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extra for your shore excursions — it ’ s good value ,” St . Arnaud says . “ My husband and I don ’ t like crowds , so the smaller passenger list means no jostling for position on land .”
Smaller vessels can also navigate tighter waterways to drop anchor in off-the-beaten-path ports or deliver you directly to city centres , especially in the Mediterranean or Asia . For passengers , that means less time sitting on a bus in transit and more time immersed in a destination . “ We love seeing parts of the world where it ’ s just not possible for big ships to go ,” she adds .
Another key takeaway is the opportunity to really get to know fellow passengers . “ On our first cruise , we met a couple from Michigan , whom we still meet on cruises around the world ,” she says . “ We actually just caught up with them on our last cruise to the Galapagos .”
Not sure if this seafaring style is right for you ? Check out the following guide and consider some of AMA ’ s favourite routes — including special member-only perks .
Sailing the high seas with Windstar
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Paul Gauguin ’ s onboard marina ; cultural experiences in Bora Bora ( right )
What is small-ship cruising ?
Yes , the ship is smaller than your typical ocean liner . But there ’ s more than size alone . Cruise lines specializing in smaller ship experiences typically range from about 100 passengers with seaDream up to 800 with azamara and Oceania . The high crewto-passenger ratio — which is sometimes one-to-one — guarantees a more personalized experience .
Brands like Oceania , Paul Gauguin , azamara , seaDream and Windstar take it a step further by offering first-class service tailored to your needs , a laid-back country club atmosphere , spacious staterooms , top-notch dining , exotic itineraries and
once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences . “ a small-ship cruise falls somewhere between allout luxury , such as seven seas and Crystal , and mass-market cruises , like Princess Cruises or royal Caribbean international ,” says Cathy Jabusch , aMa cruise specialist . “ it ’ s luxury within reach ; and the inclusions make it well worth the money .”
What ’ s on boarD ?
While smaller vessels won ’ t have zip lines or theme park rides , most do have pools , a small casino , bars and spa services . Cuisine is a particular highlight .
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expect even more dining venues — all included with the price of your trip . With fewer passengers , chefs can use the freshest ingredients , and devote more time to each plate .
Jabusch ’ s favourite small-ship tip : ask to eat al fresco . “ i recently sailed on seaDream and , upon boarding , i asked if we could dine on the deck one evening ,” Jabusch says . “ By the time i got to my stateroom , there was a voicemail from the maître d ’ saying that we were booked at an outdoor table that same night .”
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sailinG : WinDsTar Cruises ; PaDDlinG : rOGer PaPernO ; CrafTs : TiM MCkenna |