Consider Small Ship Travel
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By Cathy Severson, MS
While cruising is becoming a more popular way to travel, many people are unaware of the opportunities for small ship travel. Small ship travel provides many of the benefits of large cruise ships. Small ship travel also offers additional conveniences and comforts, such as unpacking luggage only once, which is an extremely beneficial perk for the elderly. The numerous wonders included with small ship travel provide an ideal retirement haven.
Small ship travel has many features that are unavailable with large cruise ships. Small ships can maneuver into places large ships can’t go, such as small harbors, rivers, and shallow water ways. With small ship travel, the experience is much more personal and intimate. While small ships will vary in size, the passenger number is no more than four hundred, compared to a few thousand in large cruise ships. As a result, you are more likely to feel personalized attention on a small ship. Small ships can usually dock at a pier which makes disembarking easier and faster than large cruise ships.
While small ship travel provides more intimacy on board, it also means the experience on land is more authentic and genuine. Instead of thousands disembarking to bombard a small town, fewer numbers from a small ship mean it’s easier to interact with locals in a more relaxed manner, thereby making senior travel tours more enjoyable experiences.
River cruising is one type of small ship travel. Waterways are being explored around the world by ships of all sizes and types. Small barges travel the canals in England, France and Holland sleeping as few as four to six people which can be rented by a family on a daily or weekly basis. Larger barges carry between 20 and 26 travelers.
As the rivers get larger so do the size of the boats, but they are still smaller than cruise ships. In Europe, you can travel the Rhine, Mosel, Danube, Seine and Volga. These ships carry between 120 and 164 passengers. Sit back and enjoy the picturesque countryside as it passes by, with stops to visit castles and medieval towns. Return to the feeling of a bygone era as you paddle down the major rivers of the United States in steamboats, much as Mark Twain did over a hundred years ago.
If you long to see sails billowing in the breeze above, consider a windjammer cruise. These sailing ships generally travel between islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. Schooners can also be seen sailing along the coast of North America.
Small ships cruise the Aegean, Galapagos Islands, the Yangtze and Nile Rivers. These small ships can be yachts, clipper ships or expedition vessels carrying between 16 and 50 travelers. Such a small amount of passengers will most likely insure travel retirement luxury when embarking on a small ship cruise.
If you think small ship travel may be ideal to ensure your happy retirement, make sure to research your choices. The accommodations can vary greatly from a 6-star luxury yacht to working coastal steamers with limited frills, but lots of adventure. Consider where you want to go first of all. Once you know the general location, identify the specific ports you would like to visit, since it’s possible that boats may travel to one area, but dock in different localities. Make sure you have ample time to see the things you want to see, as most of the cruise is a visual treat and will add to the positive senior experience.
Who you will travel with is a big consideration when traveling by small ship. Your travel experience will be impacted by the people who share your journey. Will your traveling companions be Americans, families with children, seniors, couples? Will there be groups on board, and if so, how many? Your travel agent or Cruise Company should be able to give you information about your traveling companions.
Small ship travel is becoming one of the best ways to see the world, and is one of many ideal activities senior men and women should consider when brainstorming for retirement ideas. Just like any other form of travel, it requires some research on your part. With a good fit, the experience of small ship travel can offer a new travel perspective, especially when beginning retirement life.
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