The 10 Smallest Cruise Ships in the World

In recent years, we have become accustomed to seeing bigger and bigger ships. Especially Royal Caribbean and Carnival are focusing more and more on massive size, and small cruise ships are disappearing from the market.

Luckily, there are still a few ships that are surprisingly small. Some can carry a few hundred passengers, while others only a few dozen!

These tiny ships definitely deliver a different kind of experience, more intimate and personal, but still guarantee the cruise experience we know and love.

Before we see the list, let me just clarify that, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “cruise” is a voyage with an itinerary that touches at a series of ports. That’s the key difference from ferries or yachts, which are something entirely different.

10. Hebridean Princess

• Passengers: 48
• Crew Members: 38
• Gross Tonnage: 2,112
• Length: 71 m
• Year Built: 1964

Coming in at number 10 on the list of the world’s smallest cruise ships is the Hebridean Princess from Hebridean Island Cruises.

It’s one of the world’s most intimate luxury cruise ships with an exceptional crew-to-guest ratio. Only 48 guests served by 38 crew members.

One fascinating fact is that the ship was chartered several times by Queen Elizabeth II for family holidays in Scotland. Today, it offers itineraries that explore the Scottish Highlands, showcasing breathtaking natural landscapes.

9. Chichagof Dream

• Passengers: 76
• Crew Members: 30
• Gross Tonnage: 1,471
• Length: 63 m
• Year Built: 1984

If you like Alaska, Chichagof Dream could be the perfect choice for you.

This ship is managed by Alaskan Dream Cruises, can carry up to 76 guests and, thanks to its size, can really reach the remote wilderness of this beautiful part of the world.

On board, you’ll find expert guides who know everything about the local flora and fauna for a truly immersive Alaskan adventure.

8. MS Monet

• Passengers: 50
• Crew Members: 29
• Gross Tonnage: 1,453
• Length: 67 m
• Year Built: 1998

MS Monet focuses on offering intimate cruises with itineraries in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, and Aegean seas.

As you might expect, these itineraries feature stunning ports across Italy, Greece, and Spain. Unfortunately, the larger ships often struggle to access the smaller ports, so they tend to stick to more or less the same few.

On the contrary, thanks to the shallow draft and sleek profile, MS Monet can call at small ports and hidden bays that you couldn’t see any other way.

7. Le Ponant

• Passengers: 64
• Crew Members: 30
• Gross Tonnage: 1,189
• Length: 88 m
• Year Built: 1991

Le Ponant is a three-masted French luxury sailing ship operated by Compagnie du Ponant

It has 16 cabins and it’s perfect for people looking for relaxed and luxurious cruises.

A very interesting thing about this ship is that it often changes its itineraries. The most famous routes include the Greek Isles, the Seychelles, the Kimberley coast of Australia, and Antarctica.

6. National Geographic’s Sea Lion & Sea Bird

• Passengers: 62
• Crew Members: 31
• Gross Tonnage: 630
• Length: 45 m
• Year Built: 1981

National Geographic has two small twin ships. As you can expect from such a brand, they prioritize exploration above all.

Both can carry about 62 guests and have underwater cameras and hydrophones to unveil the hidden world beneath the destinations you will visit.

They’re a perfect choice for curious travelers and, of course, for travelers who love nature and the environment.

5. Aqua Mare

• Passengers: 16
• Crew Members: 16
• Gross Tonnage: 629
• Length: 49 m
• Year Built: 1998

Aqua Mare is a small cruise ship specialized in Galápagos itineraries.

It can accommodate only 16 guests across seven suite cabins. Onboard, you’ll find a panoramic-view restaurant, an outdoor lounge with barbecue, and a whirlpool.

Each trip is accompanied by two naturalist guides who lead daily excursions ashore or underwater.

4. Admiralty Dream

• Passengers: 49
• Crew Members: 21
• Gross Tonnage: 540
• Length: 43 m
• Year Built: 1979

Admiralty Dream is the smallest ship of Alaskan Dream Cruises.

Obviously, this ship specializes in Alaska itineraries and, as you can see from the pic above, it has its own tender to reach even the most remote and inaccessible places.

It’s perfect for travelers who are really looking for remote wilderness and want to explore places with pristine nature.

3. MS Panorama II

• Passengers: 49
• Crew Members: 16–18
• Gross Tonnage: 498
• Length: 36 m
• Year Built: 2004

For a delightfully retro vibe, the motor-sailor MS Panorama II blends engine power with the romance of sail.

It’s operated by Variety Cruises and explores primarily French Polynesia, but it also offers itineraries on the Mediterranean and Caribbean coasts, the Society Islands of Tahiti, and even East Indonesia’s archipelagos.

It can accommodate up to 49 guests and has spacious common areas, including a library and two lounges.

2. Safari Quest

• Passengers: 22
• Crew Members: 11
• Gross Tonnage: 345
• Length: 36 m
• Year Built: 1992

Second place among the world’s smallest cruise ships goes to Safari Quest!

Once again, this is a ship that focuses on itineraries in Alaska, and its compact size lets it approach narrow bays and looming glaciers that larger ships can only admire from afar.

Guests can also opt for kayaking excursions that are perfectly tailored to this small-group trip format. If you’re interested in it, most cruises depart from Juneau, Alaska’s capital.

1. Celebrity Xploration

• Passengers: 16
• Crew Members: 12
• Gross Tonnage: 320
• Length: 29 m
• Year Built: 2017

And now for the winner: Celebrity Xploration! Widely regarded as the smallest cruise ship on the planet.

Celebrity Xploration belongs to Celebrity Cruises, the famous line that falls under the Royal Caribbean umbrella.

It can carry only 16 guests in its eight cabins, bookable either individually or by families and groups.

Xploration offers all-inclusive cruises through the Galápagos Islands with a naturalist guide to reveal all the secrets of the breathtaking archipelago of volcanic islands.

Obviously, the experience is completely different from that of larger ships, but for more details, I recommend reading the article on why smaller cruise ships are better than larger ones.

In addition, since we’ve seen the smaller ones, it’s time to also see what are the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world.