Nordfjord, Norway. Photo: Steinar Engeland / Unsplash
Yacht & Expedition
where the big ships cannot go
Fewer people, further out.
These are ships that carry under two hundred guests and go where the large ones physically cannot. Greenland, the Galapagos, the Kimberley, small Mediterranean harbours with no cruise terminal.
It is the most expensive way to travel by water and it is also the one people come back from changed. If you have ever said you want to see somewhere before it changes, this is the category to look at.
The small ships
Expedition, yacht and everything between.
- 01Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionA hotel brand at sea, and it shows.
- 02Lindblad ExpeditionsNational Geographic naturalists on board.
- 03PonantFrench, design-led, real polar ships.
- 04Scenic EclipseA submarine and two helicopters.
- 05Emerald YachtsThe accessible end of yacht cruising.
- 06Atlas Ocean VoyagesSmall, newer, and often better value.
Keep reading
All the ways to travel
- Aurora ExpeditionsOpen this guide →
- HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)Open this guide →
- Ocean CruisingBig ships, the whole range of them.→
- River CruisingEurope from the middle of it.→
- Rail JourneysThe space between two places, made part of the trip.→
- Road TripsYour own pace, your own stops.→
- Walking & HikingThe slowest way, and often the best one.→
- Guided & Small GroupSomebody else handles it.→
- Independent TravelYou handle it, and it is cheaper.→
Written and kept current by Nicole Damiano, ASTA Verified Travel Advisor with FG Luxury Travel. If something here is out of date, tell me and I will fix it.
Tell me who is coming and how long you have.
That is usually enough to know if this is a ship, a train, or a car with the windows down.
