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.
Mumbai, the Malabar Coast & Sri Lanka
A voyage from Mumbai to Colombo aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mumbai / Goa / Mangalore / Cochin / Galle / Bundala National Park / Yala National Park / Kataragama / Colombo
Central American Odyssey
A voyage from Guatemala to Costa Rica including El Salvador & Panama aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Antigua / Puerto Quetzal / Acajutla / La Union / Palo Verde / Curu National Park / Tortuga Island / Puerto Jimenez / Golfito / Chiriqui Gulf Marine Park / Panama Canal Transit / Colon / Bocas del Toro / Puerto Limon
Passage to Phuket
A voyage from Sri Lanka to Thailand including the Andaman Islands aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Colombo / Galle / Bundala National Park / Yala National Park / Kataragama / Trincomalee / Polonnaruwa / Andaman Islands / Phuket
Passage across the Caribbean Sea
An island hopping voyage from Costa Rica to Barbados aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- San Jose / Puerto Limon / Bocas del Toro / San Blas Islands / Cartagena / Santa Marta / Curacao / Bonaire / Grenada / Barbados
Splendours of Southeast Asia
A voyage from Thailand to Vietnam including Malaysia aboard the MS Island Sky with Guest Speaker Reverend Richard Coles
Itinerary at a glance
- Phuket / Langkawi / Penang / Kuala Lumpur / Malacca / Singapore / Con Dao / Ho Chi Minh
Sailing through the Lesser Antilles & Beyond
A voyage from Barbados to French Guiana aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Barbados / Tobago / Trinidad / Georgetown / Paramaribo / Isles de Salut / Cayenne
Treasures of Vietnam
An exploration of Vietnam sailing from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong aboard the MS Island Sky with Guest Speaker Michael Buerk
Itinerary at a glance
- Ho Chi Minh City / Nha Trang / Quy Nohn / Hanoi / Ha Long Bay / Hong Kong
Island Hopping in the Canary & Cape Verde Islands
Discover the Atlantic Archipelagos aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Sao Tiago / Praia / Sao Nicolau / Porto Novo / Mindelo / La Palma / El Hierro / La Gomera / Tenerife
Islands of the East China Sea
An island hopping voyage from Hong Kong to Kobe aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Hong Kong / Taiwan / Penghu Islands / Taichung / Taipei / Hualien / Ishigaki / Amami Oshima / Yakushima / uUwajima / Uno-Ko / Kobe
Atlantic Archipelagos
Discover the Canary Islands, Madeira & the Azores aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tenerife / La Gomera / El Hierro / La Palma / Funchal / Faial / Pico / Sao Jorge / Terceira / Sao Miguel
Spring Gardens, Culture & History of Japan
A voyage from Osaka to Kanazawa including South Korea aboard the MS Island Sky in association with Botanica World Discoveries
Itinerary at a glance
- Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe / Okayama / Kurishiki / Takamatsu / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Uwajima / Nagasaki / Jeju Island / Ulsan / Shimonoseki, / Sakaiminato / Matsue / Kanazawa / Tokyo
Treasures of the Balkans
A voyage from from Split to Corfu aboard the MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Split / Mostar / Dubrovnik / Kotor / Shengjin / Durres / Vlore / Sarande / Corfu
A Week in Croatia - 2026
Explore Croatia’s majestic beauty aboard the Queen Eleganza
Itinerary at a glance
- Split / Trogir / Brac /Hvar / Korcula / Mljet / Dubrovnik
Eternal Japan & South Korea
A voyage from Kanazawa to Kobe aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tokyo / Kanazawa / Matsue / Ulsan / haeinsa/ Nagasaki / Miyanoura / Hososhima / Matsuyama / Himeji / Kobe
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
Balkan Delights
Explore Croatia’s beautiful coast & islands aboard the Queen Eleganza combined with a two night stay in Lake Bled
Itinerary at a glance
- Dubrovnik / Korcula / Opuzen / Mostar / Brac / Split / Sibenik / Krka National Park / Zadar / Rab / Opatija / Lake Bled
Bird Quest
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
Halcyon Days on Aegean Islands
A voyage between Athens & Istanbul aboard the 50-passenger MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Naxos / Chios / Skopelos / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Samothrace / Thassos / Limnos / Cannakale / Istanbul
Istrian Coastal Odyssey
Discover the beauty of Istria & Kvarner Bay aboard the Queen Eleganza
Itinerary at a glance
- Opatija / Krk / Cres / Mali Losinj / Rovinj / Porec / Groznjan / Pula
Botanical Wonders of the Canary Islands & Portugal
A voyage from Tenerife to Oporto aboard the MS Hebridean Sky in association with Botanica World Discoveries
Itinerary at a glance
- Tenerife / La Gomera / El Hierrro / La Palma / Madeira / Porto Santo / Lisbon / Figueira da Foz / Leixoes / Oporto
Bird Quest
A discovery of Britain’s seabird islands aboard the Ocean Nova
Itinerary at a glance
- Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
Timeless Japan - 2026
Discover the cultural treasures & ancient wonders of Japan including a call in South Korea aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tokyo / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Matsue / Hagi / Ulsan / Kitakyushu / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Koraku-en / Kurashiki / Takamatsu / Kumano / Mount Fuji / Yokohama / Tokyo
Istria & Beyond
Explore the Adriatic Coast aboard the Queen Eleganza combined with a two night stay in Rovinj
Itinerary at a glance
- Rovinj / Groznian / Motovun / Pula / Mali Losinj / Zadar / Sibenik / Krka Falls / Primosten / Hvar / Korcula / Dubrovnik
To the Land of Gods & Heroes
A passage around the Peloponnese combined with the islands of Kefalonia & Kythira aboard the MS Monet
Itinerary at a glance
- Athens / Aegina / Corinth / Delphi / Kefalonia / Olympia / Pylos / Gythio / Kythira / Nafplio / Athens
Timeless Japan - 2026
Discover the cultural treasures & ancient wonders of Japan including a call in South Korea aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tokyo / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Matsue / Hagi / Ulsan / Kitakyushu / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Koraku-en / Kurashiki / Takamatsu / Kumano / Mount Fuji / Yokohama / Tokyo
Island Hideaways
A six-night exploration of the Channel Islands & Isles of Scilly aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Herm / Sark /Tresco /Bryher / St Agnes / St Mary's
Circumnavigation of the United Kingdom
An exploration of the castles, gardens & historic houses of the United Kingdom aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Fowey / Isles of Scilly / Holyhead / Barrow in Furness / Belfast / Armadale / Inverie / Inverewe / Isle Martin / Scrabster / Port of Tyne / Great Yarmouth / Dover / Cowes / Portsmouth
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
Islands, Gardens & Temples of Ancient Japan
A fascinating voyage from Kanazawa to Taiwan including calls in South Korea aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Tokyo / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Matsue / Ulsan / Haeinsa / Nagasaki / Yakushima Island / Amami Oshima / Ishigaki Island / Keelung /
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
Enchanted Islands
An island hopping voyage from Portsmouth to Aberdeen aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Portsmouth / Guernsey / Isles of Scilly / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Iona / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
Passage through the Philippines
A voyage from Taiwan to Malaysia aboard the MS Island Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Taipei / Keelung / Taichung / Penghu Islands / Tainan / Batanes Islands / Vigan / Hundred Islands / Manila / Coron Island / Palawan / Sandakan / Kuala Lumpur
Coastal Croatia - 2026
A cruise from Dubrovnik to Split aboard the Queen Eleganza
Itinerary at a glance
- Dubrovnik / Mljet / Korcula / Vela Luka / Hvar / Brac / Solta / Split
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
Summer in Scotland & the Faroes
An expedition to the Shetland, Faroe, Hebridean & Orkney Islands aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Aberdeen / Fair Isle / Noss Head / Lerwick / Fetlar / Unst / Elduvik / Vagur / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis / Shiant Islands / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay / Kirkwall / Aberdeen
Tours at a glance
| Tour Name | Departure Date | Ship | Tour Type | Itinerary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai, the Malabar Coast & Sri Lanka | 1515 FebruaryFeb 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Mumbai / Goa / Mangalore / Cochin / Galle / Bundala National Park / Yala National Park / Kataragama / Colombo
|
| Central American Odyssey | 1515 FebruaryFeb 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Antigua / Puerto Quetzal / Acajutla / La Union / Palo Verde / Curu National Park / Tortuga Island / Puerto Jimenez / Golfito / Chiriqui Gulf Marine Park / Panama Canal Transit / Colon / Bocas del Toro / Puerto Limon
|
| Passage to Phuket | 2626 FebruaryFeb 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Colombo / Galle / Bundala National Park / Yala National Park / Kataragama / Trincomalee / Polonnaruwa / Andaman Islands / Phuket
|
| Passage across the Caribbean Sea | 202 MarchMar 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
San Jose / Puerto Limon / Bocas del Toro / San Blas Islands / Cartagena / Santa Marta / Curacao / Bonaire / Grenada / Barbados
|
| Splendours of Southeast Asia | 1111 MarchMar 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Phuket / Langkawi / Penang / Kuala Lumpur / Malacca / Singapore / Con Dao / Ho Chi Minh
|
| Sailing through the Lesser Antilles & Beyond | 1414 MarchMar 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Barbados / Tobago / Trinidad / Georgetown / Paramaribo / Isles de Salut / Cayenne
|
| Treasures of Vietnam | 2222 MarchMar 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Ho Chi Minh City / Nha Trang / Quy Nohn / Hanoi / Ha Long Bay / Hong Kong
|
| Island Hopping in the Canary & Cape Verde Islands | 3131 MarchMar 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Sao Tiago / Praia / Sao Nicolau / Porto Novo / Mindelo / La Palma / El Hierro / La Gomera / Tenerife
|
| Islands of the East China Sea | 202 AprilApr 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Hong Kong / Taiwan / Penghu Islands / Taichung / Taipei / Hualien / Ishigaki / Amami Oshima / Yakushima / uUwajima / Uno-Ko / Kobe
|
| Atlantic Archipelagos | 1010 AprilApr 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tenerife / La Gomera / El Hierro / La Palma / Funchal / Faial / Pico / Sao Jorge / Terceira / Sao Miguel
|
| Spring Gardens, Culture & History of Japan | 1414 AprilApr 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Osaka / Kyoto / Kobe / Okayama / Kurishiki / Takamatsu / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Uwajima / Nagasaki / Jeju Island / Ulsan / Shimonoseki, / Sakaiminato / Matsue / Kanazawa / Tokyo
|
| Treasures of the Balkans | 1717 AprilApr 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Split / Mostar / Dubrovnik / Kotor / Shengjin / Durres / Vlore / Sarande / Corfu
|
| A Week in Croatia - 2026 | 2323 AprilApr 2026 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Split / Trogir / Brac /Hvar / Korcula / Mljet / Dubrovnik
|
| Eternal Japan & South Korea | 2525 AprilApr 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tokyo / Kanazawa / Matsue / Ulsan / haeinsa/ Nagasaki / Miyanoura / Hososhima / Matsuyama / Himeji / Kobe
|
| Treasures of the Peloponnese & Ionian Islands | 2727 AprilApr 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Nafplio / Gythio / Monemvasia / Pylos / Olympia / Argostoli / Preveza / Corfu
|
| Balkan Delights | 3030 AprilApr 2026 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Dubrovnik / Korcula / Opuzen / Mostar / Brac / Split / Sibenik / Krka National Park / Zadar / Rab / Opatija / Lake Bled
|
| Bird Quest | 505 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
|
| Halcyon Days on Aegean Islands | 606 MayMay 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Naxos / Chios / Skopelos / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Samothrace / Thassos / Limnos / Cannakale / Istanbul
|
| Istrian Coastal Odyssey | 909 MayMay 2026 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Opatija / Krk / Cres / Mali Losinj / Rovinj / Porec / Groznjan / Pula
|
| Botanical Wonders of the Canary Islands & Portugal | 1414 MayMay 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tenerife / La Gomera / El Hierrro / La Palma / Madeira / Porto Santo / Lisbon / Figueira da Foz / Leixoes / Oporto
|
| Bird Quest | 1414 MayMay 2026 | Ocean Nova | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Poole / Alderney / Isles of Scilly / Skomer Island / Grassholm Island / Isle of man / Ailsa Craig / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Lunga / St Kilda / Stac Lee / Shiant Islands / Isle of Lewis / Oban
|
| Timeless Japan - 2026 | 1414 MayMay 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tokyo / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Matsue / Hagi / Ulsan / Kitakyushu / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Koraku-en / Kurashiki / Takamatsu / Kumano / Mount Fuji / Yokohama / Tokyo
|
| Istria & Beyond | 1515 MayMay 2026 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Rovinj / Groznian / Motovun / Pula / Mali Losinj / Zadar / Sibenik / Krka Falls / Primosten / Hvar / Korcula / Dubrovnik
|
| To the Land of Gods & Heroes | 2525 MayMay 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Aegina / Corinth / Delphi / Kefalonia / Olympia / Pylos / Gythio / Kythira / Nafplio / Athens
|
| Timeless Japan - 2026 | 2626 MayMay 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tokyo / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Matsue / Hagi / Ulsan / Kitakyushu / Hiroshima / Miyajima / Koraku-en / Kurashiki / Takamatsu / Kumano / Mount Fuji / Yokohama / Tokyo
|
| Island Hideaways | 2828 MayMay 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Herm / Sark /Tresco /Bryher / St Agnes / St Mary's
|
| Circumnavigation of the United Kingdom | 303 JuneJun 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Fowey / Isles of Scilly / Holyhead / Barrow in Furness / Belfast / Armadale / Inverie / Inverewe / Isle Martin / Scrabster / Port of Tyne / Great Yarmouth / Dover / Cowes / Portsmouth
|
| Island Hopping in the Aegean | 505 JuneJun 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Folegandros / Sifnos / Syros / Fourni / Samos / Kusadasi / Patmos / Lipsi / leros / Nisyros / Symi / Rhodes
|
| Islands, Gardens & Temples of Ancient Japan | 707 JuneJun 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Tokyo / Kanazawa / Kyoto / Matsue / Ulsan / Haeinsa / Nagasaki / Yakushima Island / Amami Oshima / Ishigaki Island / Keelung /
|
| Island Hopping in the Aegean | 1515 JuneJun 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Folegandros / Sifnos / Syros / Fourni / Samos / Kusadasi / Patmos / Lipsi / leros / Nisyros / Symi / Rhodes
|
| Enchanted Islands | 1717 JuneJun 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Expedition Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Portsmouth / Guernsey / Isles of Scilly / Lundy Island / Skomer Island / Rathlin Island / Staffa / Iona / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay / Lerwick / Fair Isle / Aberdeen
|
| Passage through the Philippines | 1818 JuneJun 2026 | Island Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Taipei / Keelung / Taichung / Penghu Islands / Tainan / Batanes Islands / Vigan / Hundred Islands / Manila / Coron Island / Palawan / Sandakan / Kuala Lumpur
|
| Coastal Croatia - 2026 | 2222 JuneJun 2026 | Queen Eleganza | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Dubrovnik / Mljet / Korcula / Vela Luka / Hvar / Brac / Solta / Split
|
| Aegean & Adriatic Odyssey | 2525 JuneJun 2026 | Monet | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Athens / Corinth Canal / Itea / Argostoli / Preveza / Sarande / Otranto / Lecce / Monopoli / Kotor / Dubrovnik / Korcula / Brac / Split
|
| Summer in Scotland & the Faroes | 2929 JuneJun 2026 | Hebridean Sky | Small Ship Cruising |
Itinerary at a glance
Aberdeen / Fair Isle / Noss Head / Lerwick / Fetlar / Unst / Elduvik / Vagur / Stornoway / Isle of Lewis / Shiant Islands / Canna / Loch Scavaig / St Kilda / Stac Lee / North Ronaldsay / Kirkwall / Aberdeen
|