Small ship cruises: Everything you need to know

How to choose the right small ship cruise line

Small ships fall into a range of different categories, and at Mundy Cruising, it is our job to help you select the right one for you. There is a huge amount of choice, from tiny yacht-like vessels to romantic sailing ships to specialist expedition ships with ice-strengthened hulls and onboard naturalist guides.

The best small ship cruise lines

SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream Yacht Club is one of our favourites, with two yacht-style vessels carrying just 112 guests apiece. These cruise ships in miniature will indulge your every whim, with outstanding service and memorable food, watersports from the marina at the back, al fresco dining, sleeping under the stars, and wall-to-wall champagne and caviar.

There's a distinct family feel on board thanks to the longserving officers and crew and once you are on board, you immediately feel like family too, relaxed enough to order off menu or make a special request to enhance your experience.

Crystal Cruises

Crystal, now owned by the A&K Travel Group, relaunched in 2023 with the 740-guest Crystal Serenity and 606-guest Crystal Symphony after an extensive refurbishment which has seen the guest accommodation enlarged and the capacity drop.

Although elderly, the two ships were built to a very high specification and have been looked after exceptionally well and there is now a huge amount of space, plenty of facilities, and plenty of restaurants and bars on board both Crystal ships.

Seabourn

Seabourn boast the most modern fleet in the ultra-luxury category, with two 458-guest sister ships plus the slightly larger Encore and Ovation, each carrying 604 guests.

They also launched their expedition programme in 2022/23 with two purpose-built ships carrying a maximum of 264 guests. Seabourn have a reputation for a highly personal style of service, with all staff focused on getting to know each guest individually, in order to perfectly understand your tastes and preferences.

Silversea

Silversea built its sterling reputation on the back of the intimacy and personal service offered on board its fleet of small ships. Capacity on their 'classic' fleet ranges from just 296 guests on Silver Wind, up to 608 passengers on Silver Spirit and a maximum of 728 guests on the brand-new Silver Ray. The Silversea Expeditions fleet is focused on off-the-beaten-track adventure by small ship, with vessels carrying between 100 and 254 guests.

On board, you can expect relaxed open seating dining with a choice of restaurants and styles and all drinks included in the fare, resulting in a laid-back house party style which facilitates blossoming friendships and attentive service, with extensive and wide-ranging itineraries.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

German cruise line Hapag-Lloyd are justifiably proud of their flagship Europa 2, which has been voted the world's best cruise ship by the Berlitz Guide.

Carrying just 500 guests, this stunning ship employs a contemporary Nordic-inspired aesthetic that sets it apart from the competition, and the accommodation, onboard dining and spa facilities are simply superb.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Seven Seas is one of the most inclusive of the all-inclusive cruise lines, and their new All Inclusive Upgrade allows you to choose from a cruise-only fare or to add in flights, overseas and UK transfers; both include all meals, drinks and shore excursions.

Regent give you a choice of small to medium-sized ships, from the 496-guest Seven Seas Navigator to the newest all-balcony additions to the fleet, Seven Seas Grandeur (744 guests) and the new Seven Seas Prestige (850 guests), lanching in 2026.

Oceania Cruises

Oceania's 'R Class' ships - Insignia, Nautica, Regatta and Sirena - fall into the small ship category, carrying 684 guests in comfortable accommodation with outstanding food and a relaxed, unpretentious style on board.

Oceania's port-intensive itineraries are all about destination immersion, with long days ashore and plenty of overnights and on board we love the relaxed country house style and alternative restaurants.

Windstar Cruises

The small ships of Windstar Cruises are a popular choice for first time cruisers, with great service, excellent food, interesting itineraries and a relaxed, easy-going style on board.

There are three sail-assisted yachts - choose between the 148-guest Wind Star and Spirit, or the 342-guest Wind Surf - plus three 312-guest former Seabourn yachts, Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star Legend, as well as two new ships, arriving in December 2025 and 2026 respectively, the 112-guest Star Seeker and Star Explorer. (If ships with sails are your thing, make sure you also check out Sea Cloud Cruises and Star Clippers).

Paul Gauguin Cruises

In our opinion, if you want to cruise the South Pacific then the 330-guest Le Paul Gauguin is the only game in town. This lovely little ship is based in the region year round so knows the area inside out, with the flavour and warmth of the islands replicated on board.

Excellent dining choices with included drinks and gratuities ensure a relaxed experience, and local entertainment, alongside excellent hosting from the local Gauguines, ensure you soak up the South Pacific vibe. Enjoy a combination of seven, 10-, 11- and 14-night itineraries discovering the Pacific's remote isles.

Ponant

French cruise line Ponant has undergone incredible expansion in the last few years, adding no less than six 'Explorer class' yachts to the fleet since 2018, carrying up to 184 guests apiece. Plus, their groundbreaking hybrid-powered icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot launched in 2021, taking up to 245 lucky guests to some of the most remote corners of the globe.

Their fleet also includes the ship that started it all, the sail-assisted 32-guest Le Ponant, plus four sleek 264-guest yachts exploring a variety of intrepid destinations worldwide. On board expect a refined atmopshere and a wonderful mix of a modern super yacht and nautical tradition, all with a French flair.

Scenic

Australian travel company Scenic expanded into ocean and expedition cruising in 2019 with their first ultra-luxury discovery yacht, Scenic Eclipse, and in 2023 Scenic Eclipse II joined the fleet.

The technologically-advanced sister ships boast a sleek design, elegant and spacious suites and an exceptional spa, and the 228 guests (200 in polar waters) can enjoy a range of unique itineraries categorised as either expedition voyages, discovery voyages or traditional cruise voyages.

Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Ritz-Carlton made their first foray into cruising in 2022 with the launch of their yacht Evrima, carrying up to 298 guests in elegant luxury. The second and third yachts Ilma and Luminara, which launched in 2024 and 2025 respectively, are a slightly larger capacity, carrying a maximum of 456 guests.

Across the fleet you can expect an extension of the Ritz Carlton brand with stylish suites, excellent dining, and slow-paced port-intensive itineraries with tailored and customised experiences in each destination.

Emerald Cruises

Emerald made their name in river cruising and in recent years expanded into ocean cruising with the launch of two sleek yachts Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara.

Carrying a maximum of 100 guests in stylish accommodation, plus with expansive deck space and an onboard marina, the Emerald cruising experience is more akin to sailing on your own private yacht. Itineraries range from hidden harbours of the Caribbean, the beautiful Adriatic and idyllic isles in the Seychelles.

Small ship cruises from the UK

Most people associate ex-UK cruising with the big mainstream lines like P&O or Cunard, but there are also plenty of small ship options for those who prefer not to fly. As well as summer visits from many of the cruise lines listed above, there are several small ships based in the UK year round.

Hebridean Island Cruises

Intimate, characterful and utterly unique, the little 48-guest Hebridean Princess explores the coasts and islands of Scotland, with a sociable house party style on board and quirky touches like tartan curtains and a brick fireplace in the lounge bar.

Their second vessel Lord of the Highlands carries just 38 guests and was designed to transit the Caledonian Canal with the same homely Scottish atmosphere on board.

Small ship expedition cruises

As well as the more classic cruise itineraries, there are also a number of small expedition vessels exploring remote areas such as the polar regions, the Galapagos or the islands of the Pacific, carrying naturalist guides and expert lecturers, zodiacs to land on deserted beaches and high tech equipment to seek out what's going on underwater.

Top small ship expedition cruise lines include UnCruise Adventures, Lindblad Expeditions, True North Adventure Cruises, AE Expeditions and Quark Expeditions. For more information, take a look at our sister company Mundy Adventures.

River cruises

A river cruise is another great choice for fans of smaller ships, taking you on busy journeys of discovery, with loads of time exploring ashore, soaking up the culture and sampling the local food and wine. You can choose to cruise close to home on the rivers of Europe, or further afield in Asia, Africa or the Americas.

Whichever style of small ship you choose, what you will particularly enjoy is the warmth and intimacy of your onboard experience, and the excitement of being part of a rather special journey. To identify your perfect small ship cruise, call an expert: the team at Mundy Cruising can help you through the pros and cons.