Our Favorite Small Expedition Cruise Ships

Travel in comfort aboard the Petrel. Offering first-class luxury cruises, the 16-passenger motorized catamaran is outfitted with spacious cabins, a comfortable lounge, and Jacuzzi, and excellent guides with intimate knowledge of the natural history and wildlife of Galapagos.

The new 42-footer from Salona is a new brand of boat line that is a partnership between J&J Design (Seaway), based in Slovenia, and AD Boats, a shipbuilder in Croatia. This sailing boat has sharp lines, excellent design, excellent handling quality, and is a full-energy performer.

Sail away on an unforgettable Danube River cruise aboard the Avalon Passion ship, an Avalon Waterways Suite Ship making its mark with spacious suites featuring panoramic windows that transform the space into a breezy open-air balcony.

These Dahabiya Cruise ships are a type of wooden sailboat built on a steel hull and contain cabins for travelers' accommodation. It is a large and comfortable sailing boat of simple but elegant form. Relax under the sun and experience life like an Egyptian aristocrat. Pass through the green valley, villages, and off-the-beaten-path attractions.

La Pinta is a 48-passenger motor yacht designed to show you the best of the Galapagos. Featuring a modern nautical theme, La Pinta offers spacious cabins, floor-to-ceiling windows, and elegant yet relaxed public areas.

Embark on a polar adventure aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the first luxury hybrid electric icebreaker. With 123 suites featuring private balconies, Swarovski binoculars, and Riedel crystal glasses, this ship offers unparalleled luxury. Dine at Nuna for gastronomic delights or Sila for a more relaxed atmosphere. Sustainable features include a spa with the Blue Lagoon pool heated by the ship's energy system.

A new era of comfort & style to Antarctic cruises. Newly built for 2010, 'Le Boreal' is the newest all-balcony stateroom & suite vessel in Antarctica. Explore with the right balance of on-board amenities and full-fledged wilderness excitement.

Bask in the unparalleled scenery of the Danube on an Avalon View river cruise. It?s the newest Suite Ship by Avalon Waterways, offering passengers a top-notch cruise experience with award-winning Panorama Suites and masterfully designed common areas.

Experience sophisticated design, innovative sailing technology, and the finest expedition staff from aboard the comfortable and sophisticated 199-passenger L' Austral.

The MV Maritimo is a spacious, modern ship, fully air-conditioned and featuring the latest state-of-the-art equipment and amenities.

The Avalon Poetry II, launched in spring 2014, offers a delightfully intimate cruise setting along the Rhine, Main, and Danube Rivers.

The Wilderness Explorer is equipped for action, adventure, and exploration. As with her sister ?Wilderness? ships, its interior complements the outside and public and private spaces are loaded with amenities. The ship offers a main lounge that evokes the feel of a National Park Lodge or neighborhood pub, dining room, and ample space on deck for taking in the great outdoors.

The Avalon Visionary one of two new ships introduced by Avalon Waterways in spring 2012, the 128-passenger Avalon Visionary sails on the Rhine river.