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Small Ship Cruise Travel Guide

A small ship sails on a calm fjord surrounded by steep, green mountains and a small waterside village under a clear sky.

Our Favorite Small Ships

The blue-hulled small ship Callisto cruises on calm ocean water on a clear, sunny day.
Variety Cruises’ M/Y Callisto

Sailing the sapphire waters of the Aegean and Adriatic, Variety Cruises’ Callisto is a boutique yacht that was thoroughly renovated in 2016. With 17 cabins, Road Scholar participants are transported to magical ports of call that offer an authentic, immersive experience.

The small ship Victory I cruises on the water under a sunset sky with pink and orange clouds.
American Queen Steamboat Company’s Victory I

With a maximum capacity of 202 guests, American Queen Steamboat Company’s Victory I sails the Great Lakes between Chicago, Ill., and Toronto, Ontario. Sailing aboard the Victory I ensures that Road Scholars never miss a view with several lounges all with panoramic windows.

The small cruise ship Baranof Dream sails on calm water with a forested shoreline and snow-capped mountains rising in the background.
Alaskan Dream Cruises’ Baranof Dream

Purpose-built to navigate the narrow fjords and shallow coves of coastal Alaska, Alaskan Dream Cruises’ Baranof Dream accommodates 49 guests for an intimate setting in one of the world’s most spectacular natural landscapes. When on board, Road Scholars explore by sea kayak or watercraft in the company of experts in their field.

 

 

A table with a floral centerpiece and striped chairs is set for dining on the deck of a small ship, overlooking the blue ocean.
Cruise Lines We Sail With

Road Scholar works with a number of cruise lines to provide an authentic regional experience, using regional companies with a local crew whenever possible.

  • Alaskan Dream Cruises – Alaska 

  • American Queen Steamboat Company – Great Lakes

  • Katarina Line – Croatia 

  • Rolf Wittmer – Galápagos Islands
  • UnCruise – Costa Rica, Panama, Pacific Northwest United States
  • Variety Cruises – Croatia, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia

Educational Small Ship Cruises

Small Ship
A small ship sails on the water through a valley of green, rolling hills, with a large, rocky mountain range in the background.

Learn and explore aboard small ships that cruise near scenic coastlines and access off-the-beaten-path ports that larger ships can’t reach.

Callisto
A view from the Callisto hotel in Santorini shows whitewashed buildings perched on a cliffside overlooking the Aegean Sea as a boat cruises past.

Aegean Odyssey
Odyssey at Sea

Cast off on our grandest adventure yet aboard our favorite ship, the Aegean Odyssey, with ship mates who love to learn as much as you do.

“’Intimate Voyage to Iceland by Yacht’ was an amazing program. I developed a better and closer understanding of Iceland, its customs, people and economic status. The door is open, what are you waiting for! Walk through it.”

— Marie, Road Scholar Class of 2018, from Loudon, Tenn. —