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Popular activities in the region range from bird watching and snorkeling/Scuba diving to fascinating history tours. But the more remote islands of the Lesser Antilles (which form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean) are generally less over-developed and more pristine than those crowded mass tourism destinations. A Seychelles cruise is the best way to explore the islands’ myriad attractions. These range from idyllic beaches and abundant marine life to cities like Victoria (the country’s capital), which are rich with a unique mixture of African, British, Chinese, French, and Indian cultural influences. As a result, Botswana has emerged as one of the world’s hottest ecotourism destinations. There are Big 5 safaris at Moremi Nature Reserve and canoe trips through the Okavanago Delta, plus uncrowded gems such as Nxai Pan National Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
THE WORLD’S BEST SMALL SHIP CRUISES
With some research, intuition, and perhaps a dash of wanderlust-driven impulse, you’ll find that dream voyage that speaks directly to your traveler’s soul. By now, you might be daydreaming of distant shores, imagining yourself aboard one of these intimate vessels. Let’s chart a course through some of the top destinations, with a special spotlight on the most unique ports of call. Know what you’re signing up for, and chances are, you’ll come back with tales of an unforgettable voyage, where the journey was just as enchanting as the destinations. Embarking on a small ship cruise is like dining at a boutique restaurant instead of a bustling food court. Before you set sail into the cozy realm of small ship cruising, let’s weigh anchor for a moment.
New Zealand: A North & South Island Adventure
You can explore Mediterranean waters powered by the wind whenever possible, giving a wonderful romance to your cruise that's hard to beat. Carrying just 227 guests, Royal Clipper is small enough to stop at some smaller ports along the French and Italian Rivieras. Expect historical walking tours and cultural experiences in towns, while hiking and wildlife viewing are on offer in more natural ports. Most of UnCruise small ships in Alaska sail between Ketchikan and Juneau, between Sitka and Juneau, or round trip from Juneau, though repositioning departures from Seattle are also on offer (typically at the start and end of each season).
Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure
The ships also feature a gym, yoga studio, spa, ocean-view saunas, library and two dining venues. I've sailed on more than 125 cruise ships of all sizes, but my favorites have never been the big "floating resorts." The ship sails destination-intensive itineraries predominantly in the Caribbean, Adriatic and Middle East. Activities on shore -- most of which are included in the cruise fares -- focus on kayaking, cycling, swimming, snorkelling and hiking, with a smattering of cultural and culinary tours. The ship's marina has a swimming platform and offers water toys, such as paddleboards, Jet Skis, water skis, snorkelling equipment and kayaks. Esprit's most unusual feature is its three-person submarine (tours at additional cost).
This makes it much easier to find your own personal space away from the crowd, to have quiet time or special moments as a couple or family. Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey. Everything you need to experience the best of land and sea with Tauck is included...
The newest ship in the Galapagos fleet also features cabin automation and environmentally friendly systems, including anchorless technology (dynamic positioning) and in-room water filtration stations. Onboard facilities include 10 dining experiences, including a Champagne bar and private dining room for just eight people, the Senses Spa and suites with private hot tubs. Water sports include an inflatable trampoline, paddle-boards and kayaks and the ship has Zodiacs for wildlife spotting and shore excursions. Norwegian-based cruise line Hurtigruten plies the poles with 16 ships of varying sizes. The fleet's latest vessels -- the 530-passenger MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Roald Amundsen -- are eco-friendly hybrid propulsion ships that reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 20 percent. The ships feature suites and cabins with balconies, as well as ocean-view cabins.
11 of the best small-ship Mediterranean cruise lines to avoid the crowds - The Times
11 of the best small-ship Mediterranean cruise lines to avoid the crowds.
Posted: Fri, 08 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
A realistic budget goes a long way in helping decide between a large or small ship and on your stateroom selection. Your budget will certainly be a deciding factor in the length of cruise as well. A ship of this elegance deserves to be seen in the most glamorous locations. In March 2024, Emerald Azzurra follows a route around some of the Caribbean's most lusted-after locations, including Barbados, Tobago, Bequia, and Grenada. For the first few days, Kirsty will be on hand to chat with guests about the history of modern Scotland - the perfect conversation as you glide past exceptional Scottish scenery.
After passing through various owners, Sea Cloud I has spent the last several decades offering casually elegant windjammer cruises to old-ship lovers from Europe and North America. 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.
The fleet's three vessels -- flagship 227-passenger Royal Clipper and 170-passenger twins Star Clipper and Star Flyer -- are some of the fastest clipper ships ever built in modern times. Feel the sails, catch the breeze, visit the captain and officers in the open bridge, or climb high in the rigging. Celebrity's Galapagos cruise ships combine the line's modern style and focus on service and cuisine with a local, small ship ambience. Destination-oriented features are incorporated into the onboard experience; such as a performance highlighting Ecuadorian folklore on Xpedition and regionally inspired sustainable decor on Flora.
If you’re into wreck diving and history, the San Francisco Maru (discovered in 1972) is a must-see. The ship’s cargo holds are filled with sea mines, torpedoes, bombs, aircraft engines, two Japanese tanks and many more WW2 artifacts. The Cyclades, with 220+ islands, is the densest and most popular grouping in Aegean archipelago thanks to Delos, Mykonos, and Santorini. For ancient history, the Dodecanese Islands (especially Rhodes) and Crete are hard to beat. Must-see sites you can visit while cruising the Black Sea include Instanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, Romania’s Danube River Delta, the Ukranian city of Odessa, and Sochi Olympic Park, the first theme park in all of Russia. Included among the Lesser Antilles islands are Martinique, St. Lucia, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Grenada, which has recently emerged as a haven for ecotourism.
Swell, a unique 88-foot converted tugboat built in 1912, carries up to 12 guests in six private en-suite cabins. The classic wooden construction of the vessel has been maintained, and cabins are paneled with wood. There is a hot tub on the aft deck, and a cozy lounge that doubles as a dining area. American Cruise Lines small ship sailings in Alaska include itineraries through the Inside Passage and Southeast Alaska. The line has traditionally drawn an older crowd more interested in ports than adventure, and its Alaska sailings are heavy on narrated boat, coach and walking tours. There are three 450-passenger ships from Seabourn on this list -- Odyssey, Quest and Sojourn -- and two 600-passenger ships, Encore and Ovation.
It features an appealing seating area facing the sea and an ocean-view sauna. The Atlas Ocean Voyages ship has terrific outdoor spots for remarkable views (not hogged by a helipad or stern and aft suite balconies), including a close-to-the-water spot on Deck 5 forward and a "secret" arc of deck on Deck 6 aft. Near the well-stocked library is the Expedition Study, where the 20-member expedition team is accessible for questions. Outdoor deck space includes the forward-facing bow area with an outdoor hot tub. There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures.
Green Global Travel is the world's #1 independently owned ecotourism website encouraging others to embrace sustainable travel, wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and going green tips for more sustainable living. When it comes to Chilean travel, the wine region around Santiago and the dynamic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia tend to get most of the attention. From viewing the Aurora Borealis to learning about Inuit cultural traditions, this is a dream trip for every explorer’s bucket list. The Arctic region encompasses northern Alaska and Canada, most of Greenland, and parts of Russia and Scandinavia. It’s home to more than 500,000 indigenous peoples (whose ancestors settled there tens of thousands of years ago) and an impressive array of wildlife. On the map, this inland sea looks more like a giant lake, connected to the Aegean Sea (and the Mediterranean) by the narrow Bosphorus Strait.
Crystal teams up with celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa for a popular Japanese-fusion restaurant, while Oceania's menus are created in collaboration with famed chef Jacques Pepin. You'll definitely want to make reservations for specialty dining on all these ships, since you'll be competing for the best tables and dining times with hundreds of other travelers. Most of the ships in this category also offer a variety of suites that give you more square footage, space to dine in your cabin and outdoor furniture to enjoy on your veranda. Ships from Silversea offer butler service with every stateroom, which equates to an ultra-luxurious experience for all. Small ships range from megayachts and sailing vessels of less than 5,000 tons to ships of about 25,000 tons. These ships may carry as few as 70 passengers or as many as 350 and tend to be more upscale although that isn’t always the case.
Small ships can be welcomed at smaller ports and can sometimes tie up at docks where the town or places of interest are simply a short stroll away. Smaller ships often have special access to churches and museums after they close to the public, to host a unique concert or performance ranging from folk dancing to opera. Fewer guests give small ships the ability to structure tours, special meals, market visits and other events that may prove more challenging for larger ships. The line's 148- to 342-passenger sailing ships and 312-passenger, all-suite motor yachts received praise from voters.
For more ideas, we’ve rounded up the best small ship cruises to help you pick the perfect nautical holiday. On Sea Cloud Spirit, passengers benefit from both age-old seafaring techniques and modern comforts. With the exception of the smaller vessels, each ship has lounges for happy hours, as well as post-dinner lectures and programs.
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