Best small ship cruise lines
Earlier this year the world’s largest cruise ship set sail on its maiden voyage from Miami, Florida. At 365m-long, Icon of the Seas - owned by Royal Caribbean Group - can hold up to 7,600 passengers.
But rather than craving a room aboard these floating cities, Which? readers consistently rank the providers with the smallest ships highest in our survey of the best and worst ocean cruise lines.
Here we tell you the companies to book with if you don’t want to jostle for a restaurant table or a deck chair by the pool.
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Noble Caledonia
There are no megaships here. This luxury brand’s biggest vessel holds just 230 passengers - allowing it to call at some of the lesser-visited ports or moor in the centre of town (saving time on annoying transfers).
Onboard entertainment may be limited to lectures, a library and the odd pianist - but its itineraries span all seven continents (from the Isles of Scilly to the Seychelles and Antarctica).
One customer praised the ‘personal and friendly care and attention’ from staff. Sure enough Which? Recommended Provider Noble Caledonia clinched the full five stars for its customer service in our survey.
Read the full Noble Caledonia review
Viking Ocean Cruises
Offering adult-only ocean cruises worldwide, this Swiss-based cruise line has 12 ships carrying fewer than 1,000 guests each. The small size is key to its appeal with customers praising the personalised service.
They also appreciated the 'classy, crowd-free' atmosphere: Which? Recommended Provider Viking promises no paper umbrellas in drinks and, crucially, no pesky queues.
There are no casinos or cheesy lounge crooners either. Instead you can expect educational talks and classical compositions from its resident musicians.
Read the full Viking Ocean Cruises review
Saga
Providing flight-free cruises for the over-50s, Saga has two ships - each carrying no more than 987 guests. A Which? Recommended Provider, this cruise line promises a ‘less crowded atmosphere’ and excellent customer service, with one member of staff for every two guests.
This includes a chauffeur service from your front door and back again. One guest told us: ‘Saga crew are amazing; they are so friendly, professional and caring. Nothing is too much trouble for them.’
And while all voyages start at Dover or Portsmouth, you can sail as far as the Caribbean and the Americas (if you’re prepared for plenty of days at sea).
Read the full Saga Ocean Cruises review
Seabourn
With a maximum capacity of 600 guests, Seabourn’s ships aim for a ‘private yacht-like atmosphere’ - with extra luxuries including a welcome glass of champagne and complimentary caviar throughout the voyage.
One customer praised the small ship experience, saying there was ‘seldom any problems finding a deckchair’.
Destinations are varied, with its world cruise covering 28 countries over 145 days - that’s an awful lot of caviar. Expedition cruises, exploring the likes of northwest Africa and Polynesia, vow to get you even closer to wildlife.
Save money with our guide on how to find the best cruise deals
Oceania Cruises
With a fleet of seven, Oceania’s largest ships hold up to 1,250 - but guests never felt they lacked space or the personal touch from staff.
One customer told us: ‘Oceania seems like a well oiled machine making you feel very welcome. Very quickly the crew knew who you were and greeted you with smiles every time.’
It prides itself on the finest cuisine at sea - with specialty restaurants serving everything from wellness-inspired energy bowls to decadent afternoon teas. Guests were suitably impressed, scoring its food and drink the maximum five stars in our survey.
These are the best cruise lines for food and drink - as rated by you
Our research
In November 2022, we asked 1,727 members of Which? Connect and the general public about their experiences of cruise holidays in the past two years. We selected the top-performing providers which scored five stars for passenger-to-space ratio on board.
