Cruise boats come in all shapes and sizes, from small catamarans that accommodate a dozen people to large ocean ships with all the facilities of a small town. We summarise the differences between these vessels you can take an adventure cruise on.
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Adventure cruising: the MV Sagitta in the Galapagos Islands
We summarise the pros and cons between choosing a small, medium or large boat to take an adventure cruise on.
Small boats can access regions and obtain close-up views that large cruise ships simply can't offer plus there is a friendly conviviality on board amongst passengers who tend to be more motivated to take in the surrounding beauty than be distracted by entertainments on board. Small cruise ships are ideally suited to places like the Galapagos Islands, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America and the South Pacific.
Medium sized vessels offer a good compromise between the smaller and larger options. The crew maintain a friendly, intimate atmosphere similar to that of a small boat, while another benefit is that they generally come with several naturalist guides to keep you informed throughout your trip. Typically, you can enjoy adventure cruises on medium sized boats in places like Canada, New Zealand the Arctic, and Antarctica, although some also operate in both Alaska and the South Pacific.
Large ships can offer a luxury cruise experience with an extensive range of activities and facilities not possible on small ships: gymnasia, spas swimming pools, gourmet restaurants, live music and dancing are all available when you are not soaking up the scenery. These types of very large vessel tend not to be used by Audley clients as extensively as the other two boat types. Large cruise ships tend to operate in the waters in around Alaska.