Book
with AMA
Talk to a cruise specialist
to plan your small-
ship experience
AMATravel.ca/
SmallShip or
1-866-989-6594
Catch of the day on Windstar
How can aMa
Travel Help?
Bora Bora’s Mount Otemanu; plush
staterooms aboard Paul Gauguin (right)
wHere can you go?
Name a region and
there’s likely a small
ship that sails there.
In Europe, cruise the
Mediterranean and dock
within walking distance
of historic sites and
bustling Italian and
French cities. Asian
cruises take you to
jungles and seaside
cities. Caribbean and
French Polynesian
voyages navigate
around tropical islands.
On Central or South
American cruises, you
might pass through
iconic canals and
lush rainforests.
“The best part is
that these cruises visit
ports where larger ships
can’t physically go—
which gets you closer to
cultural points of interest
on land,” says Shelley
Samycia, AMA cruise
sales manager, who has
sailed more than a dozen
such cruises. Lines like
Azamara and SeaDream
even include late-night
or overnight stays in
port. Without a curfew,
travellers can sip sunset
cocktails, dance after
dark and sample local
street food. Azamara
now offers overnight
stays in 90-plus ports
around the world,
including St. Petersburg,
Dubrovnik, Edinburgh
and Ibiza. SeaDream
anchors in most ports
until 1 a.m., and most
of its itineraries include
at least one overnight
stay in unique ports
like Croatia’s Hvar and
Bonifacio in Corsica.
wHo sHould Try iT?
Foodies, experienced
travellers, culture lovers,
honeymooners, people
celebrating a milestone,
those wanting a more
relaxed dress code and
anyone craving some-
thing different should
set sail on a small ship.
There aren’t many kids
aboard, so small ships
make great adult-only
getaways.
“When you compare
the inclusions and level
of quality on a small ship,
you get a lot of bang
for your buck,” Jabusch
says. In addition to what
other cruise lines include,
you usually get specialty
non-alcoholic drinks
like virgin piña coladas
and fancy coffees, a
variety of alternative
dining options, and
larger staterooms with
high-end amenities.
Some lines also include
wine, beer and select
spirits, onboard gratu-
ities, water sports
and reduced airfare
offers from Alberta.
AMA’s cruise specialists
have been there,
done that. Most have
travelled with several
small-ship operators,
so they’ll find a line
tailored to your travel
style. “And if your
cruise specialist hasn’t
been on a particular
route,” Samycia adds,
“they will consult
another AMA specialist
who can offer informed
answers to all of your
cruise questions.” Your
AMA cruise specialist
will also share insider
tips about onboard
dining and must-see
sights at port, plus
special perks and
exclusive offers for
AMA members.
Member-only benefits,
like ship credits,
can be used toward
a chef’s table with
wine pairings, shore
excursions or alcohol
during your cruise.
For more details:
AMATravel.ca/SmallShip
or call 1-866-989-6594
AMA InsIder
summer 2018
37