Exploring the best small-ship Caribbean cruise lines

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon

CJ Travel Editor

Most modern cruise ships are massive. They’re almost floating cities that have become destinations in and of themselves, carrying as many as 5,000 passengers across Caribbean waters. But sometimes we long for a more intimate experience, a return to the feeling of sailing rather than cruising, with only a few like-minded explorers for company. Smaller ships (for the purpose of this article defined as those carrying fewer than 1,200 passengers) fit the bill, allowing us to experience the elemental pleasures of sailing as we discover ports too small to accommodate large liners. And here are some of our favorites.

Seabourn

Mark your calendars: Seabourn Odyssey’s whopping 39-day Exotic Caribbean Exploration cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale on January 24, 2016, taking its 450 passengers to 20 ports including The Grenadines, Guadeloupe, Bonaire, Tobago and Cartagena, Colombia. Now that’s a holiday present!