The crowds are here to stay. The smart move is to travel by sea
And on a small ship. The ones below can anchor at places like St.-Tropez, Hvar, and Bonifacio, where larger ships cannot, and are so sleek the locals won’t hate you for spoiling their view.
Scenic Eclipse
The Scenic Eclipse is really a swish yacht with toys (two helicopters, a sub, a water sports marina) and airy suites tended by butlers. The itineraries go to some of the region’s most gorgeous hot spots. The Italian Treasures voyage, for one, takes you to Taormina, Lipari, Amalfi, and Capri.
Emerald Azzurra & Sakara
The 100-passenger superyachts Emerald Azzurra and Sakara (ever so slightly less luxe sisters of Scenic) have glossy curves, a top-deck infinity pool, and cool stops. Along a Venice-to-Dubrovnik sailing, it’s Hvar, Rovinj, Split, and Korcula. (They drew so much attention I quite enjoyed swanning up and down the gangway in ports.)
Ritz-Carlton Evrima
As befits its parentage, the Ritz-Carlton Evrima has a floating-resort vibe, with five excellent restaurants. And there’s real imagination in the itineraries. A Valletta-to-Athens voyage calls at three of the best under-the-radar ports in cruising: Parga, Ermoupoli, and the ravishing Fiskardo, Kefalonia’s answer to St.-Tropez.
SeaDream I & II
These two Norwegian-owned all-inclusive 112-passenger yachts, the SeaDream I and II, have some of the best service at sea, fantastic food (including creative vegan), a giant water slide, and big Balinese beds on deck so you can sleep under the stars. They’re elegant but not formal, and they fit into very small ports—like Hydra and Corsica’s Bonifacio.
Uniworld SS La Venezia
Big ships have been rightly banished to the unlovely port north of Venice—but not Uniworld SS La Venezia. This petite vessel, all Murano glass and Fortuny fabrics, docks for four nights right on the Giudecca. Prowl around all you want, glide between the lagoon islands, and visit San Marco after hours.
Dream on:
It’s best to book a cruise through a specialist. Our go-tos: Mary Jean Tully (maryjean@tullyluxurytravel.com) and Tom Baker (tom.baker@cruisecenter.com), who both specialize in luxury ships of all sizes, and Ashton Palmer, the guru of small ship expedition cruises (ashton@expeditiontrips.com).