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.

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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.

Windstar Summer Savings with “Windstar Week” Through May 12

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...

Awesome UnCruise Offers on Bookings Made by June 15 (2022)

Awesome UnCruise Offers on Bookings Made by June 15 (2022)

sponsored UnCruise Special Offers UnCruise has been leading small-ship cruise adventures for some 25 years, focusing on up-close encounters with the amazing wildlife and landscapes in spectacular destinations in North and South America, from Alaska to the Galapagos...

Introducing Lindblad Expeditions’ New Galápagos Ship

Introducing Lindblad Expeditions’ New Galápagos Ship

Lindblad Expeditions' New Galápagos Ship By Anne Kalosh. The former Crystal Esprit is undergoing a top-to-bottom refit to emerge as National Geographic Islander ll for Lindblad Expeditions. It will explore the Galápagos year-round. Newly reconfigured to carry 48...

SEABOURN Expeditions

SEABOURN Expeditions

Seabourn Expeditions Seabourn had at one time offered an expedition-style program in Antarctica with the 458-passenger Seabourn Quest, then truly entered the small expedition ship segment with two brand-new purpose-built expedition ships in recent years. Seabourn...

Cruise Canadian Empress & Celebrate Spring on Canada’s Rivers

Cruise Canadian Empress & Celebrate Spring on Canada’s Rivers

sponsored Cruise Canadian Empress & Save Our Canada-based QuirkyCruise reviewer Judi Cohen traveled aboard the 66-passenger Canadian Empress last summer along the scenic St Lawrence River, sampling this very special small-ship cruise. Quirky's Ted Scull has also...

UnCruise Spring Savings in Alaska — Cruise in April & May

UnCruise Spring Savings in Alaska — Cruise in April & May

sponsored UnCruise Spring Savings in Alaska Ahhh! Spring has sprung and the flora and fauna of Alaska are awakening. Perfect timing, as UnCruise's Alaska season begins April, 8! Of course, there are great reasons to visit Alaska anytime, but in the spring, there are...

Viking’s New Longships Debut — All 8 of Them!

Viking’s New Longships Debut — All 8 of Them!

Viking's New Longships Debut By Peter Knego Aaaah! Two nights in Paris for a Viking Cruises christening event was the icing on a multi-tiered gateau that finally thawed after a two year, COVID-generated freeze. I arrived at the Pont de Grenelle on March 15, a gray...

Barge Cruise Tips — Is a Barge Canal Cruise for You?

Barge Cruise Tips — Is a Barge Canal Cruise for You?

Barge Cruise Tips By Heidi, Ted, Ben & Jane Lyons. Barge cruises are often not well understood. Don't barges carry cargo? Well, originally the flat-bottomed boats were used for carrying freight, typically on canals and rivers, either under their own power or towed...

 

 

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.

North America

Southeast Asia

Caribbean Islands

Antarctica

Europe

Arctic Regions

Europe: The Mediterranean

Australia

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