Small Ship Cruises
If you want a great deal on a small ship cruise holiday, we highly recommend you contact us today to hear about our exclusive special offers and the latest discounted fares.
Established as the UK’s original luxury cruise specialist, we partner with world-famous cruise lines such as Silversea, Seabourn, Windstar, and Scenic Ocean Cruises to offer small ship cruises to a range of captivating destinations worldwide in 2025 and 2026.
Regardless of which operator you choose, a voyage on a small ship promises a truly unforgettable cruise experience with the highest standards in onboard service, dining and facilities. Furthermore, choosing small cruises means visiting more off-the-beaten-path ports and islands, many of which are inaccessible to larger cruise ships.
The Definition of a ‘small ship.’
What constitutes a ‘small’ cruise ship is the subject of some debate. Some believe that anything over 200 guests is too big, while others would argue that any ship offering a capacity for fewer than 1,000 guests is small. At The Cruise Line, we recommend that a ‘small ship’ is a vessel with no more than 600 guests.
Advantages of Small Ship Cruising
Enjoying a small ship cruise has two main advantages. The first is that many cruise enthusiasts believe that cruising on a small ship cruise line offers a greater level of intimacy that larger vessels cannot replicate. The second is that the public spaces on small ships are generally more relaxed, and there’s often a more excellent camaraderie between passengers and the ship’s crew.
The second advantage of choosing a small-ship cruise is that it offers a wider variety of ports on its itineraries. In addition, due to its size, small ships can easily navigate their way into remote ports of call that are generally inaccessible to larger vessels. For this reason, many cruisers prefer small-ship cruises when exploring destinations such as Alaska or the Galapagos Islands.
Best Small Ship Cruise Lines
The cruise line you choose for your small-ship cruise holiday will depend on personal preference and, perhaps most importantly, where you want to go. But, from sleek yachts and luxurious river ships to expedition-ready vessels, we guarantee you’ll find a cruise line offering the kind of small-ship experience that meets your requirements.
As a guide, here is a selection of the best small-ship cruise lines and cruise ships:
Up to 100 guests:
- Emerald Azzurra, Emerald Sakara (Emerald Yacht Cruises) – up to 100 guests
- Le Ponant (Ponant Cruises) – up to 67 guests
- Hebridean Princess (Hebridean Island Cruises) – up to 48 guests
- Sea Cloud II (Sea Cloud Cruises) – up to 94 guests
- Silver Origin (Silversea) – up to 100 guests
Up to 150 guests
- Celebrity Flora – up to 120 guests
- Sea Cloud Spirit (Sea Cloud Cruises) – up to 136 guests
- SeaDream I, SeaDream II (SeaDream Yacht Club) – up to 112 guests
- Wind Spirit, Wind Star (Windstar Cruises) – up to 148 guests
Up to 250 guests
- World Navigator, World Traveller, World Voyager (Atlas Ocean Voyages)
- Le Bougainville, Le Champlain, Le Dumont d’Urville, Le Laperouse (Ponant Cruises) – up to 184 guests
- Hanseatic Inspiration (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises) – up to 230 guests
- Scenic Eclipse I, Scenic Eclipse II (Scenic Ocean Cruises) – up to 228 guests
- World Navigator, World Traveller, World Voyager (Atlas Ocean Voyages) – up to 196 guests.
Up to 400 guests
- Star Breeze, Star Legend, Star Pride (Windstar Cruises) – up to 254 guests
- MS Fram (Hurtigruten) – up to 318 guests
- Seabourn Venture, Seabourn Pursuit (Seabourn) – up to 317 guests
- Wind Surf (Windstar Cruises) – up to 374 guests
Up to 600 guests
- Seven Seas Navigator (Regent Seven Seas) – up to 557 guests
- Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Sojourn (Seabourn) – up to 540 guests
Book Small Ship Cruises with The Cruise Line
To learn more about small ship cruises, please call our team of Voyage Consultants on 0800 008 6677. Alternatively, please browse the collection of voyages below and make an online enquiry for your preferred sailing.