Burgundy Canal Barge Cruise on L’Impressionniste By Robin McKelvie The lock eases open and we glide through the morning mists under an embrace of giant oak trees. A heron startles off ahead; above a red kite scans for prey. As the emerald forests and hills rise, we...
Expert Small Cruise Ship Reviews
We’re all about cruising without the crowds. QuirkyCruise is THE source for reviews, news & round-ups about unusual & small-ship cruises under 300 passengers, from river boats to canal barges, sailing ships, coastal cruisers & expedition vessels. We also share special offers & info on private charters.
CRUISE NEWS
The latest small-ship cruise news by our chief news correspondent Anne Kalosh.
CRUISE REVIEWS
We review our favorite small-ship cruise experiences to inspire & inform. Here, we also share special offers from our cruise partners.
CHARTER OPPORTUNITIES
Here we share ideas for private charters of small boats, barges & yachts that are ideal for intimate friend & family groups.
Get small-ship cruise reviews, tips & offers
we only share with our email subscribers.
WE’RE SMALL-SHIP EXPERTS, having cruised on more than 200 boats, ships & yachts all over the world!
Sign up for our newsletter & you’ll get:
- 2 emails a month
- Inside scoop on small-ship cruises under 300 pax
- Small-ship cruise reviews from us & our Quirky globetrotting writers
- Discounts & perks from our small-ship partners
- Access to Heidi & Ted — ask us questions to help you plan your next small-ship cruise!
Our Small Ship Cruise Reviews & Articles
We do a deep dive on all aspects of small-ship cruising under 300 pax, with reviews, news, tips & destination overviews to inspire & inform.
U.S. Ends COVID Pre-Arrival Testing for Air Travelers But Not Cruises
U.S. Ends COVID Pre-Arrival Testing for Air Travelers By Anne Kalosh The Biden administration ended the requirement for air travelers to test negative for COVID-19 before entering the United States. However, the testing mandate for cruise passengers embarking in the...
Off-Beat Small-Ship Hawaii Cruise with UnCruise Adventures Reveals the Real Hawaii
Small-Ship Hawaii Cruise with UnCruise By Judi Cohen Never thrilled about the idea of traveling thousands of miles just to sit on a beach sipping a colourful drink, Hawaii was not very high on my list of destinations. Until my husband and I spent a week with UnCruise...
All-Inclusive Upgrade Offer for Windstar Summer Europe 2022
sponsored Windstar Summer Europe 2022 Seize the day, there is still time to make plans for a cruise to Europe in 2022! Windstar is making it easier than ever to cruise aboard one of their six small ships that carry just 148 to 342 passengers on itineraries across...
Classic Overnight Canada River Boat Cruising on the Canadian Empress
sponsored River Boat Cruising on Canadian Empress The Canadian travel industry opened its doors this spring to welcome double-vaccinated travelers from Canada and abroad, as pandemic numbers decline and health and safety restrictions continue to be relaxed in Ontario...
Reader Review: EMERALD RADIANCE Cruise & COVID Protocols Review by Karen S.
Emerald Radiance Cruise & COVID Protocols Review. REVIEWER Karen Stroder from the USA. CRUISE LINE Emerald. SHIP Emerald Radiance. DESTINATION Portugal. # OF NIGHTS, 6. DEPARTURE PORT Porto, Portugal. DATE OF CRUISE April, 2022. OVERALL EXPERIENCE RATING 2 out of...
Reader Review: Brahmaputra Cruising Review of ABN Sukapha by Shivdeep S.
Brahmaputra Cruising Review. REVIEWER Shivdeep Singh from India. CRUISE LINE Assam Bengal Navigation. SHIP Sukapha. DESTINATION Brahmaputra Cruise, Guwahati to Silghat. # OF NIGHTS, 5. DEPARTURE PORT Guwahati, India. DATE OF CRUISE December, 2021. OVERALL EXPERIENCE...
Reader Review: Alak Gajapati Raju Brahmaputra Cruise Review of ABN SUKAPHA
Alak Gajapati Raju Brahmaputra Cruise Review. REVIEWER Alak Gajapati Raju from India. CRUISE LINE Assam Bengal Navigation. SHIP ABN Sukapha. DESTINATION Brahmaputra River Cruise, Guwahati to Silghat. # OF NIGHTS, 5. DEPARTURE PORT Guwahati, India. DATE OF CRUISE...
Brahmaputra River Cruising on Sukapha — A First-Time River Cruiser is Hooked
Brahmaputra River Cruising on Sukapha By Hema Maira Serendipity was at play when I called a friend in October last year to explore travel plans for December. She mentioned a cruise she was contemplating. “Wow!” I said. “Tell me more!” And, thereby as they say, hangs a...
What is a Maine Windjammer?
What is a Maine Windjammer? By Ted Scull & Heidi Sarna The term windjammer applies to a commercial sailing ship with two or three masts that may be square-rigged or fore-and-aft rigged or a combination of both. Some, dating from the late 19th century, were...
What to Expect on a Maine Windjammer Cruise aboard the J. & E. Riggin — A Day-By-Day Review
Maine Windjammer Cruise aboard the J. & E. Riggin By Heidi Sarna Maine with its gorgeous forests, rocky coastline, thousands of offshore islands and harbors dotted with yachts and lobster pot buoys is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful sailing...
Windstar Summer Savings with “Windstar Week” Through May 12
sponsored Windstar Summer Savings There’s still time to save up to 45% off summer voyages of Windstar's fleet of intimate small ships, starting from $1,899 per person during Windstar Week. You’ve got two days left — book by May 12 (2022)! — to take advantage of this...
Every Type of Small Ship Cruise
Heidi & Ted, along with their team of expert travel writers, have reviewed and traveled their way around the world, seeking out the very best in small-ship cruising. We have organized our reviews in six small buckets — river & canal, sailing, micro, coastal, oceangoing and expedition small-ship cruises.
River & Canal Cruises
Micro Cruises
Coastal Cruises
Sailing Cruises
Expedition Cruises
Oceangoing Cruises
Destination … Anywhere
If you can imagine it, we’ve cruised it! With reviews, articles and destination overviews, we’ve got you covered.