Family Friendly Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trip Packages

Family Friendly Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trips

1,886 Family Friendly trips. Tours from 415 tour companies. 1,172 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

317 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
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Small Ship Cruise
Explore Machu Picchu & Cruise The Galápagos
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4.8/5 Excellent
64 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Cusco, Galapagos, Guayaquil, Isabela Island, Lima, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Santa Cruz Island, Urubamba

Highlights

  • Explore two of Latin America’s crown jewels on one amazing two-week adventure!
  • Discover rich Andean culture and deep history in the charming, UNESCO-listed city of Cusco and experience the wonder of Machu Picchu
  • Journey through the Galápagos on a private yacht and see incredible wildlife, including sea turtles, dolphins, giant tortoises, sea lions and much, much more
  • Enjoy moments of magical discovery every step of the way and learn from expert naturalist guides

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"First, let me say our tour guide Tomomi S. is hands down THE best tour guide I’ve ever had - knowledgeable, fun and made great efforts to ensure that we were comfortable and happy (MTSobek tour guides are independent contractors. Tomomi also works for other Adventure/Tour companies) Secondly, Japan is beautiful, clean and the Japanese people are very welcoming. The hiking in the national parks was amazing. It could have been a truly five-star experience if MtSobek had not cut corners so egregiously. The website said (at the time) group tours are 5-22 people. The tour gets canceled if the minimum is not met. When I paid there were TWO other people booked-a mother and daughter duo. Shortly before our departure date I called to see if the tour would be cancelled. I wanted my money back but Mt Sobek was “pleased to say that the trip would not be canceled”. In other words, I could not get a refund. At the last minute a guy named Matt signed up so there were four of us. Five days into the trip Matt left and took a train back to Tokyo. I said to him “You realize Mt Sobek is not going to refund you”. He said, “I don’t care, Mt Sobek scammed us.” With tax, the tour costs $11,645 for 13 nights. For that price there is an expectation that the accommodations Mt Sobek chooses would be decent and clean. We all fully expected a ‘traditional Japanese experience’ which often means no private bath and 8 out of the 13 nights we slept on futon mats on the floor. However, Mt Sobek consistently booked us in the cheapest Ryokans (hotels) in each area in which we travelled. Most of these hotels were unclean and very out-dated. One Ryokan they booked us in was listed on a hotel website for $40 USD/night when there were much nicer accommodations nearby for $100 USD/night. (The Japanese yen is way down, the luxury Park Hotel in Tokyo was $200 USD/night. A comparable hotel would have been about $800/night in Austin.). We were the only people staying in several hotels that accomadated many more people. The most egregious example of MtSobek’s booking the cheapest rooms is when we were booked at a large traditional ski lodge at the base of a spectacular mountain. It was beautiful on the website but had two very different wings. One wing was modern, clean and beautiful with simple beds. The other wing was very old (similar to a cheap Motel 6 that had not been updated since the 1970’s). The carpet and bathrooms were disgusting and like many of the Ryocans where we stayed the futon mats seemed as though they had not been cleaned In 30 years. Only after our tour guide checked us in did we realize we had been booked in the cheap rooms. I asked Tomo why. Immediately someone from MtSobek reached out to me and said, “gosh, I’m sorry you did not realize you were going to have a traditional Japanese experience”. Really? “Traditional” experience depends upon one’s budget. In the US, “traditional” to some people may be the Marriott, a Motel 6 or the Four Seasons Hotels. We were paying for a Marriott experience and received the one-star Motel 6 experience. Upon arrival in Tokyo I expected to be met at the airport by a driver (as many tour companies do). However, several days before our arrival dates in Tokyo, MtSobek sent an email telling us how to locate taking a city bus from the bustling Tokyo airport. That is interesting if you do not speak Japanese. MtSobek cleverly uses great photography and elaborate descriptions of the national parks and the hiking while using terms like “traditional Japanese experience with tatami-mat sleeping” to disguise sub-standard accommodations. At one point we were looking on-line at the very hotel where we were staying and did not even recognize it from the website pictures. The hiking was amazing. The group size was disappointing with just the three of us. I would absolutely recommend a hiking tour through Japan, just not with MtSobek."

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Vietnam Family Adventure
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5/5 Excellent
52 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Cu Chi Tunnels, Hanoi

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We were very excited about our upcoming trip to Egypt with Encounters Travel; it exceeded our expectations in every way. Islam was an outstanding guide who took excellent care of us. Our hotels, the food, the itinerary were all exceptional. Highly recommend this tour."

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5-Night Mediterranean Magic Cruise
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5/5 Excellent
1 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Accademia museum, Barcelona, Colosseum, Florence, Isle of Capri, Rome, Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Highlights

  • The Prince Of Monaco's Palace Tour: Visit Monaco, playground of the rich and famous, for a tour of the opulent palace where film star Grace Kelly once resided.
  • Highlights Of Rome: Take a private tour of Rome's most famous landmarks, including the Colosseum, Forum, Trevi Fountain, as well as the Vatican City Museum and Sistine Chapel.
  • Private Boat To Island Of Capri: On a day trip to the Island of Capri, cruise around the isle on a private boat and swim in the Mediterranean waters. It's an afternoon in paradise.
  • Gelato-Making Experience In Florence: Get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Grom Gelateria! You'll learn how this yummy treat is created and have the opportunity to sample some flavors.
  • Pizza-Making At A Family Farm: See how to press olive oil, make mozzarella cheese and harvest fruit at Agriturismo La Galatea Farm in Sorrento. Afterwards, enjoy a private pizza-making session with the chefs.

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"I went on this trip with some misgivings, as my only other experience with this type of tour was a winter Tauck Family Bridges tour of Italy, that was not a good experience. Well, I am SO glad I went, as my daughter and I had a marvelous time. Disney did an amazing job of organizing this trip - I still can't believe how much they managed to fit into essentially 8 days. I also can't believe how much fun it all was! The guides were tremendous. First of all, unlike Tauck (where we traveled with one tour manager), here we had two guides with us the entire time - one a licensed guide in Greece (i.e., a native, very knowledgeable about the country and able to really take us through the historical and archaeological sites) and the other an American who has been guiding in Greece for years. The interaction between the guides was very warm, as was their way of relating to the guests. This was a complete contrast with Tauck. Here people really got to know each other, the young people had a great time with each other, and, of course, Greece itself is just magnificent. I will certainly travel with Disney again!"

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Myanmar: Cruising The Chindwin River
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Bagan, Mandalay, Yangon

Highlights

  • Sunset at Shwedagon
  • Bagan touring and home-hosted dinner
  • Craftspeople of Mandalay
  • 8 day cruise on the Chindwin
  • Visit Mingkin to see artworks
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Themes

Cultural, Eco, Sustainable & Green Travel, Education / Learning, Family Friendly, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"It is a difficult job to make everybody happy all of the time, but you ladies do a superb job. We were definitely off the beaten path, and when following that path there are sometimes unexpected surprises, but every bump was handled beautifully."

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Amazing Northern Vietnam
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5/5 Excellent
39 reviews
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Ha Long Bay, Hanoi

Highlights

  • Check out Hanoi's Old Quarter, tranquil city lakes, historic temples and museums
  • This tour pulls out all the stops to ensure you see the very best north of Vietnam has to offer!
  • Visit the spectacular landscape of Tam Coc by taking a sampan boat trip.
  • Cruise Ha Long Bay aboard the Halong cruises, a new deluxe junk, which includes all onboard meals, sea kayaking and more!
  • Indulge in delicious Vietnamese cuisine - most meals are included in this tour!
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Themes

Family Friendly, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My favourite travel agent for SE Asia. Thuong was kind and thoughtful. She greeted us on arrival at our hotel, and made sure our 10 day tour, North to South Vietnam, was perfect. We added a trip to Laos and Seam Reap....no problem. Swallow organised everything for us, whatever we wanted. A couple of years later, I contacted Thuong for another holiday, this time to Northern Vietnam, the Sapa regions. This was stunning, and the hotels she chose were so beautiful. Thinking Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar? maybe string a few tours together...? Swallow Travel will help you....."

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Egypt Luxury Tour Package
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5/5 Excellent
79 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Abu Simbel, Aswan, Cairo, Luxor Temple

Highlights

  • Visit Great Pyramids & Sphinx
  • Shop at Khan el-Khalili Bazaar
  • Enjoy Dinner on the Nile

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Family Friendly, Local Immersion & Homestays, Relaxing Retreats, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"An amazing Egypian Trip My mom and I had an amazing 10 day experience visiting the cities of Cairo, Luxor, Baharyia, and Aswan in Egypt. A friend recommended using Jakada Tours Egypt and connected me with Ahmed. As soon as I contacted Ahmed, I can see why he raved about him. He was professional, personable, responded to emails in a timely manner, provided a detailed itinerary, and helpful in every way possible from the beginning of the trip to taking us to the airport. We arrived in Cairo in the late evening, picked up visas, exchanged money, found Sherif our tour guide, and were on our way to the Cairo Pyramids Valley hotel where we stayed for 3 nights. The owner Ahmed checked us in, took us to the rooftop for Hibiscus tea, great conversation, and watched a light show projected on the pyramids. The hotel was nice, clean, had hot water, room was a decent size, served breakfast, had a great view of the pyramids, and was near lots of shops and restaurants. In Cairo, Sherif Khattab took us through the city explaining the culture, food, people, and the history of the Pyramids of Kings Cheops, Chephren, Menkaure, the Sphinx, Saqqara, the capital Memphis, Egyptian Museum, and a walking tour of the Khan el Khalili Bazaar. The open air museum and the pyramids were breathtaking. The process in which the pyramids were built and how it was structured was just unbelievable. Climbing the pyramid was a once in a lifetime experience. Learning how papyrus was made was an interesting process. Sherif introduced Falafel with eggplant in what we would call a pita bread and OMG it was delicious. As I tried it my mom gave me the side eye because she could never get me to try eggplant when she cooked it. Now I love it! We ate at local restaurants where they served different types of grilled meats and chicken, salad, falafel, and fresh fruit drinks. My favorite drink was the fresh mint lemonade. The food was delicious, hot, and filling. After a long day, we slept in an overnight sleeper train. I am so happy I Youtubed this experience so I would know what to expect. The bottom seat turns into a bed, the ladder for the top bunk is underneath, the trays to eat food hook into the sides of the train, the sink will be right at your stomach as soon as you stand up from sitting down, the radio doesn’t work, you will use a community bathroom, no showers, lighting is ok...just use your cell phone if you need to, no internet so don’t expect it, food was baked chicken, rice, vegetables, drinks, and desert. It was relaxing, clean, fun, and served its purpose. I repeat this is not a luxury train, it is only to get you to your next destination. In Luxor we met our new tour guide Ahmed and we hit the ground running. Ahmed was detail oriented, friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and personable. We visited the Valley of the Kings which comprised of: Rameses III & IV Merenptah, and the Tomb of Tut Ankh Amun which was one of my favorites. To see the original skull and feet...WOW! We were in awe of the colorful and creative artwork that told a story on the walls of every tomb and how well it’s preserved. The tombs are built underground into mountains which was shocking. The Temple of Hatshepsut displayed huge statues of Kings and Queens with the walls full of art work. The time and energy spent to sculpt these kings and queens is unimaginable. We began Christmas morning with a short boat ride with tea and snacks to take a ride on a hot air balloon. To see how the balloon inflates, to flying high in the sky, the breathless views, waving at the kids chasing the balloon as we passed through different areas, landing in patch of sugarcane, greeted by armed security, watching the process of how the balloon deflates and transported until our ride arrived. Visited the Karnak Temple Complex and ended the day with a relaxing boat ride in the Nile. The hotel was clean, had hot water, accessible to shops and restaurants on the street, and had a beautiful view of the Nile River. In Aswan we had the same tour guide and visited other temples such as King Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, Nubian monuments, and a Felucca ride around the islands of Aswan. To be in the land of the original Nubian people and learning the history was incredible eye-opening. Train ride back to Cairo. Our final attraction was the Bahariya Oasis White Desert and Black & White Desert Oasis which was picturesque with Sherif Khattab our first tour guide. The drive was relaxing and we ate lunch at the home of our desert tour guide. His wife prepared a delicious spread of chicken and vegetables. He was friendly and hospitable even though we spoke different languages we still understood each other. We did not do the overnight stay in the desert and glad we didn’t because the temperature dropped that night. Instead, we stayed at a hotel not too far away. The hotel was clean, had hot water, and the food was once again delicious. Overall, this trip was once in a lifetime. The tour exceeded my expectations, the information was invaluable, and Ahmad took great care of us. Other tidbits - the weather is cool in the morning but warms up by 11 and can get cold at night so make sure you layer up - if you sleep in the desert, just remember there is no bathrooms and it can get COLD - bring a bucket hat for the sun - bring tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer, snacks for the road/train trips - bring toilet paper (2 rolls) some bathrooms do not have toilet paper or people will try to charge you for it - do not allow anyone to do anything for you (ex: take pictures, ask directions, carry your bags through the train station, or assist you in any way) since a tip will be expected - do not feel pressured by store owners to buy anything - don’t be afraid to bargain and negotiate prices up front"

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Amazon Voyage
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5/5 Excellent
6 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Amazon Rainforest, Andes Mountains, Iquitos, Lima

Highlights

  • View wildlife on hikes, excursion boat rides & even while kayaking in three different habitats
  • Enjoy Sample local culture with cooking demonstrations, village & school visits, stops at riverside markets & Shaman blessing ceremony.
  • Learn during guided tours, lectures & field interpretation by experienced native naturalists
  • Dance to traditional music during nightly Happy Hour receptions.

Themes

Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Singles Travel, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"My wife and I just returned from a wet season trip with International Expeditions (IE) to Lima and the Amazon. It was tremendous: 1. The diversity of wildlife is extreme and up close and personal. 2. The vastness of it all approaches infinity. 3. The staff and guides were top drawer professionals. The IE mother ship (Zafiro) is in great condition and very comfortable, clean and welcoming. The staff is friendly, helpful, supportive, knowledgeable. The naturalists/guides are the best. Experts in the wildlife and flora and good-natured and personable. Yes, it is hot and humid, but very bearable. Yes, there are mosquitoes at night, but again very manageable. (We've all experienced much much worse in the US.) In the wet season (50 feet higher water than in dry season) you don't get to walk as much as you do in dry season because terra firma is so much further into the rain forest than you can reach in a boat. But we did get to visit villages and walk in the rain forest. We swam. We went out every morning and afternoon in the skiffs to explore smaller rivers and lakes. Sloths, monkeys, iguana, boa, anaconda, caiman, tarantula, piranha, frogs, toads, and more bird types than you can count. Wow - What a Show!"

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Isles and Inlets of Argyll
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • Opportunity to cruise and explores some of the fabulous long, sheltered sea lochs in Argyll
  • Experience the stars as you never have before, with no light pollution at our anchorages at night
  • Climb to see the mysterious "Maids of Bute" painted stones

Themes

50 plus, Birding, Cultural, Family Friendly, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Relaxing Retreats, Singles Travel, Small Ship Cruise, Transformative, Sailing

What travelers are saying

"I had a simply marvellous and memorable experience aboard St Hilda with the Mull Odyssey cruise. Christophe and Kerry were fantastic, helpful , lovely people. Everybody was great company! The land and seascapes were quite amazing, the light and shade effects wonderful. I know and love the West Coast of Scotland, and this is a wonderful way of seeing it. Highlights were the peace of Iona, the puffins within a couple of feet on Lunga, the fantastic mountains of Mull reflected in the water.... I could go on for ever! Quite the best holiday of my life!"

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317 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise

Family Friendly Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
1,172  Reviews
See all Family Friendly tour reviews
Excellent
435
Great
38
Average
3
Disappointing
2
Terrible
8
J

Julia

Oct 2022

Written on

How great it was to participate in all of the unique activities

Although it didn’t seem like a romantic getaway, I booked the Egypt tour for my significant other and me. I could not believe how great it was to participate in all ...

J

Jimmy

Oct 2022

Written on

The history and modern culture of Egypt was emphasized

The history and modern culture of Egypt was emphasized in every activity on this trip. CharlieTheTraveler organized a balanced trip that gave me a well-rounded exper...

R

Rose

Oct 2022

Written on

It was obvious the company spent a lot of time and thought planning the trip

I found the trip by CharlieTheTraveler to Egypt very organized. It was obvious the company spent a lot of time and thought planning the trip. This made it easy for m...

R

Richard

Oct 2022

Written on

Done it so well.

Planning a trip to a country abroad is stressful and overwhelming. Upon doing some research to help alleviate the stress, I found CharlieTheTraveler had a 9-day tour...

J

Jane

Oct 2022

Written on

Everything was planned for me

I have never had such a laid back trip until I booked the Egypt tour through CharlieTheTraveler. Practically everything was planned for me and our tour guide made th...

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Family Friendly Tour Selection Trips

  • Find a tour that focuses on kid friendly activities. Many guided tours welcome children, but not all focus on activities specifically geared toward them. So finding a kid-centric tour can keep them entertained and engaged. And these tours usually try to craft a balanced itinerary so parents get a fulfilling travel experience as well.
  • Cultural tours with a lot of demonstrations and hands on activities are perfect for kids - they help bring the past to life! 
  • If going on a tour that involves adventure activities, such as river rafting or zip lining, make sure to double check all age requirements. These are in place for everyone’s safety and are important to adhere to.
  • Families often get discounted rates for museums, tours, and landmarks, so be sure to ask about this when booking your trip.

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