Our Favorite Small Expedition Cruise Ships

The World Explorer is a polar expedition cruise ship designed to accommodate 176 passengers. The ship offers an extraordinary level of service, including abundant space for guests and multiple public areas to relax based on passengers’ individual travel styles.

The MS Amabella offers the ultimate in custom-designed luxury. This 162-passenger vessel features a combination of amenities and design details never before seen on the great waterways of Europe.

The Sea Bird, sister ship of the Sea Lion, can reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to its small size, yet it comfortably accommodates 62 guests in 31 outside cabins with windows, private facilities, and climate controls.

Board the Aqua Blu as it sails along the pristine East Indonesian Archipelago. This luxurious long-range explorer yacht can accommodate 30 guests. The vessel is additionally equipped with Quantum Zero Speed stabilizers for optimal comfort while sailing.

The Sea Cloud is a glorious and gracious luxury sailing yacht, a four-masted bark, custom built in 1931 by the business magnate E.F. Hutton for his wife the heiress, Marjorie Merriweather Post.

The National Geographic Quest is a state-of-the-art expedition ship accommodating 100 guests in 5 different categories of fully equipped cabins. It is fully stabilized for cruising unique polar passages and wonderful tropical landscapes while providing comfort and adventure in every journey.

The MS Amasonata is among the most luxurious and advanced river vessels in Europe, with occupancy for up to 164 passengers in comfortable cabins, gourmet dining, a pool, and even an exercise room.

The Paspaley Pearl by Ponant is a boutique expedition motor yacht that accommodates 30 guests, offering luxury voyages to East Indonesia, Australia's Kimberley, and Papua New Guinea. With private balconies, great dining, and knowledgeable guides, it offers a unique and eco-friendly travel experience focused on local culture.

This 40-guest vessel, with 20 outside cabins plus an owner's suite, offers an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere for experiencing the Galapagos Islands. The yacht is fully air-conditioned; all cabins are spacious and have private bathrooms.

Emerald Cruises brings our award-winning reputation and service to the world?s oceans and coastlines as we introduce Luxury yacht cruising on our brand new, innovative superyachts, custom-designed to allow unique access to the fascinating ports and harbors only small yachts can reach.

Built in 1995 using only the very best grades of ironwood, Katharina is a legendary vessel that mixes together traditional materials, shaped by highly skilled Indonesian craftsmen, with the most up-to-date technology. She accommodates up to 14 guests in six fully equipped cabins with double or twin beds.

The Safari Quest provides guests with intimate adventure experiences, comfortable staterooms and public spaces with ample room to get away from it all. Carrying 22 passengers, enjoy small ship luxury cruising at its finest.

Renovated in 2014 the the Panorama offers its guests a refitted Upper Deck cabins as well as the Main Deck cabin en suite bathrooms and Lounge. It accommodates up to 49 passengers in 25 cabins. This state-of-the-art sail cruiser offers the highest standard of accommodation.

The Tip Top IV is a steel-hulled motor yacht, built to accommodate 16 guests in comfortable cabins. The Tip Top Iv is the flagship of the Tip Top Fleet

The Cachalote Explorer is one of the Galapagos' premier motor yachts. 16 guests sail the islands in 8 stylish cabins, hiking on the Islands and snorkeling in the pristine waters of Galapagos on 6, 8 and 15-day tours of the Galapagos Islands.

Arriving in December 2020, the 120-passenger Coral Geographer will feature state-of-the-art specifications and expedition features as her sister ship, Coral Adventurer.

Silver Origin is the height of experiential travel in the Galapagos. This 100-passenger destination-specific ship offers an extraordinary voyage for extraordinary people sailing to Galapagos.

Experience the luxurious settings that Le Laperouse offers while you enjoy the authenticity and passion for travel on each itinerary. Its contemporary decor and comfortable, fully equipped suites make it the ideal small cruise ship for exploring the Arctic, Mediterranean and even the Seychelles Islands.