5 Reasons Small Ships are Better than Big Ships

5 Reasons Small Ships are Better than Big Ships

Why Small Ships are Better than Big Ships

by Heidi Sarna.

We’re biased here at QuirkyCruise.com. We have a passion for small-ship cruising and that’s why Ted and I hatched the site, to sing the praises of small-scale, intimate travel. No two ways about it, we just like it better and here’s why:

#1 — You’ll never have to take a number…

and wait (sometimes for hours) to get off the ship in port or at the end of the cruise. You’ll be delighted that embarking and disembarking takes just minutes.

Brahmaputra River

The Mahabaahu’s bamboo gangway. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

___________________________

#2 — You won’t need a GPS,

… compass, map or deck plan to find your cabin, the dining room, the bar or the outside decks. You’ll easily move around as though you’re a board a friend’s private yacht.

DELFIN I - Delfin Amazon Cruises

DELFIN I – top deck lounge. Delphin Amazon Cruises

___________________________

#3 — You won’t be pressured to buy extras …

like branded coffees and ice-creams, weird cellulite-reducing treatments, bingo cards, photos with pirates or drinks packages. You’ll be able to focus on the destination.

Rhine River Family Cruises

It’s a castle fest on the middle Rhine. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

___________________________

#4 — You won’t feel lost in the crowd…

you’ll feel part of an intimate community, where it’s easy to get to know the other passengers and the crew.

Quirky Island Windjammers Theme Cruises

Hanging out on deck is the thing to do; with a glass of rum in hand, all the better! * Photo: Island Windjammers

___________________________

#5 — You won’t look around when you arrive in a new port and feel a bit embarrassed…

that your ship is literally overwhelming the entire place. You’ll feel like you and your ship belong there.

Tauck Riverboats Get Larger Rooms

Tauck’s Treasures sails itineraries including Amsterdam-Budapest. * Photo: Tauck

RELATED: Small-Ship Cruising FAQs.

 

PollypaleGreen2 copy

Don’t miss great articles, reviews, news & tips about small-ship cruising, SUBSCRIBE to QuirkyCruise.com for updates and special offers! 

© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Write A Review

UnCruise Ad

UnCruise ad about Alaska

SLCL Ad

St Lawrence Cruise Lines Ad for Canada rivers

Croisi Ad

CroisiEurope ad

ACL Ad

Cruise American ACL Banner Ad

Heidi Booking Ad

QuirkyCruise Heidi Booking ad

2023 SATW Lowell Thomas QC Win

SATW Lowell Thomas Award winner

Adsense

Sign Up box

QC Sign Up Ad Sept 22

bird

Travel Without the Crowds

SATW Proud member

Adsense

About Us


Heidi and Ted HEIDI SARNA

I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip.

THEODORE W. SCULL

I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. Ships and travel are in my blood, and so is writing. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles.

More...

Our Small Ship Cruise Reviews & Articles

If you can imagine it, we’ve cruised it! With reviews, articles and destination overviews, we’ve got you covered.

12 Top Mississippi River Cruises Offered by American Cruise Lines

12 Top Mississippi River Cruises Offered by American Cruise Lines

By Jackie Sheckler Finch Cruising the mighty Mississippi and its tributaries has been my pleasure since 1976. Someone asked me once if it doesn’t get tiresome watching the river day after day. For me, definitely not. As America’s first highway, the Mississippi River...

Cycling & Europe River Cruising — A Great Combo

Cycling & Europe River Cruising — A Great Combo

Cycling & Europe River Cruising By Ralph Grizzle I am not your typical river cruiser. While no one loves river cruising more than I do, my approach is somewhat different. After more than 50 European river cruises, I’ve seen the sights and done the tours. I’m not...

Island Windjammers Packing Tips & Cruise Insights

Island Windjammers Packing Tips & Cruise Insights

Island Windjammers Packing Tips & Cruise Insights By Sarretta McCaslin My husband and I love to travel, and cruises have become a favored way to do so — we’ve been on over 25 cruises in 33 years of marriage. We appreciate being able to see many different areas or...

Small Ship Norwegian Fjords Cruises — 7 Cruise Lines to Consider

Small Ship Norwegian Fjords Cruises — 7 Cruise Lines to Consider

Small Ship Cruises to the Norwegian Fjords By Ted Scull & Heidi Sarna Updated February 2025 by Jackie Sheckler Finch The coast of Norway is long and beautiful. If you include all the shorelines of the bays, fjords, and myriad of islands — coastal Norway adds up to...

Planning Your Own Shore Excursions — Why It’s A Great Idea

Planning Your Own Shore Excursions — Why It’s A Great Idea

Planning Your Own Shore Excursions May Be Cheaper & More Tailored to Your Interests Than Booking the Cruise Lines' Tours By Judi Cuervo, with Heidi Sarna The dream of a flight with Napa Valley Balloons couldn’t have been better timed. A cruise was on the horizon,...

  • Subscribe

    Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get insider reviews, tips & deals on unusual & small-ship cruises.

  • * I would like to subscribe to the QuirkyCruise newsletters. QuirkyCruise.com will not sell your email. See PRIVACY POLICY