Four Types of Small Ship Cruising that will win your heart
Header Photo Credit: Ama Waterways
When I say the word 'cruise' do you get excited or cringe? There seem to be two different types of people when it comes to cruising ... those who love it and those who hate it. We're hoping to introduce you to some different ways of cruising, tackle some of the misconceptions about cruising and make sure you don't miss out on some of the most awe-inspiring adventures of your life!
At Love the Way You Travel, we don't sell mass-market cruising to the busiest ports in the world. We won't put you on a 3000-person floating city on a ship, but we will put you on a 60-passenger ship for snorkelling, diving and cultural exploration in Indonesia, an adventure-filled expedition to Antarctica where you can Winter camp on the peninsula or celebrate your retirement or 50th Wedding Anniversary with a luxury river cruise!
Our passion and knowledge is with the smaller ship companies - usually 200 passengers or less. Sometimes only 30 or 40 passengers. We don't want you to miss out because you think all cruising is the same. That couldn't be further from the truth!
If the allure of unpacking once and being able to see several destinations is starting to look better and better as you seek to unwind from today's hustle, here are four types of cruising we LOVE and we think you will too!
River Cruising
This is probably the style of small-ship sailing that you are most familiar with. Most people associate river cruising with the European waterways going through iconic cities like Cologne, Vienna, Amsterdam, Budapest, Lyon, Porto and many more! Did you know that River Cruises aren't boring, lazy and for old people though?! From wine & music-themed cruises, to yoga and wellness programs on board ... from daily hiking and cycling tours to market visits and cooking classes ... there are lots of adventures to be found on these stunning, floating boutique hotels. You can make it as busy and active as you'd like, or sit back, relax and wander at your own pace. The choice is yours.
You can always see land. There's no seasickness or motion sickness on the calm rivers. The food is top-notch. You can choose from all-inclusive, or semi-inclusive river cruises. We even have access to specific sailing dates for solos only where everyone on the ship has their own room!
And, river cruising is not just in Europe! Talk to us about River Cruising the Mekong Delta in Cambodia & Vietnam, the Magdalena River in Colombia, the Amazon in Brazil or Peru and the Nile in Egypt.
Tip
The best time to book a river cruise is 12 - 18 months in advance. River cruises regularly sell out. There is no inventory left to 'sell off'. The highest value discounts and best perks are offered about 18 months out and then dwindle as the ships sell out!
Expedition Cruising
What the heck does Expedition Cruising really mean? Let us tell you because it's one of our new favourite obsessions! Expedition cruising is true adventure for those who are eager to visit places rarely touched by tourism and seek awe-inspiring experiences with nature on small ships (usually 200 passengers or less). You're off to explore places that are hard or impossible to reach by land. Your itinerary may not be set in stone because your Captain will steer the ship based on weather and ocean patterns. Be prepared to see some of the world's most incredible scenery, participate in citizen science projects with real scientists and get up close and personal with wildlife.
You don't have to be super fit or young. In fact, most expedition cruisers are 50+ and lots are in their 80's and 90's doing their bucket list trips. Having said that, for the last few years, our main clientele heading to Antarctica has been solo female travellers between the ages of 30 and 45! Surprising, isn't it?!
Mobility is important for getting on and off the zodiac boats, but staff are trained to help people with mobility and balance issues. Being fit is great for hiking or cycling in these incredible, remote areas, but a helicopter off the ship to see the sights from the sky takes no fitness at all! Sure, snorkelling in the Galapagos takes a bit of effort, but you can see sharks, penguins, seals and mantas from the zodiac too with little physical exertion.
Worried you'll be in a tiny cabin, sleeping in bunk beds with a tiny port-hole window and you can't turn a circle in the shower? Sure, you can choose that type of expedition, but one of the fastest growing segments of cruising right now is luxury expeditions where you have beautiful spacious rooms, comfy beds, balconies (depending on destination), exquisite cuisine and often, everything all included. If you've been around for a while on our newsletter, you might remember when Shari took her mom on an expedition cruise to Belize and Honduras. Read about it here.
If places like Canada's Northwest Passage, Greenland, Svalbard, Antarctica, Norway's fjords, The Galapagos, West Africa, South America, Costa Rica, Indonesia, South East Asia, remote northern Australia or closer to home, circumnavigating Newfoundland or Iceland excite you, let's talk about the real experience you can have with an expedition cruise.
Bike and Barge
Bike and Barge trips are incredibly popular in the cycling community. Mainly based on European Waterways there are guided or self-guided options where you tour each port by bike. Your accommodations on board are included, along with your bike (regular or e-bike). Cycling difficult ranges depending on the location from flat to rolling hills, from 20 - 60 kms per day. Every day you cycle through iconic European cities, along the waterways or through quaint towns.
Ships can range in size from around just 10 passengers up to 150 passengers and every level in between. They operate from approximately April through October, but because they are such small ships they sell out incredibly early.
Tips
The Netherlands and Belgium, or along the Danube are the easiest cycling routes with mainly flat tracks along the river. Great for your first cycling adventure!
We also offer bike and sail itineraries in places such as Croatia where you unpack once on your ship, but get off on a different island and explore by bike each day. How cool is that?
Sailing
While we know not everyone on our newsletter list is from Nova Scotia, many of you are and sailing is ingrained in your DNA! If you avoid cruising like the plague because you are a true sailor (or a sailor-wanna-be), we've got you!
You can sail the Mediterranean, the Greek Islands, Costa Rica, Panama Canal or Caribbean waters on board true tall-ship sailing vessels that give you an authentic sailing experience. Ranging from about 30 - 200 passengers, these small, but tall ship sailing experiences give you the opportunity to move with the ocean instead of cut through it. On board you can climb to the crows nest up in the masts, you can help raise the sails, talk to the Captain during the open bridge times or learn to tie knots with the crew. You won't find any broadway performances here, but you'll have lounge music, local performances from nearby ports and lots of fun with staff from all over the world who choose to make the seas their homes. Read about Shari's experience falling in love with Sailing here.
Tip
Don't miss sail away each night when you leave port. It's magical to see the sails raised by hand (weather permitting) and the sunsets are extra magical!
Now it's Time to Set Sail!
We hope you've learned something new and maybe, you might just think about 'cruising' a little differently going forward. We'd love to help you out with any of your small ship adventures. Contact us to set up a consultation today!
And, if you'd like to learn more about River & Expedition cruising, join us for our Luxury Travel Night in Halifax on Feb 25th, 2025! RSVP here.