Size matters when it
comes to cruising. If
you’re looking for a new
seafaring experience,
there’s never been a
better time to try small
ship cruising
By Kellie Davenport
Gentle waves of gin-clear Tahitian water
were lapping against the ship. The captain
strolled by to say hello. That’s the moment
when Madeleine St. Arnaud became a
small-ship cruiser for life. “My first small-
ship experience was aboard the m/s Paul
Gauguin in French Polynesia,” says the
Calgary resident and AMA member.
The 14-day cruise took her to Bora Bora,
Moorea and Papeete. “That’s when I fell
in love with this style of travel.” Eight
cruises later, she’s now a veritable small-
ship pro.
Unlike some of today’s mega-ships,
small ships offer a more intimate exper-
ience—like a floating boutique hotel. “It’s
definitely higher end, but the packages are
almost all-inclusive—you usually just pay »
m/s PAUL GAUGUIN
AMA InsIder
summer 2018
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