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!
Crystal Cruises
Spend as long as two weeks exploring Caribbean corners on this luxury line’s two ships, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, which accommodate around a thousand guests each and feature 900+-square-foot penthouses and ocean-view bathrooms. If you’ve ever wanted to see Grand Turk, Colombia, Panama and Grand Cayman on a single cruise (practically impossible on larger lines), your ship has come in. Even better? It offers all inclusive cruises.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Although this two-ship line sails mostly in the South Pacific and Europe, it also operates a handful of 7- and 8-night Caribbean cruises aboard the 88-passenger Tere Moana, that depart from Costa Rica, St. Maarten or Panama and call at petite ports such as Anguilla, St. Barts and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.
Seadream Yacht Club
Sailing on this line’s twin 112-passenger ships, SeaDream I and SeaDream II, feels more like a jaunt on a rich friend’s private yacht than being on a cruise ship. See for yourself on Caribbean voyages that include calls at Saba, Guadeloupe, Nevis and Anegada in the British Virgin Islands, and feature champagne-and-caviar beach parties.
Silversea
It’ll cost you a pretty penny (around $4,000 per person on average) to cruise on this luxury line but you may find it worth it for butler service and a truly all-inclusive experience that includes all food, beverages, gratuities and in-port transportation in the fare. 382-passenger Silver Whisper’s October 26 11-night sailing from New York to ports including Bermuda, St. Barts and Bequia has already caught our eye.
Star Clippers
Marrying traditional maritime heritage with modern amenities, this trio of multi-sailed tall ships (none carrying more than 227 passengers) visits less-trammeled ports such as Nevis, the British Virgin Islands, St. Barts and Guadeloupe.
Windstar Cruises
Carrying a maximum of only 310 passengers, Windstar Cruises’ fleet of yachts (including Wind Surf, the world’s largest) visits smaller ports such asSt Maarten, Antigua, Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda and St Barth. Their Island Experiences, on-island events and excursions which give guests the feeling of being on their own private island, are a welcome (and complimentary) perk.