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.

SCENIC

by QuirkyCruise | Europe, Cambodia, Europe, the Mediterranean, French Rivers/Canals, Germany, Greece and Greek Islands, Holland, Hungary, Ireland/Northern Ireland, Italy, Mekong River, Portugal, Russia, Ship & Line reviews, Small Ship Cruise Lines, Small Ship River & Canal Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Uncategorized, Vietnam

Scenic Cruises COVID-19 UPDATE This luxury river cruise line was founded in Australia in 1986, expanded to the UK and Canada in 2007, and to the US in 2008. Most recently Scenic has broadened from its main focus in Western Europe, to include Southeast Asia cruises....

G Adventures

by QuirkyCruise | Alaska, Amazon Basin, American and Canadian Waterways, Antarctica, Asia: South & Western Asia, Asia: Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Caribbean Islands, Croatia/Adriatic, Cruise Regions, Cuba, Ecuador, Europe, Europe, the Mediterranean, Falkland Islands, French Rivers/Canals, Galapagos, Greece and Greek Islands, India, Mekong River, Myanmar/Burma, North America, Ship & Line reviews, Small Boat Sailing Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Small Ship Cruise Lines, Small Ship Expedition Cruises — Expert Reviews & artickles, Small Ship Oceangoing Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Small Ship River & Canal Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, South America, South Georgia, Uncategorized, Vietnam, West Indies

G Adventures For more than 30 years, G Adventures has been offering affordable adventure travel around the world, including small-ship cruises (about 10-15% of their total annual business) on private yachts, catamarans and oceangoing expedition-style ships. The...

Reader Review: Safari Explorer in HAWAII (UnCruise) by Leslie S.

by QuirkyCruise | Reader Reviews, Hawaiian Islands, Pacific Ocean Islands

Safari Explorer in Hawaii. REVIEWER Leslie Shepherd from the USA. CRUISE LINE UnCruise. SHIP Safari Explorer. DESTINATION Hawaii. # OF NIGHTS 7. DEPARTURE DATE & PORTS November 2018, from Kona, Hawaii. OVERALL RATING 5 out of 5 stars (5=excellent, 4=very good,...

QuirkyCruise News: American Jazz Riverboat Arrives & Other Small-Ship Updates

by QuirkyCruise | NEWS, All Feature Articles

American Jazz Arrives & Other Small-Ship Updates By Anne Kalosh. A happy note amid the pandemic: American Jazz, the third in American Cruise Lines' modern-style riverboats, has arrived. The 190-passenger vessel is the latest to emerge from Chesapeake Shipbuilding...

“Searching for the Sea of Cortez” Cruise

by QuirkyCruise | Scuba & Snorkeling, All Feature Articles, Coastal Feature Articles, Mexico/Pacific Coast, Sea of Cortez

"Searching for the Sea of Cortez" Cruise By Elysa Leonard. When I signed up for Windstar's “Searching for the Sea of Cortez” cruise aboard the Star Legend last October, from San Diego, California to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I knew it meant white-sand beaches, crystal...

BLOUNT Small Ship Adventures (DEFUNCT)

by QuirkyCruise | Ship & Line reviews, Archived Ship & Line Reviews (Non Operational), North America, Small Ship Coastal Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Small Ship Cruise Lines

Blount Small Ship Adventures Update (Aug 2020) COVID-19 news from Blount: The line will not resume cruises in 2021 as had been expected. The line's three existing vessels now docked at the company's HQ are for sale: Grande Caribe, Grande Mariner, and Niagara Prince....

QuirkyCruise News: Magna Carta Steamship Sells Scotland’s Lord of the Glens

by QuirkyCruise | NEWS

Lord of the Glens Sold By Ted Scull. The Magna Carta Steamship Company (UK) has sold the 48-passenger Lord of the Glens to HP Shipping Ltd. It will sail in tandem with Hebridean Island Cruises’ famed 50-passenger “country hotel-style” Hebridean Princess. The firm had...

THE MAJESTIC Line Review

by QuirkyCruise | Cruise Regions, Europe, Scotland, Ship & Line reviews, Small Ship Coastal Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Small Ship Cruise Lines, Small Ship River & Canal Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Uncategorized

The Majestic Line The Majestic Line specializes in small-boat cruises in Argyll, Western Scotland and the Hebridean Isles, using two converted fishing boats and two custom-designed steel-hulled gentleman’s motor yachts. The latter have stabilizers so are used for...

EUROPEAN Waterways

by QuirkyCruise | Small Ship River & Canal Cruises — Expert Reviews & Articles, Small Ship Cruise Lines

European Waterways This provider of intimate barge cruises offers a portfolio of small-ship experiences that take travelers along historic inland waterways. European Waterways sails extensively throughout France, and features immersive itineraries in Germany,...

Q&A with Polar Expedition Cruise Expert Steve Wellmeier — Part 2

by QuirkyCruise | Q&A, Feature Articles

Expedition Cruise Expert Steve Wellmeier — Part 2 Quirky's Ted Scull continues his Q&A with polar expedition expert Steve Wellmeier, managing director for Poseidon Expeditions. QuirkyCruise: Any personal relationships enter the picture, and, if so, how did they...

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.

Ecuador Welcomes New Lindblad Galápagos Ship — National Geographic Islander II

New Lindblad Galápagos Ship by Anne Kalosh Ecuadorian officials welcomed Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Islander ll in festivities at Salinas on the mainland leading up to this small ship's entry into Galápagos service. The former Crystal Esprit was...

Tahiti Windstar Cruise Review of the Wind Spirit — Judi Finds her Paradise

French Polynesia Feels Like Paradise By Judi Cohen @TravelingJudi Struck by wanderlust while still a little nervous about venturing too far from home as the COVID pandemic lingered on, I finally decided to travel to one of the most remote and exotic paradises...

Hebridean Island Cruises Appoints its First Female Captain

First Female Captain for Hebridean Princess By Ted Scull Hebridean Island Cruises has just announced that Captain Caroline Palmer will work in tandem with Captain Richard Heaton aboard the 50-passenger Hebridean Princess, a beloved ship that has cruised in mostly...

Canal du Midi Cruise on the Charming Savannah Barge

Canal du Midi Cruise By Cynthia Heininger & Jim Feeney. "Of all the methods of traveling I have ever tried this is the pleasantest.” — Thomas Jefferson to William Short, May 21, 1787, on the Canal du Midi Spot on, Mr. Jefferson. And if you fancy being Mr....

Caledonian Canal Cruising in Beautiful Scotland on a Self-Drive Le Boat

Caledonian Canal Self-Drive Cruising By Robin McKelvie Quite simply there are few waterways in the world as dramatic and grand as Scotland’s Caledonian Canal. Indeed, the term ‘canal’ doesn’t do this epic feat of engineering justice. The Caledonian Canal is an aquatic...

2 New Small Ship Cruises in California — From American Cruise Lines & American Queen Voyages

New Small Ship Cruises in California by Anne Kalosh If you are California dreamin', take a look at new small ship cruises in California from American Cruise Lines and American Queen Voyages. Coming up soon, in October, American Queen Voyages is capping its inaugural...

The 200-pax Crystal Endeavor to become Silver Endeavour, as part of Silversea Cruises Fleet

Crystal Endeavor to Join Silversea by Anne Kalosh Expedition ship Crystal Endeavor has found a new home with Silversea Cruises, whose parent company Royal Caribbean Group paid $275 million for it. To be renamed Silver Endeavour (with a "u"), it is expected to debut in...

2 Small Ship Lines Offer Excursions to Famous Film Locations

Cruise to Famous Film Locations By Anne Kalosh. Two small-ship companies are offering extraordinary opportunities to visit famous film locations, one in the United States for "Field of Dreams" and one in Croatia for "Game of Thrones." Special Theme Excursions Offered...

AmaWaterways’ Black Heritage Cruise in France is a “Soulful Epicurean Experience”

AmaWaterways' Black Heritage Cruise By Anne Kalosh AmaWaterways has paired a cruise through the south of France with a Black heritage focus, capped by a Paris land program. This specially curated "A Soulful Epicurean Experience" is being offered in August 2023. As...

Upper Loire Valley Barge Cruise — Taking it Slow & Easy

Upper Loire Valley Barge Cruise By Dana Freeman 3/10/24 UPDATE: Barge Meanderer is not currently in operation; we hear they're looking for a buyer. Stay tuned. Reviewed April 2022 Every time I visit France, I fall in love with the country a little bit more. There are...

Luxury Barge Cruise Dining — Aboard the 6-Pax Grand Victoria

sponsored Luxury Barge Cruise Dining One of the main reasons to do a luxury barge cruise in France is to enjoy the fine dining and wines served on board. Three lovely meals a day are prepared on board in the barge’s galley by a private chef who whips up delectable...

Quirky Cruise Contributors

Heidi & Ted and their team of curious travel writers explore the far corners of the world to share their experiences & insights about small-ship cruising.

Heidi M. Sarna

So far, I’ve explored 78 countries around the world by boat, road, plane, foot, bicycle and camel. My first big journey was a six-month trip around the world back in the days when…

Theodore W. Scull

I am happiest near water, over water or better still on a conveyance moving through water. When my brother Sandy and I were deemed old enough, mother took us to Europe by ship.

Peter Knego

John Roberts

Judi Cohen

Robin McKelvie

Ben Lyons

Dana Freeman

Gene Sloan

Randy Mink

Judi Cuervo

Lynn and Cele Seldon

Elysa Leonard

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