Many people go on cruises every year. There are tons of cruise lines around the world to choose from, and the idea of having a huge ship to explore can be romantic.
Even if you book a trip that seems like it has everything you want, it can still be an overwhelming experience. That's why many avid travelers turn to small ship cruises instead.
If you've never been on a small ship cruise, it's time to check one out. Here some of the unique things you could discover.
Even if you book a trip that seems like it has everything you want, it can still be an overwhelming experience. That's why many avid travelers turn to small ship cruises instead.
If you've never been on a small ship cruise, it's time to check one out. Here some of the unique things you could discover.
Guest post by Kacey Bradley from The Drifter Collective
1. Explore More of the World
Large cruise ships always have a destination or two on the schedule for guests to explore. You may dock occasionally, but small cruise ships can give you even more time to have an adventure in a new place.
One of the biggest downsides of large cruise ships is that they can only dock in certain locations. Smaller ones can do so in almost any port.
Think about where you want to go next and see if a small cruise line can get you there. Chances are good that you'll find a ship to take you where you want to go, along with many other stops along the way.
2. Bond with Other Guests
You might be interested in meeting new people and making friends on your cruise, which is a little more intimidating when you're on a boat with thousands of others. You could take a week-long cruise and never see the same people twice.
Smaller cruise ships still give you hundreds of people to meet, but it will feel much more intimate. You'll probably see the same individuals at different cruise events, and you can even meet them online before your ship ever leaves port. It's also easier to coordinate meetups or activities.
3. Experience the Local Area
The downside of a large cruise ship is that you can sail to places but not necessarily through them. The massive size of the boat will prevent it from letting you experience the local area from the deck, but small cruise ships are different. They'll allow you to sail through more narrow areas like the Panama Canal. You'll get to experience everything around you, so you don't miss a second.
You could see the land up close and feel like you're part of the area without ever getting off the ship. Relax from any part of the more open deck and watch the world drift by.
Large cruise ships always have a destination or two on the schedule for guests to explore. You may dock occasionally, but small cruise ships can give you even more time to have an adventure in a new place.
One of the biggest downsides of large cruise ships is that they can only dock in certain locations. Smaller ones can do so in almost any port.
Think about where you want to go next and see if a small cruise line can get you there. Chances are good that you'll find a ship to take you where you want to go, along with many other stops along the way.
2. Bond with Other Guests
You might be interested in meeting new people and making friends on your cruise, which is a little more intimidating when you're on a boat with thousands of others. You could take a week-long cruise and never see the same people twice.
Smaller cruise ships still give you hundreds of people to meet, but it will feel much more intimate. You'll probably see the same individuals at different cruise events, and you can even meet them online before your ship ever leaves port. It's also easier to coordinate meetups or activities.
3. Experience the Local Area
The downside of a large cruise ship is that you can sail to places but not necessarily through them. The massive size of the boat will prevent it from letting you experience the local area from the deck, but small cruise ships are different. They'll allow you to sail through more narrow areas like the Panama Canal. You'll get to experience everything around you, so you don't miss a second.
You could see the land up close and feel like you're part of the area without ever getting off the ship. Relax from any part of the more open deck and watch the world drift by.
4. Enjoy Personalized Service
When you're on a cruise ship with thousands of other guests, there's no way the staff will be able to remember you apart from everyone else. If you'd rather enjoy more personalized service, small cruise ships are what you're looking for.
You're more likely to be addressed by your name and have food served the way you like it without ever repeating yourself. You'll feel more like you're part of a community than a guest.
5. Keep Your Favorite Features
Even though small cruise ships are technically smaller than their much larger counterparts, they'll still have all your favorite cruise features and even some new ones.
You'll be able to find game halls, spas, gyms, pools and even more aboard small cruise ships. Some may have more of certain amenities than others, depending on if they have a theme.
Research the line you're considering to see what amenities they offer and if another cruise would have the activities you enjoy most.
6. Vacation More Sustainably
People on board large cruise ships don't mean to have a negative environmental impact, but it still happens. Large amounts of waste are created, which often ends up in the ocean or polluting the environment.
Smaller cruise ships take care of this problem. The number of guests is greatly reduced, along with the waste created on each trip. Fewer guests mean ships can tailor their supplies and stock to exactly what each person will need for the journey, instead of overordering and having lots of waste left over.
Cruise ships that have fewer people on board can also have a more targeted reduction in pollution. Guests will have more access to recycling containers and will eat and drink only what they want, reducing waste.
7. Experience a New World
Small cruise ships will allow you to experience a new world in more ways than one. You get to dock in many more locations, opening new realms for exploration.
You can also celebrate how your small cruise helps the world, especially on days like World Ocean's Day. This is a day to call attention to helping the environment, specifically by cleaning up and maintaining the ocean.
When you choose a small cruise ship, you'll keep yourself from joining larger ones that contribute to the ocean's pollution. Instead, you get a more intimate, personalized experience that is more easily adaptable to green efforts.
Get What You Want
Big cruise ships offer guests many things to do, but it won't all be what you want out of your cruise experience. Instead, you can look to smaller ones for the vacation of your dreams.
Don't turn down the small ship experience. It will change the way you feel about cruises and give you the kind of adventure you're looking for.
When you're on a cruise ship with thousands of other guests, there's no way the staff will be able to remember you apart from everyone else. If you'd rather enjoy more personalized service, small cruise ships are what you're looking for.
You're more likely to be addressed by your name and have food served the way you like it without ever repeating yourself. You'll feel more like you're part of a community than a guest.
5. Keep Your Favorite Features
Even though small cruise ships are technically smaller than their much larger counterparts, they'll still have all your favorite cruise features and even some new ones.
You'll be able to find game halls, spas, gyms, pools and even more aboard small cruise ships. Some may have more of certain amenities than others, depending on if they have a theme.
Research the line you're considering to see what amenities they offer and if another cruise would have the activities you enjoy most.
6. Vacation More Sustainably
People on board large cruise ships don't mean to have a negative environmental impact, but it still happens. Large amounts of waste are created, which often ends up in the ocean or polluting the environment.
Smaller cruise ships take care of this problem. The number of guests is greatly reduced, along with the waste created on each trip. Fewer guests mean ships can tailor their supplies and stock to exactly what each person will need for the journey, instead of overordering and having lots of waste left over.
Cruise ships that have fewer people on board can also have a more targeted reduction in pollution. Guests will have more access to recycling containers and will eat and drink only what they want, reducing waste.
7. Experience a New World
Small cruise ships will allow you to experience a new world in more ways than one. You get to dock in many more locations, opening new realms for exploration.
You can also celebrate how your small cruise helps the world, especially on days like World Ocean's Day. This is a day to call attention to helping the environment, specifically by cleaning up and maintaining the ocean.
When you choose a small cruise ship, you'll keep yourself from joining larger ones that contribute to the ocean's pollution. Instead, you get a more intimate, personalized experience that is more easily adaptable to green efforts.
Get What You Want
Big cruise ships offer guests many things to do, but it won't all be what you want out of your cruise experience. Instead, you can look to smaller ones for the vacation of your dreams.
Don't turn down the small ship experience. It will change the way you feel about cruises and give you the kind of adventure you're looking for.
Author Bio:
Kacey Bradley is the blogger behind The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Along with writing for her blog, she has written for sites like U.S. News, SUCCESS, Guides for Brides, Hotel Online and more!
Follow Kacey on Twitter and subscribe to her blog to keep up with her travels and inspiring posts!