Best Small Cruise Ship Lines: World's Best 2020

Table Of Content

• No. 9: Emerald Azzurra - Emerald Cruises
• List Of Smaller Cruise Ships
• Is Carnival Spirit a Small Ship?
• Upper Deck Lifeboats
• The Cons of Sailing on a Smaller Cruise Ship
• No. 1: SeaDream II
• How Does The Stability Of The Smallest Ship Compare To Larger Ships, Especially In Rough Seas?
• About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

The Earth's Arctic region includes the Arctic Ocean and territories of 8 countries (Russia, Canada, USA, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland). Arctic expedition itineraries are operated almost year-round (excluding winter months). "Aggressor Fleet" owns an impressive number of smaller luxury yachts and operates in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Galapagos, Southeast Asia, Red Sea, Maldives, also in the South Pacific Ocean. Viking Octantis spends part of the year in Antarctica and the rest of the year cruising the Great Lakes and Canada, with a handful of repositioning cruises in between.

No. 9: Emerald Azzurra - Emerald Cruises

Essentially floating boutique hotels, they make romance easy, which is why they are one of our best cruise lines for couples. Read on to discover the best small cruise lines you should consider for your next cruise. Featured destinations in this region are French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Greek Isles, Dalmatian Coast (Adriatic). Among the most operated Alaskan small ship cruising destinations are Inside Passage, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Seward, Sitka, Ketchikan (Revillagigedo Island), Homer, Kodiak Island. Among Antarctica's most popular itinerary destinations are Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Elephant Island, Paulet Island, Paradise Harbor.

List Of Smaller Cruise Ships

Dining options abound, including alfresco dining at Earth & Ocean at The Patio. The ship also comes outfitted with high-speed internet—the only one in the fleet. Small ship cruise deals offer expedition-style travel in some of the most pristine regions of the world.

Is Carnival Spirit a Small Ship?

On Maple Leaf's fleet of three vessels, expect an even more intimate experience than on a regular small ship, and a program that is full of First Nations history. Expect historical walking tours and cultural experiences in towns, while hiking and wildlife viewing are on offer in more natural ports. While technically considered a super-yacht, Aqua Mare offers set cruise itineraries around the Galapagos Islands, and so qualifies for this list. She is one of the more contemporary ships on this list, with bright and modern spaces both inside and out. UnCruise Adventures has a number of smaller cruise ships in the fleet, though most are too big to make this list. Safari Quest is the line’s smallest ship though, and it’s considered to be the second-smallest in the world.

Upper Deck Lifeboats

The largest Grand and Owner's suites are massive multi-room affairs with huge private verandas. While small luxury ships typically have fancy owners' suites, the pair of top accommodations on Scenic Eclipse is on another level. Each measures over 2,000 square feet with a huge forward-facing teak-lined terrace, complete with a large whirlpool tub. 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.

The Cons of Sailing on a Smaller Cruise Ship

Modeled after the great 1902 German clipper Preussen, the ship is a real throwback, with lots of wood and brass features and nautical-style elements. 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. Of course, the best small ship for you may depend on where you wish to sail and whether you're looking for a relaxing yacht-like experience or a rugged adventure. This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be.

While large ships come with certain advantages (rock climbing at sea, anyone?), some cruisers prefer the intimacy, personalized service and destination-focused itineraries of a smaller vessel. There's "cruising" and there's "yachting" – small ships that dock in harbors and ports inaccessible to larger ships. SeaDream offers 7- to 15-day voyages with a maximum of 56 couples and a 95-person crew, so service and attention to detail are highlights. You can slip past the crowds to discover smaller ports and get to know the local culture on more intimate excursions.

Small Cruise Ships Are Taking A Big Lead On Sustainability. Here's How - Forbes

Small Cruise Ships Are Taking A Big Lead On Sustainability. Here's How.

Posted: Sat, 09 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The atmosphere on a smaller cruise ship tends to be quieter and less hectic, allowing passengers to enjoy a peaceful and tranquil cruise experience. Popular cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, in recent years, have tended to focus their efforts on their bigger vessels. This can mean that the quality of the ship and service can slide on their smaller ships. The 92-foot-long Maple Leaf schooner can carry eight passengers and four or five crewmembers. Instead of cabins, a sleeping area has large bunks with walls on two and a half sides and thick, heavy curtains on the rest. Lindblad pioneered the expedition cruise several decades ago and has partnered with National Geographic since 2004,.

He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West. This year's World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year's honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

Lord of the Glens has room for just 54 guests and if you sail on a beautiful Uniworld ship like the S.S Venezia or the S.S Catherine, you'll be among only around 150 guests. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world.

This luxury mega-yacht features all-suite accommodations, two chef-inspired restaurants, and an optional glamping experience where you can sleep under the stars. The itineraries are with regular roundtrip departures from Argentina (Ushuaia) and Chile (Punta Arenas), with a duration between 8 and 20 days. Among the visited destinations are Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Drake Passage, Falkland Islands, South Sandwich Islands. Alaskan Dream Cruises (fleet, AlaskanDreamCruises.com) is Allen family-owned company (founded 1970) operating Inside Passage itineraries - wilderness adventures on small-sized expedition ships. Its ships also visit exclusive ports of call in Alaska, including native-owned lands and a private island.

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. You can build an a la carte vacation or pay upfront for an easy trip that includes an open bar, unlimited Wi-Fi and included crew gratuities. The ship attracts a loyal fan base thanks to its roomy size and cabins that open onto covered promenade decks (rather than a central interior corridor). It even features a hot tub on deck and an elevator, a rarity on older small adventure ships like this. SeaDream Yacht Club's 40-year-old ships may not be new, but they're still some of the prettiest classic luxury yachts afloat.

Multiple dining options include the main restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the ship's wake and a steakhouse on the Lido Deck. For cocktails, head to either of two piano bars, the Dome Observation Lounge or the Atlas Lounge, just outside the lecture theatre. The windowed fitness center and spa area includes an ocean-view sauna and the infinity pool at the back of Deck 5 boasts killer views. There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures. On board, many rooms are veranda suites measuring 356 square feet (including a private balcony), all with marble baths.

This vessel features three tall sails and wood paneling to provide an authentic cruise experience. It’s motor sailed, meaning the vessel relies partially on the wind to sail – a unique feature for a cruise ship. Get off the ship and explore historic destinations with guided tours of ports and overnight stays on shore. While on the ship, take advantage of the peace and tranquility of spacious staterooms.