American offers an array of award-winning small ship cruises throughout the US. Discover America’s scenery and history on the storied Mississippi River, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and the great rivers of Florida. Explore New England’s coastline, including the coast of Maine, and the islands of Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. Discover the majestic beauty of the Alaska, or explore the Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. Their fleet of seven small ships, carrying just 50 to 150 passengers, includes three authentic paddlewheelers! Ships have spacious modern staterooms, with large opening windows and private balconies. Guests enjoy open seating dining with a complimentary cocktail hour every evening before dinner. All cruises include nightly entertainment and fascinating lectures by historians, naturalists, and local experts. Complimentary guided shore excursions take guests to the best sights of every destination. Theme river cruises include New England Lobster cruises, Civil War Cruises, Mark Twain Cruises, Mississippi River Music cruises and more. Ships are wheelchair accessible, with elevator access on all decks. Note that there are no casinos and all ships prohibit smoking.
Windstar offers luxury cruises known for their intimate yacht style experience. Its three recently renovated luxury 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 a 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.
Founded in 1976 and based in California, Uniworld offers an array of award-winning luxury river cruises in over 20 countries in Europe, Russia, Asia and Egypt. Partnering with award-winning sister company Red Carnation Hotels, they boast to have created the world’s only floating luxury boutique hotels! Their all-inclusive 6-star luxury cruises include gourmet meals, unlimited beverages onboard, (an extensive selection of distinctive wines, craft beers, and spirits), entertainment, cultural enrichment programs, and carefully crafted shore excursions. Known for their fine dining, epicurean highlights in Europe include gourmet dinners paired with distinctive wines and craft beers, onboard culinary demonstrations and tastings, and private onshore wine and beer tastings. In addition to classic European river cruises, Uniworld offers exciting itineraries along the Nile in Egypt, the Ganges in India, the Mekong in Vietnam and Cambodia, and the Yangtze in China.
Silversea’s small ship luxury cruises are designed for those who delight in discovery while indulging in lavish surroundings! Luxury accommodations and all inclusive amenities include spacious ocean-view suites with private verandas, personal butler service, room service, a fitness center offering circuit training or Pilates, sauna and steam rooms, as well as fine dining, on-board seminars, land tours and more. Cruising to over 800 destinations on all seven continents, their smaller, ultra-luxury ships can sail up narrow waterways right into the heart of a city. 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. Specialty Expeditions include Birding expeditions, Wellness, Photography, Scuba-diving, Culinary and Wine expeditions!
Seabourn’s luxury cruises take travelers to every corner of the earth, with a wide variety of 7-day cruises or longer, like their 77-day Pacific Realm cruise! Their fleet of five graceful ships carry between 208 and 604 guests each, exclusively in ocean-view suites – many with verandas. Amenities include luxury spas, restaurant and bar service as well as a variety of entertainment — all inclusive. Guests are graciously served by nearly the same number of hand-picked crew, earning Seabourn honors as the World’s Best Small Ship Cruise Line in several surveys. In 2009, Seabourn added the larger Seabourn Odyssey, which carries 450 guests and offers a wealth of amenities, including the largest spa on any luxury ship and private verandas on 90 percent of her suites. They have since added two identical ships. If money is no object, look into their 55-Day Coral Sea and Pacific Isles cruise, their 77-Day Pacific Realm Exploration cruise, or their 32-Day Grand European Exploration! Note that shore excursions are optional and not included in your cruise fare, activities are limited, and formal attire is expected.
Regent’s free unlimited shore excursions in every port of call allow you to experience the history, culture and cuisine of the exciting destinations, with knowledgeable local guides and comfortable transportation. Their luxury cruises are truly all-inclusive! Included in your cruise fare is round-trip air fare, 1-night pre-cruise luxury hotel package, airport transfers to and from ship, open dining in their exceptional Specialty Restaurants, open bar, gratuities, unlimited shore excursions, onboard enrichment programs, spectacular Broadway-style shows, virtuoso performances, culinary demonstrations and wine tastings, and Canyon Ranch SpaClub® wellness programs. Also included is The Smithsonian Collection by Smithsonian Journeys, an engaging enrichment program led by a wide range of charismatic specialists, from noted art historians to leading authors, who are eager to share their knowledge of the region you are visiting. Their Grand Voyages last from 40-87 days and include Tokyo to London (87 nights), Cape Town to Bangkok (44 nights), Singapore to Barcelona (40 nights) and others!
SeaDream’s catch-phrase, “It’s yachting, not cruising” describes their luxury 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.
The Paul Gauguin was designed specifically to sail the shallow seas of Tahiti, Fiji, and the South Pacific, visiting small exotic ports larger ships can’t reach. These small ship luxury cruises (just 332 guests) offer an informal environment and Polynesian flair, coupled with 5-star service and luxury, including spacious suites and staterooms (over 70% have private balconies), an onboard watersports marina, a choice of three open-seating dining venues, an extensive spa, live entertainment, and more! Accommodating just 88 guests, the award-winning luxury ship Tere Moana was added in 2012, sailing the Caribbean and Latin America during winter months and Europe the rest of the year. Experience Tahiti’s underwater wonders with the Gauguin’s optional SCUBA certification program, or explore the ocean’s surface via kayak, paddleboard, or Windsurfer. Enjoy lectures on the natural and cultural history of the area by one of their onboard naturalists. Shore excursions feature underwater explorations in colorful coral reefs, experiencing mountain peaks on foot, coach, or safari vehicle, as well as exploring by helicopter, aquabike, submarine, and jet ski, and more.
