USA TODAY 10Best
Enjoy unparalleled experiences on these 10 boutique cruise lines
Best Boutique Cruise Line (2024)
Boutique cruise lines can take your cruise vacation to the next level with luxurious perks like small ships, enticing passenger-to-staff ratios, unique onboard activities, and excursions you won't find on bigger ships. These 10 lines have been selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best because they not only fit that bill, but also exceed expectations.
- Oceania Cruises
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
- Scenic
- Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
- Explora Journeys
- American Cruise Lines
- Crystal Cruises
- Viking Ocean Cruises
- SeaDream Yacht Club
- Windstar Cruises
Photo courtesy of Oceania Cruises
No. 10:
One of the world’s largest luxury cruise lines, Oceania Cruises attracts passengers with its destination-centric itineraries to more than 600 ports around the world, as well as its stellar culinary program headed by Master Chef Jacques Pépin and its spacious accommodations (the Regatta, Insignia, Nautica, and Sirena only carry 684 guests).
Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
No. 9:
Similar in spirit to the posh Ritz-Carlton hotel brand, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection features impeccable service and lavish amenities every step of the way. This boutique cruise line offers state-of-the-art ships, exquisite dining, fabulous spa treatments, and exclusive curated explorations in a style that reflects the brand's well-known sophistication and refined elegance.
No. 8:
Scenic sets sail on rivers and oceans around the globe, offering all-inclusive luxury experiences on their intimate ships. Butler service is included on their river cruises, while each ocean cruise comes equipped with its own helicopter and submarine. Spacious and luxe accommodations keep passengers comfortable onboard, and personalized and immersive excursions allow guests to make the most of their getaway.
Photo courtesy of Ralph Lee Hopkins, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic
No. 7:
Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic specializes in unique voyages that blend expert-led exploration with the spirit of a true expedition. This cruise line seamlessly weaves together education and adventure, creating an unparalleled journey for the curious traveler in many remote and distant destinations around the world. Guests on this line enjoy awe-inspiring landscapes while contributing to ongoing scientific research.
Photo courtesy of Explora Journeys
No. 6:
Explora Journeys offers a cruise experience that's all about discovery and relaxation — from the Mediterranean to the Hawaiian Islands. Adventurous cruisers enjoy innovative itineraries, blending serene moments at sea with thrilling onshore excursions. From wellness-focused amenities to cutting-edge sustainability practices, Explora Journeys' modern approach to cruising is ideal for the boutique experience.
Photo courtesy of American Cruise Lines
No. 5:
Passengers with American Cruise Lines enjoy the most environmentally-friendly small ship vessels in the United States as they journey along the mighty Mississippi, through New England, to the wilds of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, or along the Intracoastal Waterway and Chesapeake Bay. Onboard experts offer lectures, and meals are crafted from locally sourced ingredients to support the communities visited.
No. 4:
Known for expertly combining luxury and adventure across the globe, Crystal Cruises offers opulence along with exploration. Delight in first-rate dining, Broadway-caliber shows, and exclusive service aboard some of the most sophisticated ships afloat. Crystal's unique focus on cultural immersion ensures that every journey is a celebration of the world's finest experiences.
No. 3:
Viking Cruises earned its reputation through its affordable, destination-focused river cruises. After making a grand entrance into the world of ocean cruising, the line now has 10 ocean vessels. All cabins come with balconies and are notably larger than the industry average, and they offer the same destination-intensive programming that made their river cruises so popular.
Photo courtesy of SeaDream Yacht Club
No. 2:
Passengers aboard SeaDream Yacht Club’s twin mega-yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream II, have the opportunity to visit small ports around the world on 7- to 15-day itineraries. With a 95-person crew and a maximum of 112 guests, each passenger receives personalized service. Also included in every SeaDream experience is complimentary access to WaveRunners, Hobie Cats, kayaks, snorkeling gear, and other water sports equipment. A golf simulator lets players practice their swing at sea.
Photo courtesy of Michael Nalley / Windstar Cruises
No. 1:
With fewer than 350 guests per sailing, Windstar Cruises promises passengers a cruising experience free of lines and waiting. Since their six boutique ships are smaller than typical cruise ships, they can sail into small European villages, off-the-beaten-path harbors, and hidden coves, giving guests the opportunity to visit both major capitals and smaller ports. Windstar’s shore excursions offer guests the opportunity to immerse themselves into the local culture and cuisines of these special ports of call.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Ben Souza
Ben Souza is a world traveler who has visited 40+... Read More
Ben Souza is a world traveler who has visited 40+ countries, taken over 70
cruises, and flown nearly one million miles. He serves as the editor of
Cruise Fever.
Ben Souza
Ben Souza is a world traveler who has visited 40+ countries, taken over 70
cruises, and flown nearly one million miles. He serves as the editor of
Cruise Fever.
Brandon Withrow
Brandon Withrow is a travel journalist based in... Read More
Brandon Withrow is a travel journalist based in Northwest Ohio, covering ecotourism, wildlife, outdoor adventures, and eco-friendly stays, as well as the secrets of underrated cities. He appears in The Daily Beast, BBC Travel, Canadian Geographic, Business Insider, The Hill, and Sierra Magazine. You can find him at www.brandonwithrow.com, @bwithrow on Twitter, and @bgwithrow on Instagram.
Brandon Withrow
Brandon Withrow is a travel journalist based in Northwest Ohio, covering ecotourism, wildlife, outdoor adventures, and eco-friendly stays, as well as the secrets of underrated cities. He appears in The Daily Beast, BBC Travel, Canadian Geographic, Business Insider, The Hill, and Sierra Magazine. You can find him at www.brandonwithrow.com, @bwithrow on Twitter, and @bgwithrow on Instagram.
Don and Heidi Bucolo
Don and Heidi Bucolo are the husband and wife team... Read More
Don and Heidi Bucolo are the husband and wife team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Their love for cruising began after taking their first cruise together back in 2007. Having spent over 180 days at sea on more than 30 cruises with various cruise brands, they have learned a thing or two about planning and executing the perfect cruise vacation. The couple was voted as one of Porthole Cruise's Top 10 Cruise Influencers and is featured in the new book Cruising Interrupted. You can find them on the web and social media sharing detailed cruise ship reviews, port guides, packing tips and planning tips to help travelers "sea the world, one port at a time."
Don and Heidi Bucolo
Don and Heidi Bucolo are the husband and wife team behind EatSleepCruise.com. Their love for cruising began after taking their first cruise together back in 2007. Having spent over 180 days at sea on more than 30 cruises with various cruise brands, they have learned a thing or two about planning and executing the perfect cruise vacation. The couple was voted as one of Porthole Cruise's Top 10 Cruise Influencers and is featured in the new book Cruising Interrupted. You can find them on the web and social media sharing detailed cruise ship reviews, port guides, packing tips and planning tips to help travelers "sea the world, one port at a time."
Doug Parker
Doug Parker is the creator and executive producer... Read More
Doug Parker is the creator and executive producer of Cruise Radio, a weekly podcast that shares cruise reviews and other cruise news.
Doug Parker
Doug Parker is the creator and executive producer of Cruise Radio, a weekly podcast that shares cruise reviews and other cruise news.
Jason Leppert
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert... Read More
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 140 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents' shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes "he said, she said" cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West.
Jason Leppert
Jason Leppert is a San Diego-based cruising expert with more than 140 sailings under his belt and a fresh, millennial perspective on the industry. He has been cruising since before he was two years old, thanks to his parents' shared passion for traveling and their desire to experience all journeys together as a family. Now, he regularly sails and writes "he said, she said" cruise columns with his wife Heidi. He is the founding editor of Popular Cruising, producer of the successful Popular Cruising YouTube channel and Cruise Editor for TravelAge West.
Ming Tappin
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been... Read More
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry since 1994. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian and American travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on over 70 cruises and has experienced over 25 ocean, river, and expedition cruise lines combined.
Ming Tappin
Residing in New Brunswick, Canada, Ming has been in the cruise industry since 1994. Ming spent over 20 years in the retail travel sector, working with travel agencies in marketing initiatives, cruise training, and promoting cruise vacations to their clients. In 2015, Ming created Your Cruise Coach and transitioned into travel writing, preaching the merits of cruising via her partnerships with Canadian and American travel trade publications as well as consumer media outlets. An avid cruiser since 1991, Ming has sailed on over 70 cruises and has experienced over 25 ocean, river, and expedition cruise lines combined.
Paul Thornton
Paul’s just completed book, The Joy of Cruising... Read More
Paul’s just completed book, The Joy of Cruising Again, is his fourth and follow-up to the fun, upbeat, award-winning Amazon bestseller The Joy of Cruising, and Cruising Interrupted. The books are anthologies of passionate cruisers with fascinating stories and have included a TV star, Grammy winners/nominees, a Poker Hall of Famer, entrepreneurs, and global cruise personalities, but mostly “ordinary” cruisers with extraordinary stories. Readers can learn more about The Joy of Cruising trilogy here. Besides continuing to cruise as much as possible, Paul hosts The Joy of Cruising Podcast, a weekly conversation with one of the dozens of passionate cruisers featured in the books as well as other global cruise personalities. Paul is originally from Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. After serving in the US Army and simultaneously earning a bachelor's degree in business, he attained his MBA and then spent concurrently, 17 years in corporate management, and 23 years in small business ownership. After leaving corporate, he started a career in higher ed. He earned a doctorate, attained tenure as a business professor, and subsequently moved into administration in Dean or Executive Director positions before retiring in 2021. Paul lives in Mooresville, North Carolina with his wife Cheryl and considers cruising with their children and grandchildren life’s ultimate escape. Paul longs to cruise as much as the people he writes about in The Joy of Cruising Trilogy.
Paul Thornton
Paul’s just completed book, The Joy of Cruising Again, is his fourth and follow-up to the fun, upbeat, award-winning Amazon bestseller The Joy of Cruising, and Cruising Interrupted. The books are anthologies of passionate cruisers with fascinating stories and have included a TV star, Grammy winners/nominees, a Poker Hall of Famer, entrepreneurs, and global cruise personalities, but mostly “ordinary” cruisers with extraordinary stories. Readers can learn more about The Joy of Cruising trilogy here. Besides continuing to cruise as much as possible, Paul hosts The Joy of Cruising Podcast, a weekly conversation with one of the dozens of passionate cruisers featured in the books as well as other global cruise personalities. Paul is originally from Brooklyn and Long Island, New York. After serving in the US Army and simultaneously earning a bachelor's degree in business, he attained his MBA and then spent concurrently, 17 years in corporate management, and 23 years in small business ownership. After leaving corporate, he started a career in higher ed. He earned a doctorate, attained tenure as a business professor, and subsequently moved into administration in Dean or Executive Director positions before retiring in 2021. Paul lives in Mooresville, North Carolina with his wife Cheryl and considers cruising with their children and grandchildren life’s ultimate escape. Paul longs to cruise as much as the people he writes about in The Joy of Cruising Trilogy.
Sherry Laskin
Sherry hasn’t set foot on an airplane in more than... Read More
Sherry hasn’t set foot on an airplane in more than 25 years. Instead, she relies on cruise ships, river ships, trains and road trips to travel the world. In that time, she’s been on more cruises than she can count and includes her solo cruise and travel adventures on her website, CruiseMaven.com. Her articles have been published in major newspapers and magazines - in print and online. During a year and a half of living in Alaska, Sherry has cruised and spent time at every port in the Last Frontier except for Nome. She’s become an avid transatlantic cruiser since 2005, as that is the only way for her to get to Europe without flying. Sherry hopes to inspire and encourage her readers to travel slow and travel solo, experience new cuisines and cultures.
Sherry Laskin
Sherry hasn’t set foot on an airplane in more than 25 years. Instead, she relies on cruise ships, river ships, trains and road trips to travel the world. In that time, she’s been on more cruises than she can count and includes her solo cruise and travel adventures on her website, CruiseMaven.com. Her articles have been published in major newspapers and magazines - in print and online. During a year and a half of living in Alaska, Sherry has cruised and spent time at every port in the Last Frontier except for Nome. She’s become an avid transatlantic cruiser since 2005, as that is the only way for her to get to Europe without flying. Sherry hopes to inspire and encourage her readers to travel slow and travel solo, experience new cuisines and cultures.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
