It may surprise you, what with the world oceans full of floating city-like mega-liners, but this is the era of the small ship.

While those massive vessels grab the media headlines, small ships have been quietly proliferating thanks to customer demand in post-pandemic, eco-conscious, crowd-averse times.

A small ship is a boutique hotel compared to the mega-ship’s resort; a private jet rather than an A380; a private tour compared to a coach tour.

If you’re put off by the stereotypes of large-ship cruising – or haven’t considered cruising at all – then downsizing is the way forward.

Small ships are generally categorised as those with a capacity of under 1000 guests, although many carry considerably fewer.

Many, but not all, are luxury. Some are expedition ships, others traditional cruise ships, some even rigged sailing ships.

Their compact size means considerably fewer dining and entertainment choices than the biggest ships, which can carry more than 6000 guests. That will be a downside to those who hanker after big shows, water slides, raucous deck parties and family-friendly pastimes.

Small ships are generally quiet and have few amenities beyond pool decks, spas, restaurants and bars and a theatre with modest entertainments. Pastimes will include lectures and classes on topics such as cookery or bridge playing.

On-board variety is modest, but small-ship cruisers are more interested in the destinations than the shipboard experience – although they offer ample opportunity to indulge in the pool flop, relax in the spa and enjoy fine dining and sociable bar hopping.

Destination-wise, small ships offer more interesting itineraries, since they’re able to access smaller ports, islands, bays and occasionally even rivers and, in the case of expedition ships, remote places you could never otherwise get to.

Small-ship itineraries more often focus on single countries or regions, and can be themed on subjects such as wellness, wine or wildlife. And where large ships often sail the same set routes, small ships alter itineraries from season to season, to offer constantly changing choices.

Repeat and younger cruise customers are driving demand for a learning and luxury focus, new itineraries, and more active, immersive and authentic shore excursions. Small ships are well-placed to satisfy them. Here are some of the best.

For high adventure... Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse II

Vital statistics Launched 2023, 168 metres, 228 guests. Sails South-East Asia, the Kimberley, Antarctica, the South Pacific and the Mediterranean in 2025. Sister ship: Scenic Eclipse I.

Tell me more This expedition ship is rated a rugged Polar Class 6 and yet is elegantly shark-like in black-and-white livery and has all the latest in seagoing chic, including a butler service for every cabin, a wellness retreat, yoga studio, salt therapy lounge, two vitality pools, many dining venues – including the requisite chef’s table, sushi bar and French fine dining – and multiple bars. Vodka martini, anyone?

Don’t miss Scenic Eclipse II ought to be booked for the next James Bond movie. Its billionaire playthings include two helicopters, a submersible with a see-through bubble-like hull, and four Seabobs or electric-powered diving scooters that propel you underwater. It also has Zodiacs, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for adventurous shore excursions in remote places.

Sail away A 24-day Antarctica’s Ross Sea cruise from Hobart to Dunedin departs January 6, 2026, and costs from $43,720 a person. See scenic.com.au

For premium cruising... Azamara’s Azamara Pursuit

Vital statistics Launched 2018, 180 metres, 702 guests. Sails Japan, South-East Asia, the Mediterranean, West Africa, South Africa and South Asia in 2025. Sister ships: Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.

Tell me more The niche between luxury small ships and budget big ships leaves cruisers looking for the Goldilocks option: where to find the small-ship experience at a mid-range price. Consider Azamara and you’re in good hands. Although cabins are compact, its ships have a luxury feel, excellent service levels and elegant, country-club style decor. Azamara Pursuit is petite enough to visit smaller ports yet large enough to have an attractive range of amenities. A strong destination focus sees it linger in ports some evenings and overnights.

Don’t miss Azamara Pursuit’s restaurants tick the expected cruise-ship standards such as Italian, grill and buffet venues, but the range and quality of the food is impressive, and gets kudos for showcasing the dishes of the regions in which it sails – and for serving proper coffees to satisfy Australians at the Mosaic Cafe. The cafe is one of many pleasant places to perch: The Den and the library-like Drawing Room are other relaxing spots.

Sail away A 21-night Western Africa cruise from Lisbon to Cape Town departs October 25, 2025, and costs from $5499 a person. See azamara.com

For a stylish expedition cruise... Ponant’s Le Soleal

Vital statistics Launched 2013, 142 metres, 264 guests. Sails the South Pacific, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand in 2025. Sister ships: L’Austral, Le Boreal and Le Lyrial.

Tell me more Expedition ships often have rugged practicality and no-nonsense decor and dining. Yet while Ponant ships have the expedition chops and outstanding expedition teams, they add impressive French flair and style. Le Soleal feels like a private yacht, with sleek, minimalist interiors by Jean-Philippe Nuel, best known for working with posh hotel brands. Plump pillows, proper espressos, L’Occitane soaps and Beaujolais wine prove that remote places don’t have to involve sacrificing comforts and treats.

Don’t miss Every night in the main dining room, perhaps the best on any ship, expedition or otherwise. Menus are overseen by legendary Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. You’ll be dining on lobster tail, beef Wellington and veal tenderloin in unctuous French sauces, followed by outrageous chocolate mousses and raspberry tarts: style with flavour at every bite.

Sail away A 16-day New Guinea Odyssey cruise from Darwin to Cairns departs September 21, 2025, and costs from $19,550 a person. See ponant.com

For wellness and wellbeing... Silversea’s Silver Nova

Vital statistics Launched 2017, 213 metres, 596 guests. Sails Japan, Alaska, South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand in 2025. Sister ship: Silver Ray. Silver Dawn, although a different ship class, also has an Otium Spa.

Tell me more This classy ship has an innovative asymmetrical layout to produce better flow, more light and more indoor-outdoor connection. The elegant pool sits to one side of the deck and has a striking, boutique-resort look that will have you feeling mighty relaxed. Dusk Bar and the Panorama Lounge are two other feel-good places. For a small ship, you’ll find a superb range of dining venues, and abundant wellness dishes featured on menus.

Don’t miss Silversea’s new Otium Spa, which was launched in 2022 and has decor and water pools inspired by ancient Rome’s bathhouses. An expansive central relaxation room is the gateway to treatment rooms in soothing blues and greens. Signature treatments last 100 minutes, well beyond the standard 60 or 80 minutes on most ships.

Sail away A 12-day Darwin to Melbourne cruise departs October 2, 2025, and costs from $10,000 a person. See silversea.com

For polar exploration... Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer

Vital statistics Launched 2019, 104 metres, 130 guests. Sails Svalbard, Iceland, the Northwest Passage, Scotland, Costa Rica and Antarctica in 2025. Sister ship: Sylvia Earle.

Tell me more Many ships sail to the Earth’s ultimate frontiers, and some offer greater luxuries and more sophisticated dining, but you can’t get more street cred than from Greg Mortimer, named after Aurora Expeditions’ founder, the legendary Aussie mountaineer and adventurer. Its stabilising bow design, technologies and expert expedition team are what you need; the ship is also roomy and comfortable, and the service delightful.

Don’t miss Twice-daily Zodiac excursions in the company of patient, safety-conscious and question-answering environmentalists, geologists and naturalists. That’s what any experience is all about in the Arctic and Antarctic, but Aurora Expeditions goes much further, offering activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing and ice camping too. And for courageous cruisers, there’s the optional “polar plunge” challenge into icy waters.

Sail away A 21-day South Georgia, Falklands & Antarctic Odyssey cruise roundtrip from Ushuaia departs October 22, 2025, and January 10 and February 28, 2026, costing from $29,756 a person. See auroraexpeditions.com.au

For culture... Viking Cruises’ Viking Star

Vital statistics Launched 2015, 227 metres, 930 guests. Sails the Mediterranean and Morocco in 2025. Sister ships: Viking Sea, Viking Sky and many others.

Tell me more Viking’s adults-only ocean ships are near clones of each other: no point in changing a layout and stylish but cosy Nordic decor that works so well. Public areas are spacious and light-filled, staterooms comfortable, the food good and happily devoid of foam and fuss. No raucous entertainment here, just a main pool, infinity pool, spa area and plenty of relaxing spaces.

Don’t miss Viking Star has the attractive looks but the brains as well: this is a ship for people keen on culture, classical music, educational lectures and Q&A sessions, and with a lively interest in the destinations they’re visiting. You won’t find a casino, but you will get the best library at sea, with reference books and intelligent novels available all over the ship.

Sail away A 15-day Cities of Antiquity cruise from Rome to Athens departs December 7, 2025, and January 28, 2026, and costs from $9595 a person. See vikingcruises.com.au

For good vibes... Seabourn Cruise Lines’ Seabourn Encore

Vital statistics Launched 2016, 210 metres, 600 guests. Sails South-East Asia, Central America and the Mediterranean in 2025. Sister ship: Seabourn Ovation.

Tell me more Some luxury ships tend towards formality and are frequented by lacquered guests with done-it-all attitudes. Not Seabourn’s ships, which offer unpretentious luxury, relaxed service and lively vibes. Guests don’t care if their hair is windblown, and are still enjoying life. Elegant sail-away cocktail parties on deck set the scene: fabulous scenery, circulating canapes and live music that has even the ship’s officers jiggling.

Don’t miss Earth & Ocean, the pool bar that becomes a laid-back evening dining venue accompanied by sea breezes and stars. Its menu is happily uncomplicated, but big on flavours from South America to Africa and Europe: fine dining without the starch. Dining is excellent everywhere on Seabourn Encore, and more relaxed in atmosphere than on many luxury vessels. Kick back and tuck in.

Sail away A 14-day Balkan Jewels & Ephesus cruise from Dubrovnik to Istanbul departs September 14, 2025, and costs from $17,989 a person. See seabourn.com

For seeing Australia... Coral Expeditions’ Coral Geographer

Vital statistics Launched 2021, 93 metres, 120 guests. Sails Indonesia, the Kimberley, Western Australia’s Coral Coast, Japan and the Philippines in 2025. Sister ship: Coral Adventurer.

Tell me more Coral Geographer is a compact, confident and sociable ship with an affable, almost all-Aussie crew. A lounge, single dining venue, two bars and a small gym are the sole facilities, but immersion in the wilderness is what counts, with Zodiacs and specially designed tenders to get you into every nook, cranny and reef.

Don’t miss No cruise line knows remote Australia better than this Australian expedition company. Coral Expeditions explores destinations as diverse as south-west Tasmania, the little-known islands of South Australia and the Coral Coast, but don’t miss the Kimberley, where Coral Expeditions has operated for more than 30 years. Apart from the in-depth knowledge, Coral Geographer has the edge on foreign-flagged ships, which are obliged to make time-wasting detours into Indonesian waters.

Sail away A 10-day Kimberley Cruise from Broome to Darwin (or reverse) has multiple departures between April and August 2025 and costs from $10,700 a person. See coralexpeditions.com

For beautiful decor... Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer

Vital statistics Launched 2015, 224 metres, 746 guests. Sails Japan, Alaska and South-East Asia in 2025. Sister ships: Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur.

Tell me more Many small ships fall into the luxury category, but none more beautifully than those of Regent. The bling is unabashed but never gaudy and delights the eye: vibrant artworks, plush sofas, superb contemporary chandeliers, extravagant vases of fresh flowers. Even the sweeping staircases are a marvel. Think Italian palazzo upgraded for the modern age.

Don’t miss It says a lot about this ship that the mere lobby that leads to the Compass Rose main dining venue might be the most gorgeous space on any ship: graciously proportioned, the floor inlaid with marble and flanked by swirling patterned carpet, side tables graced with blown-glass sculptures, and white leather armchairs inviting you to linger. And why wouldn’t you? Magnificent.

Sail away An 11-night Japan Traditions & Temples cruise roundtrip from Tokyo departs October 28, 2025, and costs from $14,330 a person. See rssc.com

For remote climes... Lindblad Expeditions’ National Geographic Orion

Vital statistics Launched 2018, 103 metres, 102 guests. Sails the South Pacific, Azores, Mediterranean, Patagonia and Antarctica in 2025.

Tell me more This much-loved ship once sailed for Australian-owned Orion Expedition Cruises and remains hard to beat, with low passenger numbers, generous cabins and deck space unusual in an expedition vessel, a terrific crew, and excellent degustation menus created by Canadian-Australian chef Serge Dansereau, formerly of the lauded Bathers’ Pavilion in Sydney.

Don’t miss Reaching into the recesses of very distant places. Orion is small, nimble and has a mere 3.8 metres of hull below the water that enables it to slip between islands and reefs and into shallow bays; Zodiacs and kayaks take you even further. You can consult experts, lecturers and the well-stocked library, and chat to officers on the bridge. A National Geographic photographer is on hand to provide tips.

Sail away A nine-day Islands of the Azores cruise round-trip from Ponta Delgada has several departures in April and May, 2026, and costs from $12,276 a person. See expeditions.com

For sophisticated dining... Oceania Cruises’ Regatta

Vital statistics Launched 2003, 181 metres, 670 guests. Sails Asia, the South Pacific and Central America in 2025. Sister ships: Nautica, Insignia and Sirena.

Tell me more Oceania’s larger ships have wider dining choices, but this premium line does an impressive job aboard its Regatta-class ships, with dining matching that of luxury lines. You’ll also enjoy the comprehensive wellness centre, several fine bars and a wonderfully old-school library. Don’t expect razzmatazz: the focus is on destination rather than shipboard entertainment.

Don’t miss The main dining room and buffet venue often fall short on cruise ships in favour of specialty restaurants, but Regatta proves both are capable of quality and sophistication. Terrace Cafe is a masterclass in what buffets should be, offering lobster, prime beef, inventive salads and top-class patisserie. Speciality venues Polo Grill and Toscana are terrific too, and even Waves Cafe on the pool deck offers superior surf-and-turf dishes and wagyu burgers.

Sail away A seven-day Tahitian Legends cruise roundtrip from Papeete departs September 5, 2025, and costs from $5010 a person. See oceaniacruises.com

For that superyacht feel… Emerald Cruises’ Emerald Azzurra

Vital statistics Launched 2022, 110 metres, 100 guests. Sails the Mediterranean and Portugal, the Caribbean and Seychelles in 2025. Sister ship: Emerald Sakara.

Tell me more This swish and intimate ship is the closest you’ll get, at a reasonable price, to feeling like a billionaire on a private yacht. Expect contemporary decor in marble and stainless steel, a spa and infrared sauna, two bars and a cafe.

Don’t miss The ship’s expansive decks, which invite you to bask in the sun and scenery in chic small ports. You’ll find decks outside La Cucina restaurant and the Observation Lounge. Waiters will serve you cocktails and chilled fruit as you flop by the infinity pool, while the spa pool, which fizzes like freshly poured champagne, is the spot to be at sunset. A marina platform facilitates swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding.

Sail away An eight-day Hidden Gems of the Croatian Riviera cruise from Dubrovnik to Venice has several departures between May and September, 2025, and costs from $9680 a person. See emeraldcruises.com.au

Five bigger cruise ships well worth boarding

Queen Anne Cunard recalls the heady 1930s era of glamour cruising: think afternoon teas, string quartets, gala evenings, and a more formal and dressier atmosphere than most cruise ships. Newest ship Queen Anne, which carries 2996 guests, has the requisite art deco finishes but is reimagined for the 21st century thanks to contemporary design elements and bolder colour tones. It has expansive spa facilities, 15 restaurants and several entertainment venues and bars. See cunard.com

Carnival Adventure Australia has a few homegrown expedition and river companies, but when it comes to regular ocean ships your best bet is Carnival Cruise Line, which home ports several vessels here, and recently absorbed P&O Cruises Australia into the brand. The former 2636-guest Pacific Adventure retains P&O favourites such as the Byron Beach Club retreat and Aussie chef Luke Mangan’s speciality restaurant Luke’s Bar & Grill. It sails year-round from Sydney. See carnival.com.au

Disney Fantasy Small ships barely cater to children, with none of the family entertainments, kids’ clubs or water slides of big ships. Keep the kids amused with Disney Cruise Line. Its ships have activities dedicated to young children, tweens and teens – and enough adult choices for some relaxing parental me-time. Disney Fantasy (4000 guests) has multiple swimming pools, an aqua park, cinema, sports facilities, deck parties and roaming Disney characters. See disneycruise.disney.go.com

Celebrity Ascent Luxury levels shrink with increasing ship size, but Celebrity Cruises will give you big-ship elbow room and a wide choice of restaurants, bars and entertainment and yet, a luxury feel, stylish decor, a wellness focus, and attentive service. The latest light-flooded, feel-good ship is 3260-guest Celebrity Ascent, which has eight main and four specialty restaurants and a magnificent two-storey, Moroccan-inspired Sunset Bar at the ship’s stern. See celebritycruises.com

Koningsdam This ship set a new benchmark in luxury levels, technology and entertainment for Holland America Line when it was launched in 2016, particularly upping its wellness offering with an adults-only spa area, and its dining, with specialty restaurants such as Tamarind (Asian) and Sel de Mer (classic French and seafood). If you’re after a great social mix, the ship has wide appeal and cabins to suit families, couples and solo travellers alike. See hollandamerica.com