Do you envision the perfect meeting or event as being one that feels personalized, invites natural connection, includes off-the-beaten-path destination experiences, and has a lighter environmental footprint? Would you also want it to be operationally efficient, flexible, and easy to manage? If that sounds ideal, then the boutique nature of a smaller ship could be your ideal choice, offering all the advantages of small-ship cruises in one setting.
With over 40 years of experience matching meeting planners and executives to the right ship, Landry & Kling has unparalleled expertise to help you discover whether smaller ships are right for you, and if so, which is the best fit.
Why Choose Smaller Ships for Meetings and Events?
Meetings, events, and charters are all about connection. To truly set your next meeting or event apart, Landry & Kling can help you find a smaller-ship option that maximizes space, ease, personalization, and agility.
What’s more, managing the group becomes easier for the event leaders. Embarkation and disembarkation are highly efficient. And the high-quality nature of most small-ship brands means that experiences will be decidedly upscale and refined, with an emphasis on personalization and the individual experience.
Forward-thinking companies and organizations may also find that the sustainability efforts of smaller ships are well-integrated and can align with their own values.
5 Ways Smaller Ships Enhance Your Meetings and Events
At Landry & Kling, we treat every meeting, event, and charter as a completely unique experience. That’s why we begin by understanding what you’re trying to deliver for your attendees, and how we can leverage our longtime relationships and deep knowledge to ensure your success and your participants’ joy. When smaller ships are an option, we work with you and the cruise line to ensure that all the benefits of the intimate size, nimble navigation, and exceptional onboard experience are emphasized in just the right way, to help you create an exceptional experience for every participant.
1. Intimate and Private Atmosphere
The intimate spaces on a smaller ship make bonding feel natural. Consider the state-of-the-art theaters on larger cruise ships: they’re perfect for highly produced spectacle shows, but if you want your participants to connect with a performer or speaker as a group, they’re simply too large. Instead, imagine an elegant lounge overlooking the water, and the way a spotlight on a single voice can draw everyone in to focus on the moment, and bond over the shared experience.
2. Access to Lesser-Traveled Destinations
Smaller ships, from river cruises to oceangoing vessels, invite guests to discover the world differently than they would on large cruise liners. Small ships can access destinations and ports unavailable to large ships, making the destination element of an itinerary more interesting, with the opportunity to experience lesser-known places. From the mystique of the island of Iceland to the Galapagos Islands, and from Alaska cruises to Croatia, award-winning small-ship cruises, expedition ships, and adventure cruises can offer a decidedly different perspective than that enjoyed on big ships.
On river cruises, being docked in the beating heart of a destination lets participants immerse themselves in its culture. Small cruise ships sailing the ocean can bring guests closer to diverse wildlife.
Visiting lesser-known ports of call is one of the ways a voyage on a small ship is truly special. Some UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are harder to reach by larger ships, are found at ports and destinations accessible to smaller vessels. Rugged volcanic islands, a rarely seen fjord, a precious glacier along Alaska’s Inside Passage, the peaks of Santorini, and an array of places with stunning vistas and breathtaking, up-close-and-personal ocean views, are just a few of the small ship cruise destinations that travelers will savor in 2025 and 2026 — and beyond.
Landry & Kling works with you to create not only an exceptional meeting or event experience, but also a deeply rewarding travel experience.
3. Luxury Onboard Experience
Groups that desire highly personalized, refined, and upscale experiences are often especially delighted to experience a smaller ship. Design can be classic or modern, and views are often breathtaking. Cuisine can be downright stellar. In many cases, the groups that seek out smaller ships want all aspects of the onboard experience to feel like those at a five-star hotel. Combined with the intimacy of spaces that nurture natural connection and networking, and off-the-beaten-path destinations, small-ship cruises can feel exclusive as well as luxurious.
4. Built-In Sustainability
Smaller ships have the ability to implement sustainable practices, avoid overly crowded ports and destinations, and integrate with communities and ecosystems in a lighter way than larger ships. The way smaller ships focus on sustainability and honor their commitment to helping coastal areas remain pristine, is highly appealing to forward-thinking companies and organizations.
5. More Flexibility
Given the boutique nature of these ships, experiences can be easily customized to meet a group’s specific goals especially with a partner like Landry & Kling, whose decades of expertise are your “secret weapon.” Spaces can be transformed with ease. Experiences can easily become all-inclusive. Wildlife viewing can happen from the ship itself at times, rather than needing to make that part of a separate excursion, freeing up more time for participants to spend networking or even immersing themselves in a destination.
Holding meetings and events aboard small ships, in certain parts of the world, can impart a sense of adventure based on itinerary, that can inspire the energy of the organized events and experiences onboard. In fact, one of the overarching benefits to chartering a small ship is the ability to control the itinerary between the embarkation and disembarkation ports: you control where to go, and how long to stay in each destination.
And, for some companies and organizations, charters are more attainable—and, ultimately, more memorable—on small ships than on large ones. Some value privacy and intimacy so much that they feel a charter is the best value for their investment.
Top Smaller Ship Cruise Lines for Meetings and Events
Below are some examples of some of the best small ship options for hosting an intimate, luxurious, memorable meeting or event. Each of these cruise lines have unique attributes and nuances that make them distinct from one another, and Landry & Kling can help you discover which one is perfect for your next project, from new ships to beloved favorites.
Seabourn
Seabourn offers a sophisticated, hassle-free setting that combines luxury, flexibility, and meaningful engagement beyond the reach of larger ships. Their boutique ships each carry between 264 and 600 guests in a refined ambiance featuring oceanfront suites, many with private verandas, ensuring comfort and privacy for everyone in your group. The personalized, attentive service from a dedicated crew focused on exceeding expectations is matched by perks like premium spirits, fine wines, complimentary caviar, world-class dining across multiple venues, in-suite bars customized to preferences, no tipping policies, and reliable unlimited Wi-Fi.
Seabourn’s sustainability goals include 100% cage-free eggs, responsible chicken sourcing, and crate-free pork by the end of 2025, and reducing food waste by 50% per person by 2030.
SeaDream Yacht Club
SeaDream Yacht Club offers a unique, family-owned yachting experience that sets itself apart from traditional cruising, emphasizing relaxed luxury with impeccable service and attention to detail. SeaDream operates two mega-yachts, SeaDream I and SeaDream II, exclusively designed to visit smaller ports and harbors inaccessible to larger ships, providing your group access to intimate, distinctive destinations. The ships accommodate a maximum of 112 guests, and the onboard team focuses on delivering unparalleled personalized service, creating an effortless and memorable setting perfect for exclusive corporate gatherings or special events at sea.
In 2024, SeaDream Yacht Club was the first luxury cruise line to retrofit its entire fleet with shore power connectivity.
Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises offers a private-yacht-style atmosphere, with ships carrying between 148 and 342 guests. The size invites deep connection. Windstar encourages guests to engage in unique activities such as visiting local markets with the chef, joining impromptu lessons on navigation at the bridge, enjoying live music, or relaxing by the marina with direct water access. The crew’s exceptional hospitality is a hallmark of the Windstar experience, focused on anticipating guests’ needs and creating a personalized atmosphere. Windstar Cruises stands out for its blend of genuine, personalized service and immersive destination experiences and is ideal for focused, upscale group events.
From November 2026 through January 2027, Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit will offer new 9-night yacht-style sailings to the Canary Islands, featuring first-ever visits to Porto Santo and El Hierro, showcasing a quieter, more authentic side of the breathtaking archipelago.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways specializes in river cruises across Europe with an emphasis on spacious, comfortable, and personalized experiences. Avalon Waterways’ strong guest-to-crew ration of 3:1 epitomizes attentive, friendly service that makes guests feel at home. Their innovative Suite Ships typically carry around 150 guests, with some even smaller, ensuring a relaxed atmosphere without crowding. Whether onboard or during shore excursions, the focus is on providing ample space and time to enjoy dining, dancing, and discovery, creating an ideal environment for exclusive group events and meetings in scenic, culturally rich waterways.
In the ultimate expression of a bucket list meeting or event setting, consider the MS Infinity, handpicked for Avalon Waterways guests, for an exclusive Galápagos Islands experience with just 10 spacious suites (and up to 20 guests). Guests enjoy panoramic windows, private balconies, and amenities like a Jacuzzi and observation deck for wildlife viewing. Expert naturalists lead informative shore excursions, lectures, and snorkeling in the marine reserve. With attentive service and open seating featuring international and Ecuadorian cuisine, the MS Infinity delivers a unique luxury expedition cruise.
Silversea (Muse Class)
An ultra-luxury offering to consider is Silversea’s Muse Class, or the ship named Silver Muse, and its incredibly elegant expression of the small-ship experience. Up to 596 guests can be accommodated, all in spacious suites with white-gloved, personalized service. Every suite has its own butler whose sole purpose is to ensure each guest voyage is delightful.
Launched in 2017 and recently updated, Silver Muse features stylish public spaces, diverse entertainment, a fitness center, and the oceanview Zagara Beauty Spa. Discover eight exceptional dining venues—from formal to casual.
Silver Muse combines sophisticated design and exceptional service, ideal for upscale events and meetings.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brings the brand’s legendary commitment to luxury, service, and attention to detail to a small-ship cruising experience. The three yachts, accommodating from 149 to 226 suites, feature spacious, elegant accommodations and a refined onboard atmosphere designed for discerning travelers and exclusive groups. Guests enjoy world-class, highly customizable à la carte dining crafted by top chefs, paired with premium wines and personalized service that rivals Ritz-Carlton’s renowned hotels.
Itineraries are thoughtfully designed with ample free time and overnight stays in unique ports, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the culture, cuisine, and nightlife of each destination at a relaxed pace. Every element—from the sophisticated design and tailored excursions to the attentive crew—reflects Ritz-Carlton’s iconic standard of excellence, making it an ideal venue for creating unforgettable corporate events and intimate gatherings at sea.
In 2026 and 2027, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will expand its offerings across French Polynesia, Hawaii, and Asia-Pacific aboard Evrima and Luminara with 32 new voyages, reflecting a continued global momentum and ongoing commitment to providing access to the world’s most sought-after regions.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas’s luxury expedition/yacht-style cruise ships offer a blend of refined design and immersive travel. It appeals to a dual mindset: that of the expedition adventurer, and that of the traveler who loves comforts and high-touch service. Atlas’s ships travel to a number of destinations, some of them unique and often remote, like Antarctica, the Arctic, and Iceland, while cocooning its guests in upscale onboard spaces and experiences. The décor of each ship takes its inspiration from nature, with light woods, blues, greens, and neutrals, resulting in an open, airy, elegant feel. Some guest accommodations have a top-drop Juliette balcony, while others have private balconies and range in size to those with comfortable living spaces. Atlas’s restaurants offer globally inspired cuisine, and the ships’ lounges as well as the ‘Après Expedition’ are inviting social spaces. Atlas offers the first SeaSpa by L’OCCITANE, fitness facilities, a running track, heated deck seating for wildlife viewing in colder weather, and a general convivial atmosphere. Select expeditions in Antarctica include conservationists from the Global Penguin Society and the opportunity to help them track and record vital information for protecting the future of the world’s penguin populations.
Is Smaller-Ship Cruising Right for Your Event?
Your event is like no other, and Landry & Kling can help you envision it coming to life at sea.
A smaller ship means more tailored and attentive service, less time spent waiting in lines and more time spent connecting with one another and with a destination. A larger cruise can be beloved for its variety and large capacity, but many who experience small ship events say that they feel more authentic both professionally and personally.
Distractions are minimized on smaller ships. Collaborating and building relationships is easier to do, whether over meetings, meals, or shared experiences. The intimate space on small ship river cruises, for example, automatically imparts a sense of intimacy and importance. Smaller-ship cruises can feel much more bespoke, particularly for events and meetings where feeling like the experience was designed just for your group is important. The way guests explore the world is different on a smaller ship, as destinations unreachable by larger ships invite discovery. And getting around is largely simpler and more efficient, ensuring your participants spend time on memorable moments rather than on logistics.
Landry & Kling is here to help you create a meeting or event that will not only bring your participants joy and satisfaction, but position you to succeed at, and perhaps exceed, your goals.
FAQs
When should I choose a smaller ship vs. a larger ship?
If your budget allows for it, chartering a small ship is the ultimate in exclusivity and luxury. It does require a solid financial commitment, because the contract will obligate you to either fill the entire ship or pay for the entire ship whether it’s filled or not, and to pay for it up front. Meetings and events with a certain number of people who are guaranteed to come are ideal groups to consider a private charter. The joy of chartering is in the ability to fully customize everything from the itinerary to the onboard schedule.
What kind of support do these cruise lines provide for event planning and execution?
Cruise lines welcome groups, meetings, and events. Fortunately, Landry & Kling’s unmatched experience in working with cruise lines of all sizes can be considered your “secret weapon”—we will work with the cruise line and with you, to make the most of every moment of your event so that your participants are left with a sense of joy, accomplishment, and excitement.
What is the minimum or ideal group size for a small-ship event?
Any cruise considers a group to have a minimum of 10 rooms, but the reality is that for most meetings and events clients for whom a small ship is perfect, a private charter is the best option. Smaller-ship sizes range from 30-100 guest rooms, and there are more options when ships with 200-300 rooms are included. Private charters are fully customized with exclusive experiences.
Is small-ship cruising suitable for all age groups and mobility levels?
Whether on an expedition vessel to the Galapagos or Antarctica or simply sailing around the Aegean, these ships are designed to cater to all mobility levels. While all ages can enjoy a smaller-ship experience in general, most meetings and events at sea do not include children.
