Yacht cruises around the Greek islands, Croatia and Tahiti, tall ship holidays in the Caribbean and the Med, and river cruises on the Nile, all with fewer guests than the big ships.
Since 1995 · ATOL protected
ATOL protectedLicence 9511
ABTOT memberNo. 5660Mega yacht, tall ship, river and gulet cruises, plus private charter and tailor-made holidays.
Yacht-style cruisingMega yacht cruises aboard eight small ships, carrying 34 to 72 guests.
Under sailTimeless sailing aboard Star Clipper and Sea Cloud tall ships.
Rivers of the worldRiver cruises on the Nile and in Africa.
Coastal voyagesHistoric cities, idyllic islands and crystal-clear waters along the coast.
Exclusive useAn entire vessel to yourselves: your group, your itinerary, your pace.
Your holiday, your wayCruise holidays shaped entirely around your plans, dates and preferences.
From the Greek Islands, Croatia and Italy to the Nile, West Africa, Cape Verde, the Seychelles, the Caribbean and French Polynesia — small ship cruises across some of the world's most rewarding coastlines and waterways.
All 28 cruises
Santorini, Mykonos and quieter Cycladic islands aboard the motor sailer Galileo, with two nights in Athens.
Island hopping in the Caribbean under the sails of Royal Clipper, plus seven nights in a hotel.
Seven nights among the islands of central Dalmatia on the 36-guest M/Y Futura, plus a hotel night in Trogir before you sail.
Granite islands, white-sand beaches and rare wildlife in the Seychelles aboard M/Y Pegasos.
Delos, Mykonos, Santorini, Knossos on Crete, Kythira, Nafplion and Hydra: island hopping with the great ancient sites.
Sicily and the Amalfi Coast under sail: history, culture and coastline beyond the reach of large cruise ships.
A traditional wooden gulet for just 16 guests, sailing the Turquoise Coast from Fethiye.
Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea on the 49-guest Panorama II, seven nights from Papeete.
Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Aswan by river, then Cairo, the Pyramids and the Sphinx.
Lesser-known Cycladic and Dodecanese islands, quiet beaches and traditional villages, from Athens.
Island hopping through the green islands of the Ionian Sea on M/Y Harmony G.
Epidaurus, Mycenae, Ancient Olympia, Delphi and the Mani, with a resident historian on board.
Delos, Mykonos and Patmos, then across the Aegean to ancient Ephesus.
Dalmatian island harbours and the coast of Montenegro aboard M/Y Callisto.
One way along the Dalmatian coast, island by island, from Dubrovnik’s old town to Trogir.
Between Split and Dubrovnik via Mljet, Hvar, Korčula and Makarska, full board.
Capri, Lipari, Taormina and Syracuse between Naples and Malta on the 36-cabin Variety Voyager.
Greek island hopping under full sail on a Star Clippers tall ship.
Turquoise Caribbean water and traditional sailing with modern comforts, aboard the clipper ship Star Flyer.
The Grenadines and the Lesser Antilles under sail on Sea Cloud II, with five-star service.
The classic windjammer Sea Cloud in the Caribbean, with flights and hotel included.
A longer French Polynesia cruise on Panorama II, with two nights each in Bora Bora, Huahine and Raiatea.
Fearless wildlife and volcanic islands with naturalist guides, on the 100-guest Galapagos Legend.
Seven nights on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan: temples, tombs and the Valley of the Kings.
Santiago, the volcano on Fogo and a blend of African and Portuguese culture, aboard M/Y Harmony V.
Along the Gambia River and the coast of Senegal for wildlife and village life, with a stay in Dakar.
Greek islands and historic wineries, with tastings led by experts, aboard M/S Panorama.
Corsica, Sardinia and the Riviera under sail with Star Clippers.
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Try another month or destination, or tell us what you have in mind: we often know of departures that are not on the website yet.
Book the cruise on its own, take a ready-made package with flights and hotels, or let us shape the whole holiday around your dates and preferences.
Packages built around UK flights and the cruise dates, with hotel nights before or after sailing.
Book the cruise alone and arrange your own flights, transfers and accommodation around it.
Adjust your stay, upgrade your flights or choose specific hotels — the holiday is shaped around you.
Take the whole ship for a family gathering, a group of friends or a special celebration.
Small Ship Cruise Specialists
Seafarer Cruises specialises in small ship cruises designed for travellers looking for something more distinctive than mainstream cruising.
Our collection includes mega yacht cruises, gulet cruises, river cruises and tall ship holidays across a wide range of destinations. Smaller vessels create a relaxed onboard atmosphere and allow itineraries that include smaller ports and harbours that larger cruise ships cannot easily reach.
With fewer guests on board, small ship cruises can also offer a more considered way to explore destinations, bringing a gentler presence to the ports and communities visited.
Why Choose Seafarer Cruises?
Specialists in small ship cruising since 1995, we combine personal service with carefully curated itineraries and full financial protection.
A more personal and authentic style of cruising, built on over thirty years of specialist knowledge.
Every holiday shaped around your plans — not a generic package.
Smaller vessels reach destinations often beyond the reach of large cruise ships.
Exclusive charters for couples, families, friends and private groups.
Official UK General Sales Agent for Variety Cruises boutique yacht adventures.
Full financial protection on flight-inclusive holidays. Your booking is secure.
A practical comparison of what makes the small-ship experience different.
| Traditional large-ship cruising | Small-ship cruising |
|---|---|
| Large shipsThousands of passengers | Small ships16 to 227 guests on our ships |
| Large shipsMainly major cruise ports | Small shipsSmaller harbours, bays and island villages |
| Large shipsBusy public spaces | Small shipsQuieter, more relaxed decks |
| Large shipsThe ship is the main attraction | Small shipsThe destination takes centre stage |
These are typical differences rather than guarantees. Every ship and itinerary is different, and we will always tell you honestly how one compares with another.
Rather than simply booking online, you can speak to an experienced team who can help arrange the right cruise and travel arrangements for you.
Seafarer is licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL 9511) and all air holidays we operate are ATOL protected. We are also members of ABTOT (Membership No. 5660), providing additional protection for bookings without flights.
We have been trading since 1995 — all your deposits and balance payments to us are fully financially secure.
From the Blog
Island hop around Cape Verde on a 49-guest yacht: the route, life on board M/Y Harmony V, the best time to go, and what to sort out before you fly.
Are small ship cruises worth it? See what the fare includes, the quiet islands small ships reach, and how small and large ships compare on value.
Cruise destinations for every season: Greece, Croatia and Italy for summer, Cape Verde for winter sun and French Polynesia for a once-in-a-lifetime escape.
Good to know
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most about cruising with Seafarer.
Still have a question?
Speak to our cruise team, or tell us what you have in mind and ask for a quote.
020 8324 3117 Get a quoteA small ship cruise is a holiday on board a vessel that carries tens of guests rather than thousands. The mega yachts we offer take between 34 and 72 guests, and our tall ships, Star Flyer (166 guests) and Royal Clipper (227 guests), sail under real canvas. Small ships can moor in harbours and anchor in bays that large cruise ships cannot reach, so you spend more time ashore and the atmosphere on board is relaxed and personal. Big ships vs small ships.
Around the Greek islands, Croatia and Montenegro, Italy and Malta, and Turkey; along the Nile; to West Africa and Cape Verde; and further afield to the Seychelles, the Caribbean, French Polynesia and the Galápagos. See every destination.
Holidays with return flights from the UK start from £1,675 per person Flights & hotel included, and cruise-only fares from £1,809 per person. The price depends on the cruise, the ship, your cabin and the date, and every cruise page shows its live prices and special offers. See our special offers.
Every cruise includes your cabin and your meals on board (half board or full board, depending on the cruise), with an English-speaking cruise director or crew. Our holiday packages also include return flights from the UK, transfers and hotel nights before or after the cruise. Drinks, optional excursions and crew gratuities are usually extra, and each cruise page lists exactly what is and is not included.
Yes. Most cruises can be booked as a complete holiday, with return flights from the UK, transfers and hotel nights, or as a cruise only, and we can also tailor the whole trip around your dates. Holidays with flights are protected by our ATOL licence (9511), and holidays without flights by our ABTOT membership (5660). Four ways to book your cruise.
Our Greek, Croatian and Italian cruises sail mostly from April to October 2027. The Caribbean tall ship cruises run from November 2026 to March 2027, and Cape Verde and West Africa from November 2026 to February 2027. The Seychelles, French Polynesia, the Galápagos and the Nile can be cruised all year round.
Yes. Eight of the yachts we represent can be chartered privately, for 34 to 72 guests: ideal for families, celebrations and company groups who want the yacht and the itinerary to themselves. Private charter · Meet the fleet.
Choose your cruise and departure in its price list and ask for a quote, or call our cruise team on 020 8324 3117 (Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00, Saturday 09:30 to 17:00) or email info@seafarerholidays.com. We check availability, put your holiday together and send you the details. Seafarer has been arranging cruise and sailing holidays since 1995.
Guest Reviews
4.6 out of 5 from 643 independent reviews collected by Feefo (4 November 2026).
Excellent
4.6out of 5
Based on 643 guest reviews of our service on Feefo
Feefo Platinum Trusted Service AwardFour years in a row
Before you come aboard…
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Savings on small ship cruises, plus early booking offers for 2027 in Greece and the Seychelles.
No offers match this choice right now.
Sail through French Polynesia’s enchanting islands — from iconic Bora Bora to the tranquil beauty of Taha’a and beyond.
-10% to all reservations made until 30 November 2026 for the January to June 2027 sailings, and until 31 January 2027 for the July to December 2027 sailings.
-10% on the cruise fare for all reservations made by 31 January 2027 (Classical Greece: not June or September sailings; Ionian Odyssey: not 18 and 25 June or 6 August 2027).
Every reduced date and cabin price is in the price tables on the cruise page. Subject to availability.
Every reduced date and cabin price is in the price tables on the cruise page. Subject to availability.
Every reduced date and cabin price is in the price tables on the cruise page. Subject to availability.
Every reduced date and cabin price is in the price tables on the cruise page. Subject to availability.
Every reduced date and cabin price is in the price tables on the cruise page. Subject to availability.
There are no special offers running right now. Call us on 020 8324 3117 or request a quote for current availability.
Offers are subject to availability and may be withdrawn without notice. Offers updated 1 November 2026.
