What Makes the Best Small Ship Cruise?
Are you looking for a unique cruise experience with a more personalized approach? Then small ship cruising may be for you. If you are tired of feeling herded on and off a massive cruise ship, sharing spectacular sites with thousands of your closest friends, check out what some of the best small-ship cruise lines offer.
Small-ship cruises visit all of the same destinations as their large-ship competitors but in a more intimate setting. Small ship cruises even have the advantage of taking you to more remote locations that cannot accommodate the size of larger name-brand cruises. Visit popular destinations like Indonesia, the Galapagos, Alaska, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef in a peaceful, comfortable atmosphere.
The best small guides know that where there is water, there is adventure. Come explore the origins of Charles Darwin's famous theory on evolution in the Galapagos Islands. Your small ship cruise will take you island hopping through this remote region, where you will experience breathtaking scenery and amazing wildlife. Have your camera ready as you photograph 300-year-old tortoises, swimming iguanas, basking sea lions, and Darwin's finches that made this region so famous.
When you choose a small ship cruise, you can select a custom experience for some of the most remote regions on Earth. The best small cruise ship operators offer a wide range of adventure-specific tours. Looking for a historical voyage through small European towns? Do you dream of strolling along the Mediterranean coastline, admiring small historical villages and cultural sites dating back hundreds of years? Choose one of the many European small ship cruises LiveAboard.com offers to areas like Croatia and Montenegro.
Are you more of the active, adventurous, get-out-in-nature type? Some of LiveAboard.com's best small ship cruise tours include Arctic and Antarctica expeditions. Get ready to bundle up and brave both frozen sea and land as you take in the breathtaking sights of the world's polar regions. Small ship cruises can take you up close and personal with some of the most sought-after wildlife encounters, such as polar bears, walruses, penguins, and more!
If pristine white sand beaches and untouched coral reefs are on your bucket list, look no further. Some of the best small ship cruise operators will take you to the remote areas of warm, tropical locals like Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia's Raja Ampat region, and the captivating islands of Fiji, to name a few! Pack your bathing suit and snorkel gear to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.
Best Small Ship Cruise Lines
If touring the world's polar regions is on your bucket list, consider booking your Arctic or Antarctic expedition aboard a small ship cruise instead of a larger cruise ship company. Typically, the best small ship cruise lines are able to take their ships to further, more remote regions than your average large cruise ship. In fact, Oceanwide Expeditions is one of the best small ship cruise lines taking tourists to the polar regions. This fleet of ice-strengthened vessels safely takes guests to the remote areas of the Arctic Circle and Antarctica, allowing passengers to see spectacular glaciers and wildlife sightings in one of the world's most remote and extraordinary places.
Just as rugged and full of wildlife as the polar regions, yet more easily accessible is the mighty state of Alaska. The largest of the United States of America, Alaska has become a popular destination for the larger cruise ship companies looking to diversify from their typical Caribbean itineraries. Touring this still-wild land on a small ship cruise will allow you to get up close and personal with some of Alaska's mightiest glaciers and pristine wildlife. UnCruise and Alaskan Dream Cruises are two of the best small ship cruise operators in this region. Both companies consist of ships that can better navigate Alaska's narrow channels and secluded coves, taking you to places the larger cruise ships cannot. You will also enjoy personalized service, fewer passengers, the knowledge of locally employed guides, and leave a smaller environmental impact when choosing a small ship cruise line.
Another impressive fleet that deserves a spot on the list of best small-ship cruise lines is the Royal Galapagos Cruise Fleet. This small ship cruise line has become one of the Galapagos Islands' largest and most comprehensive cruise operators. These luxurious modern yachts offer a truly unique experience you will not find with a large cruise ship company. Enjoy gourmet dining, specialized itineraries, trained national park guides, onboard libraries, large cabins, and highly experienced staff offering personalized service. Some even cater to scuba divers with equipment, dive guides, and a compressor on board.
The Variety Cruises Fleet is another operation that tops the list of best small ship cruise lines. This fleet has been in business since the 1960s and now offers a wide range of exciting destinations all around the world. Niche cruising has been their specialty since day one. Although the company has expanded its fleet and destination offerings, providing guests with an intimate, relaxed atmosphere is still their top priority. Variety Cruises strives to create unique expeditions that are a mix of exploration, education, and comfort, all aboard small cruise ships.
Booking the Best Small Ship Cruise to Suit You
No matter your geographic preference, you will find a small ship cruise to suit your taste and vacationing style. At LiveAboard.com, we make searching for your next cruise a breeze. Simply choose from a long list of popular destinations worldwide and the month you want to book your cruise. You will be directed to a page listing all of the available cruise lines, dates, and prices for the destination of your choice. Since we only offer bookings with the industry's best small ship cruise operators, your most challenging decision will be which operation to cruise with. The detailed picture catalog displayed with each operator will help you get a feel for what a day onboard will be like.
It's never been easier to book an adventure cruise. With hundreds of cruises to choose from, departing throughout the year, the hardest part of planning your next cruise vacation will be deciding where to go. Seasoned cruisers know that the best small ship cruise is the one that fits your cruising style, and LiveAboard.com offers something for everyone.
LiveAboard.com is your gateway to extreme adventure offered aboard a smaller-sized cruise ship. Say goodbye to the large crowds, long lines, and mass-produced meals that are typical on larger name-brand cruise ships. Small ship cruise lines take cruising to a whole new level of comfort and relaxation. The saying goes, "Good things come in small packages," and that is precisely what you will find with small ship cruising. By choosing a small ship cruise, you will experience a level personalized service and intimacy not usually associated with cruise ships.
For advice on choosing your next small ship cruise, please look at our article Tips For Cruising.
