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With just two ships in their fleet – the Sylvia Earle and Greg Mortimer – they’re a perfect example of quality over quantity. Whether it’s wildlife spotting in the Arctic or sipping mai tais poolside before diving into tropical waters that float your boat, these are some of the best small ships to suit your style. Each of Windstar Cruises yachts accommodates between 148 to 342 guests.
Seabourn Venture
In the 2023 voting, readers gave high marks to established brands that have reinvigorated their offerings. Consider No. 2 Windstar Cruises, which recently rebuilt three of its small ships at an investment of $250 million, adding more suites, improved culinary options, and enhanced spa facilities to each. “I'm never going to be able to get on another cruise line,” said one convert, who traveled on Star Legend. While standard fares exclude alcoholic beverages and gratuities, their frequent promotional deals often cover these. When considering a voyage on small cruise ships Mediterranean, weather plays a pivotal role.
Oceania Riviera, Oceania Cruises
However, I also adore certain older small ships for their heritage and atmosphere. I also gravitate to the off-beat itineraries small ships offer because they focus on unusual and remote places that only small vessels can access. Starting from $4,726 per person, this all-inclusive voyage fuses wine, travel, and luxury in a unique Mediterranean experience. Immerse yourself in the Mediterranean’s allure aboard a Silversea cruise, where luxury and exploration blend seamlessly. See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2020. Let the sparkling waters of the Caribbean or the intimate yachting harbors of the Mediterranean serve as backdrop for your special day.
Seattle to Juneau: UnCruise Adventures
These platforms are cantilevered directly over the water for great views of bergy bits and potential marine life. The windowed fitness center and spa area includes an ocean-view sauna and the infinity pool at the back of Deck 5 boasts killer views. 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.
thoughts on “Small Cruise Ships Sailing to the Mediterranean: Guide to Intimate and Authentic Travel Experiences”
Read on to see how Viking captured this category — and for more details on all the top lines. Fares may be higher and exclude alcoholic drinks and gratuities, but a shipboard credit helps. Explore unique Mediterranean trips starting or ending in Mallorca or the Canary Islands. Ponant’s small cruise ships’ Mediterranean routes feature enticing trips to Corsica, the south of France, Croatia, the Greek islands, and Italy. Watch for exciting voyages to the Black and Red Seas via Lebanon and Israel.
Featured Cruises
They sport a striking X-bow design (an inverted ship bow design for fuel efficiency), a polar class rating of PC 5 Category A (a notch above most Antarctica cruise ships), and a dynamic positioning system that keeps the ships hovering quietly in place. Meanwhile Paul Gauguin Cruises (No. 3) may have slipped a bit from its 2022 ranking but still posted a score of more than 92 points. That’s thanks to its luxurious service — most rooms come with butler service — and, no doubt, its dreamy itineraries that visit remote atolls in South Pacific and the cruise line’s private beach on Bora Bora. While fares don’t cover all expenses (drinks outside of mealtimes are extra), they include flights, transfers, meals, wine and beer with meals, WiFi, gratuities, and even excursions in critical ports. No matter where you choose, a small cruise ship in the Mediterranean is the perfect way to explore these destinations in style and comfort. The Adriatic Sea is home to some of the Mediterranean’s hidden gems; a small cruise ship is the best way to explore them.
For More Than Just A Luxury Cruise, Travel With The Experts - Forbes
For More Than Just A Luxury Cruise, Travel With The Experts.
Posted: Tue, 09 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The closest you can get to the feeling of having your own private yacht is to sail on one of Variety Cruises' three motorized sailboats -- Absolute King, Monte Carlo and Obsession -- where just 10 passengers are looked after by a crew of six. The rest of fleet comprises eight small vessels, including the 71-passenger flagship Variety Voyager and masted Panorama and Panorama II which cater for 49. The travel industry at large contended with an extraordinarily difficult year as it weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, but cruise lines were particularly hard hit.
Cruises
There's an impressive spa, salon and gym with panoramic ocean views and several lounges for drinks (always included) and lectures. Scenic Eclipse cruises to nearly every corner of the world, including French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Indonesian archipelago and Antarctica. Wine and spirits are included, so take advantage of two impressive outdoor spots for a drink and stunning views — the Sky Bar at the top of the ship and the chic infinity pool at the stern of Deck 3, adjacent to a lounge and cafe. In the winter, Royal Clipper island hops around the Caribbean, sailing round trip from Barbados to some of the lesser-known islands.
What Readers Loved
The top Regent Suites on these new ships are mansions at sea and come with solariums, private spas with saunas and steam rooms and Steinway pianos in their living rooms. Now owned by Royal Caribbean Group (the same company that owns Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises), the luxury cruise line delivers stylish, contemporary luxury — more streamlined than opulent — complemented by pleasantly extreme pampering. Exquisite cuisine is prepared a la minute and accompanied by pours of fine wines.
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. For the tall-ship enthusiast, there's nothing quite like sailing under a starry or sunny sky, powered by the bluster of ocean winds. If you want to float along with the wind while exploring less-travelled ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia, Star Clippers is tough to beat.
Its 10 traditional cruise ships are nearly identical, each carrying 930 guests, while two expedition vessels carry 378 guests and combine elegant design with the latest technology in polar exploration. In addition to including Wi-Fi, crew gratuities, alcohol and some shore excursions in its fares, Atlas provides all passengers with emergency medical evacuation insurance to handle unexpected illness or injury in the remote locations its ships sail. World Voyager, which sailed its maiden voyage in Antarctica this past November, is the third vessel to join the fleet of one of the newest players in small-ship expedition cruising, Atlas Ocean Voyages. The company’s 100-cabin expedition yachts are almost identical and provide a hybrid of sorts between traditional expedition and luxury cruising. Cabins are spacious, almost all with balconies, desks, and seating areas.
Each measures over 2,000 square feet with a huge forward-facing teak-lined terrace, complete with a large whirlpool tub. An impressively kitted-out expedition ship, Scenic Eclipse has an ice-strengthened hull with a C6 rating suited for polar cruising, including navigating the Northwest Passage. High-tech features include a GPS dynamic positioning system to maintain a location without dropping anchor. What the ships lack in modern touches, they make up for in experience and service. The food is excellent and served both on the romantic outdoor decks and inside the cozy restaurant.
This year, T+L adjusted the World's Best Awards cruise categories to reflect the industry and traveler experience. The ships in the small-ship ocean cruise lines category are now those with 150 to 299 cabins, while smaller ships (with fewer than 150 cabins) are in an all-new intimate-ship category. Another of our top luxury cruise lines, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is proudly opulent. Floating palaces are its calling card, along with the most inclusive fares of all the luxury lines.
This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be. Imagine celebrating with your invited friends and family on your own private yacht. Introducing Seabourn Ovation, the sister-ship to the already prestigious Seabourn Encore. Seabourn Ovation represents another welcome stage in the evolution of small ship cruising, which Seabourn pioneered and has consistently expanded and enriched for all of our small ship cruises.
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