Small ship cruises are those with a maximum capacity of 500 passengers. Some small ship adventures only carry 10 or 12 people. Traditional large cruise ships, on the other hand, can carry thousands of passengers at once. Those who prefer a more intimate travel setting and/or a focus on a few activities rather than a wide variety of them may prefer cruises on small ships.
A small ship might only have one or two exercise options, whereas a traditional ship might have five or six. On smaller cruise ships, the entertainment options are also limited. Some small ship adventures focus solely on a single sport or activity, such as deep sea diving. Small ship cruises are more likely than large ship cruises to offer intellectually stimulating activities like educational lectures on local wildlife or other natural attractions.
On small ship cruises, large musical shows and extensive casino amenities are not usually available. These areas may have limited offerings, but they are rarely as large or glamorous as those found on most regular-sized cruise ships. Many travelers prefer a small ship cruise to a large ship cruise because they want a more intimate travel experience that is relaxed but focused on all aspects of the cruising area, including the local cuisine.
On a small ship river barge cruise, for example, the focus may be on gourmet cuisine served in a relaxed setting. For meals, many small ship cruises allow passengers to sit wherever they want, whereas dining room seating on large, traditional ships is frequently assigned. On smaller ships, there are also fewer lines for buffet meals because there are fewer passengers on board. For some evening meals, many large cruise ships require formal attire, whereas most small cruise ships only require semi-formal attire.
Some small ship adventure cruises may only have a casual dress code. A good example of this is small sailing vessels. Passengers who choose these adventure cruises are looking for a more hands-on experience that is still elegant but more practical in terms of attire. On a small adventure cruise, sailing or diving equipment will be more important than fancy clothing. The trip could last anywhere from a few days to a month or more, depending on the type of small ship cruise.