Thursday, 28 March 2024

Niche cruising: Finding the cruise for you

There is a growing market for specialty cruise products, known in the travel industry as “niche cruises.” They offer distinctly different experiences than traditional cruising, as well as exotic, fascinating and remote destinations.


Some niche cruises offer luxury cruising, some cultural, some ecological – and they're always diverse.


At this time there are 12 members of this association and following are the names and their offerings.


– American Cruise Lines, which offers luxury small ship cruises through the smooth inland waterways of America's historic East Coast. Destinations include Maine, the New England offshore islands, the historic South and the Chesapeake Bay. Each ship holds less than 100 passengers.


– Cruise West offers up-close travel that focuses on the destination its scenery, wildlife, natural history and culture all in the company of limited numbers of like-minded travelers. Destinations include Alaska, British Columbia, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, the California wine country, Baja Mexico’s Sea of Cortes, Costa Rica, Panama, Japan, the South Pacific and the Kuril Islands.


– Discovery World Cruises was founded in 2003. The company's cruise line sails to some of the world’s most remote and fascinating destinations aboard the intimate M/V Discovery. The 650-passenger vessel comfortably sails the world’s oceans and offers the shipboard amenities sophisticated travelers have come to expect, yet her size enables her to call at smaller, out-of-the-way ports. Discovery World Cruises offers complete “cruisetour” vacations to Antarctica, the Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, South Pacific, Iceland, Greenland, Europe and North Africa that include hotel stays and city sightseeing before and/or after the sailing.


– Fred Olsen Cruise Lines operates small ship cruises from ports in the United Kingdom to more than 200 destinations worldwide. In the winter, one ship is positioned in Barbados for 14-night cruises of the Southern Caribbean, South America’s Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, and the Panama Canal. The line’s guests are generally “pre-baby-boomers” who expect excellent service and a traditional cruise experience.


– Galapagos Explorer II promotes Ecuador as a privileged destination for tourism. Galapagos Explorer II is an all-suite passenger vessel that visits the Galapagos Islands off the coast of South America, providing comfort, adventure and interpretation programs while enjoying this paradise of unique flora and fauna, offering seven-night programs.


– Imperial Majesty Cruise Line operates two-night cruise vacations from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau/ Paradise Island, Bahamas aboard the MV Regal Empress. The classic vessel offers a unique opportunity for vacationers seeking a quick getaway or an introduction to cruising. The ship offers all the modern amenities and services of longer cruises, but in an intimate setting reminiscent of a bygone era.


– Majestic Cruises, a new company formed by the alliance of American Steamboat Co. and Delta Steamboats, offers "Casual Elegance" on board authentic sternwheelers that combine the best of big ship and small ship cruising. Four, seven and 11-night cruises discover out-of-the-way places in Puget Sound, on the Columbia River and Alaska, and on the Mississippi River and her tributaries. They also offer some inclusive cruises with shore tours, live entertainment and fine dining.


– Norwegian Coastal Voyage Norwegian Coastal Voyage sails the waters of the 1,250-mile, fjord-filled west coast of Norway. The six- to 12-day cruise itineraries sail from Bergen in the south across the Arctic Circle in the north to Kirkenes near to the Russian border. The fleet visits 34 picturesque ports and offers both escorted shore excursions and independent sightseeing. The winter months find two of their ships cruising through and around Antarctica’s fjords, straits and glaciers.


– Orion Expedition Cruises offers the experience of cruising aboard a luxuriously appointed, modern ship perfectly configured to take passengers to unspoiled destinations in and around Australia. Destinations as diverse as Australia 's Top End including the Great Barrier Reef, Cape York, Arnhem Land, the Kimberley and East Timor will provide experiences most people can only dream about. The ship also offers voyages to the Tasman Sea, the Chilean Fjords and Antarctica.


– Peter Deilmann Cruises owns and operates 10 deluxe river vessels cruising the Great Rivers of Europe as well as two ocean going vessels. The intimate size of the vessels, their first class appointments and highly personalized service allow them to be among the world’s finest travel products.


– RiverBarge Excursion Lines Inc. is the owner and operator of the 198-passenger R/B River Explorer, the only hotel barge traveling America's inland waterways. The vessel offers an innovative approach to the niche leisure market and explores the heritage and culture of America’s waterways and nearby towns.


– Star Clippers operates the largest and tallest sailing vessels in the world. Star Flyer, Star Clipper and Royal Clipper, the flagship of the fleet, visit destinations untouched by larger cruise ships and offer passengers the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht. Voyages range from five to 11 nights and take travelers to the Caribbean, the French Riviera, Spain, Italy, Albania, Croatia, the Greek Isles, Turkey and the Far East.


For information on these companies or any cruise, tour or vacation contact, Barbara Juchert at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call The Travel Center (formerly Lake County Travel) at 263-3095.


Barbara Juchert has 20 years experience as a travel professional, holds the designations of Certified Travel Consultant and a Master Cruise Counselor, and has been fortunate enough to have traveled much of the world and taken over 40 cruises.

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
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30Mar
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