Cruise tips
Packing advice
“For the Polar Regions, you need to dress like an onion. It is all about layers. People always think of Antarctica, the Arctic and Alaska as being really freezing cold, but it isn’t that bad. The wind will get to you, but it is no colder than winter can be in the UK, so it is just a case of layering up.
Our Small ship cruising Holidays
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica cruise
The Ultimate Antarctica Experience!
Melanesia cruise, wildlife cruise
Explore idyllic islands of the South Pacific inc Vanuatu
Chukotka and Wrangel Island wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore Russian Arctic - home to Polar Bears, walrus & more
Dubrovnik to Venice luxury cruise
Cruise the Croatian Islands before a bus journey to Venice
Luxury gulet cruise in the Aegean
5 star services while cruising the Greek Islands in luxury
Alaskas Glacier Bay small ship cruise
Get close up to Alaska where the big ships can't go
Seychelles 7 day sailing cruise
Cruise the Seychelles on a beautiful wooden sailing ship
Scotland private charter sailing holidays
Private Charter a small ship around the Scottish Islands
Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea cruise
Antarctica & Weddell Sea Emperor Penguins by ship/helicopter
Arctic sailing voyages, Spitsbergen
Experience sailing in the fjords
Skye and the Small Isles sailing holiday
Sail Scotland's Small Isles and visit spectacular Skye
Hebrides cruise, The Sounds of Mull, Luing, Shuna and Jura
Cruise the Sounds of the Hebrides: Mull, Luing, Jura, Shuna
Luxury small ship cruise in Croatia
Luxury small ship cruise through Croatia's Islands
Luxury Arctic cruise Spitsbergen & Franz Josef Land
A unique expedition to rarely visited Franz Josef Land
Wildlife Cruise of New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
New Zealand's wildlife rich & remote Subantarctic wilderness
Arctic wildlife holiday, Polar bear explorer
A wildlife focused Arctic safari in Svalbard
Spitsbergen Arctic Cruise
An exciting wildlife cruise around the Svalbard archipelago
Classic Antarctica cruise & South Shetland Islands
Experience all that this remarkable area has to offer!
St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise, Scotland
Scottish Cruise to St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides
Split to Dubrovnik Luxury cruise, Croatia
Cruise Split to Dubrovnik in luxury via Croatia's islands
Kamchatka and Chukotka wildlife cruises, Russia
Explore wild Kamchatka's volcanoes, fjords and wildlife
Antarctic cruise and hiking in Chile
Walk in Atacama and Patagonia before cruising Antarctica
Cruising holiday in Burma, the Mergui Archipelago
A comprehensive tour of Burma including ocean sailing
Skye and the Small Isles cruises, Scotland
Scottish Cruise to Skye and the Small Isles in the Hebrides
Ecuador highlands tour & Galapagos cruise
Experience Ecuador's stunning highlands and the Galapagos
Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
Caledonian Canal cruise, Scotland
Cruise the Caledonian Canal in a wee ship
Galapagos cruise options, tailor made
The greatest wildlife experiences tailor made
“It is important not to forget your waterproofs. Some people think that they can manage without, and it is not because the weather is bad but because when you go in a dinghy you are close to the water, when you put the anchor up you can get wet at that time. They don’t have to be fancy - cheap waterproofs which cost about £10 for the trousers are fine.
“We always ask people to bring clean shoes, because people think that it is OK to have dirty shoes to work on deck, but you can’t, because you have all the working things on deck when you go sailing, such as the sails, and so it is important to keep the deck clean. And then also bring something comfortable to change into when you go inside the boat. Something to slip into rather than tie laces, particularly for young children. Crocs are fantastic.”
Cruise tips for families
“I think it is perfect for families, because there is a lot to do on the boat. When we dock the boat, put a dinghy in to go and visit little beaches, go fishing or go and see the seals. So the children can learn a lot. But do remember to bring waterproofs. Sometimes, families bring a few waterproofs to share, and don’t have enough for everyone. And so there is always somebody who is stuck without them! With children, we say a minimum age of seven, not because the boat is dangerous, but because they are so small. And so they cannot use the equipment so easily, such as the toilet, or the sinks.”
“For families, small ship cruises are great because you only unpack once, and yet you still get to explore different places. But of course, these boats aren’t adapted to have things like kids clubs and that kind of thing. The kids clubs are getting off the boat, exploring and seeing what’s out there. The children can still go to onboard lectures, for example, there are no restrictions from that point of view, so they are treated more like adults than children, with no cuddly toys in sight. There are age restrictions with some boat operators, however, so we always check that.”
Travel advice
Accessible tourism tips
Lara Paxton, from our specialists The Small Ship Cruise Collection, says big cruise ships aren't the only accessible vessels: “Some of our boats are old Russian expedition ships and just don’t have the access, but a lot of the newer ships do, so it is great that people with accessibility issues don’t have to do the massive cruise liner thing. They want the different experience that we offer on small ship cruises, and to actually get off the boat and not just point to a destination from on board – which is completely what we don’t agree with. The boat is just a means to get from A to B and it is all about exploring and getting off the boat, more than anything.”Our top Small ship cruising Holiday
Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
Cruise Croatia's beautiful islands on a small cruise ship
2021: 10 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 1 May, 8 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May, 5 Jun, 12 Jun, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 21 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 18 Sep, 25 Sep, 2 Oct, 9 Oct
Health & safety
HEALTH
SAFETY
Small cruise tips from our travellers
We have selected some of the most useful small cruise tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday.


"First: TAKE THE TRIP TO ANTARCTICA. It is unforgettable….Be sure to bring the right clothing. Being out on the water or a hill is cold with the wrong clothes. Spend as much time on the bridge of the ship as possible. Go to all of the lectures. Meet new people." - Stephen Kohn on our Antarctica Cruises
"Take lots of layers but don't worry too much about buying lots of expensive technical clothing. An old pair of leggings or yoga gear may be a good alternative to buying the latest in thermal base layers. Some travellers held back from going on some of the hikes and zodiac trips. My advice is: don't - these things are too good to miss. Our guides were great at making sure they catered for everyone's abilities and the more able travelers seemed very happy to help those who needed a bit of support." - Christine Symes on an Arctic small cruise holiday
"The Bahama islands and waters are so beautiful making it an incredible place to adventure around on a sailboat. It was nice to get to know our fellow passengers and be a brief part of their lives…Know that you are living on a sailboat for the week and your sleeping accommodations are tight. This is not a problem at all as you are only in your room to sleep and get cleaned up for dinner. There is too much beauty above to spend any awake time in your room." - Janice Layne on our Bahamas Windjammer sailing holiday

