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
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*
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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*
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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.
A few of our favourites:
10-day Treasures of Southern Spain & Morocco - Lisbon to Barcelona - travel to Tangier, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca and Tarragona.
14-day Star Collector: Winter in Spain and the Rivieras - Malaga to Rome - this off-season exploration throughout Italy, France and Spain features overnight port stays in Florence, Barcelona and Malaga.
16-day Star Collector: Luck and Legend - Ireland and Scotland - from Leith To Dublin, you'll visit Invergordon, Kirkwall, Portree, Tobermory, Portrush, Isle of Man, Dublin, Belfast, Londonderry, Killybegs, Galway, Dingle, Cork and Waterford.
Book your 2025/26 winter Mediterranean cruise by 31 Oct 2024 and receive a free all-inclusive upgrade - WiFI: unlimited beer, wine and cocktails; all gratuities plus an $200 onboard credit per stateroom*
Exclusive Virtuoso Voyages benefits may apply*
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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.
Ask us about last minute specials on selected 2024 sailings*
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits apply to selected cruises*
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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 West Papua and Asmat Tribe Expedition - an exclusive voyage to West Papua – one of the most uncharted destinations in all of Indonesia, rarely visited on board New Guinea cruises. This expedition offers the unique opportunity to sail to the Asmat region, inhabited by its namesake indigenous tribe who are known for their rich cultural heritage.
12-night Spice Islands to Raja Ampat (or reverse) - aboard a modern explorer yacht, cruise Indonesia's Raja Ampat in luxury, style, and comfort and discover the best diving and snorkeling sites in the world. Aqua Blu sails Raja Ampat from December to February, some of the best months to discover this region’s landscapes and biodiversity.
3, 5, 7 or 14 night Galapagos Cruise - Reward yourself with an unforgettable voyage along the islands born of fire. As the first true superyacht to sail the Galapagos Islands, Aqua Mare’s sophisticated interiors and social spaces set the stage for the most exclusive way to navigate this remote destination. Featuring the archipelago’s best guest-to-guide ratio – with only eight passengers per expert naturalist guide – guests can be assured of a highly captivating and personalised, private Galapagos cruise experience like no other.
Save up to 30% on selected 2024/25/26 departures when you book by 31 Dec 2024*
Solo Traveller Special - single supplement fee is waived on selected 2024 and 2025 departures*
Exclusive Virtuoso benefits apply to selected cruises*
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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
Save up to 30% on selected 2025 Mediterranean cruises when you book by 31 January 2025, for departures April 2025 to November 2025*
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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.
Save up to 20% on selected 2025 voyages when you book by 31 Oct 2024*
Save up to 25% on selected 2026 voyages when you book by 31 Dec 2024*
Click Here for full Terms and Conditions