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Our Favorite Small Expedition Cruise Ships

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Unlike their larger counterparts, these nimble small ship cruise and expedition cruise vessels afford a closer communion with the wild, docking at secluded harbors and navigating narrower waterways where colossal cruise ships dare not tread. Onboard, the atmosphere is one of camaraderie and bespoke service, with experts providing insights that deepen the appreciation of each unique ecosystem encountered. The smaller scale not only ensures a minimal environmental footprint but also enables a more personal and immersive exploration, where every turn might reveal the silent flutter of a rare bird or the majestic leap of marine life—a truly privileged glimpse into the natural world's serene and chaotic dance. These small cruise ships have been hand picked by our Trip Planners, who have helped thousands of elated travelers plan the perfect small ship cruise and can give you unbiased advice on the best cruise for you.
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Sylvia Earle
from $9,395
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Sylvia Earle

Designed for low-impact voyages featuring a fuel-efficient Ulstein X-Bow®, reduced air emissions and light pollution, and virtual anchoring for protection of the sea floor. The ship honors the highly accomplished marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle. This ship will channel her marine-conservation ethos into a fully immersive on-board guest experience, not only in the Polar regions but in other destinations as the ship sails between the Arctic and the Antarctic.
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Greg Mortimer
from $11,995
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Greg Mortimer

With only 132 passengers on board, Greg Mortimer reimagines Arctic expedition, tropical, and European cruises for the future. Modern, comfortable, and designed with guests in mind, this ship represents a significant increase in sailing capability.
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Ultramarine
from $6,595
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Ultramarine

The Ultramarine is designed with an ice rating of 1A+, PC6, making it one of the most capable polar exploring vessels on the planet. Equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, Ultramarine offers the most robust portfolio of adventure activities in the industry, the most spacious suites in its category, breathtaking public spaces, and more outdoor wildlife viewing spaces than other expedition ships its size.
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Sea Spirit (PO)
from $5,595
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Sea Spirit

Explore polar regions in style and comfort aboard the all-suite Sea Spirit. Providing spacious accommodations for a maximum of 114 passengers, the Sea Spirit also features the maneuverability and friendly atmosphere of a small ship.
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Royal Clipper exterior
from $1,260
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Royal Clipper

The Royal Clipper is the largest full-rigged sailing ship in the world, carrying just 227 privileged guests aboard. She offers the ultimate tall ship sailing experience, balancing the grandeur, adventure, and tradition of sailing with the superb service, amenities, and accommodations of the finest modern yacht. .
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Hondius in Svalbard
from $2,750
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MV Hondius

The MV Hondius is designed to sail to the polar regions while impacting them as little as possible, accommodating 174 passengers cruising to Antarctica.
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National Geographic Resolution ship
from $13,972
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National Geographic Resolution

New in 2021, The National Geographic Resolution is a next-generation 126-passager expedition ship purpose-built for polar exploration in comfort with an extremely smooth ride even on the world's roughest, most demanding seas. National Geographic is legendary for immersive trips focusing on the ecology of the polar regions.
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Star Clipper Exterior
from $1,630
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Star Flyer

The Star Flyer is a stylish vessel designed to accommodate 170 passengers in an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. This true clipper ship reflects its proud heritage in every inch of its polished brass and gleaming brightwork. The décor of Star Flyer is reminiscent of the grand age of sail with spacious accommodations and expansive teak decks.
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from $3,680
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Le Commandant Charcot

The polar explorer ship Le Commandant Charcot travels to remote regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. This expedition ship is unique because of its revolutionary and environmentally friendly design.
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Cruise the Galapagos on the Archipell ship
from $2,325
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Archipel I

The 16-passenger twin-hulled Archipel I catamaran combines comfort and space onboard for the optimal experience on its naturalist and diving cruises of the Galapagos Islands. Ocean view cabins with air conditioning, private bathrooms, and hot water couple with various social areas, including the dining room, lounge, and sundeck.
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Plancius
from $2,450
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MV Plancius

Built in 1976 and reconstructed in 2008, the MV Plancius is fully equipped for polar expedition cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica, and accommodates 112 passengers in 54 comfortable cabins.
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Ocean Albatros
from $4,595
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Ocean Albatros

Featuring a capacity of 175 passengers, the Ocean Albatros offers a unique adventure sailing to exciting destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic, and more. Experience shore landings, excursions, lectures, and whale safaris on every expedition.
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The Ortelius
from $3,050
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Ortelius

The ice-strengthened vessel Ortelius is an excellent ship for polar expedition cruises in the Arctic and Antarctica, providing us with possibilities to adventure to remote locations such as the Ross Sea in the Antarctic and Franz Josef Land in the Arctic.
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from $5,250
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Le Bougainville

Experience a luxurious setting where the main focus is of authenticity and passion for travel. Le Bougainville is an environmentally-friendly 184-passenger ship that sails across the stunning blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, offering her guests a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy, and comfort.
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National Geographic Endurance
from $13,851
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National Geographic Endurance

Embark on an exhilarating adventure aboard the National Geographic Endurance, a marvel of maritime engineering designed specifically for year-round expeditions into the heart of the Antarctic's icy embrace. With an impressive PC5 Category A ice class rating, the highest ever achieved by a cruise ship accommodating just 126 guests, this vessel promises unparalleled access to some of the planet's most remote and pristine environments. The ship's revolutionary sloping X-bow cuts through the choppiest of seas with remarkable grace, significantly reducing onboard movement and ensuring a smoother, more comfortable voyage. This innovative design not only enhances the journey but also boosts fuel efficiency and reduces emissions, underscoring a commitment to preserving the delicate ecosystems it explores. Experience the thrill of navigating through towering icebergs and witness the untouched splendor of the Antarctic, all while enjoying the intimate, luxurious setting of the National Geographic Endurance. This is more than a cruise -- it's a gateway to epic landscapes and an intimate encounter with the wild.
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from $5,897
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National Geographic Venture

National Geographic Venture is perfectly designed to explore Alaska's Inside Passage and beyond accommodating 100 passengers and providing a new standard of comfort and style while sailing through Alaska's remote locations.
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Galapagos Legend facade
from $2,020
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Galapagos Legend

With four decks, this cruise ship is one of the biggest boats in the Galapagos, offering plenty of amenities and features onboard, but still managing to balance that with a feeling of intimacy and proximity to the natural charms of the Islands. Guests enjoy a casual atmosphere, with only the highest standards of comfort and service.
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Star Flyer/Star Clipper Exterior
from $1,930
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Star Clipper

Star Clipper is a 170-passenger vessel designed to provide a unique traveling experience unlike any other cruise vacation. Step aboard and discover a new age of sailing, where the traditions of the past are happily married to the comforts and amenities of the present day.
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1-18 of 414 Results
review score
1 hour ago
Our agent Jessica was very helpful with the whole process and always responded in a timely way to all of our questions.
K Van
review score
1 day ago
Chern was very patient snd helpful.
CaBaba
review score
2 days ago
Cruse ship was great. Fantastic food and service. Cruise itinary got changed so not what we expected, but not an major issue. Japan portion was great. Drivers/guides arranged by 80 Days were great. Hotels were mostly ok. Did not know that most hotels outside of major cities do not allow shoes to be worn in the hotel. again a minor inconvenience. Overall a great trip. Adventure Life communications were timely and much appreciated as far as changes/requests.
Peter Goff
review score
3 days ago
We were a group of three that initiated our research by independently searching for the best agency to help us in the somewhat complex experience of traveling to the Galapagos. We chose adventure life because they were the most responsive in the website provided the most comprehensive overview of the trip. Their reviews were also very good. Adventure, life splits up its booking process in two parts. First Jeff, the booking agent helped us decide which experience best suited are interests. We chose a small 14 to 16 group sized yacht. Once the booking was made with Jeff, we were handed off to Coleene, who oversaw the complex process of assembling all of the necessary documents and making sure we had everything we needed to make the trip go smoothly. The adventure, life website, then becomes your personal place of reference for all things related to your trip from door to door. It’s a lot of information to assemble, especially for three travelers, but the website makes it easy and Colleen‘s gentle reminders kept us on track. In all, from the beginning, we had four months from the time we started our research till the time we departed. We felt that was, a good amount of preparation time and don’t think it would be wise to do it in less than four months. Mostly because I think you have more options with that amount of time. There were others on our trip that took six months and more from the time they started planning. The trip itself was outstanding. We ended up on an excellent yacht (Galapagos Angel II) with a great group of guests that we were able to connect with and put together a really nice google photos album to share.
Jed
review score
1 week ago
Mary was very helpful. Quick to reply with helpful information and closure on arrangements.
Nicola Maxwell
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