Adventure

What A Small Ship Cruise Is Actually Like | Intrepid Journey Weblog

June 29, 2025

This text first appeared on The Wanderer and has been republished with permission

The day by day itinerary on a giant cruise ship, whereas enjoyable (in a kid-in-a-candy-store sort of approach) is fairly monotonous. Breakfast buffet, lie down, have a snack, battle for a deck chair by the pool, lie down, lunch, a matinee efficiency on the on-ship cinema, snack, lie down, dinner, repeat.

Often there’ll be a shore tour, however often, you’re excursion-ing with 1500 different cruisers, and it’s very troublesome to get a superb really feel for a vacation spot (not to mention escape the crowds and dodge selfie-sticks). You’re probably not travelling a lot as transferring round.

Small ship journey cruising is a bit totally different. For one factor, it’s exhausting to explain a mean day on board. On daily basis is totally different – some spent crusing at sea, others in port, island hopping on a regular basis – and itineraries are designed to be versatile. If there’s a quiet bay alongside our route and some passengers really feel like a swim, there’s nothing stopping the Captain from taking a detour and dropping anchor for an hour or two. If the climate is healthier on a specific island, or the ocean is a bit tough, a small boat is versatile sufficient to regulate its itinerary on the fly. That mentioned, right here’s an ‘common day’ from my current small ship cruise within the Cyclades.

8:00am

I get up in my cabin to the light swaying of the waves. This took some getting used to at first, however by Day 3 it’s like being rocked to sleep on a practice. I’ve by no means slept higher. The solar is properly up exterior, however the room continues to be darkish and funky (the room service crew closed the porthole covers final evening to assist me sleep by the daybreak). Time to dress and head up for breakfast.

8:15am

Selections, selections. In the present day’s unfold consists of some contemporary bread from Mykonos, a number of contemporary fruit and tangy Greek yoghurt, plus bain maries crammed with hash browns, eggs (scrambled and fried), sausages and bacon. Pastries, toast and preserves spherical out the choice. I take a single slice of pineapple to ease my conscience, then load up a plate of fried goodness. It’s going to be a superb day.

10:00am

The crackle of the PA system and the voice of Joseph, your cruise coordinator: “Hey howdy, lovely folks. We will likely be stopping right here for a swim earlier than cruising on to Syros. If you want a dip, please get modified and are available out to the principle deck.” I stroll briskly downstairs (no operating on-board) and get modified, then head out to the bottom of the three out of doors decks. Just a few passengers are already splashing round within the Aegean. The water’s so clear you can also make out each rock down beneath, each strand of seaweed. The crew has lowered some steel stairs into the water. I climb down and dive in.

12:30pm

We arrive on Syros! There’s a few large cruise ships hanging off the coast, however we sail proper previous them into the harbour, pulling up subsequent to the principle restaurant strip. I can see locals out within the solar, consuming gyros and sipping retsina. Joseph says we’ve bought a couple of minutes to prepare, then we’ll head out on a tour of the outdated city. “If I might stay anyplace exterior Athens,” Joseph says, “it might be right here. Wait till you see it.”

1:00pm

We disembark and start wandering by the warren-like metropolis streets. Every thing’s paved in marble. Marble flagstones, marble sidewalks, marble buildings. “On this island,” Joseph says, “While you’re searching for actual property, folks aren’t impressed by marble loos. It’s extra like ‘Oooh, oak flooring…’” Joseph is aware of each road and constructing. Right here the headquarters of the SS on Syros through the conflict, there the City Corridor and the Opera Home, the market stalls and the outdated dynastic households. Apparently he is aware of an ideal place for lunch…

2:00pm

Now that is extra prefer it. Sitting in a shady courtyard within the backstreets of Syros, blushing bougainvillea overhead, some exhausting Greek cheese on my plate and a cool glass of Greek wine in my hand. Joseph took us by the marble labyrinth –left, proper, proper, left, straight, then proper once more – and right here we’re, having lunch with the locals. Not a foul solution to spend a day.

4:00pm

Syros appears to close down within the mid afternoon. The retailers have all closed their doorways. I feel everybody’s off having a siesta (even the stray cats look a bit extra relaxed). I toy with the thought of a day nap myself, however there’s an excessive amount of to see. Joseph advised us in regards to the two church buildings that overlook the city, one Orthodox, one Catholic, perched on twin hills proper subsequent to eachother. I climb up by the streets, step by marble step, stopping every so often to show and take in the view. Finally I attain the Orthodox church, a cobalt-domed constructing surrounded by pine timber. It’s cool beneath the branches, and I hunch down on a bench searching over the harbour. Possibly I’ll have that nap…

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7:30pm

Tonight’s ‘Greek Night time’ on board. No-one was fairly certain what this could entail, however a fast look on the eating room exhibits the workers have gone all out. There’s Greek flags hanging from the ceiling, Greek napkins and desk cloths, a buffet of golden saganaki, dolmades, marinated lamb kebabs and 100 different native dishes able to go. A few of the workers come spherical with trays of contemporary char-grilled octopus and glasses of ouzo, crammed to the brim. One whiff scorches my sinuses. Quickly a Greek band seems (a bunch of younger pals who Joseph tells us are from the native dance faculty). Two dancers present us some strikes whereas the band performs tunes on the bouzouki and accordion. Quickly we’re all up o the ground, Opa-ing with the most effective of them, dancing in a circle and searching ridiculous.

10:30pm

The evening’s kicking on (these ouzos actually pack a punch) however that’s sufficient for me. I wander downstairs to my cabin, footsore, drained and a bit dizzy. The workers have made up the room to perfection, and there’s even a bit chocolate on my pillow. I hunch into mattress and kill the lights. It’s been one hell of a day.

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