Cruise ships seem to get bigger and bigger with each passing year, and that’s great news for those that want to experience a resort-style cruise holiday where the ship is the main destination. However, there are some people that prefer a smaller cruise ship experience. We decided to highlight some of the best cruise lines for small-ship cruising in today’s blog post.
Azamara cruise ship sailing the Chilean Fjords
Small-ship cruising and its many advantages
There are a lot of benefits to small-ship cruising, probably more than you first realise. Just because your ship is small doesn’t mean that you won’t get an authentic cruise experience, or the chance to see and do just as much as you would from a cruise holiday on a much larger vessel.
Smaller cruise ships are more intimate and you’ll often find a much higher attention to detail – why do you think most ultra-luxury cruise ships are smaller in size than others!
First, there are far less crowds, meaning you’re highly unlikely to queue for things such as open dining (if offered) onboard shows, the buffet or even when in port and waiting to go ashore. It’s just an all-round more relaxed experience.
Smaller ships can also visit destinations that larger cruise ships could only ever dream of seeing! They can make transits of canals that would usually be off limits, such as the Corinth Canal, for example, in Greece. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ‘Braemar’ can do this with such ease that when you see photographs, it almost doesn’t seem real. It’s cruise experiences like this that make small ships entirely invaluable.
P&O Arcadia cruise ship in Lisbon
Small-ship cruise lines
So, we’ve already highlighted Fred. Olsen, but there are many more small cruise ships out there that can indulge you. Granted, some of the far smaller vessels are no longer with us and some that are now classed as small, several years ago, would probably have been referred to as mid-size, but they still give us what we look for when it comes to a more traditional cruise experience, without the bells and whistles of onboard waterparks, ice rinks, rock climbing walls, dodgem cars and more.
So, these are some of the cruise lines we recommend for small-ship cruising to destinations around the world.
P&O Cruises – Aurora and Arcadia are ideal options. Not as small as some, but small-enough to feel intimate.
Celestyal Cruises – 2 small-ships offering a variety of excellent itineraries throughout the Mediterranean and Adriatic. The Greek Island experts.
Ambassador Cruise line – with one small-ship in service (Ambience) and another on the way (Ambition) Ambassador is a top choice for small-ship cruising and they sail predominantly from UK ports.
Azamara – looking for a boutique-style small-ship cruise experience? Then Azamara have you covered. With some incredible itineraries available, you’ll be utterly spoilt.
Silversea – The epitome of luxury cruising and with a fleet of small-ships, Silversea is the ideal choice for worldwide exploration in ultimate cruising luxury.
Oceania Cruises – Another luxurious choice and with a wide variety of worldwide sailings, including world cruise options.
Now, all that’s left for you to do is decide where you want to go and which cruise line wins your vote to take you there!
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