Destination Guide
A dahabiya is the traditional Egyptian Nile sailing boat, with just 16 guests, a lateen sail, and an Egyptian-built hull. This guide covers what sets it apart from a standard Nile cruise, and what a 13-day journey aboard the Dahabiya Azhar actually looks like.
Expedition and Adventure Cruising
What is an expedition cruise? The four things that define a genuine one, where they go, the gentle-to-rugged range, and how to choose your very first.
Traveler News & Industry Updates
Port access restrictions for cruise ships are tightening across the world's most-visited destinations, and the pattern is consistent: the regulations that restrict large ships rarely restrict small ones. Understanding the current regulatory landscape is increasingly important for both planning certainty and for appreciating the specific access advantages small ship travelers retain as large ship access diminishes.
Plan your arctic cruise with this guide to Greenland, Svalbard, the Northwest Passage, top operators, and the best time to go.
Cruise Planning How-Tos
Small ship cruise FAQ: clear answers on cost, what is included, when to book, life aboard, who it suits, and where to go, from advisors who book these voyages.
A South Pacific small ship cruise guide to Tahiti and beyond: why islands with no roads suit ships, the best islands, when to go, and four Paul Gauguin voyages.
Five operators run nearly identical 7-night Romantic Danube itineraries at headline prices ranging from $3,800 to $11,000. The price gaps look enormous — and they are. But once you account for what's actually included versus what's added on, the real total trip cost is meaningfully closer than the brochures suggest. Here is the line-by-line math we run for clients trying to compare apples to apples.
How to prepare for a small ship cruise: packing for the activities, researching the destination, building some fitness, and learning the onboard rhythm.
A specialist cruise travel agent books across every operator, adds preferred-partner perks at the same fare, and advocates for you if something goes wrong.
Cruise Line Reviews
AmaWaterways vs Viking river cruises: Ama leads on food and twin-balcony cabins; Viking on adults-only culture and 60-plus near-identical Longships. Which fits.
Guides for Specific Traveler Types
The first international trip is the one that determines whether international travel becomes a lifelong practice or a one-time adventure. The small ship cruise — with its managed logistics, its built-in cultural education, and its community of experienced travelers — is one of the best possible formats for a first international experience.
Big cruise and hotel brands keep launching small ships. What they add, what they can't fake, and how to judge a new entrant like Explora or Ritz-Carlton yachts.
consultation
Reach out to our travel concierges today to create your perfect journey.
By submitting this form, I agree to the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
*$250 credit applies to a non-cruise portion of your booking and is only available to new clients who have not previously booked with Small Ship Travel.