Travel Niches: Small-Ship Cruising
by John Hawks

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Several established cruise lines -- including American Canadian Caribbean Line, American Safari Cruises, Clipper Cruise Line, Cruise West, Glacier Bay Cruiseline, Lindblad Expeditions, Maine Windjammer Association, Star Clippers, and Windjammer Barefoot Cruises -- operate ships designed to bring an authentic feel to cruising. Many of their vessels accommodate no more than 100 passengers in a setting that feels more like a bed-and-breakfast inn than a floating mega-resort. Along with basic public lounges and the dining room, you'll find cabins that typically don't have TVs and telephones. Instead of midnight buffets and chocolate fountains, your clients will enjoy good food served casually (no hard-and-fast rules about eating dinner every night at first or second seating!).

Some small-ship cruise lines specialize in wilderness regions, giving your clients the chance to explore areas of the world that the larger cruise ships could never approach. They can sightsee just alongside coastal areas (usually with trained naturalists to explain what you're seeing), or they can engage in "soft adventure" excursions like kayaking or snorkeling. Other lines operate "port-to-port" itineraries in shallow-draft ships to offer passengers a more intimate look at regions like Alaska, California's wine country, the Mississippi River, or the Caribbean. A few companies actually operate ships that rely on sails, taking your clients back to the days when travel by sea depended largely on the luck of a strong wind. (These ships do have modern engines, in case the winds don't cooperate.)

Small-ship cruises are perfect for travelers who have already experienced the traditional "Love Boat" sailings with other cruise lines. And, you can usually find tremendous values for your clients with small-ship cruise lines, because many sailings include shore excursions as part of the base fare (and there are no spas, casinos, or shops onboard to tempt them to spend beyond their budget!). However, these cruises may not be the best choices if your clients plan to travel with their kids (as only Windjammer offers a schedule of children's activities) or if they travel with a wheelchair. As always, contact each small-ship cruise line directly to ask specific questions about itineraries, policies, and fares.

(For more information, check the Niche Cruise Marketing Alliance Web site for links to leading small-ship cruise lines.)