Move over bingo night and boring ports of call — adventure cruising is here.
Love the idea of a cruise but don't want to sacrifice flexibility or experience? We've taken all the best parts of travelling by ship (ease of transit, a friendly crew and jaw-dropping views) and made them a little bit more... Intrepid. Think: going where the mega-ships can't to enjoy secluded beaches in the Galapagos or getting paired up with local guides who steer you toward the best fresh seafood in Croatia. With small vessels and less than 50 passengers, bonding with your fellow travellers is never overwhelming. A shared love of travel and a curious spirit is all you need for an adventure cruise, no matter what age you are (or feel).
Small ship cruises by region
Our small ship Adventure Cruising tours
9 Days
From
4625
Enjoy a nine-day small ship Adventure Cruise of Greece and Turkey to Santorini and...
8 Days
From
2735
Join Intrepid for a small ship cruising adventure to Croatia. Voyage along the...
8 Days
From
2735
Take a small-ship cruising adventure in Croatia from Split to Dubrovnik. Voyage along...
10 Days
From
4793
Travel to the Galapagos Islands and sail around the central eastern islands, witnessing...
10 Days
From
4863
Sail the aquamarine waters of the Galapagos’s central southern islands taking in...
Tailor-Made trips
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
10 Days
From
4379
Spend 10 unforgettable days on board the Grand Daphne, discovering the central islands...
10 Days
From
4484
Take an active 10-day adventure cruise though the Galapagos Islands, from Isla Santa...
10 Days
From
6078
Travel to the Galapagos Islands from Quito and embark on a sailing adventure around...
10 Days
From
6078
Explore the best of the otherworldly Galapagos Islands on this 10-day tour that takes...
13 Days
From
8196
Embark on an immersive Adventure Cruise through the Galapagos Islands and experience...
7 Days
From
2909
Discover the treasures of the northern Galapagos Islands on this cruise, including Isla...
7 Days
From
3902
Take to the water and explore the beautiful Galapagos Islands. See huge populations of...
7 Days
From
2398
Explore the beautiful Galapagos Islands. See huge populations of animals and experience...
6 Days
From
2398
Explore the Islands of the Galapagos on this startling adventure that highlights the...
6 Days
From
2486
Explore the central islands of the Galapagos on this startling adventure that...
17 Days
From
11701
This Galapagos adventure cruise is the perfect way to explore the islands of Isabella,...
14 Days
From
7365
Travel to Ecuador and join a 13-day Intrepid journey in the Galapagos’. Visit Isla...
8 Days
From
4212
Hop aboard the M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz for a wildlife-filled 8-day adventure around the...
6 Days
From
2370
See the best of the Galapagos Islands on this action-packed adventure cruise, touring...
11 Days
From
3265
This 11-day adventure starting and finishing in Tahiti, visits the Society Islands and...
8 Days
From
2335
Visit French Polynesia on this 8-day small ship Adventure Cruise, starting and...
8 Days
From
2645
Join Intrepid for a nine-day cruising adventure around the Seychelles, visiting remote...
The perks of cruising in your 50s & 60s with Intrepid
FAQs
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy
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Intrepid adventures are for travellers with a yearning to get off the beaten track. Whether you're travelling solo, with a group of friends, or are aged 18 or 70, there is an Intrepid adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each Intrepid adventure has a physical and cultural grading to help you decide if the trip is right for you. No special skills are required for most adventures, just a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the world. Even on our camping adventures no previous experience is required; our tents are easy to set up, even for first-time campers.Â
For the majority of our trips the minimum age is 15. An adult must accompany all children under the age of 18. Our Overland Adventures have a minimum age of 18. Younger children can join us on our Family trips and Short Break Adventures, but check each trip for its minimum age, which is located on the trip’s overview page on the website. Most of our trips don’t have a maximum age limit, but a Self-Assessment Form is required for all passengers 70 years and over.Â
This is the beauty of the Intrepid style of travel: many of our travellers join because they are travelling solo and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people. If you’re travelling solo, it is possible to share a twin share cabin with another passenger of the same gender, depending on availability. On all of our itineraries operated by Variety Cruises, you will need to pay the single passenger price, but you will get a cabin for your own use.
It’s important to be aware that none of the ships have lifts, and moving between decks will involve climbing fairly steep stairways. To disembark the ship in port, you will need to walk down a narrow gangway lowered to the dock. All ships are small enough that they can usually dock at all ports, but it is sometimes necessary to use a Zodiac boat or dinghy to get to small islets, coves and prime snorkelling spots. You will need to be comfortable climbing in and out of one during wet and dry landings.
The amount of time you spend ashore at each stop will vary depending on the stop and each individual itinerary. It is not always possible to give accurate arrival and departure times from each port. Travelling on a small ship means we are more affected by changes to the winds and tides. If conditions are in our favour we may make excellent time and arrive in port earlier than expected. But if conditions are against us, it may take longer to reach our next stop. One of the charms of small ship cruising is letting nature be part of your journey.
With itineraries operated by Intrepid, we include: a minimum of two meals daily, activities and land excursions (as per the itinerary), Comfortable accommodation on the boat, all port fees, services of local tour leaders, airport arrival transfer, drinking water, 24-hour coffee station with fruit and snacks, and snorkelling equipment. Some trips have kayaks and stand-up paddleboards available for use.
With itineraries operated by Variety Cruises, we include: a minimum of two meals daily, comfortable accommodation on the boat, all port fees, services of a cruise co-ordinator, drinking water, 24-hour coffee station with fruit and snacks, and snorkelling equipment. Some trips have kayaks and stand-up paddleboards available for use. All onshore activities are optional and are an additional cost which is paid on board.
Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner, our trips have a set itinerary. But within that there’s time set aside for your own exploration (if you want to – no pressure). Depending on how you're feeling, you may want to have some downtime, ask your guide for a few tips then head out alone, or hang out with the group and see where the day takes you.Â
Read more about Adventure Cruising
Jan 14, 2023
8 reasons to try a small ship...
Cruising usually conjures up images of all-you-can-eat buffets, casinos, and...
Feb 20, 2018
7 reasons to make your next trip an...
Think you know everything there is to know about cruises? Think again.
Oct 10, 2018
Why the Seychelles aren’t just for...
As I sit at the departure gate in Dubai, waiting for my flight to the Seychelles...
May 09, 2019
What to pack for your Adventure Cruise
Your flights are booked, your visas are sorted, and your cabin’s been secured –...
Oct 03, 2019
5 reasons why it’s worth exploring...
For travellers looking to explore some of Indonesia's lesser known isles, or more...
Mar 10, 2019
I thought I hated cruises; then I...
I have never been a cruiser. I was a little sceptical that adventure cruising...
May 02, 2019
Murky waters: the ethics of big ship...
These big cruise liners invariably market their ships as an escape from reality,...
Feb 28, 2019
All aboard: why summer is the best...
Last summer, I went on an Adventure Cruise around the Greek Islands and Turkey and...
Jan 18, 2018
Positive progress: Europe’s fight...
BBC series, Planet Earth II, exposed many of us to distressing scenes of how...
Feb 21, 2019
South East Asia: the cruising...
In South East Asia you'll go from visiting a temple to a hidden limestone island...
Mar 15, 2018
8 reasons to try an adventure cruise...
As an archipelago made up of more than 1,700 exceptionally diverse islands, there...
Feb 20, 2019
The customer review our website ...
"Let me preface this review to say, I don’t write reviews. And I hardly read them....