Top 10 small ship cruises in Europe
Tall ships, wooden gulets, motor yachts, old fishing boats and even a converted ferry – our top 10 small ship cruises in Europe take many forms. But what they all have in common is a great spirit of adventure, as well as a responsible approach to nature and local communities. You’ll sail in the company of welcoming and knowledgeable crews on ships that use solar panels or energy-efficient technologies, and source as many of their provisions as possible from producers in the surrounding area. That’s when they’re not catching their own with a rod off the back of the boat.
Find out more with this round-up of our finest European adventures by small ship.
Find out more with this round-up of our finest European adventures by small ship.
1. Comfortable cruising in Croatia
Croatia’s famously beautiful Dalmatian coast has islands strung along it like gems on a necklace, making small ship cruises here a firm favourite. One of our most popular routes takes you from Split to Dubrovnik and back over eight days, via Korcula, Brac and Hvar. Almost all the food and drink served aboard is locally produced, helping to sustain the region’s small-scale farmers.
Our top selling trip: Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
All our trips: Croatia small ship cruises
Read more: Croatia cruising travel guide
Our top selling trip: Southern Croatia cruise in comfort
All our trips: Croatia small ship cruises
Read more: Croatia cruising travel guide
2. Sail Scotland’s Inner Hebrides
You could scarcely ask for a better introduction to Mull, Islay and Jura than our week-long cruise. You have a choice of comfortable and charmingly repurposed vessels, from an old Norwegian ferry to a wooden tall ship, and your local crew have years of experience cruising these waters. Watch dolphins and seals from the bow or slip into a kayak for a closer look.Our top selling trip: Hebrides cruise – Mull, Islay, Luing, Shuna and Jura
All our trips: Inner Hebrides holidays
Read more: Inner Hebrides travel guide
3. Arctic adventures in Spitsbergen
If it’s wildlife ye seek, in Spitsbergen ye shall find it. Walruses, reindeer and Arctic foxes roam Spitsbergen’s windswept tundra and coast, stalked by some 2,000 polar bears (not all at once, luckily). Cruise aboard a handsome three-masted sailing ship sleeping just 34 passengers, with a hugely knowledgeable expedition crew, and a programme of talks from noted Arctic naturalists.Our top selling trip: Arctic sailing voyage in north Spitsbergen
All our trips: Spitsbergen cruise holidays
Read more: Spitsbergen travel guide
4. Explore the Outer Hebrides of Scotland
Small ships don’t come much smaller than our Outer Hebrides cruise. The vessel has just seven cabins, two of which are reserved for solo travellers at no supplement. Enjoy a week roaming far-flung islands with beaches of white sand and seashells, including the Saint Kilda archipelago, heaving with birdlife. You’ll dine on the freshest Scottish cuisine – perhaps even fish you’ve caught yourselves.
Our top selling trip: St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise
All our trips: Outer Hebrides holidays
Read more: Outer Hebrides travel guide
Our top selling trip: St Kilda and the Outer Hebrides cruise
All our trips: Outer Hebrides holidays
Read more: Outer Hebrides travel guide
5. Idyllic island-hopping in Croatia
Our stylish Croatia cruise ship carries just 40 passengers, so unlike the floating cities that clog up the larger ports, there’s no queuing for shore excursions here. You’ll visit well-known islands, including Hvar, Mljet and Korcula – but your crew will offer tips to escape the busy harbours with quieter walking routes, backstreet restaurant recommendations and places where you can hire a kayak.Our top selling trip: Croatian Islands motor yacht cruise
All our trips: Croatia cruising holidays
Read more: Croatia cruising travel guide
6. Gulet cruising in Turkey
‘Idyllic’ doesn’t even begin to cover it with this gorgeous cruise in Turkey’s Gulf of Gokova, beginning and ending in Bodrum, where traditional wooden gulets – such as this vessel – are made. Travelling by sail power as much as possible, keeping your trip’s carbon footprint low, you’ll spend a week exploring remote bays and historic sites, with the option to sleep on deck beneath the stars.Our top selling trip: Turkey gulet cruise
All our trips: Turkey small ship cruises
Read more: Gulet cruising in Turkey travel guide
7. Iceland – the long way round
Most Iceland holidaymakers explore by road, so a circumnavigation cruise not only gives you a well-rounded picture of the country’s amazing coastal landscapes – it also avoids the crowds. Sail through fjords and glacier lagoons, perhaps taking to kayaks, 4x4s, or even horseback. You’ll also do some whale watching, an activity that further makes the case against Iceland’s cruel whaling industry.
Our top selling trip: Iceland circumnavigation cruise
All our trips: Iceland small ship cruises
Read more: Iceland cruising travel guide
Our top selling trip: Iceland circumnavigation cruise
All our trips: Iceland small ship cruises
Read more: Iceland cruising travel guide
8. Cruise the fjords of Norway
The route along Norway’s coast from Bergen to Kirkenes has been called ‘the world’s most beautiful voyage’ and our cruise lets you see for yourself. Calling in at 34 ports – 22 of them above the Arctic Circle – these energy-efficient vessels are a vital service for remote communities. Every season has its own appeal, from the lush greens of summer to the first flickerings of the Northern Lights in autumn.Our top selling trip: Norwegian fjords classic cruise
All our trips: Norwegian fjords holidays
Read more: Norwegian fjords travel guide
9. Island-hopping in Greece
The trouble with island-hopping in Greece is that there are so darned many of them – which is why one cruise is rarely enough. But our Greek odyssey packs a great deal in, skipping through the Dodecanese and Cyclades, even brushing up against the Turkish mainland. It also sees you nosing into smaller harbours that large ships cannot reach, where you can enjoy a taste of traditional island life.
Our top selling trip: Island-hopping cruise in Greece
All our trips: Greece cruising holidays
Read more: Greece cruising travel guide
Our top selling trip: Island-hopping cruise in Greece
All our trips: Greece cruising holidays
Read more: Greece cruising travel guide
10. Volcanic views in Sicily
It’s all aboard but never bored with our Sicily cruise. If you’re not watching as sparks fly from Stromboli’s crater, you’re soaking in thermal hot springs, paddleboarding around quiet bays, or slipping into the sea for a spot of snorkelling. As for food, opportunities to dine in local coastal restaurants abound, and your ship – a gulet – also has its own chef mustering up some local delicacies.Our top selling trip: Sicily and Aeolian Islands small ship cruise
All our trips: Italy small ship cruises
Read more: Sicily travel guide
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