Small Ship Cruising
Our Small Ship Destination cruises are comprehensive and in the main concentrate on a particular area or theme with the focus of the voyage being the itinerary and experience to be had. Our small vessels can dock in ports which larger vessels cannot access and can often moor in the centre of town which allows for more time spent exploring the destination as opposed to travelling from and to the vessel by coach. Destinations covered by our ‘small ship destination cruising’ include the Baltic, Black Sea, Japan, Mediterranean and Adriatic. Itineraries are based upon cultural themes including Art, Music and politics of the region. Onboard you will be joined by specialist guest speakers who accompany the passengers ashore with the expert local guides and also deliver talks onboard. The advantages of exploring by small ship are numerous and include small group sizes when exploring ashore, ability to access some of the world's most pristine and untouched ports, no queuing to embark or disembark the vessel and a relaxed and informal atmosphere onboard which is conducive to becoming acquainted with fellow travellers and onboard staff and learning whether it be about the wonders of nature, the culture or ancient civilisations you are visiting.
Baltic Odyssey
A voyage from Aberdeen to Stockholm aboard the MS Hebridean Sky with Guest Speaker James Naughtie
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / Skagen / Helsingor / Ronne / Gdansk / Klaipeda / Visby / Tallinn / Kotka / Mariehamn / Stockholm
Alaska's Inside Passage
An Expedition exploring the Alaskan Coast & Inside Passage aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Vancouver / British Columbia’s Inside Passage / Wrangell / Petersburg / Kupreanof Island / Endicott Arm / Tracy Arm / Chichagof Island / Hubbard Glacier / Tsaa Fjord / Kodiak Island / Homer / Katmai National Park / Seward / Seattle
Summer in Ireland
A voyage from Liverpool to Dublin around the Emerald Isle aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Liverpool / Cobh / Kinsale / Skellig Islands / Valentia Island / Galway / Aran Islands / Killybegs / Giant's Causeway / Derry / Belfast / Dublin
Svalbard Explorer
An expedition around Svalbard aboard the MV Ocean Explorer
Itinerary at a glance
- Helsinki / Longyearbyen / Spitsbergen
Wild Ireland
An in-depth discovery of Ireland’s wonders aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Dublin / Baltimore / Sherkin Island / Bere Island / Skelling Islands / Valentia Island / Galway / Cliffs of Moher / Aran Islands / Killybegs / Greencastle / Rathlin Island / Larne / Belfast / Liverpool
Baltic Renaissance
A voyage from Stockholm to Portsmouth aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Stockholm / Mariehamn / Helsinki / Tallinn / Riga / Klaipeda / Gdansk / Ronne / Nyborg / Kiel Canal / The Hague / Portsmouth
Northwest Passage - 2025 & 2026
An expedition in the Wake of Legendary Explorers aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Seattle / Seward / Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Islands / Pribilof Islands / Nome / Chukchi / Beaufort Seas / Northwest Passage / West Greenland / Kangerlussuaq
Beyond the Wild Atlantic Way
A voyage around Ireland aboard the MS Island Sky with Guest Speaker Martin Sixsmith
Itinerary at a glance
- Liverpool / Dublin / Warrenpoint / Belfast / Giant’s Causeway & Derry / Killybegs / Galway / Cliffs of Moher / Skellig Islands / Bere Island / Cape Clear Island / Mizen Head / Kinsale / Waterford / Kilkenny / Portsmouth
Expedition Svalbard
An Arctic Adventure aboard the 50-passenger MS Quest with Guest Speaker Mattias Klum
Itinerary at a glance
- Longyearbyen / Kongsfjorden / Liefdefjorden / Krossfjorden / Hornsund
Best of British
A Circumnavigation of the United Kingdom aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Tresco / St Agnes / Fishguard / St Davids / Peel / Derry / Giant’s Causeway / St Kilda / Scrabster / Unst / Lerwick / Montrose / Lindisfarne / Alnwick Castle / Whitby / Ipswich / Portsmouth
Island Life
Discover the Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
Aegean & Adriatic Odyssey
A voyage between Athens & Split aboard the MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Corinth Canal / Itea / Argostoli / Preveza / Sarande / Otranto / Lecce / Monopoli / Kotor / Dubrovnik / Korcula / Brac / Split
Whales, Dolphins & Seabirds of the Atlantic Edge
A voyage from Portsmouth to Oporto aboard the MS Hebridean Sky in association with ORCA
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Lyme bay / Dartmouth / Shelf Edge / Bay of Biscay / Canyons / Santander / Vigo / Iles des Cies / Oporto
Island Life
Discover the Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
Greenland & Beyond - 2025
An expedition along the Western Coast of Greenland to Labrador, Newfoundland & the St Lawrence River aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Zurich/ Kangerlussuaq / Western coast of Greenland / Southern Coast of Greenland / Newfoundland / Tadoussac / Baie Eternite / Cruising on the Saguenay / Quebec / Seven Locks of St Lawrence River / Passage through the Thousand Islands / Cruising on Lake Ontario / Toronto
Passage to Andalucia
A six night passage from Oporto to Malaga including a call in Morocco aboard the MS Hebridean Sky with Guest Speaker Rear Admiral John Lippiett
Itinerary at a glance
- Oporto / Coimbra / Lisbon / Alentejo / Seville / Tangiers / Malaga
Island Hopping in Dalmatia
A voyage exploring Croatia’s beautiful coast & islands aboard the Queen Eleganza
Itinerary at a glance
- Dubrovnik / Korcula / Brac / Solta / Zlarin / Telascica National Park / Mali Losinj / Ilovik / Rab / Opatjia
Island Hopping in the Aegean
Discover some of the most beautiful Greek Isles aboard the MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Folegandros / Sifnos / Syros / Fourni / Samos / Kusadasi / Patmos / Lipsi / leros / Nisyros / Symi / Rhodes
Along the Camino
A voyage from Portsmouth to Vigo aboard the MS Island Sky combined with a three night stay in Santiago de Compostela with Guest Speaker The Right Reverend Nick Baines
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / La Coruna / The English Way / Vigo / The Portuguese Way / Santiago de Compostela / The French Way
Art & History in the Mediterranean
A voyage from Malaga to Marseille aboard the MS Hebridean Sky with Guest Speaker Dr Steve Kershaw
Itinerary at a glance
- Malaga / Cartagena / Valencia / Palma de Mallorca / Valldemossa / Mahon / Tarragona / Palamos / Figueres / Empuries / Port Vendres / Aix en Provence / Avignon / Marseille
Galicia to Casablanca
A voyage around the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco aboard the MS Island Sky with Guest Speaker Major General Patrick Cordingly
Itinerary at a glance
- Vigo / Oporto / Guimaraes / Coimbra / Lisbon / Seville / Tangier / Casablanca
Istrian Coastal Odyssey - 2025
Discover the beauty of Istria & Kvarner Bay aboard the Queen Eleganza
Itinerary at a glance
Island Hopping in the Aegean
Discover some of the most beautiful Greek Isles aboard the MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Folegandros / Sifnos / Syros / Fourni / Samos / Kusadasi / Patmos / Lipsi / leros / Nisyros / Symi / Rhodes
Late Summer in the French & Italian Rivieras
A voyage between Marseille & Livorno aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Marseille / Aix en Provence / Avignon / La Seyne sur Mer / Cannes / Nice / Genoa / Portofino / La Spezia / Cinque Terre / Lucca / Livorno
Wilderness & History on the Great Lakes
A voyage from Toronto to Milwaukee aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration
Itinerary at a glance
- Toronto / Lake Ontario / Lake Erie /Windsor / Detroit River / Lake Huron / Tobermory / Parry Sound / Killarney / Sault Sainte Marie Canal / Thunder Bay / Lake Superior / Mackinac Island / Fayette / Lake Michigan / Milwaukee
Africa's Atlantic Coast
An epic voyage from Morocco to Ghana aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Casablanca / Agadir / Arrecife / Laayoune / Dakhla / Dakar / Ile de Goree / Banjul / Conakry / Freetown / Abidjan / Takoradi / Accra
Along the Adriatic Coast
A cruise from Pula to Dubrovnik aboard the Queen Eleganza
Itinerary at a glance
- Pula / Rovinj / Mali Losinj / Zadar / Sibenik / Primosten / Hvar / Korcula / Dubrovnik
Treasures of the Peloponnese & Ionian Islands
A voyage from Athens to Corfu aboard the MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Nafplio / Gythio / Monemvasia / Pylos / Olympia / Argostoli / Preveza / Corfu
Italy & Her Islands
An exploration of Italy’s islands & Corsica aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Pisa / Portoferraio / Bastia / Bonifacio / Porto Torres / Alghero / Cagliari / Palermo / Monreale / taormina / Syracuse / Noto / Valletta
Tours at a glance
| Tour Name | Departure Date | Ship | Tour Type | Itinerary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic Odyssey | 2525 JulyJul 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / Skagen / Helsingor / Ronne / Gdansk / Klaipeda / Visby / Tallinn / Kotka / Mariehamn / Stockholm
|
| Alaska's Inside Passage | 2727 JulyJul 2025 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Vancouver / British Columbia’s Inside Passage / Wrangell / Petersburg / Kupreanof Island / Endicott Arm / Tracy Arm / Chichagof Island / Hubbard Glacier / Tsaa Fjord / Kodiak Island / Homer / Katmai National Park / Seward / Seattle
|
| Summer in Ireland | 2727 JulyJul 2025 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Liverpool / Cobh / Kinsale / Skellig Islands / Valentia Island / Galway / Aran Islands / Killybegs / Giant's Causeway / Derry / Belfast / Dublin
|
| Svalbard Explorer | 303 AugustAug 2025 | Ocean Explorer | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Helsinki / Longyearbyen / Spitsbergen
|
| Wild Ireland | 505 AugustAug 2025 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Dublin / Baltimore / Sherkin Island / Bere Island / Skelling Islands / Valentia Island / Galway / Cliffs of Moher / Aran Islands / Killybegs / Greencastle / Rathlin Island / Larne / Belfast / Liverpool
|
| Baltic Renaissance | 808 AugustAug 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Stockholm / Mariehamn / Helsinki / Tallinn / Riga / Klaipeda / Gdansk / Ronne / Nyborg / Kiel Canal / The Hague / Portsmouth
|
| Northwest Passage - 2025 & 2026 | 909 AugustAug 2025 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Seattle / Seward / Alaska Peninsula / Aleutian Islands / Pribilof Islands / Nome / Chukchi / Beaufort Seas / Northwest Passage / West Greenland / Kangerlussuaq
|
| Beyond the Wild Atlantic Way | 1616 AugustAug 2025 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Liverpool / Dublin / Warrenpoint / Belfast / Giant’s Causeway & Derry / Killybegs / Galway / Cliffs of Moher / Skellig Islands / Bere Island / Cape Clear Island / Mizen Head / Kinsale / Waterford / Kilkenny / Portsmouth
|
| Expedition Svalbard | 2121 AugustAug 2025 | Quest | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Longyearbyen / Kongsfjorden / Liefdefjorden / Krossfjorden / Hornsund
|
| Best of British | 2222 AugustAug 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Tresco / St Agnes / Fishguard / St Davids / Peel / Derry / Giant’s Causeway / St Kilda / Scrabster / Unst / Lerwick / Montrose / Lindisfarne / Alnwick Castle / Whitby / Ipswich / Portsmouth
|
| Island Life | 3030 AugustAug 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
|
| Aegean & Adriatic Odyssey | 202 SeptemberSep 2025 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Corinth Canal / Itea / Argostoli / Preveza / Sarande / Otranto / Lecce / Monopoli / Kotor / Dubrovnik / Korcula / Brac / Split
|
| Whales, Dolphins & Seabirds of the Atlantic Edge | 505 SeptemberSep 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Lyme bay / Dartmouth / Shelf Edge / Bay of Biscay / Canyons / Santander / Vigo / Iles des Cies / Oporto
|
| Island Life | 606 SeptemberSep 2025 | Island Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Alderney / Herm/ Sark / Guernsey / Tresco / Bryher / St Martin’s / St Agnes / St Mary’s / Portsmouth
|
| Greenland & Beyond - 2025 | 707 SeptemberSep 2025 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Zurich/ Kangerlussuaq / Western coast of Greenland / Southern Coast of Greenland / Newfoundland / Tadoussac / Baie Eternite / Cruising on the Saguenay / Quebec / Seven Locks of St Lawrence River / Passage through the Thousand Islands / Cruising on Lake Ontario / Toronto
|
| Passage to Andalucia | 1111 SeptemberSep 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Oporto / Coimbra / Lisbon / Alentejo / Seville / Tangiers / Malaga
|
| Island Hopping in Dalmatia | 1212 SeptemberSep 2025 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Dubrovnik / Korcula / Brac / Solta / Zlarin / Telascica National Park / Mali Losinj / Ilovik / Rab / Opatjia
|
| Island Hopping in the Aegean | 1313 SeptemberSep 2025 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Folegandros / Sifnos / Syros / Fourni / Samos / Kusadasi / Patmos / Lipsi / leros / Nisyros / Symi / Rhodes
|
| Along the Camino | 1515 SeptemberSep 2025 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / La Coruna / The English Way / Vigo / The Portuguese Way / Santiago de Compostela / The French Way
|
| Art & History in the Mediterranean | 1616 SeptemberSep 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Malaga / Cartagena / Valencia / Palma de Mallorca / Valldemossa / Mahon / Tarragona / Palamos / Figueres / Empuries / Port Vendres / Aix en Provence / Avignon / Marseille
|
| Galicia to Casablanca | 1919 SeptemberSep 2025 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Vigo / Oporto / Guimaraes / Coimbra / Lisbon / Seville / Tangier / Casablanca
|
| Istrian Coastal Odyssey - 2025 | 2222 SeptemberSep 2025 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
|
| Island Hopping in the Aegean | 2323 SeptemberSep 2025 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Folegandros / Sifnos / Syros / Fourni / Samos / Kusadasi / Patmos / Lipsi / leros / Nisyros / Symi / Rhodes
|
| Late Summer in the French & Italian Rivieras | 2626 SeptemberSep 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Marseille / Aix en Provence / Avignon / La Seyne sur Mer / Cannes / Nice / Genoa / Portofino / La Spezia / Cinque Terre / Lucca / Livorno
|
| Wilderness & History on the Great Lakes | 2626 SeptemberSep 2025 | Hanseatic Inspiration / Spirit / Nature | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Toronto / Lake Ontario / Lake Erie /Windsor / Detroit River / Lake Huron / Tobermory / Parry Sound / Killarney / Sault Sainte Marie Canal / Thunder Bay / Lake Superior / Mackinac Island / Fayette / Lake Michigan / Milwaukee
|
| Africa's Atlantic Coast | 2626 SeptemberSep 2025 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Casablanca / Agadir / Arrecife / Laayoune / Dakhla / Dakar / Ile de Goree / Banjul / Conakry / Freetown / Abidjan / Takoradi / Accra
|
| Along the Adriatic Coast | 2828 SeptemberSep 2025 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Pula / Rovinj / Mali Losinj / Zadar / Sibenik / Primosten / Hvar / Korcula / Dubrovnik
|
| Treasures of the Peloponnese & Ionian Islands | 303 OctoberOct 2025 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Nafplio / Gythio / Monemvasia / Pylos / Olympia / Argostoli / Preveza / Corfu
|
| Italy & Her Islands | 505 OctoberOct 2025 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Pisa / Portoferraio / Bastia / Bonifacio / Porto Torres / Alghero / Cagliari / Palermo / Monreale / taormina / Syracuse / Noto / Valletta
|