Variety Cruises' 12 luxury yachts (the largest accommodates 72 guests) offer an intimate ambiance, attentive service and soft adventure at a host of unique ports. The small ship sizes means yachts can anchor in secluded lagoons for a swim stop or dock right in the heart of a destination to give passengers more time to explore a port.
Photo courtesy of Variety Cruises

When Lindblad Expeditions partners with National Geographic, you know it's bound to be good. These small-ship voyages truly are expeditions. Comfort and service are of the more practical variety, and entertainment means taking a Zodiac to see Galapagos wildlife up close or guided star gazing in the clear Arctic air at night. The largest ship only holds 148 passengers, which guarantees a more intimate experience.
Photo courtesy of Ralph Lee Hopkins / Lindblad Expeditions

Un-Cruise Adventures doesn't cater to the typical cruise crowd who expect casinos, elaborate musicals and on-board waterparks. Instead, the fleet of eight ships takes passengers on eco-adventures to destinations inaccessible to larger ships. Itineraries might involve snorkeling with sea lions in the Sea of Cortez, retracing the footsteps of Charles Darwin in the Galapagos or taking a "polar bear plunge" in Alaska.
Photo courtesy of Un-Cruise Adventures

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection refers to their fleet as "luxurious floating boutique hotels," hotels that carry guests through European, Asian and Egyptian waterways. Decor is plush and colorful, service exceptional and the cuisine holds its own against the most luxurious ocean vessels. Passenger-to-staff ratios are among the best in river cruising.
Photo courtesy of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Hurtigruten's smallish ships bring passengers through some of Norway's most spectacular scenery with opportunities to visit Norwegian towns big and small. The comfortable ships offer a casual cruising atmosphere, known for passenger camaraderie and an extensive line-up of tours, all of which can be pre-booked online.
Photo courtesy of Claire Netting / Hurtigruten

Casual cruising is the name of the game aboard Island Windjammers' fleet of tall ships and motorsailers. What the ships lack in cruise amenities – you won't find a casino or theater on board – they make up for in a delightful "island Life" mentality, where teak decks and al fresco dining areas set the stage for blissful relaxation.
Photo courtesy of Island Windjammers

Sea Cloud Cruises imbues the windjammer experience with luxury and sophistication. Both the Sea Cloud I or II are appointed with marble fireplaces, teak wood furnishings and antique touches. Afternoons are spent watching the crew at work or lazing in the sun with a good book. Meals, often served al fresco, include complimentary wine.
Photo courtesy of Sea Cloud Cruises

Crystal Cruises proves that luxury need not come in a small package. Passengers aboard any of Crystal's three ships enjoy some of the best passenger-to-staff and passenger-to-space ratios of any line, and Crystal has become synonymous with fine dining at sea. It also boasts a top-notch enrichment program.
Photo courtesy of Crystal Cruises

Star Clippers sets out to recreate the golden age of tall-masted sailing, and they do so with modern and elegant, yet informal touches. Passengers can learn knot-tying or navigation 101 or enjoy loads of open deck space – more than on some large cruise ships. Passengers are invited to participate in the sailing process, and time at ports often extends into the evening or overnight.
Photo courtesy of Star Clippers

International Expeditions, a largely land-based tour company, operates a small fleet of ships that take passengers to some of the world's most exotic locations. Most popular are the Amazon River cruises aboard La Estrella Amazonica and Galapagos cruises aboard 32-passenger Evolution. One of the company's newest offerings takes visitors to the shores of Cuba on the masted 48-guest Panorama or 46-guest Panorama II.
Photo courtesy of International Expeditions