Canadian rail journeys and vacation packages along Rocky Mountaineer’s five routes include everything from helicopter tours, and gondola rides, to Alaskan cruises, as well as free time to explore on your own and do things like go canoeing on Lake Louise or hike in Jasper National Park, a World Heritage Site and one of Canada’s largest national parks. Their award-winning rail journeys and tour packages include guided sightseeing tours as well.
Nights are spent in hotels along the route, so travelers don’t miss the spectacular scenery while sleeping. On board, guests decide which service level – GoldLeaf, SilverLeaf, or RedLeaf – is right for them. At every service level, Rocky Mountaineer Hosts will attend to your needs — welcoming you with a morning toast, serving up delicious meals, and entertaining you with interpretive storytelling!
Their newest route is the Coastal Passage, which connects Seattle, Washington and the Canadian Rockies — their first rail journey to and from the United States!
Windstar operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships and is known for its intimate yacht style experience. Its three recently renovated sailing yachts carry just 148 to 310 guests and cruise to 50 nations, calling at 150 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America. In May of 2014, Windstar launched Star Pride, followed by Star Breeze and Star Legend in May of 2015. The all-suite yachts, with a capacity of 212 guests each, will double the size of Windstar’s fleet, making the company the market leader in small ship cruises with 300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,242 berths. The additional capacity will allow voyages to Southeast Asia, Arabia, Iceland, and beyond. Windstar was recently listed on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, coming in as the #3 cruise line in the world.
Vantage has been creating memorable small ship cruises since 1983. Their fleet of Deluxe 4-, 5-, and 6-star small ships and private yachts go where large ocean liners can’t — hidden coves, working harbors, and small town ports, often far from the tourist crowds. If you enjoy cultural immersion, special events, and plenty of opportunities to interact with local culture with guided tours, Vantage cruises are a good bet. Cruise Directors provide briefings about upcoming ports, coordinate social and cultural activities on board, and work with local guides who lead sightseeing tours and shore excursions. From the boutique-style yacht LaPerla to the working coastal steamers of Norway’s Hurtigruten line, their small ships provide deluxe comfort and the personalized service and intimacy not available on large cruise ships.
Un-cruise adds a high degree of adventure to their small ship cruises and river cruises, with wilderness and wildlife exploration, as well as history, tours, and wine! With fewer than 90 guests per cruise, small group travel is the heart of what they do. They provide a unique combination of activity, expertise, service, and exclusive encounters in places like Alaska, the Columbia & Snake Rivers, Central America, the Galápagos, Mexico’s Sea of Cortés, coastal Washington, and British Columbia. Activities include kayaking, whale watching, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), wilderness hikes, wildlife observation, snorkeling, inflatable skiff excursions,and glacier exploration, as well as historical and cultural encounters. Expert guides lead guests on exciting adventures while their small guest numbers keep the experience up-close and personal.
Star Clippers offer a tall-ship alternative to travelers who desire a romantic sailing adventure from a bygone era! These vessels are four- and five-masted full-rigged sailing ships, able to anchor in secluded coves and visit islands that are off the beaten path. Offering a more relaxed, unstructured environment, guests are free to do as they wish. The Royal Clipper carries just 227 guests in luxurious style. 19,000 square ft of open deck and three swimming pools create a wonderfully expansive outdoor environment. The Star Clipper and Star Flyer carry just 170 guests. Ship highlights include an indoor-outdoor tropical bar, piano bar, local performers, and an Edwardian style library with a Belle Époque fireplace. These small ship cruises are created for luxury-loving passengers who also love the traditions and romance of the legendary era of sailing ships.
Silversea’s luxury small ship cruises are designed for those who delight in discovery while indulging in lavish surroundings! Spacious ocean-view suites offer butler service, and most include private verandas. Cruising to over 800 destinations on all seven continents, their smaller, ultra-luxury ships can sail up narrow waterways into the heart of a city, or tie up right at the pier for better access to more remote ports. Guided shore excursions offer plenty of time for sightseeing and cultural immersion. Their Silversea Expeditions cruises sail to the furthermost boundaries of the planet and offer more adventurous activities like exploring by Zodiac© rafts, kayaking, scuba diving, and hiking. One day you could be snorkeling with sea turtles, the next day blazing a trail through an old growth rain forest while long-tailed macaques screech overhead. Their Specialty Expeditions include Birding expeditions, Wellness, Photography, Scuba-diving, Culinary and Wine expeditions!
Saga is a U.K. travel company that has been offering cruises since 1975. All of Saga’s small ship cruises are exclusively for people aged 50+, allowing mature travelers to share their experience with like-minded adults! Their cruises go all over the world, including Africa, India, Australia, the British Isles, Ireland, Iceland, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and more! They are known for great service and taking care of many details like travel insurance, and door-to-door chauffeur service. They also have a variety of theme cruises including dance-themed cruises, food and wine cruises, wildlife-themed cruises, music cruises, and more. For solo travelers, they organize special cocktail parties for meeting other solo guests, and organize other get-togethers before each port for those who’d like to go ashore with companions. While there are plenty of onboard activities, their ships do not have casinos or gambling.
SeaDream’s catch-phrase, “It’s yachting, not cruising” describes their luxury small ship cruises very well! SeaDream’s twin mega-yachts SeaDream I and SeaDream II provide the ultimate, ultra-luxury yachting experience. Their philosophy of casual perfection runs through everything they do. With only 112 guests being pampered by an award-winning crew of 95, the level of attention offered to each guest feels as if you are on your own private yacht! Their inclusive voyage fare includes ocean view accommodations, gourmet meals, gratuities, wine with lunch and dinner, 24 hour room service, activities with the crew – bike, hike, kayak, and snorkel with one of the crew or go shopping with the Chef, mountain bikes for shore side exploration, a fitness center with ocean view, daily Yoga and Tai Chi classes, and a variety of water sports activities (glass bottom kayaks, SUP, water skiing, banana boat, snorkeling, etc.). These small ships offer a more relaxed, informal, yacht-like experience, with limited activities, some small-scale live entertainment, a spa, and small casino.
