Small Ship Cruises

Encounter some of the world’s most precious wildlife, incredible landscapes, without giving up your creature comforts

Small Ship Voyages

Explore some of the world’s most beautiful destinations on the ultimate cruising adventure accompanied by National Geographic explorers, award-winning photographers, globally renowned marine biologists, naturalists, archaeologists, ornithologists and so much more. Whether you’re looking to snorkel with tropical fish in the Maldives, admire ancient Aboriginal art in Western Australia or observe local customs of Papua New Guinea’s tribal villages, our holidays combine the best wildlife sightings and immersive cultural experiences for that trip of a lifetime. Respecting the local landscapes and culture is our priority, and we vow to tread lightly through these sensational landscapes and habitats as we travel through the world.

A little bit of indulgence can go a long way, and don’t you deserve it from time to time? You’ll stay in luxurious accommodation during each voyage and can access a variety of excursions and activities at your chosen location. These elegant journeys sprinkle in gastronomic delicacies, insider access to hard-to-reach destinations, spa treatments, champagne toasts, and 1st class accommodations, bringing you to the world’s most enchanting destinations in style and comfort. Take advantage of our expert guides’ local knowledge that provide unique insight into the surrounding wildlife and local customs you may encounter during your adventures.

Small Ship Cruise Tours

9 Days from USD 2,099

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Discover temples and tombs and travel by Nile cruise boat

Culture

Yangtze River - Three Gorges Cruise, China

19 Days from USD 4,079

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

An extensive itinerary covering China's length and breadth

Culture

17 Days from USD 13,449

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

The best of the Galapagos islands' scenery and wildlife

Wildlife

9 Days from USD 9,949

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Voyage in the wake of Charles Darwin

Wildlife Holidays

15 Days from USD 15,490

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Discover the dramatic fjords, glaciers and peaks of southern Chile

Polar Expeditions

18 Days from USD 13,050

Guided Group (Incl. Taxes)

Four unique Arctic regions – from impressive icebergs to iconic wildlife to traditional Inuit culture and more

Polar Expeditions

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In Focus: Voyages

Small ship cruises boast an impressive choice of itineraries and destinations across the globe, each with its own bounty to discover. Join us as we embark on a cultural discovery cruise of the Amazon Rainforest where you will travel along the Amazon River in Peru and visit the Pacaya Samiria Reserve encountering giant butterflies and pink dolphins along the way.

Apart from assorted excursions and activities included during our Voyages trips, guests will enjoy excellent local cuisine and drinks both on board each ship and during meals ashore. Among the included activities, you can enjoy Zodiac cruises, snorkelling, cultural tours, nature walks, fascinating onboard lectures and talks, cooking demonstrations and visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Activities may differ depending on the location and availability at the time of travel. However, no matter which Voyages holiday you choose, you are bound to experience incredible landscapes, cultural revelations, and exceptional service every time.

My two star rating doesn’t reflect the Galapagos Islands themselves, which are a potentially five star destination. Rather the rating is of this particular trip to see them. As you’d expect, the Galapagos are a wildlife lover’s dream, particularly if you like marine wildlife. Whilst the variety isn’t massive, the numbers are and the ease of seeing things is unmatched , and many creatures can’t be seen anywhere else. The snorkelling is outstanding with excellent visibility and huge numbers of fish etc. as well as lots of exciting bigger things like turtles and sealions that will happily swim right up to you.
Unfortunately this Exodus trip did not feel like the best way to see this incredible place, particularly not for the very high cost, and I was very glad to return home. The tour leader was poor, which greatly affected the quality of the experience. The first nights in Quito were on my own – there was no group – which is not what I expect from a ‘small group’ tour. I knew there wouldn’t be any trip leader accompanying us (me) but I did expect there to be other travellers.
The boat is very cramped and uncomfortable and if you are a solo traveller and have to share it is really difficult even if you get on well with your roommate (thankfully I did). For two nights the air conditioning wasn’t working meaning I was unable to sleep and ended up trying to sleep on deck in the rain. If you sleep in the top bunk it is a vastly inferior experience as it is very hot and cramped and hard to climb up. There were spare cabins on the boat but we were not given the option to use them, not even for an additional fee. There were also bigger cabins upstairs but those were allocated to others despite us being the only pair sharing with a stranger. There was a sense that Exodus passengers were second-class.
The trip is mis-graded as ‘leisurely’ when it is far tougher than the moderate trips I have taken with Exodus recently. The trip notes at the current time do not accurately describe the level of fitness required or that you need walking boots etc. I could have been much better prepared had I known. There is very little leisure time, which is fine if that’s what you are expecting but is not indicated by the trip notes at the time of writing.
I would definitely not recommend the trip to solo travellers or even friends travelling (unless you are happy sharing a double bed). For solo travellers it might be better to look at land based itineraries. For couples it this trip might be worth it, provided you are fit and don’t mind short walks in difficult situations and if the tour leader was different from the one I had.
HJ Marder Galapagos Islands – Cachalote Explorer (Itin B)

This was an excellent trip, full of extraordinary sights. We were able to see many of the most impressive sites in Cairo and the Upper Nile. Hotel accommodation was of a high standard and the cruise ship was good. We had an outstanding guide and a friendly and interesting group of people. When I had an accident in the temple at Edfu the response from our guide, from Exodus, and from the personnel on the cruise ship was incredibly supportive. The guide’s knowledge of first aid was much appreciated. We have a few reservations: we found the early starts made sight-seeing rather tiring after very little sleep. The 7am briefing on the first morning seemed unnecessary, for example, after a late arrival the night before and the two hour time difference. We didn’t think the trip should be described as ‘leisurely’: there was a lot of standing in queues at both airports and sites and this was especially exhausting in conjunction with the early starts. Also, while we realise that Exodus doesn’t control the entertainment on the cruise ship, we would have preferred informational talks and preparation for the following day’s events to the party games and belly dancer. We would also have liked to have had more Egyptian food.
Derekv Attridge Nile Cruise

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