{"id":12744,"date":"2013-05-15T15:19:00","date_gmt":"2013-05-15T15:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/top-eight-luxury-small-ship-cruises\/"},"modified":"2013-05-15T15:19:00","modified_gmt":"2013-05-15T15:19:00","slug":"top-eight-luxury-small-ship-cruises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/2013\/05\/top-eight-luxury-small-ship-cruises\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Eight Luxury Small Ship Cruises"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What constitutes luxury when it comes to small ship cruising?<\/p>\n

The active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations<\/a>, says luxury can mean accommodation, service and dining as well as the flexibility to shape an itinerary into a customized experience.<\/p>\n

When catering to more upmarket clientele, AdventureSmith Explorations (http:\/\/www.<\/wbr>adventuresmithexplorations.<\/wbr>com\/<\/a>) director and founder Todd Smith begins with a handpicked selection of eight of his company\u2019s small ship cruises that fall into the luxury category. Indicative of the service his company provides, Smith goes behind the scene to offer these insider\u2019s tips on the best cabins or suite accommodations on each vessel to maximize one\u2019s time and enjoyment on the water:<\/p>\n

An Alaska cruise, Discoverers Glacier Country<\/a> aboard the 22-guest Safari Quest<\/a>, offers upscale intimacy and gourmet dining along with the flexible itinerary of a private yacht charter. Insider\u2019s Tip<\/strong><\/span> – The Captain Staterooms A1-A4 have a floor to ceiling sliding glass door opening to a small balcony (rare aboard small ships and yachts).\u00a0 Smith says to book early and choose A4 or A2 for the quietest cabins on board.<\/p>\n

Costa Rica, Panama Canal & Colombia<\/a> aboard the 72-guest Variety Voyager<\/a> resembles a millionaire\u2019s mega yacht. Insiders Tip<\/strong><\/span> – While the Owners Suite and P Category suites are obvious choices for travelers seeking the finest cabins, the B Category cabins, especially on the Riviera Deck, offer a very nice cabin with view windows at a considerable value.\u00a0 Advice is to book early to secure one of two Riviera Deck B cabins that are located away from the forward stairways.<\/p>\n

An Amazon River Cruise<\/a> aboard the 24-guest Aqua<\/a> means enjoying the highest standards of modern-day luxury cruising on the Amazon. \u201cOversized suites are the largest I have ever experienced aboard a ship of this capacity, with a sitting area, king beds and a full walk in bathroom with shower.\u00a0 Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Lima\u2019s culinary stars, has created a menu that draws on both Peruvian and European influence,\u201d says Smith. Insider\u2019s Tip<\/strong><\/span> – Master Suites on the Main Deck are larger and can be adjoined which is a perfect option for families.\u00a0 Because they are raised from the water level, suites on the Second Deck offer more expansive views into the surrounding rain forest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

A Galapagos Cruise<\/a> aboard the 16-guest Athala II<\/a> offers spaciousness, stability and speed. A crew of 10 plus a bilingual naturalist guide offers a very high crew to guest ratio. Insider\u2019s Tip<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 The main deck cabins are the obvious choice for luxury travelers because they are larger and they have balconies.\u00a0 The cabins on the Upper Deck are smaller but they still offer a small sitting area, they open directly to the observation deck, they are very quiet and they can interconnect which makes them a great choice for families with kids.<\/p>\n

In Antarctica The White Continent<\/a> is a cruise aboard the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer<\/a>. \u201cLuxury in Antarctica must be balanced with access; among ships with ice-strengthened hulls that offer daily shore excursions in Antarctica, the National Geographic Explorer is the finest,\u201d says Smith. A partnership with National Geographic means traveling with the most experienced ice team available, including authors, professors, researchers and photographers. Insider\u2019s Tip <\/strong><\/span>\u2013 Only a handful of cabins aboard the National Geographic Explorer can be considered luxurious and they sell out early, sometimes up to a year in advance.\u00a0 Focus on Categories 5, 6, and 7 as these cabins offer balconies or verandas and all are located on the Upper Deck.<\/p>\n

In Asia Sailing the Mekong River: Cambodia, Vietnam, Angkor, Saigon<\/a> is aboard the 48-guest Jahan<\/a> that offers a step back in time into a distinctive British-Indian colonial themed boutique hotel.\u00a0 Built in 2011 and specifically designed for Mekong River Cruises, she is, says Smith, \u201cwithout question the finest ship on the river.\u201d\u00a0 Meals aboard Jahan are part of the exploration and offer a window in to the region with fresh, local ingredients highlighting outstanding Vietnamese and Cambodian cuisines.\u00a0 Insider\u2019s Tip <\/strong><\/span>\u2013 Limited departures mean this cruise sells out quickly.\u00a0 The two Suites and two Category 3 Cabins sell out first because they are the largest at a whopping 376 and 549 square feet respectively.<\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s Kimberly Expedition<\/a> aboard the 100-guest Orion<\/a> is, says Smith, \u201cmore mega-yacht than cruise ship. No expense has been spared.\u201d Insider\u2019s Tip <\/strong><\/span>\u2013 Luxury travelers will want to focus on the Owners Suites or the Balcony Suites on Deck 5.\u00a0 These cabins are the most spacious on board with a sitting area and floor to ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto a private French balcony (except Owners Suite 509 which does not have a balcony and is located near the stairway).<\/p>\n

Sailing the Greek Isles aboard the 58-guest Sea Cloud<\/a> combines tall-ship sailing with a highly appealing destination. Built in 1931 by E.F. Hutton for his wife Marjorie Merriweather Post, the Sea Cloud is a vessel of incomparable grace that harks back to the golden age of ship travel. Insider\u2019s Tip <\/strong><\/span>\u2013 The Owner\u2019s Suites (Category A) and Original Deluxe Cabins (Category B) feature Carrara marble, golden bath fixtures, polished teak, antique furniture, fireplaces and walk-in closets. The spacious original cabins (Category B) include artifacts collected by the Huttons from their travels. These wood-paneled rooms feature various armchairs, marble fireplaces, and antique furnishings. The remaining cabins (Category 1-4 are a mix of converted original officers cabins and additions made in the modern era.<\/p>\n

<\/a>About AdventureSmith Explorations<\/strong>
Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations<\/a> is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. In 2012, owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious 13th Annual Travel Specialists List as the world\u2019s expert on small ship expeditions. For information, availability and 2013 reservations Phone: \u00a0800-728-2875<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a> toll-free, visit www.<\/wbr>adventuresmithexplorations.com<\/a> or Email: travel@<\/wbr>AdventureSmithExplorations.com<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Follow AdventureSmith Explorations:<\/strong>
Facebook: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/<\/wbr>AdventureSmithExplorations<\/a>
Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/<\/wbr>adventuresmith<\/a>
Website: http:\/\/www.<\/wbr>adventuresmithexplorations.<\/wbr>com\/<\/a><\/span><\/span>
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What constitutes luxury when it comes to small ship cruising? The active travel company securing matches between adventure-seeking clients and a treasure trove of small expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations, says luxury can mean accommodation, service and dining as well as the flexibility to shape an itinerary into a customized experience. When catering to more upmarket […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[334],"class_list":["post-12744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-adventuresmith-explorations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12744\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/traveloscopy.com\/travel-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}