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While entertainment is more low-key compared to larger cruise ships, there is a focus on enrichment activities. Built in response to the growing interest in small ship cruising, Emerald Yacht Cruises is the ocean arm of river cruise operator Emerald Waterways. Its first "super yacht", Emerald Azzurra, has 50 cabins and suites; 88 percent with balconies or terraces. Passengers can relax on the sun deck and take a dip in the infinity-style pool or head to the marina platform to enjoy various water sports. The vessel has spacious cabins percent with private balconies -- along with three dining venues, a spa and water sports marina with activities including kayaking, paddle-boarding and diving. Cruises visit the line's private island of Motu Mahana, off the coast of Taha'a, where passengers are greeted with food, drink and live music.
Is a Small Ship Cruise in the Caribbean Right for You?
I sailed on the oldest and smallest Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. Here's how it went - Cruise Blog
I sailed on the oldest and smallest Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. Here's how it went.
Posted: Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Crystal Esprit -- Crystal Cruises' 62-passenger yacht -- gets especially high marks for dining, and even offers four distinct dining venues plus room service. If you dream of deserted beaches and castaway islands, a Caribbean cruise can be a shock to the system. On my first cruise from Florida to Puerto Rico, my colossal ship would often dock alongside at least two other equally giant vessels, dwarfing local towns crowded with disembarking passengers. I’ve since returned on smaller ships to destinations including the British Virgin Islands and the Grenadines and the difference is startling, with more unusual ports, quiet local villages to explore and almost-empty beaches. True, the ships may not come with water slides and mini golf, but you can usually expect top-notch food and attentive service rather than buffet queues and scrambles for sunloungers.
Star Clippers
These activities offer enriching ways to experience the Caribbean's natural beauty and cultural heritage. With the growing awareness of sustainable tourism, many small-ship cruise lines in the Caribbean are committed to minimizing their environmental impact and contributing positively to local communities. They employ practices such as using eco-friendly amenities, reducing waste, supporting local businesses, and educating passengers about responsible tourism. When choosing your cruise line, you might want to consider their commitment to sustainability. 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.
Island Windjammers
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). Silversea's classic fleet, ranging in size from 298 to 728guests, offers a number of Caribbean options, including a handful of Barbados round-trips. There are alsovarious itineraries embarking or disembarking in Fort Lauderdale,and Silversea have some interesting voyages combining the islandsof the Caribbean with either Bermuda or Central America.
Six Senses Just Opened Its First-Ever Caribbean Resort on the Island of Grenada
Their itineraries range fromclassic Caribbean routes to expedition-style voyages exploringMexico's Yucatán Peninsula and the amazing dive sites ofBelize. This Relais & Chateaux ship with a crew of 33 treats her 32 guests to authentic and luxurious experiences with refined French touches. Come aboard for 3 decks of open-air spaces, upscale cuisine, onboard activity gear and the feel of a private yacht. The Caribbean features uninhabited islets populated by hundreds of animal and bird species, crystal-clear waters rich with spectacular coral reefs and gorgeous vistas that unfold onto deserted shores. Aboard small cruise ships in the Caribbean, come face to face with rich biodiversity while swimming in tropical waters and learn about the enchanting ruins and history of the region.
Beach Fun & Sun: A Remote Caribbean Getaway
Some lines like SeaDream Yacht Club include calls on very small islands like Culebrita off Puerto Rico. For these destinations, you'll transfer from the ship to the island's beach via a skiff and will then experience a "wet landing," in which you swing your legs over the side of the skiff into ankle-deep water. This is usually a lot of fun, but can be a challenge for anyone with serious mobility issues.
Star Clippers' handsome five-masted tall ship Royal Clipper is considered the largest square rigger in service. Modeled after the great 1902 German clipper Preussen, the ship is a real throwback, with lots of wood and brass features and nautical-style elements. The portable, custom-made "sea dragon" platform at the stern makes for easy access to kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming, activities popular with UnCruise's sporty fans. After passing through various owners, Sea Cloud I has spent the last several decades offering casually elegant windjammer cruises to old-ship lovers from Europe and North America. Today, the line's fleet of small ships explores nearly the entire planet, always with an impressive lineup of experts and photographers along for the ride. Lindblad Expeditions has been a leader in small-ship expedition cruising since 1966 when company founder Lars-Eric Lindblad pioneered expeditions to Antarctica, Easter Island and the Galapagos.
Days at sea are full of lectures and presentations from scientific experts and, on some vessels, photographers. Solo travelers can avoid a single supplement by opting for the Request-Share program where they will be matched with a same gender passenger to share a cabin. Don't let the trappings fool you though -- these cruises (indeed all Hurtigruten sailings) are all about nature. Vessels are equipped with small landing craft that take passengers to incredible locations. Passengers are an international mix, and the ships -- which operate in English and Norwegian -- add other languages, such as German or French, if needed.
Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect DayDetails
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). 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.
For dining, there are four main restaurants, including an Italian and a French-inspired venue. The Grill is an eatery enclosed in floor-to-ceiling glass for the best views in the house. With Ponant's French pedigree, it's not surprising that food is a cut above, especially the desserts, cheeses and wine. Enhance your evening with complimentary wine (mostly French), Charles Heidsieck Champagne, beer and spirits. Passengers choose from 10 original cabins, including Post's own suite with its Louis XIV–style bed and nightstands, marble fireplace and bathroom, chandeliers and intricate moldings.
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. The first of its kind to join the Crystal Cruises' fleet, the 62-passenger Crystal Esprit is a luxury yacht with multiple restaurants offering top-notch cuisine, a gym, a spa and an expansive sun deck with a plunge pool and lounge. Its superb crew is consistent with the line's reputation for attention to passengers and detail. Most cabins on Crystal Esprit are a comfortable 280 square feet, with a king bed, lots of high-tech toys and lavish marble bathrooms.
Be respectful of local cultures and environments, engage with fellow passengers and crew, and take every opportunity to soak in the beauty and vibrancy of the Caribbean. Mediterranean, Baltic and Caribbean SeaDream cruises incorporate hidden-away ports and crew-led activities, which are included in the pricing. Whether you want penguins or polar bears, Quark Expeditions, which specializes in Arctic and Antarctic journeys, is a great choice. The line's newest ship, Ultramarine, has a pair of onboard helicopters, and all six ships in the fleet include kayaking, cross-country skiing and mountaineering equipment (not to mention the ever-present Zodiacs). The line's 128-passenger expedition vessel, 50 Years of Victory, is one of the world's most powerful icebreakers and has nuclear-powered capabilities to go through nearly 10 feet of ice to make the voyage to the North Pole. Topflight naturalists, historians, undersea specialists and expedition leaders accompany each trip; many itineraries also have National Geographic photographers or at least a Lindblad-National Geographic-certified photo instructor.
Find your quintessential Caribbean sailing vacation with the solid guidance of the small ship experts at AdventureSmith Explorations. Inside are not only Zodiacs and kayaks but a pair of six-passenger submarines and military-grade speed used to shuttle cruisers on excursions. Cruise fare includes a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay and one excursion in each port. SH Vega cruises the Arctic region (visiting Greenland, Iceland and northern Canada), South America, the coast of Africa (including South Africa, Namibia and Angola) and the Antarctic Peninsula. When the weather's good, skip the main restaurant and eat at the buffet, which is set up at the back of Deck 7, adjacent to the attractive (and heated) infinity swimming pool. Like Silver Endeavour, Seabourn Venture will spend the year in the polar regions, with long repositioning cruises in between, such as a 51-day Antarctica, Atlantic and Northwest Africa voyage from Buenos Aires to Malaga, Spain.
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