Cruise activities
Wildlife watching
Many of our small cruise holidays were created by people who are wild about nature. And having a small boat, a knowledgeable guide and a skipper who knows nature’s best hiding spots, are what you need to get up close and personal. In the Galapagos, for example, you can see extraordinary creatures all year round. Going on a small ship cruise really is the way to go, however, especially as some islands only allow the small ones to berth. Boats where the emphasis is on wildlife not social life and where, with fewer people on board, you won’t have to queue endlessly to embark and disembark.
It'll give you more time to enjoy watching boobies on San Cristóbal or Genovesa, iguanas and albatross on Española or snorkel with sea lions and penguins off Floreana. The Arctic and Antarctic small cruises are wildlife frenzies, of course, with polar bears, walruses, Arctic fox in the former, and penguins, whales, seals and albatross at the latter. Much closer to home, Scotland’s islands are small cruise nirvana, with the likes of Bute, Hebrides and Mull offering a Celtic cacophony of sea creatures. Read more about wildlife cruises.
It'll give you more time to enjoy watching boobies on San Cristóbal or Genovesa, iguanas and albatross on Española or snorkel with sea lions and penguins off Floreana. The Arctic and Antarctic small cruises are wildlife frenzies, of course, with polar bears, walruses, Arctic fox in the former, and penguins, whales, seals and albatross at the latter. Much closer to home, Scotland’s islands are small cruise nirvana, with the likes of Bute, Hebrides and Mull offering a Celtic cacophony of sea creatures. Read more about wildlife cruises.
Our Small ship cruising Holidays
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£669 to £979
8 days
ex flights
Split to Dubrovnik Luxury cruise, Croatia
Cruise Split to Dubrovnik in luxury via Croatia's islands
From
£1199 to £1899
8 days
ex flights
Galapagos cruises
Cruise the Galapagos Islands on sailing boats and yachts
From
£2797
8 days
ex flights
Nile felucca cruise in Egypt
Private carbon free traditional felucca cruise on the Nile.
From
€480 to €640
4 days
ex flights
St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise, Scotland
Scottish Cruise to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides
From
£4950
11 days
ex flights
Luxury small ship cruise in Croatia
Luxury small ship cruise through Croatia's Islands
From
£1299 to £2299
8 days
ex flights
Water babies
For most water lovers, being on water is not quite enough and if swimming, snorkelling or diving is not one of the cruise activities, they’ll sulk like a child who has had their sweets taken away. You will want to practice your diving board skills before heading off on a sailing trip cruise in Turkey, Greece, Italy or Croatia, with total immersion into those turquoise waters irresistible to most. Snorkels and masks are compulsory gear on small ship cruises around Burma’s Mergui (also known as Myeik) Archipelago and the Maldives' prolific atolls, and it is worth getting your PADI diving skills up to date before going cruising not only in the warm waters of, for example, Greece’s Cyclades, but also the Arctic and Antarctic where diving expeditions from ice floes under the ice take you into world that feels like it is, literally, frozen in time.Visit local communities

The world of the sea is not just your oyster. It is about people too.![]()

Unlike the giant cruise shippers who either stay on board to sunbathe or play golf (yes cruise ships with golf courses do exist), small cruise activities are as much about getting you onto land to meet people and learn about river, sea or lochside life. Such as the Arctic’s aboriginal communities, the extraordinary sea gypsies of Burma’s Mergui Archipelago or the coastal Koryaks of Kamchatka.
Historically, the Thule people lived around the shores of Greenland and Arctic Canada – the remains of settlements give fascinating insights into their lost culture. Eastern Siberia’s Wrangel Island reveals older culture still – with a 3,400-year-old Paleo Eskimo camp.
Our top Small ship cruising Holiday
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
From
£669 to £979
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 6 May, 13 May, 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 24 Jun, 1 Jul, 8 Jul, 15 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct
2023: 6 May, 13 May, 20 May, 27 May, 3 Jun, 10 Jun, 17 Jun, 24 Jun, 1 Jul, 8 Jul, 15 Jul, 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug, 19 Aug, 26 Aug, 2 Sep, 9 Sep, 16 Sep, 23 Sep, 30 Sep, 7 Oct, 14 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Small ship cruising or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700
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Pedal, paddle or pootle

Just as Inuits have 50 words for snow, there should be 50 words for awesome, when it comes to the feeling you get as you cruise among Antarctica's icebergs.![]()

There is no danger of becoming a cruise ship potato on our holidays, with kayaking, hiking and cycling often part of the package. You can take on some serious climbing once you touch dry (ish) land on Antarctica, combine cycling with sailing along the Croatian coast, or head off hiking in Sierra De Aracena Natural Park when you moor the boat in Spain.