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Small Ship Cruises

Explore destination-led small-ship cruises with more intimate vessels, distinctive ports and itinerary-focused travel.

7 trip ideas currently shown.

Rovinj on Croatia's Istrian coast above the Adriatic Sea
Bike & Boat Moderate

Croatia E-Bike & Small Ship: Istria Coast & Hill Towns

An 8-day guided e-bike and small-ship trip around Croatia’s Istria peninsula, pairing coastal towns, hill-country riding and nights aboard an intimate motor yacht.

8 days Omišalj • Cres • Pula • Poreč • Novigrad • Rovinj • Rabac • Krk • Omišalj
Starting from $2,349 Per person in a twin cabin; bike rental extra
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Dubrovnik, Croatia on an Adriatic small-ship cruise
Small Ship Cruise Luxury

Adriatic by Small Ship: Dubrovnik to Venice

A 7-night Adriatic sailing from Dubrovnik to Venice on an intimate sailing yacht, with Kotor, Croatian islands and smaller coastal ports along the way.

7 days Dubrovnik • Kotor • Monopoli • Pomena • Korčula • Šibenik • Opatija • Poreč • Venice
Starting from $3,399 Small-ship cruise fare
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Mount Rainier and Tacoma on a Puget Sound small-ship cruise
Small Ship Cruise Moderate

Puget Sound & San Juan Islands by Small Ship

A 9-day Pacific Northwest small-ship cruise through Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands with wildlife, coastal towns and scenic cruising.

9 days Seattle / Tacoma • Puget Sound • Anacortes • Friday Harbor • San Juan Islands • Port Angeles • Victoria • Port Townsend • Bremerton • Poulsbo • Tacoma
Starting from $4,825 $5,425 Small-ship cruise fare
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Dalmatian Coast in Croatia on a small-ship Adriatic cruise
Small Ship Cruise Luxury

Croatia by Small Ship: Venice, Hvar, Kotor & Dubrovnik

An 8-day luxury small-ship Adriatic cruise from Venice to Dubrovnik with Hvar, Korčula, Kotor and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast.

8 days Venice • Rovinj • Zadar • Primošten • Split • Hvar • Korčula • Mljet • Kotor • Dubrovnik
Starting from $7,150 Cruise package fare
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Greek Islands on a small-ship cruise through the southern Aegean
Small Ship Cruise Luxury

Greek Islands by Small Ship: Santorini, Mykonos & Patmos

An 8-day small-ship Greek Islands cruise with Santorini, Mykonos, Patmos, Milos and more, roundtrip from Athens.

8 days Athens • Patmos • Amorgos • Santorini • Milos • Delos • Mykonos • Nafplion • Athens
Starting from $7,660 Cruise-only fare
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Coastal mountains and wilderness scenery in Alaska
Guided / Escorted Luxury

Alaska by Small Ship: Inside Passage & Kenai Fjords

A 10-day premium Alaska journey combining a small-ship Inside Passage cruise with Anchorage, Kenai Fjords and destination-focused shore experiences.

10 days Vancouver • Inside Passage • Ketchikan • Juneau • Skagway • Sitka • Hubbard Glacier • Anchorage • Kenai Fjords
Starting from $9,490 Small-ship cruise and land journey
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Small-Ship Cruise Planning

Find the Small Ship That Fits How You Want to Travel

Small-ship cruising covers a wide range, from intimate yachts and coastal vessels to luxury ships and expedition-style programs. The experience depends on ship size, itinerary, activity level and what is included. I help compare those details before you choose a sailing.

Ship Size & Style

A smaller ship can mean fewer passengers and a more intimate onboard experience, but small ships are not all the same. Some are polished and luxury-focused; others put more emphasis on adventure, destination access or active days ashore.

Ports & Itinerary

One of the biggest advantages can be access to smaller harbors and places large ships cannot always visit. In the Adriatic, that can mean combining Croatia and Montenegro with places such as Hvar, Korčula, Kotor and Dubrovnik, sometimes with Venice at one end of the route. I look closely at the route, time ashore and what the ship is actually able to reach.

Inclusions & Activity Level

Excursions, drinks, gratuities, water sports and expedition activities vary by operator and fare. I compare what is included and how active the trip is so the price makes sense in context.

Small-Ship Cruise Questions

What counts as a small-ship cruise?

There is no single passenger-count cutoff that applies to every company. In general, these vessels are much smaller than mainstream ocean cruise ships, but the size and onboard experience can still vary quite a bit.

Are all small-ship cruises luxury?

No. Some are luxury-focused, while others are expedition, adventure, coastal or active-travel experiences. I look at the actual ship and itinerary instead of treating small ship as one category.

Do small ships have fewer amenities?

Often, yes, compared with large resort-style ships. The tradeoff can be fewer crowds, more destination focus, smaller ports and a more intimate atmosphere. It depends on what you want from the trip.

Can you help compare a small-ship cruise with an expedition cruise?

Yes. I can compare small-ship and expedition options by itinerary, ship, activity level, cabin, inclusions and price so you can see which style fits the trip you want.

Cruise PlanningLuxury TravelAntarctica & Polar ExpeditionsAlaska Travel

Looking for something different?

These are only examples of what I can help you book. Tell me the dates, destination or type of trip you have in mind and I can help narrow it down.

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