Want to cruise but don’t want vast crowds, long queues and busy buffets?

Do you like to do something a little different and get off the beaten track and experience something unique?

If you do then your next adventure awaits…..

SMALL BOUTIQUE CRUISES

WHAT –  Small boutique style motor yacht cruises

WHERE – The best places would be the Greek Islands and Croatian islands

WHY – These smaller boats offer an intimate experience with a really personal service. As the boats are fairly small they can get into small ports and so the itineraries can be unusual. Guests will visit places the bigger ships can’t get to and the boats often moor up in cute little coves and secret locations. You can hop on and off and explore pretty whitewashed villages and have a drink overlooking cute traditional harbours. With fewer passengers, expect and really personal service, where the staff are on hand for your every need.

Some of the yachts are super luxury (Think Monte Carlo millionaires), offering sumptuous suites and fine dining.  Although some are much more casual, with a lower price tag.

GRAND SAILING SHIPS

WHAT – Ocean cruises on luxurious and traditional tall mast sailing ships.

WHERE – Mainly the Med & Caribbean but also some amazing places like Tahiti

WHY – If you like luxury and service but don’t want a large busy cruse ship then these beautiful sailing cruises could be a great option. They offer a much more intimate and relaxing experience than the bigger cruise ships. From the billowing sails & teak decks to the stylishly designed interiors and luxury spa treatments, everything about these unique cruises is about elegance and relaxation. Like the small motor yachts, these are smaller cruise ships, usually with no more than 300 guests. This means the service is exceptional and very personal and the ships can get into the smaller ports that the big cruises ships can’t.

Windstar and Star Clippers are two of the best sailing ship cruise companies. Club Med also now operate their famous All-Inclusive brand from a new ship. Choose a full  seven night cruise or try out a mini cruise for a few nights, then combine it with a hotel stay on a beautiful beach somewhere.

GULET CRUISES

WHAT –  Small traditional wooden boat cruises around Greece & Turkey

WHERE – Greek Islands & Turkeys Turquoise coast (Maldives)

WHY – We have gone smaller still with these fabulous Gulet cruises. Gulets are traditional Turkish, two or three masted sailing boats. These traditional old boats have been carefully converted to offer modern facilities for guests. Generally with around five to nine cabins, they offer a very unique cruise experience. Instead of a crowded swimming pool you can just jump of the side into the clear waters of the Med. No busy buffets here. Enjoy dinner under the stars on the open deck with your new friends. The itineraries will take you off the beaten track to small cute little ports away from the crowds and away from the bigger ports and harbours that the larger ships visit.

There are similar offerings in the Maldives. Sail on a traditional wooden Dhoni boat and visit the stunning tropical islands and enjoy some of the Worlds best snorkelling & diving.

SAFARI CRUISE

WHAT –  Amazing Safari river cruises on the Chobe river ;

WHERE –  Chobe national park, Botswana.

WHY – What better way to spot the amazing wildlife of the Chobe national park than from a luxurious riverboat. The Zambezi queen is the ultimate safari vessel. A luxurious floating boutique hotel, it oozes style and sophistication. From the balcony of your luxurious suite, the bar,  or one of the open decks you can watch the incredible vistas float by and look out for the wildlife on the banks and in the water. You can also get out on the river on a small launch, or kayaks, to get up close to the wildlife and also join a land safari through the Chobe national park, which has the biggest concentration of animals in Africa.

The cruises are only for two nights, so you will want to combine it with a Safari lodge stay and a visit to the incredible Victoria Falls. You could even add a beach extension at the end in beautiful Mauritius or Zanzibar.

KERALA BACKWATERS

WHAT – Private traditional thatched roofed river houseboats

WHERE – In rural Kerala, India.

WHY –  Relax as you meander along a vast network of canals, rivers and lakes in rural Kerala. The old wooden boats used to deliver rice but are now converted into one and two bedroom houseboats. As you drift along the backwaters, you can see and experience local life you wouldn’t normally see.  Local villagers farming the paddy fields, fishing and washing clothes in the canals. Kids splashing around in the river.

These one or two night cruises are generally combined with a larger tour of India. Maybe you can include a beach stay in Goa, a tour of the Palaces & temples of Rajasthan, or even a Tiger safari in the national parks.

AMAZON RIVER CRUISE

WHAT – Adventure and intrigue on a cruise along the Worlds largest river

WHERE – Iquitos, Peru – Amazon Jungle

WHY – No explorer’s bucket list is complete without a trip to the world’s largest rainforest. This is more than just a river cruise. This is an adventure. Cruise down the world largest river past dense jungle and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the rainforest. Jump in kayaks to explore the hidden tributaries that take you deep in the jungles. Follow your guide on a jungle trek and learn all about this fascinating place.

After a day of exploring, relax on your luxurious river boat with a glass of wine, great food and your new found friends.

Most people will combine an Amazon cruise with a longer South America tour. Why not trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, dance the night away in Rio or experience the majestic Iguassu Falls.

HALONG BAY JUNK CRUISE

WHAT – Traditional wooden junk cruise around the incredible limestone islands of Halong Bay

WHERE – Halong Bay near Hanoi in Northern Vietnam

WHY – Halong bay is a World wonder and one of the most dramatic sights in the World. Designated an Unesco World heritage site, Halong Bay should be on everyone’s bucket list. The best way to experience it is on a traditional junk boat cruise. These beautiful old wooden junks have been carefully restored and converted into comfortable tourist boats. The cruises are generally two nights and take you round the myriad of islands. Visit floating villages, kayak into caves and meet the friendly locals going about their business.

The cruises are usually for two nights, which is plenty of time to explore the bay. So this cruises would be part of a longer tour of Vietnam or South East Asia. Combine your cruise with a visit to Sapa and the hilltribes of Northern Vietnam. Visit the bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh and the floating markets of the Mekong Delta. Combine your Vietnam trip with the fascinating Angkor Wat in Cambodia or the beautiful tropical islands in Thailand.

EXPEDITION CRUISES

WHAT – Small ship adventures to remote destinations to learn about the wildlife and environment

WHERE – Norway and the Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica & Galapagos

WHY – These cruise are definitely not for everyone. Expedition cruises offer a unique travel experience, especially for those seeking adventure and discovery in remote, often inaccessible destinations. These smaller ships can get into places the bigger ones can’t. They travel to remote places and the focus is on the nature and wildlife there. Passengers have the chance to see incredible landscapes, unique ecosystems and diverse wildlife. Most voyages have resident scientist, naturalist and guides onboard to enhance the experience. Passengers will do amazing things like jump in a zodiac boat and go whale watching, go out onto the tundra in search Polar bears or take a kayak out to paddle through incredible Arctic scenery. These cruises are immersive and educational and full of bucket list encounters.

Not long ago, an expedition cruise mean sailing on an old revamped ferry, with little in the way of luxuries. Don’t worry though, these days cruise lines like Hurtigruten, Silversea and Seabourne has really luxurious ships to choose from, with all the mod-cons and lot’s of great onboard facilities and top level dining.

VIRGIN VOYAGES

WHERE – Caribbean & Med cruises

WHY – Virgin Voyages have brought a news style of cruise holiday to the market. These are the coolest cruise ships on the ocean. Gone are the large buffets and cheesy shows. Each dining area is uniquely styled, with a selection of unique cafes and restaurants to choose from. The bars are hip and cool and music pumps from the clubs by resident & big name guest DJ’s. These are contemporary lifestyle cruises that fits in with modern life. You can party by night, then hit the state of the art gym or wellness centre to make up for it the next day. Cabins are cool and carefully designed and furnished. These brand new ships are like floating designer boutique hotels on a massive scale. They are adult only cruises, so there are no screaming kids running around.

If you want a big ship but are not into traditional cruises, don’t like the idea of crowded restaurants and buffets and want to get away from kids for a while, this is the cruise line for you.

Book a fly cruise and you can add a few nights in a fun city or relaxing on a tropical beach in the Caribbean or a pretty Greek island. Or both.

Other fantastic cruises that are worth a mention – Mississippi paddle steamer, Nile cruise, Yangze River in China. These are all great and all unique bucket list experiences.

Like anything you have seen?

If you like the look of any of these cruises and want more information – Just ask Paul