbon to Barcelona - compare two grand Moorish fortresses protected by UNESCO – the Alcázar royal palace of Seville and Granada’s Alhambra castle near Málaga – and then explore the contrasting cultures and unrivaled beaches of the Balearic Islands.
10-night Tokyo to Tokyo - the cultural treasures of Japan are even more impressive during cherry blossom season. This voyage also calls on UNESCO World Heritage sites ranging from the floating shrine and peace memorial of Hiroshima to the remains of Christian castles and cathedrals in the Nagasaki region.
7-night Copenhagen to Stockholm - you'll take in five different countries while visiting UNESCO cultural treasures surrounding the Baltic Sea, including the 17th-century naval port of Karlskrona, the 18th-century fortress guarding Helsinki, and the medieval Old Town of Tallinn.
Exclusive Virtuoso Voyages benefits may apply*. Ask us for more information
Star Clippers
Star Clippers offers destination immersive, small ship cruising where you are able to visit ports not accessible by bigger ships. You'll enjoy an elegant 4-star, unique experience aboard an authentic tall ship where the grandeur of the clipper ship era melds seamlessly with modern comforts. Discover a new perspective on what it means to cruise Under Sail with Star Clippers.
Tip: the 24 May 2025 sailing of Grand Prix Finals will be in Monaco on race day for the Monaco Grand Prix.
A few of our favourites:
11-night Greece, Montenegro, Croatia
11-night Grenada to Grenada - visiting Tobago, Grenadines, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia and Barbados
7-night Ligurian Sea - visiting Nice, Elba, Corsica, Sardinia and Monaco
Exclusive Virtuoso Voyages benefits may apply*. Ask us for more information
Windstar Cruises
Each of Windstar Cruises yachts accommodates between 148 to 342 guests. This intimacy provides you with the luxuries of time, space, and freedom to immerse yourself in both the journey and the destination - in ways you may never have imagined possible.
Tip: Windstar offer a great selection of off-season cruises so you can experience a quieter Europe.