Luxury Travel Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trip Packages

Luxury Travel Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trips

971 Luxury Travel trips. Tours from 488 tour companies. 1,708 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

132 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise
The Patagonia Explorer
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Buenos Aires, Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Punta Arenas, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Torres del Paine National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Explore El Calafate
  • Experience hiking through the beech forest look out for the Magaellanic woodpecker, largest in South America
  • Hike Tierra del Fuego
  • Get an opportunity for 4-days cruise to Punta Arenas, Chile
  • Explore Cape Horn
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Andrew stole our money ($22,000) that we paid for a luxury Ecuador / Peru vacation. He also stole $8,000 from our friend that was meeting us in South America. He first took our calls in 2020-2021, then disconnected all numbers. We went to the credit card company, and were unable to get a refund. He is a scammer. Beware! The trip was in April 2020, but I finished with the credit card company in May 2022."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Spectacular Ross Sea (including helicopters)
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Visit the sub-Antarctic New Zealand Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Campbell Island
  • Explore Cape Adare
  • Discover Flora and fauna in the Ross Sea
  • Visit Cape Evans
  • Sailing along the Ross Ice Shelf

Themes

50 plus, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"I booked an Antarctic Peninsula trip two years ago through Oceanwide Expeditions that I have been looking forward to for a long time. My goal is to scuba dive on every continent, so I added on the dive package and started training. I shelled out a few grand for a drysuit and other cold water diving gear (freeze resistant regulators, etc). I booked trips to bump up my number of drysuit dives so I’d be ready for Antarctica. Probably more important than the training was the financial outlay. I spent nearly $8500 USD on an 11 day Antarctic cruise that was supposed to depart in February. I spent another few thousand dollars on flights to, from and within Argentina and hotels throughout my trip. Mind you, I’m not exactly rolling in money; I’m an Army officer and I had to save up to afford this trip of a lifetime. I had to jump through a lot of hoops to get my international leave approved, but I got that done and was ready to fly to Buenos Aires on February 4th, and then on to Ushuaia to meet my ship my dives were logged, my gear was ready, my arrangements were made and my money was spent. On January 10th, Oceanwide sent an email informing all passengers that they were cancelling all of their itineraries for the season due to Omicron. I’ll admit, I was furious. I don’t want to get into a COVID debate here, but this trip has given me something to look forward to throughout the pandemic. I booked in March of 2020 while I was locked down during my last deployment as the world shut down for COVID. I was concerned about the trip, but Argentina eventually opened their borders as their vaccination numbers skyrocketed. It looked like the last impediment was out of my way, only to have the company pull the rug out from under me because of the mildest strain of this virus we’ve yet seen. The initial email offered to rebook passengers on next year’s cruises, but I had no interest in this for a few reasons- 1. As a service member, I don’t have the luxury of taking a month of leave whenever I want. I don’t know what obligations I will have a year from now. 2. I don’t trust that the world will be any better off in terms of government and corporate reactions to COVID a year from now. This isn’t going away, new variants will continue to emerge, so if the company is cancelling for the season over something as mild as Omicron, I have little confidence that whatever variant we see in February 2023 will be any better. 3. The company cancelled all itineraries in the 2020-2021 season and I’d imagine they did the same in the 2019-2020 season. They ran a couple in November-December 2021, but have cancelled for the rest of the 21-22 season. They have had no significant cash flow for nearly two years. I don’t want this company to hold on to my money for another year because I’m not confident this company will still exist in a year’s time. Here comes the really frustrating part- I replied to the initial email from their home office on January 10th explaining my position and requesting a refund. I received no reply. On 12 January I emailed the American office of the same company explaining the situation and again requesting a refund. I again received no reply. Between 14-16 January, I called both the American and home (Dutch) offices of the company. In both cases, the employees politely apologized and told me they’d look into it and get back to me. I never received any further communication. On 19 January, I emailed both offices reiterating my request for a refund and expressing my concerns at their lack of communication and requesting a response by the end of the week, or else I would pursue other means of recourse. I received no response. Last night, I again emailed both companies with a final good faith attempt to allow them to resolve the situation. I figured I’d give them the morning to respond, but they have not responded. It looks like I will have to dispute this through my credit card and bank and fight to get back my own money. TL;DR Oceanwide Expeditions accepted payment of $8500 for an Antarctica Cruise then cancelled the cruise and will not respond to any requests for refunds. This shady conduct is more than enough reason to avoid this company."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Antarctica Aboard the Sea Spirit or Ocean Diamond
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
54 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Antarctic Peninsula, Shetland Islands, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia

Highlights

  • Sail in all suite ship or a high-value larger luxury vessel.
  • Sail Antarctica in comfort on a classic itinerary.
  • Many voyages feature optional adventure activities like camping and sea kayaking!

Themes

National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Just got back from an incredible adventure. Bhutan was more than I could have ever expected. There was an abundance of good travel karma throughout the trip. The guide, Bhim, was great, very accommodating, and personalized the trip in many amazing ways, and though him I got to know the people and the culture close up and personal. The whole thing went off without a hitch. Bhutan was the most amazing place I have ever been."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Cruise the Heart of Europe
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.6/5 Excellent
26 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Bamberg, Bratislava, Budapest, Koblenz, Nuremberg, Vienna

Highlights

  • Standard class one way reserved seat on Eurostar from London St. Pancras with return flight or return flights from selected airports (at a supplement)
  • Admire the stunning scenery of the Rhine Gorge, Main and Danube
  • Guided tour of 2,000 year-old Koblenz
  • Stop in picturesque Boppard
  • Rüdesheim - a true Rhineland wine town
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Just returned from India & Shimla solo travellers trip. A fantastic time was had by all, we did so much in 2 weeks. Thank you to Riviera for your great organisation and always there to help if needed. Special thanks to Matt our tour guide for all the laughs, information on the places we were seeing, keeping us all in check (if he could ha ha) and his great organisation and compasion if needed. I would greatly recommend Rivera Travel and cannot wait for my next trip with them in September to the Kerala Backwaters. Keep up the good work all."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Cormorant: 8-Day Cruise to Western & Central Islands
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.6/5 Excellent
31 reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Galapagos, Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island

Highlights

  • Hike along volcanic craters on Santa Cruz Island in the Highlands
  • Explore the mangrove forests of Isabela Island comfortably by panga
  • See what you can find at Buccaneer Cove, a pirates’ hideaway from the 1600s

Themes

Hiking & Walking, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Because of the pandemic, we had to reschedule our cruise from July of 2020 to December 2020. Airlines were not flying out of our city to Manaus in December, so we had to cancel our cruise and asked for a refund, and was denied. I would never work with this cruise line again."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Nile Cruise Round Trip
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.9/5 Excellent
79 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Aswan, Cairo, Luxor Temple, Pyramid of Giza, Temple of Karnak

Highlights

  • Visit Luxor and Aswan Temples
  • Sailing experience on board Luxury Nile Cruise
  • Enjoy Luxor, Cairo and Aswan for 6 nights
  • Also see the spectacular Pyramids in Cairo during this 10-day package tour in Egypt

Themes

Cultural, Family Friendly, 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"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More

Unlock Community Benefits

Travel better together

  • Save favorite trips and itineraries
  • Get insider insights
  • Receive personalized recommendations
  • ... and much more
Join community
Galápagos & Andes Safari: Ecuador
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
2 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Galapagos, Quito

Highlights

  • Explore on day-boat trips with a naturalist guide
  • Hike, swim and snorkel in Galápagos National Park
  • Enjoy a horseback ride at the most exclusive stables in Ecuador
  • See ancient pyramids constructed by the pre-Incan Caranqui culture

Themes

Birding, Climbing & Mountaineering, Cultural, Education / Learning, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"The wildlife viewing was incredible! We were able to take superb photos and the knowledge guides were enjoyable. We were impressed with our accommodations and especially the tented camps. The service at the camps were first rate!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Danube Delights River Cruise
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
24 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Budapest, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Hungarian National Gallery, Matthias Church, Nuremberg, sobering Holocaust Memorial, St. Martin's Cathedral, Vienne, Wachau

Highlights

  • Enjoy the Cruise along the Danube River by Emerald Star-Ships
  • Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral
  • Visit to Hofburg Imperial Palace
  • Discover Budapest

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We booked an Emerald Waterways river cruise a year ago and paid in full to get a discount. A river cruise was on our bucket list and our travel agent raved on and on about Emerald Waterways. Fast forward to 2020 and the pandemic hit the world hard. We fully expected the cruise to be cancelled and just yesterday it was. I knew that per the terms and conditions that if Emerald cancelled the cruise we were to be offered an alternate sailing date or a FULL refund. BUT, the letter I received said they were "suspending" (not cancelling) all sailings and if I didn't want the future cruise credit I could cancel under their standard terms and conditions. If I cancelled then I would lose a $1,000 deposit! This is a bad faith offer in my opinion. I am so upset with the way this was handled. I understand we are all suffering from the pandemic but Emerald Waterways needs to step up and do the right thing. Rest assured I will not be a future customer of Emerald Waterways."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip
132 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise

Luxury Travel Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
1,708  Reviews
See all Luxury Travel tour reviews
Excellent
1,069
Great
214
Average
2
Disappointing
1
Terrible
1
N

Natalie

Oct 2022

Written on

Trip was so much fun!

I never thought of New Zealand as a place I would want to visit. However, as I was exploring highly rated tours, I read the tour provided by CharlieTheTraveler and i...

T

Teddy

Oct 2022

Written on

I enjoyed walking around Christchurch and learning the history of the city

There was such a perfect balance of adventurous activities and educational tours that I felt immersed in all that New Zealand has to offer. CharlieTheTraveler picked...

M

Miro

Oct 2022

Written on

I was impressed

CharlieTheTraveler has a great price for the amount of amenities included for the New Zealand trip. I was impressed with the meals that were provided as they were au...

G

Gloria

Oct 2022

Written on

It was evident the company did everything it

CharlieTheTraveler’s tour of New Zealand was remarkable! It was evident the company did everything it could to keep their price low for me without compromising on an...

L

Lisa

Oct 2022

Written on

It was perfect!

What can I say about my trip to New Zealand? It was perfect! There were so many interesting activities, all of which were included in the price. CharlieTheTraveler p...

Write a Review

Luxury Travel Tour Selection Trips

  • Luxury travel doesn’t have to mean lounging travel. Many luxury trips include active elements, such as skiing. 
  • A ‘label’ doesn’t always equate to a good experience. In fact going on a luxury tour usually means you’re staying in hidden treasures, rather than large luxury chains.
  • Be aware of what’s included. Many luxury tours, and especially cruises, are all inclusive, but not all.

Additional details

Luxury tours help travelers see the world in great comfort, often in private groups and with a dedicated guide. Luxury travel experiences are sometimes the preferred style for visiting more far flung destinations, where the contrast is extreme.

Yet having guaranteed luxury accommodations, and guides to help with getting around, actually make discovering the nuances of exotic cultures more accessible to a wider range of travelers.

5 Top Luxury Travel Experiences

1. Safari - A luxury safari is one of the most quintessential travel experiences. This is one kind of experience where the price tag really does dictate the kind of Africa you see. On a luxury safari, you’ll be treated to private game drives with experienced guides dedicated to making sure you see as much wildlife as possible.

Enjoy spectacular dining - like a white tablecloth lunch on the savannah, and veranda dinners. Accommodations that provide unique views of the African landscape as you enjoy a cocktail on your private balcony.

2. Rainforest Lodge - The rainforest offers experiences for travelers of all stripes, including luxury minded travelers. Imagine staying in an eco-lodge surrounded by lush jungle greenery - the bright colors of tropical birds peeking out within arms length.

Their calls and chirps acting as the only alarm clock you’ll need, and providing a soundtrack for your day. Or perhaps you’ll visit a floating tree house for a night or two, enjoying life above the canopy - watching monkeys dash about the branches.

3. Digital Detox / Wellness retreat - Wellness travel and digital detoxing are becoming very popular themes for travelers, particularly millennials. The digital world is getting harder and harder to break away from so the hefty price tag of these trips seems every more worth it.

They are an investment in one's mental health after all - a way to plug back in to nature and slow down with mediation, focus on health and nutrition, and exercise. If you are the type of person to lament that your yoga mat can’t travel with you, then these kinds of getaways are for you.

4. Ski Lodge - A very popular luxury travel experience for families, ski lodges often have an all inclusive approach that is perfect for a winter vacation. Active young ones can take lessons and hit the slopes with minimal supervision. The best ski lodges are set up to limit the amount of walking time needed to schlep your ski gear everywhere. And after a busy day, you can settle in for some fine dining by the fire!

5. River Cruise - River cruising is the fastest growing segment in luxury travel, and extremely popular among baby boomer and senior travelers. The great appeal of river cruising is the opportunity to visit smaller ports than are accessible to larger ships, unpacking only once, and enjoying panoramic views from the viewing deck as you savor a glass of wine. River cruises can be a great way to see multiple countries, as you take in the changing scenery, landscape, and architecture.

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 971 trips to Luxury Travel and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!