As much as the mega liners of the world are tempting for all-singing, all-dancing, resort-at-sea type of holidays, the best small ship cruises — which typically carry fewer than 500 passengers — are all about exclusivity, individuality, and personal service.
Some of our firm favourites host an even smaller number of guests and are more yacht-like, including Uniworld's beautiful S.S Venezia and S.S Maria Theresa, where you'll be one of around 150 guests.
With a smaller number of travellers on board, you'll get a more personal level of service, often getting to know crew members and forming friendships with likeminded guests. The best small cruises really lean into this more personalised service, and offer opportunities to mix and mingle with your fellow guests.
Sailing on a smaller ship also means visiting locations that are not reachable on enormous ocean liners. For example, Uniworld's boutique ships are now the only luxury boats allowed to sail through the heart of Venice.
While small ships can be extremely luxurious, there are some affordable small ship cruises available too. Take Good Housekeeping's fabulous six-day cruise of Normandy and the Channel Islands, which comes in at under £700. When you consider that this includes your accommodation, transport, and all your meals, boutique cruises can be a convenient and affordable way to explore.
We think the best small cruises are those that are a little out of the ordinary. Perhaps it’s a cruise that follows an unusual itinerary around tiny, lesser-explored islands, like those along Croatia's Dalmatian Coast. Or maybe the ship itself is extraordinary, such as the stylish, yacht-like MS Equator. Some even offer special events with celebrity guests and experts.
When searching for the best small ship cruises, you'll want to make sure they match the experiences you're after. For a friendly atmosphere where guests get to know each other over dinner, a European river cruise along the Douro or Danube can offer plenty of shared experiences and opportunities to meet new people.
For something that will give you plenty to talk about when you get home, expedition cruises to far-flung places like Antarctica are thrilling and intrepid without sacrificing comfort.
For more ideas, we’ve rounded up the best small ship cruises to help you pick the perfect nautical holiday.
A taste of Venice on a foodie cruise
Take an oh-so-stylish cruise on S.S La Venezia, an opulent river ship swathed in fine fabrics and finished with gilded accents and plenty of iconic Murano glass (she’s sailing to and from Venice, after all).
While the ship alone is enough to tempt, a voyage from Venice to Burano, Mazzorbo and Torcello includes a talk, Q&A and book-signing session with celebrity chef James Martin. In addition, the much-loved Saturday Morning host will cook a delectable gala dinner one evening onboard, too.
You’ll be in the company of just 125 other guests, so attentive service is assured. But just because it’s a small ship, that doesn’t mean it’s light on choices: S.S. La Venezia has three dining venues, including an Italian kitchen on the upper deck.
This cruise offers exclusive access to some of the city's most treasured buildings, like St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace — perfect if you're keen to learn more about Venice's art and architecture.
Another fabulous food-themed sailing of Venice comes with Good Housekeeping's cruise with Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett. Angela will join you for a tour of the wonderful Rialto food market, before hosting an onboard cooking demonstration and answering some of your questions.
A musical journey along the Danube
The majestic Danube flows for 2,860km through Central and Eastern Europe. The river's banks are home to unspoiled landscapes, atmospheric villages, and some of Europe's most magnificent cities. A Danube river cruise allows you to take in some of Europe's most beautiful countryside, including the Wachau Valley, along with culture-packed capitals like Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava.
You'll see all of the above and more on a special sailing with Good Housekeeping on Uniworld's S.S. Maria Theresa. The cruise also includes an exclusive performance by virtuoso Russell Watson in Dürnstein, and a Mozart and Strauss concert in the heart of Vienna. Accommodating no more than 150 guests, S.S Maria Theresa boasts a opulent staterooms, lounges and bars, a Viennese café, a spa, peaceful sun deck, swimming pool and cinema room.
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Any music-lovers looking to explore the banks of the Danube may also be tempted by another music-themed sailing on S.S. Maria Theresa. You'll visit filming locations from the Sound of Music on a tour of Salzburg, as well enjoying a cabaret performance of Julie Madly Deeply, an acclaimed West End act that's a cheeky and affectionate love letter to Julie Andrews.
An astronomy cruise through Norway's Arctic
Many small ship cruises take you to Europe's most fascinating cities on cultural voyages. But if you're more of an outdoorsy person, there are options for you too. On a cruise of Norway's Arctic region you'll be able to spot the jaw-dropping Northern Lights, and learn about the galaxies from a renowned astronomer. Tom Kerss is the world's first Chief Aurora Chaser and has previously worked at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. He'll join you on this special sailing, giving illuminative lectures about the night's sky and helping you spot the dazzling aurora.
Your home-from-home will be the the sleek MS Midnatsol, a small ship equipped with everything you need for a comfortable voyage. Make the most of your time at sea by unwinding in the sauna, working up a sweat in the fitness centre, enjoying a cocktail in the explorer lounge and bar, or relaxing in one of the outdoor hot tubs and soaking in the views.
A voyage to the wild and wonderful Channel Islands and Normandy
For a small ship cruise that combines architecture, wildlife, and fine food, join Good Housekeeping on a May bank holiday escape to the Channel Islands and northern France. You'll set sail directly from Southampton on this no-fly cruise, heading first for the historic port city of Saint-Malo in Brittany. Next stop is Alderney, the northernmost of the inhabited Channel Islands, which is a real haven for flora and fauna.
You'll be sailing on board Fred Olsen's stylish Balmoral. With capacity of 1,350 guests, it's a little larger than some boutique ships, but is still small enough to sail through the narrow waterways of northern France and take you straight into the heart of Rouen, your final port of call. Here, you'll savour delicious French cuisine, from delectable cheeses paired with award-winning wines to sweet Calvados brandy, and marvel at the city's renowned medieval architecture.
An unforgettable Antartica expedition
A cruise to Antarctica really is nothing short of extraordinary. And to do it right, you need to join an accomplished crew who know how this wild wonderland works. In 2020, expedition cruise experts Hurtigruten introduced MS Fridtjof Nansen to their fleet and it fast became one of our favourite small vessels to explore Antarctic waters.
Hosting just 500 guests, it's not the smallest ship exploring the region. But in this instance, being a little larger means you get some extra facilities including a choice of restaurants (a definite plus on an 11-night cruise), a large science centre, and a fabulous outdoor swimming pool (which, yes, is heated so you can take a dip in as you gaze across the monochromatic landscape).
On Good Housekeeping's expedition cruise you can look forward to landings and ice cruises, kayaking among the icebergs, and spotting breaching whales and huddles of penguins.
A wine-themed sailing on the Douro River
River cruises are ideal for taking in different sides of a region, and there’s plenty to see hopping from city to town to vineyard along Portugal's Douro River. A-ROSA ALVA is a small river boat that promises plenty of variety on an itinerary that starts in the colourful city of Porto before sailing into the scenic, wine-growing valleys.
Guests have the chance to disembark and take part in the traditional grape harvest, but that’s not the only reason it’s the perfect cruise for wine lovers. There are also plenty of opportunities to taste the local port wine at the Quinta da Roeda estate near Pinhão and sip from the ship’s selection as you look out at the passing scenery from ALVA’s Panorama Lounge. During your time on board, make the most of the sauna, gym and spa or take a dip in the heated outdoor pool.
A breath-taking tour of Croatia's Dalmatian coast
Croatia's Dalmatian Coast is home to some of the country's most spectacular locations, like the charming city of Spilt, historic Dubrovnik and the sleek island resort of Hvar. Set sail with us on a boutique, Supreme category ship for a voyage that takes you through these wonderful waters.
Highlights of the itinerary include stop offs in Mljet, home to verdant Mljet National Park, the peaceful and picturesque island of Brac, the stylish resort island of Hvar, and the popular city of Dubrovnik, with its stunning Old Town.
For this idyllic Croatia cruise, you'll be sailing on board a ship with a maximum of 40 other passengers. You'll get to enjoy spectacular coastal views while lounging on the sun deck, wine and dine in the elegant restaurant and bar, and relax in the onboard jacuzzi, too. There's also swimming platform so you can easily take a dip in Croatia's crystal-clear waters.
A scenic route along the Danube River
Another chance to enjoy the opulent atmosphere of S.S. Maria Theresa and the grandeur of the Danube comes with Good Housekeeping's boutique eight-day sailing. See some of Europe's most picturesque cities in all their glory and enjoy the luxury and intimacy of S.S Maria Theresa as you sail. On board you'll indulge in world-class cuisine, with sumptuous buffets for breakfast and lunch and four-course gourmet dinners in the evening, all included in your fare.
As part of the sailing, you'll visit Budapest; Vienna, where you'll attend a private classical music concert; the quaint town of Dürnstein in Austria; and the beautiful German city of Passau. You'll also have the chance to soak in views of Austria's glorious, UNESCO-protected Wachau Valley as you cruise through it.
A voyage along India's sacred Ganges
While there are so many exceptional European cruises to choose from, you're not limited to short-haul when it comes to boutique sailing.
Good Housekeeping has an an unforgettable cruise along the Ganges on the Ganges Voyager II, a beautiful small ship adorned with hand-painted murals. You'll spend a few days on land exploring India's Golden Triangle, including the iconic Taj Mahal, before setting sail to explore the fascinating landmarks, villages and religious sites along the banks of the Ganges.
You'll be staying in a river view stateroom with a private French balcony and floor-to-ceiling glass doors, meaning you can take in the views as you sail. Joining you on board for part of the cruise is double Michelin-starred Indian chef Atul Kochhar, who will give a talk and Q&A about his career, sharing his passion for Indian food. He will also join you on a visit to Kalna Market and host a cooking demonstration with ingredients purchased there.
A cultural journey along the Mekong
A journey along the wonderful Mekong is a fabulous way to take in the fascinating culture, history and cuisine of southeast Asia.
Join Good Housekeeping on a bucket list 17-day cruise and you'll visit the highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia. You'll be sailing on the luxury small ship, the Mekong Jewel, an ornately decorated ship with two dining venues, a swimming pool, spa, sauna and steam room, two lounges and a library. You'll be staying in a Luxury Balcony Suite, allowing you to take in incredible views as you sail along this important river
As you sail you'll stop off at jaw-dropping archeological sites like the temple complex of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll experience the different sides of these two fascinating countries with visits to small villages as well as the buzzing capitals of Hanoi and Phnom Penh.
A luxurious cruise around the best of Bordeaux
Combine fantastic French food and wine with pure luxury on this small ship cruise around Bordeaux.
On this exclusive, eight-day Good Housekeeping sailing, travel on France's newest and most luxurious river cruise ship, S.S Bon Voyage. Accommodating up to 124 guests, S.S Bon Voyage is designed to fully immerse guests in French culture, art, and wine. On board, you'll find a choice of five-star restaurants, an infinity pool and relaxing sun deck, a fitness centre and the Serenity River Spa.
Departing from Bordeaux, you'll discover the wine culture and fascinating history of this romantic French region by visiting the UNESCO-listed citadel in Blaye, with its magnificent historic fortress, as well as the vineyards and châteaux of Cussac Fort Médoc, Cadillac, and Saint-Émilion.
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