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Each of Windstar Cruises yachts accommodates between 148 to 342 guests. This intimacy provides you with the luxuries of time, space, and freedom to immerse yourself in both the journey and the destination - in ways you may never have imagined possible.

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Embark from Florida: A Gateway to Caribbean Wonders & Beyond

Mini Cruises from Fort Lauderdale

Embark on a mini cruise adventure from fort lauderdale.

Fort Lauderdale is Ideal for a Short Cruise

Mini cruises from Fort Lauderdale represent the quintessence of a quick getaway, presenting a condensed Caribbean experience that revitalizes without demanding extensive vacation time. With varying seasonal conditions, it’s wise to consult the Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Guide for the best times to travel. These short voyages cater to all, from thrill-seekers to those in pursuit of tranquility, ensuring a memorable retreat. To fully enjoy your , consider engaging in onboard amenities and exploring each port’s local attractions, which will enhance your Caribbean journey.

Cruise Lines Offering Mini Cruises

Fort Lauderdale’s mini cruises are serviced by premier cruise lines, each promising an unmatched experience.

• Celebrity Cruises : Known for its modern luxury, Celebrity Cruises offers a refined experience with exceptional dining and service.
• Disney Cruise Line : Perfect for families, Disney Cruise Line brings beloved characters and magical moments to life at sea.
• Holland America Line : With a focus on classic cruising and culinary excellence, Holland America Line ensures enriching experiences.
• Princess Cruises : Princess Cruises combines relaxed elegance with innovative amenities for a serene journey.
• Royal Caribbean : For an action-packed adventure, Royal Caribbean boasts thrilling activities and diverse dining.
• Viking Cruises : For those seeking cultural immersion, Viking Cruises provides scenic cruising with a focus on destination exploration.

Popular Ports on Mini Cruises from Fort Lauderdale

Embarking on a from Fort Lauderdale offers the perfect opportunity to delve into the Caribbean’s most captivating destinations. From the sun-soaked Bahamas to the rich history of the Eastern and Western Caribbean, these cruises provide a gateway to diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and unforgettable experiences.

Discover the Bahamas ‘ allure, where each island weaves a unique tapestry of adventure and serenity, promising an idyllic retreat on your :

• Nassau : Dive into the vibrant culture and bustling markets, where history and modernity blend seamlessly.
• Half Moon Cay : Revel in pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters, perfect for a tranquil day under the sun.
• Castaway Cay : Disney’s private island enchants with exclusive activities and family-friendly relaxation.
• CocoCay : Royal Caribbean’s private island offers thrilling water parks and peaceful beach hideaways.
• Bimini : Escape to tranquil waters and explore the rich marine life that makes Bimini a diver’s paradise.
• Lighthouse Point : Experience untouched natural beauty and serene beaches at this upcoming destination.

Eastern Caribbean

Set sail to the Eastern Caribbean , where islands rich in history and natural beauty await:

• Labadee : Royal Caribbean’s private resort offers adrenaline-pumping activities and serene beach relaxation.
• Amber Cove : Immerse in Dominican charm with lush landscapes and cultural explorations in Puerto Plata.
• Puerto Plata : Discover vibrant history, stunning architecture, and inviting beaches in this Dominican gem.

Key West : A crossroads for both Bahamas and Western Caribbean cruises, Key West charms with its laid-back atmosphere, historic sites, and vibrant marine life.

Western Caribbean

Embark on a journey to the Western Caribbean , a region filled with ancient wonders and natural beauty.

• George Town : The capital of Grand Cayman offers luxurious shopping, stunning beaches, and world-class diving spots.
• Cozumel : Renowned for its coral reefs, Cozumel is a haven for snorkelers and divers seeking underwater adventures.
• Costa Maya : Dive into the heart of Mayan culture, with access to ancient ruins and unspoiled natural reserves.

Each port of call on your Fort Lauderdale presents a world of discovery, inviting you to experience the best of the Caribbean, whether you’re lounging on sun-kissed beaches, exploring historical sites, or indulging in local cuisines.

Mini Cruises out of the Fort Lauderdale Schedule

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, February 28, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 28, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 28, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 28, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 24, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 24, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, February 21, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 21, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 21, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 21, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 17, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 17, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, February 14, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 14, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 14, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 14, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 10, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 10, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, February 7, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 7, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 7, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 7, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, February 3, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: February 3, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, January 31, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 31, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 31, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 31, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 27, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 27, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, January 24, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 24, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 24, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 24, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 20, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 20, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, January 17, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 17, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 17, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 17, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 13, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 13, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, January 10, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 10, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 10, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 10, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 6, 2025

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 6, 2025; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, January 3, 2025

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 3, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay from Fort Lauderdale, January 3, 2025

3-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: January 3, 2025; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay New Year cruise from Fort Lauderdale, December 30, 2024

4-day Bahamas Holiday cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: December 30, 2024; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau Holiday cruise from Fort Lauderdale, December 23, 2024

4-day cruise to Bahamas on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: December 23, 2024; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale;[…]

Royal Caribbean, Nassau & CocoCay Holiday cruise from Fort Lauderdale, December 23, 2024

4-day Bahamas mini cruise on board Liberty of the Seas Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: December 23, 2024; Duration: 4-day cruise; Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean; Cruise Ship: Liberty of the Seas; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Nassau,[…]

Celebrity Silhouette, Key West & Nassau from Fort Lauderdale, December 20, 2024

3-day Bahamas cruise on board Celebrity Cruises Cruising from: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida; Departure Date: December 20, 2024; Duration: 3-day cruise; Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises; Cruise Ship: Celebrity Silhouette; Ports of Call: Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale; Enjoy[…]

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A Review of 9 Great Small-Ship Cruises John Roberts Enjoyed in 2022

Dec 5, 2022 | 0

9 Great Small-Ship Cruises in 2022

By John Roberts

The cruise industry came roaring back in 2022.

And we saw more and more people flocking to the smaller cruise ships, embracing highly curated experiences that give them all-inclusive, hassle-free vacations away from the crowds.

I should know! I went on nine small-ship cruises this year, and the voyages hit a range of styles — exotic expeditions in the Galapagos and Alaska ; luxury cruises; Caribbean, French Riviera and Mediterranean yachting adventures; and river cruises in America’s heartland and along the Nile to discover ancient Egypt .

This recap will give you a little bit of everything to consider when it comes to fantastic small-ship cruising options. Check out Quirky Cruise’s look at the best small-ship cruises from the past year.

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SeaDream II — Caribbean

Viking Octantis — Great Lakes

Silver Origin — Galapagos

Star Clipper — French Riviera

American Queen — Ohio River

Ocean Victory — Alaska

Emerald Azzurra — Italy

Star Breeze — Tahiti

Viking Osiris — Egypt

VIDEO RECAP: Below is a quick look at all 9 of John’s 2022 small-ship cruises in this video he made for QuirkyCruise!

SeaDream Yacht Club — SeaDream II

SeaDream II carries up to 112 passengers, and I sailed with about half that many on a cruise out of West Palm Beach, Florida, to the Caribbean.

During our weeklong cruise on this yacht, we had sunny days visiting Nassau, Salt Cay, San Salvador Island and Jost Van Dyke in the Bahamas, before making our way to Puerta Plata and Isla Saona in the Dominican Republic, finally finishing our voyage in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The SeaDream II. * Photo: John Roberts

What I Loved about SeaDream II

This cruise is all about getting outside and unleashing your true yachting spirit. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are offered on the outer decks, and we took advantage as much as possible.

There is a main dining room, too, and it is nice to have dinner in the more formal setting a couple times, but having meals outside in warm breezes under the sun or stars is what this ship is all about.

The food and service also is top notch, and SeaDream offers a signature beach party with Champagne and caviar served up in the surf. This is an all-inclusive luxury experience.

VIDEO RECAP: Here’s John take on SeaDream II in the Caribbean

We also enjoyed relaxing on the pool deck at the aft of the ship, which has a small pool and hot tub. This space overlooks the marina at the back of the ship. The marina is the place for a variety of water sports activities, like sailing, paddling, kayaking and swimming.

SeaDream II Caveats

The ship is older (built in 1985), so it feels a bit rustic, which can be either charming or frustrating depending on your expectations. The cabins are quite spacious and nicely decorated, but there are no balconies on this ship.

Sample SeaDream II Itinerary

The SeaDream II travels all over the world. For example, cruisers can enjoy an eight-day Western Med cruise from Rome to Barcelona starting at $6,499 per person.

RELATED: Here’s John’s full review of his SeaDream II cruise.

Viking Cruises — Viking Octantis

Viking’s first expedition ship is a revelation, and we sailed on a relocation voyage — as the ship moved north for its first season in the Great Lakes — to get a feel for this spacious 378-passenger ship.

We embarked in Barbados and visited St. Kitts and San Juan, P.R., on our way to New York City.

What I Loved about Viking Octantis

Viking Octantis is packed with features and amenities that make expedition cruising more comfortable than you could ever imagine. The LivNordic Spa has a large pool, as well as a snow room, sauna and plunge pool. There is a nice fitness center, huge Living Room lounge space, the Explorers’ Lounge, Finse Terrace outdoor deck space at the aft and The Aula theater for enrichment talks and movies.

The Finse Terrace on Viking Octantis. * Photo: John Roberts

You also get all the Viking favorite restaurant experiences, such as Mamsen’s and World Café.

VIDEO RECAP: John shares the 7 best things about Viking Octantis

The ship also is built for exploration and science. The expedition team gives talks in The Aula relating to the regions where you are sailing, and operations launch from The Hangar and The Landing facilities at the bottom of the ship. This is where you have lockers to store your expedition gear and can get into the Zodiacs and Special Operations Boats for tours around your destination. The ship also carries two submarines.

Special Operations Boat aboard Viking Octantis. * Photo: John Roberts

A Science Lab offers interactive experiences, allowing passengers to help the team of onboard scientists study water quality or run other tests. The ship also regularly launches weather balloons, so it is a true working science vessel.

Viking Octantis Caveats

With 378 passengers, Viking Octantis is a larger ship than many of the 36- to 200-passenger ships that operate in Antarctica, so the program will be quite different for how people are able to get ashore and where Viking Octantis can go in this part of the world.

Sample Itinerary for Viking Octantis

The Great Lakes sailings are in high demand, and Viking offers a Niagara and Great Lakes cruise for eight days starting at $5,995 per person.

Viking Octantis in the Welland Canal, part of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. * Photo: Viking

Silversea — Silver Origin

This is the new 100-passenger all-inclusive luxury ship that sails weeklong expeditions in the Galapagos. Silver Origin has a wonderful indoor/outdoor marina with an attached living room/boutique/guest relations area where cruisers can use interactive screens to learn about the Galapagos, relax with a book during times of sailing and gather to get ready and await Zodiac transport out to the next snorkeling spot or shore excursion.

The open decks of the Silver Origin. * Photo: John Roberts

On the ship, butlers take care of you in beautiful and spacious suites. Silver Origin offers a spa, fitness center and two restaurants, including a wonderful outdoor grill at the top of the ship where we had lunch every day and a few dinners, as well.

The lounges include a main theater type space midship and an adjacent outdoor space at the back of the ship with “fire pits,” as well as a nice enclosed observation lounge/library at the very top and forward on Silver Origin .

We sailed roundtrip from San Cristobal and spent a week popping by remote islands to snorkel with sea lions, interact with boobies and observe fascinating fish, tortoises, crabs and seals.

The sleek 100-pax Silver Origin. * Photo: John Roberts

What I Loved about Silver Origin

This is luxury expedition cruising at its finest, with long busy days filled with exciting excursions to see colorful birds and partake in amazing physical activities in one of the most exotic places on earth.

It’s so wonderful to come back to a luxury ship with outstanding attentive service and gourmet cuisine that is a mix of preparations highlighting the Galapagos and Ecuador (ceviches and fresh fish) and traditional favorites (steaks, pastas and sweet desserts).

VIDEO RECAP: Below, John shows us his Silver Origin cruise in the Galapagos.

It’s all made extra special because of the Ecuadorian crew that takes pride in showing off this special place and taking great care of their guests.

Silver Origin Caveat

The most elegant ship to ever cruise in the Galapagos is a pricy proposition, of course. These ultra-luxury voyages start around $14,000 per person. That’s $2,000 per person per day!

Sample Silver Origin Itinerary

Silver Origin sails roundtrip Galapagos cruises from San Cristobal year-round, and the door-to-door prices include transfers from your home to the airport and back, economy class airfare, transfers, pre-cruise hotel stays and everything onboard.

Star Clippers — Star Clipper

Summertime in the south of France sounds delightful, doesn’t it? Well, it is, especially if you do it on a classic four-masted sailing ship like Star Clipper.

We were true sailors (or at least romanticized about it here and there) during our weeklong voyage roundtrip from Cannes.

Star Clipper is one of three small sailing ships in the fleet of Star Clippers, which also operates the flagship Royal Clipper and Star Flyer. Star Clipper  carries up to 170 passengers, and we sailed with about 120 during a summer trip in ideal conditions, with sunny days and temps in the low 80s as we visited the small ports of Portofino, L’Ile Rousse, Calvi, and Plage Saint Antoine, Corsica, as well as Cavalaire sur Mer and Saint Tropez.

John up top on the Star Clipper’s Crows Nest. * Photo: John Roberts

What I Loved about the Star Clipper

Star Clipper has a well-worn look and feel but is a beautiful sailing ship that beckons cruisers to spend the days topside. The teak is weathered, but I loved walking barefoot during the day and even dancing sans shoes at the ship’s Tropical Bar every evening.

VIDEO RECAP: A tour of John’s Star Clipper cruise in France, below.

We were delighted to enjoy each day our way, going ashore for pizza and beer in Portofino, and a scenic hike and stop for craft beers in charming Calvi, or just swimming and savoring a day at the beach at Plage Saint Antoine. We even enjoyed a lunch with friends at the pretty marina in Cavalare sur Mer and a dinner at a quaint restaurant tucked within the cobbled alleyways in St. Tropez.

The ship also was a destination, with activities like swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing offered, as well as a fun scramble up the mast to the crow’s nest overlooking the deck below. Each night as we departed our port, the sails went up as passengers gathered on the top deck to watch the crew work the lines.

The crew is friendly and energetic, with many of them participating in a fun crew show toward the end of the voyage.

Crew on the bow sprit of the Star Clipper. * Photo: John Roberts

Star Clipper Caveats

The standard cabins are small and only offer a porthole, as well as drab décor and beds that are not especially comfortable. The food also is basic and bland, at best.

Sample Itinerary for the Star Clipper

Star Clipper offers cruises all over the world, visiting smaller ports that interest adventurous travelers. A seven-night Costa Rica and Nicaragua cruise typically starts around $4,450 per person, but we’ve seen specials of up to 65 percent of the brochure rate.

American Queen Voyages — American Queen

This one was on my list of must-cruise vessels for quite a while, and we finally got to enjoy the world’s largest passenger paddlewheeler during a weeklong fanciful journey on the Ohio River. American Queen was built in 1995 and is a replica of a classic Mississippi steamboat.

This boat carries up 417 passengers, and cruisers love this vessel, coming back again and again to be transported back in time to an era of relaxing and scenic travel along the great interior waterways of America.

We embarked in Pittsburgh, and the weeklong sailing stopped at the small towns of Marietta, Ohio; Huntington, West Virginia; Augusta, Kentucky; and Marion, Indiana; as well as Cincinnati, before we ended the trip in Louisville.

John in front of the American Queen in Pittsburgh. * Photo:John Roberts

What I Loved about the American Queen

American Queen features large interior spaces packed with vintage décor and plenty of views of the river as you lazily churn from port to port.

It’s a delight sitting in the white rocking chairs at the railings of the outer decks to watch the boat pass through locks, take in the sunset or revel in the crowds who gather along the banks in the small towns as American Queen arrives or departs.

The bow of the American Queen. * Photo: John Roberts

Make sure to spend time at the back of the boat and watch the iconic red paddlewheel churn the river water. That’s what makes this boat special.

VIDEO TOUR: Enjoy John’s American Queen deck-by-deck tour

These charming little towns along the way throw open their arms to welcome visitors, and it so nice to stroll around town, have a meal or drink at the bars and restaurants and do a little shopping in these places.

American Queen Voyages offers a hop-on, hop-off bus that traces a route around the towns to take visitors to points of interest like museums or shopping districts. I enjoyed spending time at a railroad museum and Marshall University campus while in Huntington.

The boat also carries bikes, so that you can take a ride around your destination and really get a feel for what it’s like to live and work in these serene and charming places in the middle of the country.

American Queen Caveats

This is not the ship for you if you need a day full of onboard programming and activities. Things can be a little slow paced (average age of the cruisers was about 70 on our sailing).

Programming includes enrichment talks about the river and history from riverlorians, and you get some trivia contests and live music in the lounges or a singers and dancers putting on shows in the main theater in the evenings.

Sample Itinerary for American Queen

You can take trips up and down the Mississippi River, as well as find sailings on the Ohio.

The Mississippi cruises represent the classic voyages on American Queen , though, and a nine-day Lower Mississippi cruise from Memphis to New Orleans that visits Natchez and Vicksburg, Mississippi, and St. Francisville and Nottoway, Louisiana, starts at $2,099.

American Queen Voyages — Ocean Victory

Alaska is my favorite destination, with its wide-open spaces, incredible beauty, abundance of animals and opportunities for adventurous activities. We went on an expedition with American Queen Voyages (AQV) on the fantastic 186-passenger purpose-built ship Ocean Victory .

Our 11-day voyage started in Vancouver, Canada, and ended in Sitka, Alaska. Our itinerary featured stops in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Kake, as well as expedition days in Misty Fjord National Monument and Tracy Arm Fjord.

The Ocean Victory in Misty Fjords. * Photo: John Roberts

What I Loved about Ocean Victory

Ocean Victory features a range of great spaces ideal for expeditions in Alaska.

The ship has innovative viewing platforms that stick out like wings on each side of the bow on Deck 5 and are easily accessible from the lounge area, so you can bolt out there for whale sightings or other items of interest, like dolphins, seabirds or icebergs.

Ocean Victory’s Viewing Wings. * Photo: John Roberts

VIDEO RECAP: Here’s John video tour of the Ocean Victory in Alaska

At the top of the ship, there is a large deck with a pool and hot tubs. Plus, a restaurant with a terrace for eating outdoors when the conditions allow. This is also where the line holds a fantastic barbecue lunch once per voyage.

The program is a nice mix of expedition cruising with light adventures, making it accessible to more people, alongside visits to small ports. This gives it a feel of hybrid expedition/traditional cruise.

During your trip, you also have onboard games and activities like piano sing-a-longs, dancing, trivia contests and enrichment presentations. Expedition activities included Zodiac tours and kayaking sessions.

Ocean Victory Caveats

This is a very light expedition. So, if you are looking for something more hardcore and active, this is not for you.

Ocean Victory Sample Itinerary

American Queen Voyages’ Ocean Victory expedition cruises in Alaska include a pre-cruise hotel stay. Fares start at $4,200.

Emerald Cruises — Emerald Azzurra

Yacht-style cruising is gaining favor, and more small boutique cruise ships are in the works. Emerald Cruises’ first ocean-going vessel is Emerald Azzurra , and the 100-passenger ship offers a great mix of things to do.

We sailed from Dubrovnik, Croatia, to Civitavecchia, Italy, during a seven-day itinerary that offered visits to small Italian ports like Monopoli, Otranto, Crotone, Giardini Naxos, Amalfi and Sorrento.

The 100-pax Emerald Azzurra. * Photo: John Roberts

What I Loved about Emerald Azzurra

The elegant and modern design of the ship stands out everywhere you go. It’s a sleek vessel with a huge space-to-passenger ratio that means ultimate comfort as you stroll the observation decks or relax up top at the large hot tub or pool area.

It’s a great ship to visit small ports where the bigger cruise ships can’t reach.

We didn’t see another cruise vessel at any of our stops all week.

VIDEO RECAP: John shows us around the Emerald Azzurra in Italy.

Emerald Azzurra features fantastic cuisine, with fresh fish and regional specialties like squid, mussels and clams highlighted in the daily menus. We loved the specialty flatbreads offered at the Aqua Café outdoor eatery, which also serves up amazing gelatos, cookies and other desserts.

The spa is outstanding, with two treatment rooms and an infrared sauna, as well as a well-equipped gym. Plus, the marina at the back of the ship was filled with great toys. We hopped on the trampoline, lazed on floating mats, kayaked the scenic harbor area of Amalfi and tried out the Seabobs (water scooters).

Emerald Azzurra’s marina. * Photo: John Roberts

The ship also carries a fleet of e-assist bikes, and we took advantage for a couple of rides along the coasts — in Monopoli and Giardini Naxos.

Caveats of Emerald Azzurra

Most of the port visits require tenders ashore, which makes the process of going ashore a little slower and limits the chance to hop on and hop off the yacht at your leisure.

Sample Emerald Azzurra Itinerary

Emerald Azzurra sails Caribbean, Med and Red Sea voyages, and an eight-day Eastern Caribbean with St. Barths cruise goes from St. Martin to Barbados, with stops in Antigua and Barbuda, Guadelupe, Martinique, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Fares start at $3,800 per person.

RELATED: Jason Frye reviews his Emerald Azzurra cruise in the Med.

Windstar Cruises — Star Breeze

Windstar stretched this motor yacht. Yes, you can do that with a cruise ship — to expand the capacity from 212 passengers to 312. This process, which entails cutting the ship in half and inserting a new section, included an overall renovation that added new restaurants.

The result is a greatly enhanced yacht that we enjoyed while sailing on a seven-day journey in French Polynesia.

During this memorable week, we played in the waters, learned about the culture and geology of the region and basically blissed out in paradise.

What I Loved about Star Breeze

Star Breeze will be permanently located in French Polynesia starting in early 2024, and the ship is perfectly suited for the location.

You get a variety of islands and activities to thoroughly enjoy during the voyage. We started in Papeete, Tahiti, and had days of adventure and exploration in Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Taha’a and Raiatea.

VIDEO RECAP: John Takes us on a tour of Star Breeze in Tahiti

Star Breeze offers five restaurants, including a main dining room, Star Grill outdoors casual eatery, Veranda buffet, Candles steakhouse and Cuadro 44, a Spanish tapas and wine bar. This provided an incredible array of dining options featuring delicious cuisine for a weeklong cruise. We also made great use of the marina for swimming and kayaking sessions around the ship.

Aside from daily excursions that included whale watching, snorkeling, helmet diving and a tour up a remote river, one of our favorite activities was the Destination Discovery Event in Bora Bora. This is Windstar’s immersive evening on a motu (small islet) with a big dinner buffet and performances by Polynesian musicians, singers and hula and fire dancers.

The Destination Discovery event on Star Breeze in Tahiti. * Photo: John Roberts

Caveats of Star Breeze

It’s a long flight to Tahiti, taking a couple legs before you get there, and the time change will be at least four hours from the U.S. west coast.

It can take a day or two to shake off the jet lag, so it can be a wise move to plan to arrive at least one day before your cruise to get acclimated.

Sample Star Breeze Itinerary

Windstar offers cruises on Star Breeze in Tahiti that include an air and hotel package. It’s an eight-day itinerary that goes roundtrip from Papeete and includes a stay in the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and Spa, with a starting price of $6,099.

RELATED: Judi Cohen reviews her Windstar Tahiti cruise.

Viking — Viking Osiris

Viking has upped the ante for Nile River cruising with the 82-passenger Viking Osiris. This is the most-luxurious river ship on the Nile, and I was onboard for the inaugural voyage and naming ceremony, as we sailed roundtrip from Luxor.

The ship offers all the familiar features that make Viking so special. This ship now matches the comfort and feel of the Viking ocean, river and expedition ships, with design that evokes a modern boutique hotel and wonderful dining options and service.

The Viking Osiris cruises the Nile River year-round. * Photo: John Roberts

What I Loved about Viking Osiris

Viking Osiris is incredibly spacious with a huge lounge and bar area, the Aquavit Terrace and a small swimming pool.

The top Sun Deck is a favorite spot, with well-organized seating areas in both sunshine and shade. These include rocking chairs and couches providing an inviting space to enjoy the scenic sailing along the Nile.

VIDEO TOUR: John’s Viking Osiris Deck-By-Deck Tour

Staterooms also are spacious and elegant. The food and service matches what cruisers have come to expect on Viking, with great meals featuring both classics that cater to Western tastes and regional specialties. These are available in The Restaurant or in a more casual setting at Aquavit Terrace.

Caveats of a Viking Osiris river cruise

If you pick a summer sailing (July and August) on Viking Osiris , you will be going out on your excursions in intense heat. Most days, we were melting under 108-degree temperatures. This can make the experience a little more challenging when traveling in these months, so you probably want to book when the weather is relatively milder.

Feeling hot hot hot. * Photo: John Roberts

Sample Viking Osiris Itinerary

Viking operates one program in Egypt. The “Pharaohs and Pyramids” itinerary starts and ends in Cairo, with a pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel stay, as well as visits to all the must-see spots while in Egypt’s capital. You get the Great Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum.

On the river, your voyage takes you to the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and the Valley of the Kings to see the tombs of the great rulers of Ancient Egypt. You also have visits to places like Edfu, Aswan and Abu Simbel to see more temples and visits markets.

Fares start at $5,299 per person.

RELATED: Read John’s full review of his Viking Osiris Nile River cruise.

Hope you enjoyed an overview of my 9 great small-ship cruises in 2022!

What a sunset! On the Sea Dream II, one of the 9 small-ship cruises writer John Roberts took in 2022. * Photo: Colleen McDaniel

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About The Author

John Roberts

John Roberts is a freelance writer and operator of InTheLoopTravel.com. He writes about cruising and active travel, and is QuirkyCruise's resident small-ship cruising fitness reporter!

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• Country * Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini (Swaziland) Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Korea Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands

America's East Coast Small Ship Cruises

America’s East Coast cruises offer a diverse and enriching cruise experience, with itineraries that range from the sunny shores of Florida to the historic ports of New England and the maritime beauty of Canada. Here’s an overview of what you might expect on an East Coast cruise:

Southern Charm and Sunshine

• Florida: Many cruises along the East Coast kick off from Florida’s vibrant ports such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Port Canaveral. Key West is the southernmost point of the continental U.S. is famous for its laid-back atmosphere, historic sites like Ernest Hemingway’s home, and the vibrant Duval Street.

Historic Seaports and Cities

• Charleston, South Carolina : Known for its well-preserved architecture, rich history, and hospitable people, Charleston is a favorite stop. Visitors can explore the historic district, visit Fort Sumter, or enjoy the local cuisine.
• Savannah, Georgia : Similar to Charleston, Savannah offers a glimpse into the South’s Antebellum past with its beautiful public squares, moss-draped oaks, and restored historic homes.

Mid-Atlantic Marvels

• Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland : These ports offer access to American naval history and the charms of Chesapeake Bay. Annapolis, with its historic Naval Academy, and Baltimore’s Inner Harbor are highlights.
• Washington, D.C. : Some itineraries may include a stop or excursion near the nation’s capital, where passengers can visit iconic sites like the Smithsonian museums, the National Mall, and U.S. Capitol.

New England Elegance

• Boston, Massachusetts : The cradle of American independence, Boston offers historical tours along the Freedom Trail, visits to the USS Constitution, and the modern attractions of the bustling Seaport District.
• Newport, Rhode Island : Famous for its Gilded Age mansions and the America’s Cup yacht race. The Cliff Walk and tours of palatial homes like The Breakers offer glimpses into the opulent past of American high society.

Canadian Connections

• Halifax, Nova Scotia : This friendly maritime city offers rich history, including connections to the Titanic disaster and the 1917 Halifax Explosion. The rugged coastal beauty and the historic Citadel Hill are must-sees.
• Saint John, New Brunswick : Known for the reversing falls and close to the Bay of Fundy, which boasts the world’s highest tides. Nature excursions and seafood culinary experiences are plentiful here.

Seasonal Spectaculars

• Fall Foliage Cruises : These cruises are particularly popular for their stunning views of autumn’s vibrant colors along the New England and Canadian coastlines. Ports like Bar Harbor, Maine, offer access to Acadia National Park and its spectacular natural beauty.

America’s East Coast cruises cater to a wide range of interests, from sun-seekers and history buffs to nature lovers and foodies, making it a versatile and rewarding cruising destination.

America's East Coast Cruise Itineraries

Maine Coast and Harbors Cruise

On this 8-day Maine Coast and Harbors Cruise sailing roundtrip from Portland, ME, travel to charming ports famous for their shipbuilding, as well as to beautiful national parks with magnificent views and abundant wildlife. Explore quaint historic districts and charming villages, and dine on the freshest, locally sourced seafood prepared by our team of master chefs.

New England Islands Cruise

On this 8-day New England Islands cruise sailing roundtrip Providence, RI aboard the 90-passenger American Star and 100-passenger American Liberty , immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of New England, from New Bedford, MA, once known as the whaling capital of the world, to Newport, RI, home to mansions of the Gilded Age.

Grand New England Cruise

On this 15 Day Grand New England Cruise aboard the 100-guest American Glory , travel along the picturesque waterways of New England that tell the story of American history, from the Mayflower’s landing to the Boston Tea Party. A centuries-old shipbuilding tradition lives on here in shipyards along the shoreline and schooners that adorn the harbors.

East Coast Inland Passage Cruise

On this 15-day East Coast Inland Passage cruise sailing between Jacksonville/Amelia Island, FL and Baltimore, MD, cruise through a rich past that has influenced our country since the days of early exploration.

Great Rivers of Florida Cruise

On this epic 8-day Great Rivers of Florida cruise sailing roundtrip Jacksonville, FL, explore the charming towns, impressive wildlife, and native scenery on this exciting river cruise through northern Florida.

Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise

On this 8-day Hudson River Fall Foliage Cruise sailing roundtrip New York City, NY, delight in the kaleidoscope of colors on this enchanting journey along the Hudson River. Witness the rich reds, bright oranges, and golden yellows that flood its shores during the vibrant autumn season.

Canada and New England Fall Foliage

On this captivating 11-day Canada and New England Fall Foliage cruise between Portland, ME and Quebec City, QC aboard the Pearl Mist , discover the most sought-after Canadian locations, as well as many of Pearl Seas Cruises favorite colorful destinations along the New England coast.

Canadian Maritimes and St. Lawrence Seaway

This amazing 16-day Canadian Maritimes and St. Lawrence Seaway cruise aboard the 210-guest Pearl Mist explores the most magnificent regions of Canada and Maine. Peruse the picturesque downtown of Bar Harbor, before visiting the stunning natural landscapes of Acadia National Park.

Canadian Maritimes and Newfoundland

On this 10-day Canadian Maritime and Newfoundland cruise roundtrip from St. Johns, Newfoundland aboard the 148-passenger National Geographic Explorer , sail into Eastern Canada’s breathtaking natural beauty.

Chesapeake Bay Cruise

This 7-day Chesapeake Bay cruise sailing roundtrip from Baltimore, MD abounds in history and culture. From the vibrant harbor of Baltimore, travel to Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown, known as the “Historic Triangle.”

American Revolution Cruise

On this 11-day American Revolution cruise sailing roundtrip from Baltimore, MD aboard the 100-passenger American Constitution , travel back to the dawn of America. Explore the quaint towns and historic cities that have shaped our nation, including Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum with period-specific tradespeople, shopkeepers, and political figures.

Historic South and Golden Isles Cruise

On this 8-day Historic South and Golden Isles Cruise sailing between Charleston, SC to Amelia Island, FL aboard either the 100-passenger American Star or 100-passenger American Independence , explore the Intracoastal Waterway, home to some of the most beautiful historic cities in America, is a protected network of bays, rivers, and canals.

Cape Codder Cruise

On this 8-day Cape Codder Cruise sailing roundtrip from Boston, MA aboard the 170-passenger American Constitution , experience the rich essence of Cape Cod, the perfect a summer retreat.

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Small Cruise Lines

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Small Cruise Lines fleet

Storylines mv narrative, orient express corinthian, mv magellan discoverer, ms utopia residences, ocean residences my njord, clydebuilt ms dark island, aranui aramana, ocean albatros, ecoventura mv evolve galapagos, mv janssonius, sylvia earle, island escape yacht, sea cloud spirit, coral geographer, review of small cruise lines.

Small ship cruise deals offer expedition-style travel in some of the most pristine regions of the world. Most of these deals are all-inclusive packages that include pre- and post-cruise hotels, all transfers (including domestic flights), and often even both international flights to and from the destination country.

Small ship cruise travel is the best (often the only) way to explore more exotic vacation destinations. You won't find much in the way of theater productions or casinos, but that leaves room for educational pursuits. Small ships commonly organize enrichment seminars on everything - from local culture to photography. Sometimes local performers (historians, dancers, and musicians) are welcome on board to entertain.

Small ships go into the smaller ports - often inaccessible for big-sized vessels . This allows "expedition travelers" to experience the local people, culture and traditions of the destinations, and not only the tourist areas. This "intimate travel" experience includes viewing the wildlife up close, getting to know the crew and forming a bond with fellow passengers. Small ships, by definition, are with a way smaller passenger capacity , so you'll likely meet the same people over and over on a daily basis.

Still, the biggest advantage of small-ship vacations is flexibility. Booking availability is usually great, so picking your departure date is easier. Not to forget the choice of unique itineraries on which are navigated the world's most pristine destinations, including narrow fjords, remote islands, even inland waterways.

Small-ship cruising experiences don't include traditional for large liners amenities - like multiple dining venues, grand-style shows, kids programming. However, enjoying a personalized vacation while cruising the world on a "boat" is usually not recommended for first-timers and in the same time is best for affluent and more active travelers - as the money must not be an issue.

Small cruise lines

This is a list of the world's most popular small-ship cruise companies. Again, there should be also added river shipping companies, the largest among which are Viking , Uniworld , Avalon Waterways , AmaWaterways , CroisiEurope , Emerald Waterways , Scylla , Luftner-Amadeus .

Alaskan Dream Cruises ( fleet , AlaskanDreamCruises.com) is Allen family-owned company (founded 1970) operating Inside Passage itineraries - wilderness adventures on small-sized expedition ships. Its ships also visit exclusive ports of call in Alaska, including native-owned lands and a private island. Cruise prices are around USD 600 pp per night.

Aurora Expeditions ( fleet , AuroraExpeditions.com.au) is among the pioneers of polar expedition cruising, as well as a leading adventure travel company on the Australian market. The company was established in 1991 by Greg Mortimer (one of the first Australians to climb Mt Everest without oxygen) and his wife Margaret Mortimer. The company initially specialized in small-group cruises to Antarctica. In 2008 it was sold and the new owners started expedition voyages in Norway's Svalbard Islands , Russia's Far East, Greenland, PNG-Papua New Guinea, and South America (on Amazon River). In 2014 were inaugurated Alaskan Inside Passage itineraries and also launched land-river-sea expeditions in Ecuador (northwestern South America). In 2015 was launched an African cruisetour with a luxury safari cruise on Chobe River (Botswana). For polar operations, Aurora Expeditions charters ice-strengthened Russian research ships.

Coral Expeditions ( fleet , CoralExpeditions.com) is among the best for South Pacific Islands cruises. Each vessel has a high-speed tender boat and Zodiacs for landings.

International Expeditions (TUI-owned) and Metropolitan Touring are among the best choices for Galapagos Islands. Metropolitan Touring's Galapagos ships are larger compared to most of the yachts deployed in this region.

"Island Windjammers" owns sailing ships on Caribbean island itineraries year-round.

Variety Cruises ( fleet ) owns superyachts (motorized and sailing) and operates in the Mediterranean Sea, West Africa, Indian Ocean, Central America.

Katarina Line (Croatia-based) also operates as an international travel booking agency for other lines. Katarina owns around 40 small-sized ships and yachts in the region of Adriatic Sea (Dalmatian Coast). Each of the ships can be fully chartered.

"Peregrine Adventures" is among the best lines in Antarctica. The itineraries are with regular roundtrip departures from Argentina (Ushuaia) and Chile (Punta Arenas), with a duration between 8 and 20 days. Among the visited destinations are Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Drake Passage, Falkland Islands, South Sandwich Islands. Deals are inclusive of hotels and all transfers. Fly cruise deals include departures from Buenos Aires. International flights are not included in the fares.

Noble Caledonia ( fleet , UK-based) operates chartered riverboats and owns two ships.

Quasar Expeditions (QuasarEx.com) is another major player on the luxury Galapagos cruising market. The company provides professional naturalists, and most of the tours (kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, walking, hiking) are included in the fares.

"Aggressor Fleet" owns an impressive number of smaller luxury yachts and operates in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Galapagos, Southeast Asia, Red Sea, Maldives, also in the South Pacific Ocean.

G Adventures (Gadventures.com) is a Galapagos cruise line brand. In July 2017, it acquired the UK-based company Swan Hellenic. G-Adventures restarted Swan Hellenic's operations in 2018. The company owns the MS Expedition (ice-strengthened vessel).

"Pearl Seas Cruises" operates in USA (Great Lakes), Canada (Canadian Maritimes) and also in the Caribbean. On January 23, 2017, started the first cruise to Cuba from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida). The 10-day itinerary visited Havana plus other Cuban ports. In 2017, the 210-passenger ship Pearl Mist had 11 voyages from Fort Lauderdale to Cuba (January through April), plus more scheduled for winter season 2017-2018.

The following companies have their individual pages at CruiseMapper. Each of them provides top-quality, small ship cruising experiences on comparably larger vessels.

• American Cruise Lines is famous for having large paddlewheel ships deployed on the US rivers Mississippi, Snake and Columbia. Other ACL ships cruise in Alaska also along the East Coast USA and Canada, Hudson River, and on Florida inland waterways.
• Grand Circle Cruise Line owns riverboats (operating in Europe and Asia) and also ocean ships. Its deals are inclusive of all tours, onboard lectures, local gourmet food specialties.
• Hurtigruten , along with its regular (year-round operated) Norwegian coastal itineraries also operates in the regions of the European Arctic and Antarctica. Unique tours in Europe offered by Hurtigruten are Northern Lights, Spitsbergen, polar circle landings (Greenland).
• Lindblad Expeditions has an exclusive partnership with National Geographic. The experience features wildlife watching on kayaks and Zodiacs, and complimentary tours lead by National Geographic naturalists.
• Quark Expeditions is the leading Antarctica cruise line.
• SeaDream Yacht Club has two superyachts operating in the Mediterranean (summer) and Caribbean (winter). Deals are fully all-inclusive.
• Silversea Expeditions operates a small fleet cruising in Alaska, Asia, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Galapagos. Deals are fully all-inclusive.
• Star Clippers owns tall-sailing ships (clippers) and operates in the Caribbean and Europe (Mediterranean). Deals are inclusive of marina-based sports (kayaking, wind sailing, waterskiing).
• Windstar Cruises provides some of the best "top luxury" products on the small cruising market. All boats are relatively bigger and with aft marina platforms.
• Un-Cruise Adventures is among the best Alaskan small-ship lines. During winter, its boats are repositioned to Hawaii, Baja Mexico, USA Northwest Coast. The steamer SS Legacy is cruising in the USA, on Snake and Columbia rivers.
• Oceanwide Expeditions (Oceanwide-Expeditions.com) operates ice-strengthened ships in Antarctica and the European Arctic.

Itinerary of Small Cruise Lines

Since small ship cruising deals are mainly provided by riverboats, you can also see an extensive list of river cruise lines ships at CruiseMapper's River Cruises hub. CruiseMapper is tracking cruises on rivers in Europe, USA, Russia, and Asia as both itineraries and prices. It additionally provides lines reviews, along with information on major inland waterways and best-rated river travel destinations around the world.

Below you can see destination-grouped lists of small cruise ships. All ship links (in the "Fleet" section) provide information on itineraries, prices, deck plans and cabins, general vessel details, a concise history, as well as live AIS current position ship tracking.

In this survey, we use all Silversea 's official YouTube video releases. Each of those is add-free and will give you a "real-life" review of the destination's highlights, and professionally presented information on the small cruising experience it provides.

Galapagos Islands

Most of the listed here ships are actually big yachts and all can be full-chartered.

• Celebrity Xploration
• Celebrity Xperience
• Celebrity Xpedition
• Celebrity Flora
• Encantada (yacht)
• Estrella del Mar
• MV Evolution (G10)
• Galapagos Aggressor II
• Galapagos Aggressor III
• Galapagos Grand Odyssey
• Galapagos Legend
• Galapagos Odyssey
• Galapagos Voyager
• National Geographic Endeavour
• National Geographic Endeavour 2
• National Geographic Islander
• Queen of Galapagos
• mv Santa Cruz 2
• Silver Galapagos
• Silver Origin
• Treasures of Galapagos (catamaran)

South America (Antarctica and Patagonia)

Among Antarctica's most popular itinerary destinations are Ushuaia , Cape Horn , Elephant Island , Paulet Island , Paradise Harbor. Longer itineraries also visit the Falkland Islands .

• Evangelistas
• Grigoriy Mikheev
• MV Hondius, MV Ortelius, MV Plancius
• Marina Svetaeva
• Ocean Adventurer, Ocean Diamond, Ocean Endeavour, Ocean Nova
• mv Polar Star
• Sea Explorer
• Silver Explorer
• Stella Australis, Ventus Australis

European and Russian Arctic

The Earth's Arctic region includes the Arctic Ocean and territories of 8 countries (Russia, Canada, USA, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland). Arctic expedition itineraries are operated almost year-round (excluding winter months).

• Russian icebreaker ships
• Akademik Shokalskiy
• Lyubov Orlova
• Professor Molchanov
• Professor Multanovsky
• MS Expedition
• MS Spitsbergen
• National Geographic Explorer
• Noorderlicht
• Ocean Diamond
• Ocean Endeavour
• Polar Pioneer
• Rembrandt van Rijn
• Sea Adventurer
• Sea Endurance
• Sarfaq Ittuk

Hawaii and Alaska

Among the most operated Alaskan small ship cruising destinations are Inside Passage, Glacier Bay , Skagway , Juneau , Seward , Sitka , Ketchikan (Revillagigedo Island) , Homer , Kodiak Island .

Hawaii small cruises visit the islands of Hawaii (ports Hilo and Kailua-Kona ), Kauai , Oahu , Maui (ports Kahului and Lahaina , and Kona. Most itineraries are roundtrips from Honolulu.

• Admiralty Dream
• Alaskan Dream
• American Spirit
• Baranof Dream
• Chichagof Dream
• MV Misty Fjord
• Kona Aggressor II
• Island Odyssey
• Island Roamer
• National Geographic Sea Bird
• National Geographic Sea Lion
• Safari Endeavour
• Safari Explorer
• Safari Quest
• Wilderness Adventurer
• Wilderness Discoverer
• Wilderness Explorer

Mediterranean Sea

Europe's Mediterranean is among the largest market for small ship travel. Featured destinations in this region are French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Greek Isles, Dalmatian Coast (Adriatic).

• Star Clippers ships
• Aegean Odyssey
• Aegean Paradise
• ms Berlin (FTI)
• Club Med 2 (sail ship)
• La Belle de l’Adriatique
• Royal Eleganza
• Serenissima
• Variety Voyager

The UK and Baltic Sea

Europe's Baltic region is most attractive for the opportunities to visit Russia and Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland). Among the world's most popular destinations here are Norwegian Fjords and St Petersburg. The UK (British Isles) itineraries visit ports in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. This region features over 6000 isles.

• Deutschland
• Hebridean Princess
• Hebridean Sky
• Lord of the Glens
• Sea Cloud 1, Sea Cloud 2

East Coast USA and Canada

New England is comprised of six US states along the Atlantic coast. Smaller ships here often sail on inland waterways as well.

• ACL-American Cruise Line fleet
• AQV-American Queen Voyages/AQSC fleet
• Grande Caribe, Grande Mariner

Caribbean and Bermuda

Caribbean small ship cruise itineraries visit popular island destinations, as well as mainland ports in Mexico, the USA, South America. Among the most visited destinations are the Bahamas, Grand Turk Island , Jamaica, Barbados , Grand Cayman Island , St Kitts Island , St Maarten Island , St Lucia Island, Aruba Island , Curacao Island , Roatan Island , US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, also ports and inland waterways in Florida (USA).

• Belize Aggressor 3
• Cayman Aggressor 4
• Carib Dancer
• Diamant (schooner)
• MV Clio (Tere Moana)
• Okeanos Aggressor
• Sagitta (sail ship)
• Safari Voyager
• Sun Dancer II
• Turks and Caicos Aggressor 2
• Vela (sail ship)
• Wind Dancer

South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand

The South Pacific Ocean as travel destination includes the archipelagos of Oceania (Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia), Australia and New Zealand. Among the most visited in this region are the islands of Fiji, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef .

• Andaman Explorer
• Caledonian Sky
• Coral Expeditions 1
• Coral Expeditions 2
• Fiji Princess
• Island Dancer 2
• Island Passage
• Kimberley Quest 2
• National Geographic Orion
• Oceanic Discoverer
• Paul Gauguin
• Reef Endeavour
• Silver Discoverer
• Solway Lass
• Spirit of Enderby
• Wind Spirit (sail ship)

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What Cruise Lines Leave from Jacksonville FL?

The two cruise lines that depart from Jacksonville are Carnival Cruise Line and American Cruise Lines. One is a large ship and the other has small ships. And size isn't their only difference. The ships are completely different in style and the places they go.

1. Carnival Cruise Line : the big ship makes 4- and 5-day cruises to the islands of the Bahamas from Jacksonville. Features include WaterWorks water park and Camp Carnival for kids. Adults will like the Serenity adults-only retreat, Spa Carnival, and live entertainment.

2. American Cruise Lines : these small ships offer 7-night "Great Rivers of Florida" cruises and 7-night "Historic South and Golden Isles" cruises out of Jacksonville. The ships may be small, but they have big staterooms, lounges, and observation decks. Other features include entertainment every evening, daily presentations about local topics, and complimentary cocktail hour. American's ships are made in the USA, and carry an American crew.

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3-Day Cruises from Florida

Weekend & 3-day cruises from florida.

Make the most of a short vacation with our weekend cruises from Florida, which whisk you away to either Key West and Nassau, or Nassau and Bimini in The Bahamas. Whichever itinerary you choose, three-day cruises from Florida give you time to enjoy dreamy days on white sand beaches, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, explore local history, and sample island cuisine, from Key lime pie to flavor-packed conch fritters.

There’s plenty of time to enjoy the luxurious surroundings of your Celebrity Cruises ship, too. Enjoy dishes crafted by chefs, lounge with a cocktail by the sparkling pool, or unwind with a blissful treatment in the spa. Experience the unrivaled luxury of The Retreat® and relax in the sumptuous setting of a beautiful suite, private dining experience and lounge, and more.

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View all 3-day cruises from florida, featured ports of call.

Pastel houses meet white sand beaches and aquamarine lagoons around Nassau, New Providence. Relax into the rhythms of Bahamian life on a trip to Blue Lagoon Island, where you can swim in the limpid lagoon, or head for Atlantis for high-energy fun on the waterslides at Aquaventure. Swim among tropical fish teeming over Rainbow Reef and shop for woven hats and purses at the Straw Market. Remember to try the local specialties like conch in tasty fritters or creamy chowder, and spirit-soaked rum cake.

In sleepy Bimini, warm waters, colorful reefs, and white sand beaches await. Visit the unique Dolphin House, built by a local historian from shells and sea glass. Swim with a guide among reef sharks at Shark Lab, or do as Hemingway would have done and join a thrilling sport fishing expedition. You could also join a relaxing sailing trip to see how conch is fished before digging into conch fritters and an iced rum punch.

Quirky, eccentric Key West is packed with historical interest and surrounded by dazzling reefs. At Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, lounge on the white sand beach, snorkel, or explore the 19th-century fort. Snap a photo at the buoy that marks the southernmost point of the USA, and visit the stately, colonial-style house where Hemingway lived in the 1930s. Explore the art galleries and bars of Duval Street and lively Mallory Square—and don’t miss the chance to sample a tangy Key lime pie.

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From ultra-luxury to megaships, a look at all the ways to cruise in 2024

I f you live in South Florida you've no doubt seen cruise ships docked or out on the open seas, heading to or coming from somewhere nearby or far away.

And if you're new to cruising or have only been on a couple of Caribbean adventures, you may not realize how many different types of cruises and ships there are.

From huge ships like the Icon of the Seas that can hold up to 7,600 passengers to smaller luxury vessesl with fewer than 100 passengers on board, and from heading up and down Florida's coast to across the world, the types of ships and destinations are nearly limitless.

When many think of cruising, they might picture big beautiful ships that are resorts at sea, with thousands of passengers on board enjoying the food, drinks and entertainment.

"For a lot of people that megaship experience is really what they’re looking for. This is the big cruise ships, you see them all the time out of South Florida," said Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of the Cruise Critic website.

From Carnival to Norwegian, MSC, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, Holland America, Virgin and more, all of the major cruise lines are right in South Florida's backyard.

Ken Muscat, the managing director of Scenic Group and someone who's worked in the cruise industry for 30 years, said that means more options for cruisers.

"I think that's one of the greatest things about the cruise industry. It's so diverse and there really is something for everybody," Muscat said.

Muscat said the bigger ships may have more appeal for a wider range of travelers.

"I think the big ships are catered best towards multigenerational travel," Muscat said. "You've got families, you've got the grandparents that are coming along from both sets of parents, you've got the young kids and these big ships offer so many different alternatives for everybody."

He also said the smaller ships have something to offer as well.

"Now, we're also seeing this trend of smaller ships and new brands that are coming into the industry that are offering these ultra luxury or very premium kind of products," Muscat said.

McDaniel agreed.

"They are very inclusive. The service is top notch, and the dining is excellent," she said. "These small ships can take you to more remote places around the world, smaller ports. So you’re going to see different places than you might see with some of these megaships."

Smaller ships might provide a sunset sailing into St. Barts or a stroll in the sand on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.

Companies like Scenic, Regent Seven Seas, Emerald, Ritz Carlton, Silversea and Explora Journeys offer these five-star sailings out of South Florida and other ports in the Caribbean, just a short plane ride away.

If you're up for a longer plane ride, you can venture on board a river cruise to explore the winding waterways of Asia and Europe.

"The food is wonderful, the wine is flowing. But every day you're in these small little ports," said Michelle Fee, CEO of Cruise Planners. "And you get to experience that by stepping off the ship and you're right in the little, quaint town."

And since there are two international airports in South Florida, there's another cool cruising option: expedition cruises.

These are bucket list trips with exotic, once-in-a-lifetime destinations.

"They typically will do longer cruises, world cruises, or visit places all over the Med[Mediterranean], Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galapagos, very exotic ports of call," Muscat said.

With more and more companies offering expedition excursions, these remote destinations are more accessible than ever before.

"I’m a firm believer that there is a cruise and a cruise ship for every single person on the planet," McDaniel said.

Watch CBS News

Russian military exercises in the Caribbean: Here's what to expect

By Alex Sundby

Updated on: June 12, 2024 / 8:15 PM EDT / CBS News

Three Russian ships and a nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Cuban waters Wednesday ahead of military exercises  in the Caribbean. While the exercises aren't considered a threat to the U.S., American ships were deployed to shadow the Russians, U.S. officials told CBS News.

The Russian warships  were seen arriving in Havana's harbor on Wednesday morning and were expected to stay in Cuba until Monday. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday the U.S. was closely monitoring the Russian ships.

"We have seen this kind of thing before and we expect to see this kind of thing again," Sullivan said.

The U.S. intelligence community has assessed that the submarine is nuclear powered but it isn't carrying nuclear weapons, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reported. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CBS News senior White House and political correspondent Ed O'Keefe last week that there was no indication nuclear weapons would be "at play" during the vessels' time in the Caribbean.

What Russian ships are in Cuba?

According to the Cuban Foreign Ministry, the three Russian ships are a frigate, a fleet oil tanker and a salvage tug. The three ships and the submarine headed across the Atlantic separately, Martin reported.

Russia has used the frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov, to test its Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles , according to the Reuters news agency.

Two American destroyers and two ships that tow sonar equipment behind them were shadowing the submarine, Martin reported. Another destroyer and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter were shadowing the three Russian ships. The U.S. Navy also used little sailboats fitted with cameras, known as sail drones, to shadow the Russian ships as they got close to Cuba.

The Admiral Gorshkov and the submarine carried out drills in the Atlantic that simulated a missile strike on enemy ships, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

While the Russian ships are in Cuba, the U.S. Navy ships shadowing them are expected to wait for the Russians and continue shadowing them when they leave port, Martin reported.

The ships' arrival in Havana — which the Cuban Foreign Ministry said was expected to include the fanfare of one Russian ship firing 21 salvos in a salute to Cuba — comes ahead of Russia carrying out air and naval exercises in the Caribbean in the coming weeks, Martin reported.

The exercises, which will include long-range bombers, will be the first simultaneous air and naval maneuvers Russia has carried out in the Caribbean since 2019, Martin reported. The exercises will be conducted over the summer, culminating in a worldwide naval exercise in the fall.

"Clearly this is them signaling their displeasure about what we're doing for Ukraine ," Kirby told O'Keefe. "So we're going to watch it, we're going to monitor it, it's not unexpected. … But we don't anticipate, we don't expect that there'll be any imminent threat or any threat at all, quite frankly, to American national security in the region, in the Caribbean region, or anywhere else."

The Russian ships are expected to head to Venezuela after Cuba, but it's unclear what the submarine will do, Martin reported.

What was the Cuban missile crisis?

The events in the Caribbean are different from the Cuban missile crisis that happened over 60 years ago. The 1962 crisis unfolded after the U.S. discovered launch sites in Cuba for Soviet ballistic nuclear missiles.

Over the course of 13 days, the crisis brought the Soviet Union and the U.S. dangerously close to nuclear war. A potential conflict was averted when the Kennedy administration reached a deal with the Kremlin for the missiles to be removed from Cuba.

Alex Sundby is a senior editor at CBSNews.com. In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.

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Cruise ship with Broadway stars to set sail from Florida

by: MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer

Posted: Jun 18, 2024 / 12:07 PM EDT

Updated: Jun 18, 2024 / 12:07 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A cruise ship with some of Broadway’s biggest names — including Tony Award-winner  Laura Benanti  and Emmy-winner  Wayne Brady  — will sail from Florida to Mexico next spring.

The Broadway Cruise  — heading roundtrip from Miami to Cozumel, from March 31-April 4, 2025 — will also feature Tony nominees Shoshana Bean, Eva Noblezada and Alex Brightman, as well as Broadway favorites Corey Cott, Caissie Levy and Solea Pfeiffer.

Tony-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, behind such shows as “Kinky Boots” and “La Cage au Folles,” will discuss creating a show and teach dance classes, while Tony-winning producer Jeffrey Seller — behind such hits as “Hamilton,” “Rent” and “Avenue Q” — will discuss producing hits on Broadway. Will Van Dyke will be the musical director for the cruise.

Producers promise “intimate and grand scale shows and cabarets from Broadway’s coolest talent. You will gain tips and techniques from some of the best and brightest creative talent working today.” There will also be celebrity meet-and-greets and Broadway karaoke.

This will be the third Broadway Cruise, which borrows the Norwegian Gem for its themed trips. Patrons can see performances at everything from the 850-seat Stardust Theater to the Pool Deck Stage, which fits 2,000 or the Atrium Stage, which fits 300.

“With two incredibly successful trips under our belt, The Broadway Cruise is now an annual tradition,” Scott Zeiger, executive producer for EBG Solutions, said in a statement. “If you love Broadway, there is no vacation more fulfilling and exciting than being on our complete ship takeover with today’s biggest talent”.

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Live updates: US Olympic Swim Trials Day 4 featured several stars in prelims

Team usa swimmers took part in five preliminaries on tuesday, by max molski • published june 18, 2024 • updated 4 hours ago, what to know.

• Katie Ledecky cruises in the women's 1500m freestyle prelims
• Lydia Jacoby drops out of women's 200m breaststroke, taking her out of contention at Paris Olympics
• Caeleb Dressel places second in his men's 100m freestyle heat behind Jack Alexy

Day 4 of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials featured two of Team USA's biggest athletes who have their eyes on gold in Paris.

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Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky competed in the prelims at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Tuesday. The early schedule included prelims for five events with more action to come Tuesday night.

Keep up with the latest news from the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials below as Team USA swimmers aim to punch their tickets to the 2024 Olympics in Paris .

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I got tired of big cruise ships so splashed out on a small, 140-passenger cruise. Here's why it was worth the money.

• Rebecca Deurlein booked a cruise annually when her kids were young as an easy family vacation.
• But she began to tire of the busy ships and bland food — so she tried a small-ship experience.
• Deurlein said the incredible service and delicious gourmet meals were well worth the price increase.

When my kids were young, I loved mega-ship cruise vacations. Our family booked yearly cruises trying different lines and ships. I'd make one phone call and one payment, and the vacation was set. 

While perfect at the time, I slowly began to feel "cruise-ship fatigue."  

I was tired of fighting for lounge chairs, standing in buffet lines, and dealing with the crowds. The smoky casinos, hypnotists, and piano players pounding out "Sweet Caroline" no longer appealed. 

Once our kids left for college, my husband and I felt we'd outgrown mega ships . 

So when we started researching a trip to celebrate our anniversary, I proposed a small-ship experience . I'd heard friends talk about the joys of small-ship sailing, and we could finally afford it. 

We had paid as little as $100 a day on mega-ship cruises. For smaller ships, you pay closer to $600 a day per person. A special anniversary was my excuse to splurge. 

I was drawn to Windstar's Wind Spirit : a 140-passenger sailing yacht that would be an easy sell to my sailor husband. We chose a seven-day trip through Tahiti, the South Polynesian Islands, and Bora Bora. The cruise cost $4,299, or about $614 a day per person. 

We traveled on the Windstar this March. Here are the pros and cons of choosing a small-ship experience.

The staff-to-passenger ratio meant the service was incredible

We shared our small ship — which felt more like a rich friend's yacht — with only 100 other passengers.

With 100 staff on board, that meant incredibly personalized service and intimate day trips. 

One day, six of us visited a private island. We were greeted by waiting crew members with flower garlands, tropical beverages, and beach towels. 

When I ordered a coconut-rum and coke from the tiki bar they'd set up, the bartender realized he didn't have that specific liquor. Before I could offer my second choice, he called the ship, reported that one of the passengers would like some coconut rum,  hung up, and smiled. "They will motor it over from the ship," he said. "I'll deliver your drink to you when it arrives."

It felt like your every whim would be catered to. 

We could access destinations that aren't open to mega ships and visit without crowds 

Large ships aren't allowed near some of the islands we traveled to for environmental and logistical reasons. 

Because the Wind Spirit didn't require large docking furniture or canals necessary for larger ships, we easily sailed into coves and dropped anchor. 

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Every time we emerged onto the deck, we were met with scenery like Moorea's green mountains dropping into the blue water or traditional huts tucked into palm-tree alcoves. These views were never blocked by crowded railings. 

The islands we visited were also nearly empty of tourists. There were no more than eight people in our group on all the excursions we booked .  

I was happy to avoid the massive cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers disembarking at the same time and being frog-marched to the same attractions.

Each island felt private; each excursion could be tailored to our wishes. 

The entertainment on board is very pared back and simple 

You won't get Broadway-style entertainment on a small ship. You won't have casinos, rows of shops, or waterslides. 

The experience is closer to yachting, where you soak in the destination rather than follow an activity-packed itinerary. 

We could visit the bridge and talk to the captain, join a mixology class, or sit with local islanders and make traditional crafts. As Calvin Dsouza, a hotel general manager at Windstar Cruises, told me, "This is an opportunity to connect to the actual place, rather than seeking your next thrill."

The boat's water-sports marina, only open when the ship was anchored, was on the deck one floor down from our cabin. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, we jumped off the swim deck,  floated on a tethered platform or trampoline, or grabbed a kayak or paddle board.

It felt surreal to swim straight off the boat into the Pacific Ocean. Occasionally, others joined in, but many times, it was just us.

Feeling like the ship and the destination were ours to explore was my favorite aspect of small-ship cruising.

I was tired of cruise food, but the gourmet small-ship options changed my mind

The food on board was a close-second favorite. I had pretty much sworn off cruises because of the food: eggs that never quite tasted like eggs, slight variations of the same dishes at multiple meals, and menus shaped around how many they could feed rather than creativity. 

The dining experience on a small ship was the opposite. Windstar partners with James Beard and features award-winning cuisine on its nightly menu. 

The food on board far exceeded my expectations. We enjoyed fresh bread out of the oven,  a whole suckling pig, lobster tails, paella, and perfectly cooked steaks. I was delighted by every meal. 

One of my favorite dining experiences was in Bora Bora. We arrived at a private island with views of Mount Otemanu and were served fresh red snapper and generously poured top-shelf drinks, all while chatting with fellow passengers who had become friends. 

It's worth the price if you can entertain yourself

My takeaway is, if you don't need 100 activities on board, small-ship cruising is for you. Small ships don't entertain you all day long — you find and make your entertainment.

The Wind Spirit is more expensive upfront than your average mega ship, but it's worth every penny, and I'll be booking a small-ship cruise vacation again.

Watch: The rise and fall of the cruise industry

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Pasco man burned bodies of missing couple, 2 children, deputies say

• Jack Prator Times staff

A Pasco man has been charged with murder in connection to the disappearance of a family of four who went missing last week and has told deputies that he killed the parents and burned their bodies along with those of their two young children, records show.

Deputies have been searching since last week for Rain Mancini, 26; Phillip Zilliot II, 25; 6-year-old Karma Zilliot; and 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot III.

In court records that became public Monday, investigators said the family lived with Rory Atwood, 25, on a 10-acre property off Nottingham Trail in Hudson.

New details from an arrest affidavit show Atwood confirmed the identity of their remains to deputies, and said he burned them after a fight broke out at the home between himself, Phillip Zilliot II and Mancini.

The investigation began Thursday afternoon when a sister of Atwood’s friend tipped off authorities about the killings, records show.

Her brother said that Atwood called him asking for help burning trash. When he answered the video call, he saw a puddle of blood and the bodies of adults and children, the affidavit states.

Deputies made a wellness check at the property but found nothing suspicious. One deputy noticed a fire, still smoldering and smoking.

The next day, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office received a second call, this time from Atwood’s high school friend. He told deputies Atwood had “admitted to killing his roommates and their children,” court records state.

On Friday afternoon, deputies returned to Atwood’s property with a cadaver dog. The dog dug through the fire pit, and retrieved small skeletal remains. Forensics teams also found “two apparent human vertebrae, all of which had apparent thermal damage to them,” the affidavit states.

In follow-up interviews with detectives, Atwood gave conflicting accounts of the killings. He initially said deputies might find horse bones on his property and asked how quickly human flesh would decompose.

Atwood told authorities he evicted the family on June 1 after they stopped paying rent. They dropped by the home unannounced Wednesday night and stayed for a few hours to collect their belongings from the property, he said.

During a later search, deputies found items belonging to the family. Atwood said they were left by the family because they “did not have time to take the items with them.”

Mancini told him she was going to stay at a women’s shelter with their children and Zilliot said he was going to stay in a tent at a nearby park, according to Atwood.

Others who were there Wednesday night told deputies that Mancini and Zilliot were drinking with Atwood at the home. Their children were there, as was a friend of Mancini and Atwood’s 4-year-old daughter.

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The girl told detectives she saw Mancini arguing at her father’s home. The girl’s mother told detectives Atwood called her early Thursday morning and said there had been an altercation.

At 6 a.m., Atwood dropped off the girl in a blue BMW sedan at the home of her mother, who told detectives Atwood “was not acting himself.”

Atwood told authorities in an interview on Saturday that Zilliot and Mancini entered his bedroom armed with knives. Atwood said he disarmed Zilliot, who punched him in the head. Atwood tossed the knife out of the bedroom and saw Mancini poking Atwood’s daughter in the throat with a knife, he said.

Atwood told deputies that a handgun suddenly appeared in the room and Zilliot grabbed it. They struggled for the gun and Atwood fired two shots into Zilliot’s head, he told investigators. Atwood said Mancini was also shot multiple times in the torso and head.

Detectives said Atwood did not say how the two children died, but that he suspected Zilliot and Mancini killed them.

Surging with adrenaline, Atwood dragged the adult bodies from the living room, out the front door and into the fire pit, which he said had already been lit, he told detectives.

Atwood also discarded the gun into the fire pit and burned his couch to destroy evidence of bloodstains from the killings, he said.

Deputies photographed Atwood and found that he didn’t have any injuries consistent with a fight.

Investigators believe Atwood is to blame for the deaths of the adults, though the case remains under investigation as to whether he killed the children, too.

“The defendant burned the two victims and evidence within the fire pit and repeatedly lied to patrol deputies and detectives,” the affidavit states. He also “admitted to knowledge both juveniles ... were also burned in the same fire pit,” according to the affidavit.

Atwood has a criminal record that dates back to 2016, when he was charged with fleeing and eluding law enforcement. He was 17 at the time. A few months after his 18th birthday, the parents of Atwood’s then-girlfriend filed injunctions against him alleging stalking. Both injunctions were dismissed, records show.

In 2019, he was sentenced to a year of probation on a misdemeanor battery charge after he walked into a Hudson Circle K and punched someone, records show.

Atwood faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with the case of the missing family. He pleaded not guilty during his first appearance in court on Monday. He was being held without bond at Land O’ Lakes Jail, records show.

Investigators have not yet positively identified the remains found in the fire pit and are still waiting on results from the medical examiner.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about what happened to call the agency at 727-847-8102, option 7, or report tips at PascoSheriff.com/tips .

Times staff writer Brandon Kingdollar contributed to this report.

Jack Prator is a reporter covering breaking news and environment. Reach him at [email protected].

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6 Best Cruises Out Of Port Canaveral

By Zachary Laks | Published on April 9, 2024

It's time to start planning your next big vacation. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway, a family-friendly vacation or an extended voyage, you'll find cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida that tick all your boxes.

When considering one of the cruises out of Port Canaveral, plan extra time before and after your sailing to soak up all the fun that the area has to offer. There's so much to do in Orlando that you could stay for several days and never get bored — music to your ears if you're traveling with children. One of the best things about Orlando cruises is that you have your choice of theme parks to round out your vacation. They're expansive and immersive escapes into playful worlds, not unlike a great cruise. I love tacking on an extra day or two at an Orlando theme park, usually before my cruise departs. I always appreciate the days of racking up thousands of steps traversing a theme park before boarding a cruise, where I know I'll be able to lounge on a deck or relax in a hot tub.

Not far from Port Canaveral, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is a great place to spend a day admiring the vast scope of NASA. The center offers one-of-a-kind immersion into space exploration, including the chance to strap into a rocket launch simulator for an adrenaline-pumping thrill.

For those seeking a more peaceful retreat before boarding their cruises out of Orlando, Port Canaveral is near the white sands of Cocoa Beach. Spend the day enjoying calm, low waves — great for year-round swimming, learning to surf and kayaking alongside manatees and dolphins. Or take a seat on an airboat ride through the wetlands for encounters with alligators and, depending on the season, bald eagles, herons and osprey.

Ready to book a cruise to Port Canaveral? Here are the six best cruises from Port Canaveral.

1. Best For A Long Weekend

Set to launch in the summer of 2024, Utopia of the Seas ℠ will be the sixth Oasis Class ship, Royal Caribbean's class of ships packed with adventure and entertainment. The new ship will focus on three- and four-night cruises from its year-round home port in Port Canaveral, with onboard upgrades that include reimagined pool decks, a Giovanni's℠ Italian Kitchen that spans two decks (try the osso buco!) and the new Pesky Parrot tiki bar, serving fruity cocktails on the Royal Promenade. This itinerary  to the Bahamas on Utopia of the Seas ℠ is the best for a long weekend exploring the highlights of The Bahamas, with a day in Nassau followed by a day at Perfect Day at CocoCay , Royal Caribbean's private island destination.

2. Best For Beach Lovers

This exquisite itinerary to the Southern Caribbean on Adventure of the Seas ® routes you to the farthest corner of the Caribbean for some of its best beaches. Sailing on the Adventure of the Seas ® for eight nights from Port Canaveral, you'll stop in ports such as Oranjestad, Aruba; Willemstad, Curaçao; and Kralendijk, Bonaire. Each port will welcome you with easily accessible, powdery sand beaches primed for world-class swimming, snorkeling and diving. You'll have your pick of 86 dive sites at Bonaire National Marine Park with more than 350 recorded fish species known to frequent the waters.

3. Best For A European Adventure

Transatlantic sailings make for such a special vacation, and this 13-night Transatlantic Azores itinerary on Adventure of the Seas ® packs four remarkable ports into the crossing. You'll cruise the Atlantic for the first nine days, living it up on a ship that is packed with ways to play and relax. You'll arrive in idyllic Tenerife in the Canary Islands on the tenth day. Immerse yourself in the local Spanish culture by spending part of your day exploring the Museum of Nature and Archaeology or the Basilica de Candelaria shrine. The cruise continues to Lanzarote, Canary Islands, where picture-perfect colonial mansions line cobblestone streets, then on to the adventurous mountain island of Madeira, Portugal before completing your journey in the charming streets of Lisbon, Portugal.

4. Best For Private Island Getaways

This unique Port Canaveral cruise itinerary  to Bermuda and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Adventure of the Seas ® visits both of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, where paradise is just steps away from the ship. On an eight-night journey, this ship will first cruise to Labadee, the cruise line's private peninsula adventure park and beach. Soak up this private spot by relaxing on the beach, enjoy the destination's signature cocktail specialty, the Labadoozie (a fruity rum cocktail) or opt for a zip line ride that will send you soaring over the ocean. The next private island destination is Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's oasis in The Bahamas. Here you'll port within short distance of pristine beaches, a thrilling water park and countless ways to unwind beneath the palm trees. There's also a stop in Bermuda, home to pink-sand beaches and rum swizzles.

5. Best For Foodies

Foodies will delight in fresh, authentic Caribbean dishes on this itinerary to the Western Caribbean and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Wonder of the Seas ® . In Cozumel, Mexico you'll find lunch specialties featuring locally caught seafood, often grouper and red snapper fried on a plate with rice and a vibrant salad. In Roatán, Honduras, ceviche is the local favorite, along with fried plantains and baleadas — tacos made with soft flour tortillas. The ship's final port is Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico, a charming fishing village where the salbutes  (fried corn tortillas topped with shredded chicken) make a great appetizer to the catch of the day, served hot off the grill.

6. Best For Variety

This seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary  on Wonder of the Seas ® is a top choice if you want to change things up and go on a unique adventure in each port. Your first destination is Philipsburg, St. Maarten, where you can tour the island on an ATV, sample rum from a local distillery or end the day with a sunset horseback ride on the beach. When the ship arrives in the U.S. Virgin Islands at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, head straight to Magens Bay, often short-listed as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Or dive into a snorkeling tour to get face time with some sea turtles and coral reefs. On your final stop, Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay, everyone in your group can enjoy a seemingly endless array of activities. If the beach is calling, grab a spot on one of the many cushy beach loungers close to a bar serving up island cocktails that go great with the ocean view. For the adventurous ones, Daredevil's Peak® waterslide is North America's tallest and promises an adrenaline rush.

Encompassing ports of paradise and incredible culture, Orlando cruises are the ideal vacation getaway. Start planning your island escape from Port Canaveral now .

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The 5 best nyc dinner cruises for food & views.

These dinner cruises provide some of the best views of Manhattan.

The Best NYC Dinner Cruises

Courtesy of La Barca Cantina

When you're strolling the streets of Manhattan, it can be difficult to grasp the magnitude of the city, with its skyscrapers and densely packed landmarks. The solution? A boat ride. A breezy sail in New York Harbor can feature everything from an elegant dinner to a live jazz band to tacos and tequila. Read on to discover the top-rated New York City dinner cruise options as determined by travel expert opinion and recent reviews.

City Cruises New York Bateaux Premier Dinner Cruise

Price: From $144 Duration: 3 hours Standout perk: This all-glass boat delivers panoramic skyline views.

Climbing aboard the Bateaux feels like stepping into a greenhouse, with its glass-enclosed structure and water views in every direction. There are no bad seats on this boat, but as an upgrade you can reserve a window table for the best views of the Hudson River, the East River and the New York Harbor. This cruise is a match for anyone seeking elegance: The tables are covered in crisp white cloths, wine and cocktails are served in sparkling glasses, and a three-course a la carte dinner is served at a relaxed pace (no buffet here).

The Bateaux cruise is an experience to get dressed up for, where the dress code is semi-formal and dinner is accompanied by live music. The sunset can provide the perfect backdrop for pictures, and don't forget to snap a shot of the Statue of Liberty . Children younger than 6 are not permitted on this cruise, so expect a polished, for-adults atmosphere complete with creative cocktails and dancing under the stars. The Bateaux has rightfully earned a reputation for its fresh food; this three-course, plated menu includes several tempting a la carte options from a ravioli starter with crispy pancetta to osso bucco with cauliflower polenta.

Check prices & availability on:

City Cruises New York Signature Dinner Cruise

Price: From $109 Duration: 2.5 hours Standout perk: A live DJ gives this dinner cruise an extra dose of atmosphere.

Looking for a casual night of dining and dancing with the addition of a skyline backdrop? This dinner cruise offers just that. Set sail from Chelsea Piers in a climate-controlled boat along the Hudson and East rivers, admiring New York City landmarks like the Empire State Building . For dinner, indulge in a chef-prepared buffet with a wide range of options from Greek salad to oven-roasted salmon with miso to Caribbean jerk braised pork. If you're bringing a sweet tooth on board, be sure to check out the ample dessert station.

After snapping some pictures on the open-air deck, return to the cabin for cocktails from the cash bar, interactive games and upbeat music from the onboard DJ.

Those traveling with young kids will be pleased to know that infants younger than 3 cruise free – so feel free to bring your little ones along to enjoy the experience with you.

La Barca Cantina

Price: Varies Duration: 2 hours Standout perk: You'll find an extensive tequila and mezcal list on board to accompany the Mexican fare.

One criticism of New York dinner cruises is that they don't offer good value for money, but the "taco boat" challenges that critique with ceviche, tacos, churros, cocktails and skyline views for an affordable price. Climb aboard a yacht at Pier 81 to experience a youthful, modern interpretation of a dinner cruise – think: low lighting, couches for lounging and three bars, complete with Latin pop, salsa and dance music playing in the background. Raise a glass while the yacht sails south on the Hudson River to check out world-famous Manhattan skyline views.

La Barca Cantina also offers a bottomless brunch cruise with a DJ, as well as special events.

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Classic Harbor Line NYC Evening Jazz Cruise

Courtesy of Classic Harbor Line

Price: From $108 Duration: 1.5 hours Standout perk: A jazz trio typically featuring a sax, keyboard and drums plays live on board.

Listen to jazz standards aboard a 1920s-style yacht with this fun sightseeing cruise departing from Pier 62 in Chelsea Piers. Choose between kicking back in the climate-controlled cabin or on the open-air deck throughout this evening cruise, which includes views of Manhattan landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Live music is played outside on the deck or inside the salon, depending on the season (and the boat, Manhattan or Manhattan II).

While this cruise doesn't offer dinner, one complimentary alcoholic beverage is included, and a cash bar offers additional drinks and snacks. Listen to music by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin and more as you sail past the twinkling Manhattan skyline. Those traveling in a group should keep in mind: Tickets are slightly discounted for groups of 4 to 16.

Circle Line New York City Harbor Lights Cruise

Courtesy of Circle Line

Price: From $54 Duration: 2 hours Standout perk: This no-fuss, excellent-value cruise option has drinks and snacks available for purchase on board.

When you're craving panoramic views rather than a three-course meal, choose the Circle Line's Harbor Lights cruise departing from Pier 83. This sightseeing sailing delivers an up-close experience of the Manhattan skyline lights coming to life, while cruising past landmarks including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Chrysler Building . A live guide provides narration and historical context for what you're seeing. As the sun sets behind New Jersey, watch the glow of the sinking sun reflect in the windows of skyscrapers.

Food from the onboard cafe – like salads, sandwiches and snacks – as well as beer, wine and cocktails at the bar are available for purchase. This is an ideal situation for groups with varying levels of hunger and thirst. Sit alfresco in the breeze or indoors in the climate-controlled cabin – it's up to you.

Non-English-speaking guests can download the Circle Line app for narration available in several languages; just be sure to bring your own headset.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Jessica Colley Clarke is a New York-based freelance writer. She loves to take visiting family and friends out on the water in the New York Harbor for a fresh perspective on the Manhattan skyline and beyond.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top New York City Tours
• The Best Hotels in New York City
• The Top Observation Decks in New York City

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