Small Cruise Ship Collection Reviews 

We have recently returned from a small ship cruise on the MS Markan with Captain Petar and crew.
We did a circular route from Split - Split via Dubrovnik.

This was a fantastic small ship cruise due to the care and attention of the captain and crew.
The itinerary changed slightly from what was originally given but that was not a problem as we still visited the places listed.
We were very well looked after by all the crew who went out of their way to make us comfortable.
They were also a lot of fun. The food was very good and they provided special meals for me because of dietary requirements.

The time on shore was good too as there were optional activities and free time so it did not feel rushed.
We were very impressed with the care of the environment as this was something we were concerned about.
As the ship is family owned, and with an eye on the future, there was respect for the laws of the islands unlike some other ships.
We had opportunities to swim or kayak from the ship too.

Our tour manager, Mira is obviously very experienced with a lot of local knowledge and pride in her country. She was very helpful and informative.

The company provided us with alternative dates, alternative boats and alternative routes for the trip we wanted to do along the Dalmatian Coast, which was very useful. Their communication was excellent whilst we made our decision. We would certainly use them again.

We have recently returned from Croatia doing a Split to Split cruise on MS Aureilia and i honestly cannot say one negative thing. The booking process was friendly, easy and efficient and the cruise itsself was simply perfect. Our tour manager onboard, Stan was amazing, all the staff were lovely, it was spotlessly clean, and the food excuisite. I would definately recommend and will be doing more small ship cruises in the future.

Excellent cruise around Turkey, wonderful service and I definitely would book again! Avoid the horrible corporate cruises ! This is an excellent alternative and far more beautiful holiday experience etc. Overall excellent 10/10

We sailed from Split to Dubrovnik via the islands, stopping at a different one each day with guided tours and time for swimming and relaxing on board. The boat (Roko) was beautiful. The cabins were lovely, very comfortable and the food excellent. The staff were fantastic and couldn't have done more to be helpful. We enjoyed meeting fellow travellers from USA, NZ, Canada and Australia. Croatia itself is beautiful and the cruise is an excellent way to see its gorgeous coastline. Overall the holiday was lovely and exceeded our expectations. We recommend the SCSC and would consider a similar holiday in the future.

As a birthday treat to ourselves we wanted someone else to organise our cruise along the Croatian coast from Split to Dubrovnik. The great team at the Small Cruise Ship Collection booked everything: flights (at sensible times), excellent hotels in Split and Dubrovnik, the cruise, and hotel/airport transfers. And it all went like clockwork. We had a superb time. The ship we chose, M/S Ambassador, was immaculate, the crew extremely attentive, the food 4*, and we made some new friends. All in all, a perfect holiday. So a big thank you to the Small Cruise Ship Collection!

We were made aware of the cruise in a newsletter circulated by the Small Cruise Shop Collection. We were fortunate to be able to secure two cruise experiences for the price of one so sign up and keep in touch with the SCSC who are great to deal with!

Our cruise along the coastline of Montenegro in the first week of May was superb despite one or two days of not so good weather. The Sadri Usta is a beautiful gulet with every modern comfort including en suite bathrooms. It is immaculate! The crew can't do enough for their guests and are on hand to help at all times. The food is amazing: beautiful breakfasts which kept us going until lunch when we enjoyed fantastic Turkish salad dishes, succulent fish and a home baked cake. The 8 hour cooked legs of lamb is the best!

The boat is well equipped with a paddle board, kayak and canoe so no excuse for not taking to the water which was reasonably warm even in early May! We really enjoyed the public seating areas which were like oversized sofas to stretch out on and either sunbathe or chill out in the back of the boat depending on how you feel! Our fellow passengers were from different countries which we enjoyed but all the crew speak English so no problems if you are travelling on your own. We could not recommend this holiday highly enough. The coastline of Monegnegro is beautiful and viewing it from the Sadri Usta sailing along in the sun is a joy!

We really appreciated the support we received from The Small Cruise Ships company for booking our cruise on "Aranui5" and co-ordinating with the ship's company which was in Tahiti. The experience was very efficient, they took care of the paperwork and I think saved us a lot of to-ing and fro-ing if we'd booked directly with Tahiti. Would definitely use them again.

We had a wonderful time in Quito and the Rainforest on the Manatee, and overall, the experience was truly memorable. The guides, from taxi drivers to rainforest and Manatee staff, were outstanding—knowledgeable, friendly, and instrumental in making our Amazon adventure both exciting and educational.

That said, I wanted to provide some feedback on the description of the trip as a "cruise." Due to low water levels, much of the time was spent in motorized canoes rather than cruising on the Manatee itself. While we understand this is beyond anyone's control, the long journeys in the canoes—such as the 5-hour round trip to see Peru/Pink Dolphins—made it difficult to relax or enjoy conversations during these transfers.

The low water levels also meant the Manatee itself often couldn't navigate the Napo River as described, which impacted the onboard experience. Knowing these conditions have persisted for several years, I feel the reliance on canoe trips should be emphasized more clearly in the trip description for future travelers.

On a positive note, the service throughout was exceptional, and the people we encountered were a real highlight of the journey. Despite the challenges, we appreciated the effort and dedication of everyone involved.

Regarding accommodation, while the Patio Andaluz hotel was serviceable, I wouldn’t recommend it due to its layout and dated facilities. In contrast, the Plaza Grande was truly exceptional and a much better choice for comfort and quality.

Thank you for organising this adventure. Please do pass on my thanks to your team and the guides for making our Amazon experience unforgettable.

A very good Christmas Cruise. This was a Ponant Cruise along the West Coast of Malaysia from Singapore just into Thailand and back. The boat was excellent and the food, being French, just divine. The excursions were the weakest link due to some shortcomings on the part of the local agents. The biggest surprise was that other than myself and one British couple based in Tokyo there were no other Brits on board, and I was only one of 3 solo travellers. However I was able (as a newly solo traveller) to team up with some of the several Aussie folk on board.
The Small Cruise Ship Company had organised the booking and were able to send the relevant updates and requirements when needed. If I was not booking directly I would certainly use them again.

I was disappointed with this cruise I didn’t know it was mainly for snorklers and divers I was under the impression the ship was going to different islands which wasn’t the case

SMALL BOAT CRUISES IN CROATIA IS A GOOD IDEA BUT NOT IF YOU HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES. THE BOATS RAFT UP AT THE STOPS AND YOU CAN BE CLIMBING OVER 7 OR 8 BOATS OF DIFFERENT SIZES TO GET TO THE SHORE. ONE LADY FELL THROUGH THE GAP BETWEEN THE BOATS BECAUSE THE CREWS DID NOT TIE THE BOAT TOGETHER PROPERLY. THE ITENIERY WAS GOOD.

We cruised southern Turkey in a 30 meter sailboat for 6 days. We stopped at small historical sites for walking tours and sheltered coves for swimming. Three meals a day were served with care and variety. The crew and ship were excellent. The cabins are small and only for rest and hygiene. I would gladly take the trip again

Small Ship Cruise Colloection did a wonderful job finding and booking our cruise. They have offerings worldwide and can suggest, arrange and customize trips for individuals, groups, or families.

The first time I trusted myself to book an on-line holiday. Being a real sceptic about the internet it was a big deal. Anyway, after speaking to Ali and Andrew I was reassured, the phone number gets you through to a human, and went for it. When I got to the payment bit the receivers account lined up with the company name etc. Happy days. The holiday cruise to Croatia was just the best. All flights, cruise details and hotel booking just worked. The people who were doing the meet and great were all there on time and really made life easy. The cruise itself was just wonderful. Around 30 odd people + crew, I don't do wall to wall people, and really got on very well. The excursions were spot on and the swimming stops most days were great. No complaints at all. Thanks Ali and Andrew

The entire experience was enjoyable. The ship is well maintained, clean and comfortable. The staff were friendly and always helpful. The captain adapted the route according to the weather. The food was great. Land experiences were interesting and varied.

Was really looking forward to this cruise as we have been on several larger cruise lines and thought this would really be a wonderful experience. However, the food was fair to poor. The beds were hard. The crew members were unfriendly…The Cruise Director had a real attitude and spent most his time talking about politics and his distain for the government of Croatia never smiled. We had three out of the six stops canceled, and we understand mother nature does that but wasted time taking us on unnecessary walks and trying to fill-in time with crowded public buses Which sickened a few of the passengers. This was not the cruise. I expected. …the value for money was not there. The food selections were subpar. Would not do again or recommend. The best part of our trip was meeting all the wonderful friendly. Aussies and kiwis would not recommend this cruise.

The very helpful, friendliness, understanding Client Service Members of Staff make using your company the easiest way to plan, book and have complete faith that all will be well.

7 day Croatian cruise Dubrovnik to Split.
It exceeded expectations, everyone so friendly and helpful, from the other fellow passengers from all over the world to the staff. The right mix of sailing, swim stops and optional guided tours. We moored each afternoon in a harbour where we were free to do our own thing,you could take a guided tour which was included, lasting approximately 45minutes. Our guide would point out what was available on the islands.
The staff were excellent the food was good and plentiful.
Our lower deck room was spacious.
We were always kept informed of what was going on.
Small cruise ship sent all the information you needed and were very informative prior to booking.
We had a day in Dubrovnik the day be fore our cruise so we were able to see Dubrovnik leisurely which we would recommend, as the cruise guide was rushed we went up the cable car then down guide around the Main Street in the old town and 30mins on your own. For those just arrived in Dubrovnik to do the cruise wouldn’t get to feel and experience the beautiful city. No time to walk the wall. We had more time to experience Split at the end of our cruise.
Loved it

I just returned from a week’s cruising in the Gulf of Gokova on Neyzen Yachting’s Flas VII, booked through the Small Cruise Ship Collection. I had a really lovely time and definitely hope to return. The weather was perfect apart from occasionally bothersome wind and it was very relaxing. The scenery outside the immediate Bodrum area was unspoilt and beautiful. I just love being on the water, sailing, kayaking etc so it was perfect for me.
The boat is huge – 33 m – and there were only 8 passengers (of a maximum of 17) on board. My fellow travellers were strangers but we got on fine. We ate meals together but for the rest of the time there was plenty of space to spread out. Everyone was considerate. The young captain (Ozturk) and crew were very good – hospitable, nothing too much trouble, always willing to haul paddle boards/kayaks into the water for you, to serve drinks etc. As a sailor myself, I appreciate that the captain was also very skilful in manoeuvring and mooring the boat, even in the very confined space of Bodrum Harbour.
The downsides: Firstly, the food was not great apart from breakfasts (which didn’t involve much cooking), especially in the last couple of days. Turkish dishes were OK but attempts to cook fish and steak were not successful. Secondly, we did not sail. The boat is huge and has sails but it is not fitted with winches or adequate cleats so how can two sailors be expected to raise and handle the sails? To fit winches would seem an obvious step for the owners. Thirdly, the last night was spent in Bodrum Harbour, which is very noisy. They say they can’t get a mooring unless they get in by 3.30 pm the previous day but it’s an anticlimax.