Seatrade Global is the world's leading annual business-to-business event for the global cruise industry, taking place in Miami, Florida. Dan and Mikkel just returned from this premier industry event, which invites media to attend its tradeshow, keynote addresses, panels, and press conferences. 

Learn about the nine revelations that impact small ship cruising for the year ahead and that will influence your future travels, understanding how you'll benefit from the news announced there.

They highlight the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States and the unique itineraries offered by American Cruise Lines. The conversation also covers the increasing demand for cruises, particularly in North America and Europe, and the importance of sustainability in the cruise industry. They emphasize the value of small-ship cruising and the evolving definition of luxury in travel.

Dive into the 9 Revelations from Seatrade with them, including: 

1) 250th Anniversary of the United States, with U.S. Cruise Options

2) Deepened Desire to Cruise North America

3) The Increase in Seine River Options in France

4) Trends with the Growing Demand for Small Ship Cruises

5) Increased Time on Cruise Ships

6) Incredible Value of Small Ship Cruising

7 & 8) The Ship is the Star and What Is Luxury?

9) Sustainability Remains a Top Priority in Cruising

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Dan and Mikkel want to help you plan for your dream small ship cruise! A main element of your next vacation is paying for it. In this episode, explore the world of small ship cruising from an expenses and budgeting lens. 

For each category of small ship cruising, they dive into costs so you gain a solid foundation to understand where to begin. 

River Cruises: What’s the starting price of a river cruise? What is considered peak season? What’s included and what do you need to factor in that’s additional for your budgeting? What cruise lines are good to avoid a solo supplement (and what is that, anyway?!) and what’s a benefit of cruising during off peak season? 

Barge Cruises: You won’t believe the small capacity of barge cruising! What’s the cost of a barge cruise? And can you pay to get the whole ship to yourself? 

Expedition Cruises: Why do they so drastically range in price? And what’s included for a high ticket expedition cruise? What gear do you need to budget for on your own (hint, hint: we recommend binoculars - listen for why that is - and buying or renting a telephoto lens).

Yachts Cruises: What are the big names in yacht cruising and did you know you can use Marriott Bonvoy hotel points to get you on a luxury yacht cruise? Sign up for a Marriott Bonvoy Amex (the same one we use) to easily rack up points! 

Sailing Criuses: Who are the popular players in this special arena? Find out and discover which cruise lines have motorized sails as opposed to cruise lines that passengers can help hoist up manual sails. 

They briefly share pros/cons of working with a travel advisor, budgeting tips and inside info about how to find deals. Save as they do with the Monarch money app and budget for trips to travel more.

Lastly, sign up for the BUCKET LIST BUNDLE from April 15-22, 2025. Sign up to be notified for next year’s bundle is after those dates.

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© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.

In Part 2, Dan and Mikkel help expand your knowledge about what it's like to river cruise. Whether it's your first, fifth, or tenth river cruise, you'll enjoy listening to the conversation as they reminisce about river cruise trips and planning - from why it's important to get travel insurance like that time they missed their first night in Lyon to why it's important to arrive in your port of embarkation city a day early, you'll relate to and learn from their experiences. 

Find out what river cruise lines are kid-friendly, about the 90-year-old woman who cruised with her 16-year-old grandson, what the big idea is about navigating river locks, and what happens when you need a visa for your river cruise destination. 

They answer all this and more in part two of this two-parter for Top Things to Know River Cruising. 

Dive deeper into these helpful resources, which are mentioned in the episode: 

• Read the Things to Know Your First Time on a River Cruise, which complements this episode.  
• Use an Airfly device for Quiet Voxes, which allows you to connect your wireless earbuds (like AirPods) to your excursion listening device. You'll find a link in our Cruise Essentials Packing List in our Amazon Shop. 
• Read more about Adventures by Disney river cruises, which accommodate children quite nicely. 
• We recommend shopping for travel insurance on Travel Insurance Masters. After you input your vacation information, they give you several plans to compare and choose from. 
• European visa EITAS info you'll need for 2026 & beyond. 

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We appreciate our listeners immensely! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New episodes each Wednesday.

Love the show? Please take a moment to give us a 5-star ⭐️ rating!

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If you've found value in our premium cruise insights, support Small Ship Cruise Talk with a contribution to help us continue delivering expert guidance for your extraordinary voyages.

SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice. 🌏 Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.

Maybe it's your first time on a river cruise, second or sixth. Whether you're new to this form of small ship cruising and  want to learn more about what it's like to be on a cruise on this type of vessel, or a seasoned pro who wants to reminisce and laugh along with Dan and Mikkel as they recall recent river cruise trip, tune in as they discuss the Top Things to Know about River Cruising. 

Find out what a typical river cruise ship layout is like and how many decks there are, if there's a workout room on these ships, or what to expect in terms of a spa. 

Is your cabin location important? What are the dining options or what can you expect in terms of entertainment onboard? 

They answer all this and more in this two-part episode. 

You may find these articles helpful, which are mentioned in the episode: 

• Read the Things to Know Your First Time on a River Cruise, which complements this episode.  
• Did you know that cruises that start in one city but end in another have a name? Check out the Complete Guide to Closed-Loop Cruises (and Open Jaw Itineraries)
• Just in case you're wondering how to remember port or starboard side of the ship, they have a tip for you in this episode! Read more about: Port vs. Starboard: Cruises Ship Left and Right Sides
• It's more likely to experience motion sickness during a winding bus ride during a river cruise vacation than it is on the ship! Dan and Mikkel always travel with Anti-Nausea Medication and Other Sea Sickness Solutions just in case, no matter the situation. "Better to have and not need," as Dan says.

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We appreciate our listeners immensely! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New episodes each Wednesday.

Love the show? Please take a moment to give us a 5-star ⭐️ rating!

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If you've found value in our premium cruise insights, support Small Ship Cruise Talk with a contribution to help us continue delivering expert guidance for your extraordinary voyages.

SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice. 🌏 Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.

Explore the world of small ship cruising, focusing on three main types: river cruises, yacht cruises, and barge cruises. 

Co-hosts Dan and Mikkel discuss the unique features, experiences, and benefits of each type, including easy embarkation, cultural immersion, luxury service, and personalized experiences. 

They will help you understand the differences between these three small ship cruise types and guide you in choosing the right experience for your travel preferences.

During this episode, they mention their experiences on the Douro River, cruising on the Danube River, (including sailing through the Wachau Valley), and seeing castles on the Rhine River in Germany.

Dan's love of the Tarascon Turtle is mentioned, which they saw on a cruise through Provence. (Mythical turtle photo is included in that link!)

They touch on their yacht cruise experiences aboard Emerald Azzurra and Windstar Star Pride.

And finally, they discuss their incredible experience on a barge cruise in France, including the Wi-Fi travel hotspot they always vacation with so staying connected on the ship is not a problem.

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We appreciate our listeners immensely! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New episodes each Wednesday.

Love the show? Please take a moment to give us a 5-star ⭐️ rating!

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If you've found value in our premium cruise insights, support Small Ship Cruise Talk with a contribution to help us continue delivering expert guidance for your extraordinary voyages.

SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice. 🌏 Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.

Mikkel and Dan explore the key differences between ocean and river cruising. 

Discussing their personal experiences on both types of cruises, they highlight the stark contrasts in amenities, entertainment, dining options, and overall atmosphere. Curious about the typical layout of a river cruise ship? Listen to find out what it is! 

The conversation delves into the unique features of each cruise type, from the spa options to dining, how river cruises are priced, the a la carte pricing nature of mega-ship ocean cruises, the demographic differences, and the ease and annoyance of excursions on river versus ocean cruises. 

You'll gain insights into what to expect from both cruise options, helping you decide which experience is best for your next vacation.

During the episode, they mention the following resources: 

• Ocean vs. River Cruises extensive article on their website, Sometimes Sailing.
• Their experience in MSC Yacht Club in terms of not feeling like one of 5,600 passengers thanks to the Yacht Club's 320 passengers.
• Their Douro River Cruise experience with Viking.
• The food at Enchanté and Palo on Disney Cruise Line ships. 
• Dining at Luminae, part of Celebrity Cruises The Retreat ship-within-a-ship suites category.
• That you likely won't buy an Omega aboard river cruise ship, but you can buy a luxury watch on a mega-ship, which has lots of onboard shopping. 
• Motion sickness is very unlikely on a river cruise but they always travel on mega-ships prepared with all the sea sickness remedies! 
• River cruises seem expensive, but the cruise fare includes quite a lot.

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We appreciate our listeners immensely! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New episodes each Wednesday.

Love the show? Please take a moment to give us a 5-star ⭐️ rating!

➜ Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

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If you've found value in our premium cruise insights, support Small Ship Cruise Talk with a contribution to help us continue delivering expert guidance for your extraordinary voyages.

SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice. 🌏 Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.

In this inaugural episode of Small Ship Cruise Talk, hosts Mikkel Woodruff and Dan explore the world of small ship cruising, discussing:

• What qualifies as a small ship, and how many passengers can you expect
• An overview of the advantages of smaller vessels
• The unique experiences small ship cruises offer

They delve into the community aspect of small ship cruising, the cost considerations, and how these cruises compare to larger ships. 

Their discussion of some popular small ship cruise lines will excite your future vacation planning - some of which you may have heard of and others you likely have not but are certainly worth knowing about! 

Send us a text

We appreciate our listeners immensely! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New episodes each Wednesday.

Love the show? Please take a moment to give us a 5-star ⭐️ rating!

➜ Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

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If you've found value in our premium cruise insights, support Small Ship Cruise Talk with a contribution to help us continue delivering expert guidance for your extraordinary voyages.

SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice. 🌏 Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.

Small Ship Cruise Talk can help you plan more fulfilling vacations just by listening to the helpful information in each episode. Join us as we share insider information for a look into the world of river cruising, expedition, yacht, and barge cruises.

Send us a text

We appreciate our listeners immensely! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. New episodes each Wednesday.

Love the show? Please take a moment to give us a 5-star ⭐️ rating!

➜ Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

Follow us on Instagram, Threads, & Pinterest.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

If you've found value in our premium cruise insights, support Small Ship Cruise Talk with a contribution to help us continue delivering expert guidance for your extraordinary voyages.

SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice. 🌏 Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

© 2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links.