Best Small Ship Cruise Travel In 2022

The Best Small Ship Cruise Travel in 2022

By Heidi & Ted & the Gang

For many, 2022 was a year of travel, for getting back out there after two years at home tethered to zoom and youtube doing the virtual travel thing.

And so, our QuirkyCruise gang was especially motivated to get moving in 2022 and we’re happy to share a run-down of their small-ship cruise travels this past year. And what they have planned for 2023.

Let’s start with Heidi.

Heidi’s 3 Awesome 2022 Quirkies

“I was thrilled to enjoy three small-ship cruises in the summer and fall of 2022.

(Before that, my last quirky cruise was fall of 2021 aboard a Maine windjammer schooner — read about it here — and before that, my last pre-COVID cruise was a very memorable Kerala, India, backwaters adventure in Oct 2019 with Far Horizon Tours. Read that review here.)

This past August, I was fortunate to take a simply wonderful barge cruise in Burgundy, France aboard the 12-pax Luciole to celebrate a dear friend’s 50th birthday. I absolutely loved it.

Read my Luciole barge cruise review here.

Best Small Ship Cruise Travel include the Luciole

Heidi with one of the Luciole’s cycles. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Then, right after the birthday barge, my husband and I hopped aboard the 156-pax AMA Stella round-trip from Amsterdam, cruising the rivers and waterways of the Netherlands and Belgium. We really appreciated AMA Waterways’ focus on fitness and wellness, enjoying daily guided bicycle rides (sometimes twice a day) through the countryside, towns and cities of the Netherlands and Belgium, along their famous network of cycle paths.

My review of this river cruise coming to QuirkyCruise soon. (And here’s a bit about it in a story I wrote for Travel Weekly.)

one of the best small ship cruises in 2022 was cycling in Netherlands

One of the great guided cycle rides on my AMA Stella cruise round-trip from Amsterdam. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Then most recently, in November, I went domestic, spending a week on the 417-pax American Queen (slightly over our QuirkyCruise limit of 300 pax, but we do make exceptions from time to time!) from Chattanooga to Nashville, mostly on theTennessee River.

It was a wonderful and truly quirky ramble along this tributary of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, rich in scenic landscape and soul-stirring sunsets. And even snow at one point!

Snow on the Tennessee River in early November aboard the American Queen. * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Each day we stopped at a small town or city, from Paducah Kentucky to Decatur, Alabama, enjoying the architecture and history of interesting places I might otherwise have never had reason to explore.

Further, the extensive live entertainment was enjoyable and the overall old-timey vibe was priceless. My review of this river cruise coming to QuirkyCruise soon. (In the meantime, here are some of Ted’s musings on this very special river boat.)

Heidi’s plans for Quirky Cruises in 2023

“For early 2023, I’ve got an awesome Upper Mekong River cruise planned in Laos with a company I just discovered called Cruise Mekong. It’ll be a 10-night ramble from Vientiane in Laos upstream to Chiang Rai, on the border with Thailand. I’m VERY excited to do this one!

Later in the year, I’m planning on another river cruise in Europe, probably on Portugal’s Douro, and some sailing in the Caribbean.

Stay tuned!”

Here are story links to some of Heidi’s best small ship cruise travel in 2022

Heidi enjoying the J&E Riggin windjammer in Maine best cruise

Heidi enjoying the J&E Riggin windjammer in Maine. * Photo: Chrissy Colon

Subscribe to our monthly small ship cruise email

Subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly curated newsletters highlighting our top small cruise ship reviews, round-ups & offers!

Ted Crosses the Atlantic in 2022 (as a Lecturer on the QM2)

“What’s the big deal about that? Well, I would not likely be writing about quirky cruises if I had not had a first sea experience crossing from New York to England at the impressionable age of 17.

The bug of sea travel paired nicely with my annual summer travels to and from Nantucket aboard a pair of classic steamboats.

Ted as a child in Nantucket. * Photo: Ted Scull

That continued for years. I was drawn to Europe for higher education degrees, and I often got there on a ship.

Once a teaching career got started, I had the summers to travel, and I often continued to cross by sea and more often on local ship services throughout Europe, some of them with the ingredients of a cruise when there were multiple ports to visit en route to the final destination.

This is where small-ship travel merged into a cruise, one-way, or round trip. The Hurtigruten, which I have written about, falls into this category.

Then writing about cruises for the travel industry and newspaper travel sections and lecturing aboard ships from the small fries of American Cruise Lines to the mighty Cunarders, Queen Elizabeth 2 and now Queen Mary 2.

Best Small Ship Cruise Travel includes Ted Scull

Ted has lectured on cruise ships small and large for years. * Photo: Ted Scull

The hiatus of more than two years of being landlocked due to the arrival of COVID suddenly came to an end this past October when I resumed the lecture trail from Southampton to New York. Loving every minute of it, I am ready to return to writing about small ships I have traveled aboard.

While my number one job is trying to keep the Quirky Cruise small-ship reviews up-to-date, I can also wax on about decades of experience traveling the sea lanes and rivers by ship.

So, this past year I loved writing about the growth of Australia’s Murray River as a cruising experience on both historic and brand-new riverboats. In Australia I have been aboard cruise vessels, crossed the river by vehicle ferry, and driven along a parallel embankment road. The towns grew up because the navigable river offered a relatively inexpensive way to move cargo, and the gold strikes in the state of Victoria created prosperity both along the river and inland.

For another story in 2022, I drew on my experiences of some of the world’s roughest seas, and unless you are a thrill seeker, you want to know when not to cruise in certain waters at certain months of the year.

Antarctica is one destination where the seas can be rough at any time, and the only way to be sure not to have to subject yourself to the Drake Passage is to pay a premium and fly to the continent…”

Here are links to some of Ted’s 2022 Quirky stories

Ted knows Norway! * Photo: Heidi Sarna

Anne Kalosh Communes with Nature

And here are Anne’s most memorable 2022 small-ship cruise moments

“Watching, from a Zodiac, the 200-passenger Silver Endeavour silently glide through ice chunks beside towering cliffs in Antarctica’s dramatic Lemaire Channel, where the ship was officially named, and climbing mountains of snow (on various landings) for incredible, otherworldly vistas.”

Anne Kalosh snow climbing in Neko Harbor, Antarctica. * Photo: Anne Kalosh

Quirky Cruises Anne is thinking about for 2023

I’m planning on Greenland.

Here are links to Anne’s best small ship cruise travel stories in 2022

Peter Knego Runs & Swims with the Small Guys

Peter’s most memorable 2022 small-ship cruise moments

“My most memorable quirky small-ship-cruise moment(s) in 2022 were running along the Seine before attending the gala Viking Longship naming ceremony; visiting the archaeological site of Petra for the first time on an excursion with Emerald Cruises Emerald Azzurra; and swimming alongside Star Clipper’s anchored Star Clipper at Calvi, Corsica on a swelteringly hot day.”

Maritime Historian & Travel Writer Peter Knego.

QuirkyCruise contributor Peter Knego poses in the CARNIVAL CELEBRATION’s Golden Jubilee Lounge with a commemorative coin made from railings he rescued from Carnival’s first ship MARDI GRAS and the telegraph he rescued from Carnival’s second ship CARNIVALE. * Photo: Peter Knego

Peter looks forward to Quirky Cruises in 2023

“In 2023, I’m looking forward to hitting the water on more quirky cruises and sharing them here and on my YouTube channel, Peter Knego’s MidShipCinema.

Please stay tuned for more details!”

SUBSCRIBE to Peter’s awesome YouTube channel HERE.

Links to Peter’s 2022 QuirkyCruise stories

Judi Cohen’s Epic Year of Small-Ship Cruising

And here are Judi’s most memorable quirky small-ship-cruise moments in 2022

“My 2022 has been an epic year for small-ship cruising including nine cruises to Hawaii, Tahiti, the Caribbean, Great Lakes, Rideau Canal, Antarctica, New York, Halifax and Laos.

The highlights included sailing with Windstar Cruises aboard the 148-pax Wind Spirit in Tahiti and the Tuamotu Islands. It was my first Mothers’ Day without my mom. She passed away on January 16, 2022. I collected heart-shapes stones on shore and brought them home to place on her headstone, which is a custom in our religion.

The other highlight was returning to Antarctica for a third time on board Swan Hellenic’s 152-pax SH Vega. We had many laughs during our landings as it was penguin mating season! No words can adequately describe the majesty and silence of Antarctica. I can say it is one of my happiest places in the world.”

Judy & hubby in Antarctica sharing their national flag. * Photo: Judi Cohen

Judi’s Quirky Cruise plans for 2023

“In 2023, I’m looking forward to hitting the water on more quirky cruises including continuing to explore the polar regions, focusing on the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Svalbard and hopefully the Northwest Passage.”

Here are highlights of Judi’s 2022 QuirkyCruise stories

Check out “TravelingJudi’s” instagram page here.

John Roberts Sure Gets Around

Following are John’s most memorable quirky small-ship-cruise moments in 2022

“My first time on a classic sailing ship, the beautiful 178-pax Star Clipper, which I enjoyed during a week of visiting small ports in France.

Cruising on the sleek new yacht Emerald Azzurra, which carries only 100 cruisers, enjoying impeccable service and fantastic food on a cruise in Italy.”

John and his wife Colleen in Otranto, Italy, with Emerald Azzurra in the background. * Photo: John Roberts

John’s Quirky Cruises for 2023

“In 2023, I’m looking forward to hitting the water on more quirky cruises including an expedition in the Chilean fjords on Viking Octantis, plus a return to Alaska with UnCruise Adventures.”

Check out all of John’s 2022 QuirkyCruise stories

Robin McKelvie Plans More Scottish Adventures

Scotland-based Robin shares his most memorable quirky small-ship-cruise moments in 2022

“2022 brought more cruises for me at home and abroad as COVID restrictions finally came to an end and cruising became more normal again.

From the Elizabeth G and a Le Boat in Scottish waters, to a lovely canal barge cruise in Burgundy, I was grateful to be out and about on several small-ship cruises in 2022.”

Robin living the life in the hot tub aboard L’Impressionniste from European Waterways. * Photo: Robin McKelvie

Quirky Cruises Robin is planning in 2023

“I plan to savour a number of adventures in 2023, including checking out the new Lord of the Highlands on a remarkable journey that navigates the epic Caledonian Canal, as well as some of the Hebrides.

I’ll be back aboard an old fishing vessel now converted into a very intimate small-ship cruise, for Argyll Cruising. It’s under new ownership, so I’m looking forward to seeing if they keep its magic as they sail (for me) the finest sailing waters in the world — the Scottish islands.”

Check out Robin’s 2022 QuirkyCruise stories below

Dana Freeman Loves Small-Ship Cruising

Enjoy Dana’s most memorable quirky small-ship-cruise moments in 2022

“My most memorable quirky small-ship-cruise moments in 2022 were sailing in the Med this past fall on the 100-passenger Emerald Azzurra and on the 184-passenger Le Bougainville from Ponant. There is no better, or more luxurious, way then to see the small towns and ports of France and Italy than on a super-yacht!”

Writer Dana Freeman on board Emerald Azzurra. * Photo: Dana Freeman

Quirky Cruises for Dana in 2023

“In 2023, I’m looking forward to hitting the water on more quirky cruises. I will be sailing on the Scenic Eclipse in the Sea of Cortez in April.”