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Enjoy complimentary caviar from the time you board to the end of your journey. Spacious suite-style rooms come with butlers and Wi-Fi, and its exclusive partnership with chef Thomas Keller means you’ll dine in style your entire journey. Relax with top-notch in-house entertainment, including its show An Evening with Tim Rice, the acclaimed lyricist behind several Disney and Broadway classics.
Small-ship cruises are rising
Vessels come equipped with kayaks, paddle-boards, snorkelling equipment and hot tubs onboard for relaxing after a day of hiking or paddling. As the diverse fleet incorporates upscale expedition ships, yachts and even a replica turn-of-the-century steamboat, onboard offerings vary. Expect thoughtful premium appointments and amenities throughout, though, with fitness areas, lounges, libraries and mealtimes highlighting gourmet, locally sourced cuisine and fine wines and microbrews. 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.
No. 7: Viking Orion - Viking Ocean Cruises
Windstar Cruises Will Add 2 New All-suite Ships to Its Fleet in 2025 and 2026 - Travel + Leisure
Windstar Cruises Will Add 2 New All-suite Ships to Its Fleet in 2025 and 2026.
Posted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:57:00 GMT [source]
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). One of our favourite features -- available on each of Windstar's vessels -- is the water sports platform, with its range of complimentary activities such as snorkelling, wind-sailing, paddle-boarding and even water skiing).
Small ship cruises can be a real adventure
Here's what it's like onboard a luxury yacht vacation - USA TODAY
Here's what it's like onboard a luxury yacht vacation.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:07:56 GMT [source]
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. 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. Typically thought of as a midsize-ship line, Viking took top honors in this category, too, thanks to its twin ships Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis.
No. 10: Seabourn Ovation - Seabourn Cruise Line
The ships feature suites and cabins with balconies, as well as ocean-view cabins. While smaller cruise ships may not be as popular as the vessels offered by large cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, they provide a unique experience that you can only get in a more intimate setting. And with limited facilities on board, you have to be extra sure you're on the right adventure — or you'll get bored fast. They say the size and extra level of attention make a small vessel experience rise about the rest.
(tied). Crown Princess
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated individual cruise ships on their cabins and facilities, food, service, itineraries and destinations, excursions and activities, and value. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in five categories; small-ship ocean cruise lines have ships that can carry 249 or fewer passengers. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in six categories, including river cruising. What’s more authentic—and sustainable—than setting sail on a tall ship where the sails are hoisted up each day by hand?
Viking Cruises (Winner)
The vessel carries just 227 guests with luxurious accommodations and modern amenities like three swimming pools, relaxed dining and a marina platform for water sports. Like her popular Viking sister ships, Jupiter features a spacious spa, several dining venues, an intimate jazz lounge, two cinemas, pool with retractable roof and a sports deck. Like her popular Viking sister ships, Jupiter features a spacious spa, several dining venues, an intimate jazz lounge, two cinemas, a pool with retractable roof and a sports deck. Sailing to worldwide destinations that include Greece, Cuba, the Seychelles, Costa Rica, Panama, West Africa and Cape Verde, the vessels moor in secluded bays and private marinas that are inaccessible to larger ships. The onboard vibe is casual and low-key, with very personal levels of service and the opportunity to dine on deck and swim and snorkel off the back of the ships.
With a fleet of six chic vessels catering to no more than 310 guests, Windstar visits a chocolate box of destinations, from Alaska to the islands of Tahiti, the Italian Riviera to the Panama Canal. Given their small size, everyone gets a chance to know each other by the end. The line’s 17-ship fleet features five-star amenities and every decor aspect is inspired by the ship’s destination. Spas, fitness centers and swimming pools are available on select ships, all featuring regional cuisine, theater shows and other onboard entertainment. The line’s four ships all carry around 2,00 passengers, making them a bit larger than other ships on this list, but the exceptional service means you won’t notice a few extra people. The focus is on sophisticated and cultured voyages, making it one of the best cruises for seniors.
River cruises are often more intimate since vessels need to be smaller to navigate narrower waterways, and Azamara has some of the best. Its four ships — Azamara Journey, Azamara Onward, Azamara Pursuit and Azamara Quest — are built to navigate both the open sea and rivers around the globe. Silversea has one of the lowest crew-to-guest ratios of any cruise line, and its 13 ships have 51 to 364 cabins. All-inclusive pricing covers everything onboard—drinks, meals, gratuity—so you won’t need to worry about finding your wallet.
Hurtigruten ships are known for being eco-friendly, with hybrid engines, minimal single-use plastics and eco-education onboard. They also strive to boost the local communities they visit, so expect locally sourced food and connections with community leaders to give you an immersive cultural experience. Choose from more than 150 destinations and enjoy late-night stays and overnight stays in select ports so you can get a better sense of the local culture without rushing to get back to the ship. Check out its country-intensive packages, such as its Italy Intensive, which stops in 8 ports around the entire boot over 10 days.
Passengers can utilize each ship's fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks and stash of snowshoes and cross-country skis that aid in exploration. The new high-tech expedition ships, outfitted with the latest hardware and design touches, are incredibly appealing. However, I also adore certain older small ships for their heritage and atmosphere.
Little extras, like numerous USB ports, ocean-facing lounge chairs on the pool deck and floor-to-ceiling windows in most venues, make for a comfortable sailing experience. The 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra, an ocean-sailing yacht from Emerald Cruises, is small enough to tuck into small ports, so passengers can be in town straight away when docked. Cruisers appreciate the beautiful infinity pool, sun decks and water toys, like kayaks and snorkeling equipment that lend a private yacht vibe.
Evenings are spent reading in your room or listening to a naturalist talk. A small ship Alaska cruise is one of the most intensive ways to explore Alaska's coast. Unlike the massive ships that ply the waters of the Gulf of Alaska and Inside Passage, small Alaska cruises can dock in isolated bays and fjords or picture-perfect small towns far from the crowded tourist trail.
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