Whenever I encounter a person who loudly proclaims “I wouldn’t be caught dead on a cruise ship!!”, my response is “boy, do I have a ship for you!”  Then I steer them towards small ships where where they will encounter nary a typical cruise ship activity (formal nights, floor shows, discos, assigned seating, art auction, etc.)   As an executive at Cruise West, a company synonymous with small ship cruising in Alaska, said:  “Our ice sculptures are outside”!  

While the behemoths make the news — “bigger is better!” — small cruise ships carrying 200 and fewer passengers deserve special praise.  They are perfect for those seeking an up-close look at nature, the most exotic itineraries, unspoiled ports where the big ships can’t visit and greater camaraderie with other passengers and crew.  Aboard these ships you frequently find guest lecturers and very knowledgeable staff offering indepth information about the unique flora, fauna and marine life outside the ship.

If Alaska beckons and your heart is set on an upclose experience with mother nature, your odds increase dramatically when cruising aboard a small vessel. 

The Small Ship Experience:

The major on-board activity aboard a small ship is conversation.  The only time I really get to know fellow passengers is aboard small ships because, with single open seating dining and typically one lounge, there are none of the diversions one finds aboard a conventional cruise ship.  Packing is easy since standard attire is LL Bean or Lands End.  

But the main reason for taking a small ship is discovering the few remaining places on earth untouched by tourism; many of them are only accessible by small ship.  For example, interested in visiting Greenland?  Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyage) visits the island plus both the North and South Poles.  Cruise West will take you to the Bearing Straight as well as small villages dotting Alaska’s coastlines.  Whale watching in the Sea of Cortez aboard a Lindblad ship is an upclose experience, especially when viewed from a Zodiac.

Top Small Ship Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines. Cruising regions include historic New England, the Hudson River, Antebellum South, Chesapeake Bay, great rivers of Florida and the coast of Maine.  The America-flagged fleet includes four vessels, the American Star, Eagle, Glory and Spirit, all carrying fewer than 200 passengers. Aboard each cruise are “enlighteners” — naturalists, historians and other experts — who also lead shore excursions.  Most cabins have private balconies with television, several lounges and an all-American crew. 

American Safari Cruises.  If you’ve always dreamed of owning a private yacht, this cruise line may be for you.  The 12-passenger Safari Spirit and Safari Escape cruise in Alaska from May to September then reposition to Mexico’s Sea of Cortes.  Or, opt for the 22-passenger Safari Quest or 36-passenger Safari Explorer which also sail in Alaskan waters and make fall wine cruises.  These are luxury yachts with naturalists onboard, kayaks and water sports equipment. 

Celebrity Xpedition.  The mainstream cruise company Celebrity Cruises operates one tiny vessel, the 90-passenger Celebrity Xpedition, on year-round Galapagos itineraries.  Devoted to exploring the Galapagos’ unique flora and fauna, passengers hop on and off the vessel into zodiacs for excursions ashore lead by naturalists. 

Cruise West.  Founder Chuck West began offering Alaska cruises in 1946 and the company has grown steadily ever since.  While best known for its Alaska itineraries, today Cruise West also offers small ship cruises in the California wine country, Japan, Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, the South Pacific, China and Viet Nam.  The all-American crew is energetic and knowledgeable, the cruising style casual and personal.  The largest vessel in the fleet of nine ships carries only 138 passengers. The cruise line has top notch expedition leaders who lecture aboard ship and lead shore excursions. 

Lindblad Expeditions.  Lars-Eric Lindblad set out with his first expedition in the late 1950’s and his son Sven-Olaf Lindblad runs the operations today.  Lindblad and the National Geographic Society partnered to create some of the best, most exotic cruises on earth lead by top professionals. Cruising regions cover the entire globe, from Alaska to Antarctica, Europe, the Nile River, Central America and South America.  Ships include the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer and Endeavour, Sea Bird and Sea Lion, Polaris, National Geographic Islander, Sea Voyager, the elegant tall ships Sea Cloud II and Panorama, the River Cloud, Triton (a Nile river boat) and Lord of the Glens for visiting Scotland’s locks.

 Hurtigruten. Formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyages, this cruise line has grown from Norwegian coastal ferries to hearty expedition cruises in Spitsbergen, Greenland and Antarctica plus a world cruise with stops in exotic ports of call, including Antarctica.  There are nine ships in Hurtigruten’s fleet, all modern and comfortable, with lounges, cafes and a restaurant.  Theme cruises include a killer whale safari, opera, folklore and culinary cruises, and stays at the Alta Igloo Hotel made completely of ice.

Quark Expeditions.  The ultimate in adventure cruising, Quark’s ex-Soviet ice breakers plow deep into the Arctic Circle and Antarctica for those who want to venture where no one else can go.  The company also offers soft adventure cruising aboard the Clipper Adventurer, a small ship with more creature comforts. 

While I love small ships they’re not for everyone.  Can you imagine yourself aboard one of these hearty expedition vessels?

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