When size does matter Cruise Ships between 500 to 1,500 passengers.
The Ships we are looking at today are smaller ships, they will cruise both oceans and seas. Unlike the Mega cruise ships, these ships can get into smaller ports and sail to some very unique locations. Some of these ships are luxurious, some are for adventures and all cater to different audiences and look for cruisers who are looking for a different experience than the Large cruise ships.
Fodors guide for the different ships. The ports the large ships go to are usually glorified duty-free shops which get inundated with 3 to 5 large ships a day. The smaller ships will port at different ports than the large ships and give a different view of the locations. Most midsize ships will port in a city center closer to (walking distance) the main tourist areas.
For all the Cruises (large and small) the world is your Oyster. Sailing in the 7 Seas and the 5 Oceans. From the Arctic Ocean to the Antarctic you can get anywhere. The other class of ships I’ll talk about next are the river cruises. These are not classed for oceans or seas.
For small and medium-sized ships there will be brands you have heard of like Viking, Princess, and Norweigan. Then there are dozens of others that your travel advisor (me) can tell you about. These brands include Azamara, Atlas, Oceania, Crystal, Regent 7 Seas, Hurtigruten, Silver Seas, and many more. Today I will visit Azamara and Hurtigruten for my examples and show some of the other brands and talk about what each has to offer, the similarities and differences.
About the ships.
These smaller ships will have one pool, workout area, theater, and multiple restaurants. The attention to detail in the restaurants is amazing and you will find the dining to be at an elevated level. There are many more inclusions with these ships and also a higher initial price to enter. Many will include a shore excursion in each port. They will also include wine and beer at mealtime and a hosted cocktail hour. Some will include some type of open bar all day. Depending on the Brand all excursions may be included or all beverages or both. Deciding on which cruise line to take will depend on what you most like to do.
On my Azamara Journey cruise to the Greek Islands, we started in Athens with our Covid test and welcome. Once onboard, we got a glass of prosecco and a safety briefing. For a standard stateroom, Azamara offers a limited open bar 2 included restaurants, laundry, and other assorted items. There are 2 restaurants that have a $25 up charge and dinner at the captain’s table that is $99 per person. You have the ability to upgrade both the drink and wine package and if you receive an onboard credit that would be a place to spend it. I found the included drink package better than adequate (your mileage may vary). We did purchase a bottle of wine with some dinners they were reasonably priced.
We enjoyed all of the restaurants onboard, Discoveries is the (included) seated dinner which had a standard restaurant menu, Steak, Seafood, and pasta. It was a lovely evening, but it would be a mistake to miss the 2 specialty restaurants Aquilina and Prime C. Discovery was wonderful the other 2 were brilliant. Prime C is Steak and Seafood, Aquilina was inspired Italian cooking. Depending on the Cruise line the Specialty restaurants may be included or have an extra fee it is worthwhile to check them out, There was also a small pool restaurant that served some of the most amazing food if you asked to see the dinner menu, not the pool menu. These kinds of tips and secrets make cruising so much more fun.
On the Ship what to do.
We had a Standard stateroom with a balcony. 168 sqft. There was more than enough room for the 2 of us and lots of storage space. in the room was a sitting area with a table and then out to the balcony. What was nice was there was a curtain between the bed and the sitting room so if someone stayed up late or got up early you could read or have a coffee while your partner sleeps. The ship itself had more than enough to keep us occupied, the pool and the lounges on the Agean were beautiful spots to spend some time. The gym was well appointed as was the spa. with experiencing other ships in this class, room size may vary by + or – 30 square feet. The Suites will of course be much bigger. The bed and pillows were extremely comfortable. This ship holds 690 passengers on our cruise the number was closer to 300. Even with a full passenger load, you would not have to wait in line for anything. Moving around the ship is quick and easy and the planned activities were fun.
Off the ship: Excursions
Azamara does not include any excursions with your cruise. They do have extraordinary excursions. Usually less than 20 in a group, well-vetted tour companies, and great transportation. Crystal and Silversea’s include all the excursions, some cruise lines even include toys (bikes, scooters, water toys, and more). I can create a spreadsheet for you that compares prices of add ons vs what’s included to find the best mix of value. Azamara excursions go for $45 to $120 per person. We got to see the Cave of the Apocalypse on Patmos and the Island of Spinola on Create. Fantastic tours with excellent guides.
Azamara, Sea Dreams, Crystal, and Regent 7 Sea’s are luxury lines or boutique hotels at sea. There is also a class of Small Ships that are for Exploration. That does not mean there is no Luxe life but you will go places none of your friends have. Hurtigruten Cruise line. Silver Seas and Lindblad will take you to both polls, and the Galápagos Islands. These lines have Zodiac boats, famous naturalists on board, and many special features including ice-cutting hulls that will give you the adventure of a lifetime. These Cruises are once-in-a-lifetime chances to see some of the most amazing sights in the world. Imagine walking on land in Antarctica or following Darwin in the Galápagos Islands.
Up next River Cruising. Don’t forget to use me as your cruise advisor.
