
The different types of cruise explained
Cruising is becoming ever more popular and the trend is showing no signs of slowing – worldwide, 31.7 million people took a cruise in 2023, with numbers expected to rise to 39.7 million by 2027. And it’s not just traditional ocean cruising that’s growing, with exploration destinations up 53%.
From ocean cruises to river cruises, expedition cruises, houseboats, sightseeing and even safari cruises, there’s more choice than ever before too. So if you’re considering getting out onto the water, our guide to the different types of cruise has everything you need to know.
Ocean cruises
One of the best known types of cruise ships, ocean cruises still include a range of sizes and styles, from small ship cruising to luxury liners, as well as destinations from the classic Mediterranean itineraries to Caribbean islands as well as Alaska and more.
Titan Travel’s cruise ship partners include Holland America and Celestyal, which specialises in cruises around the Aegean and Greek islands. Some cruises include a tour before or after the days at sea, and meals are included along with some excursions and the option to book additional trips.
Small ship cruising
While Titan passengers would normally only be a percentage of the people on board these larger ocean cruise ships, you’ll also find a more intimate experience with our small ship cruises. These small chartered ships are for Titan passengers only, such as the Katarina Line ships which cruise the Croatian islands – the MV Dalmatia has space for 32 guests, for example compared to a maximum of around 2,650 aboard Holland America’s Konigsdam, allowing access to smaller destinations.

River cruising
When you’re considering the different types of cruises to book, river cruising is another of the most popular options with tours mostly visiting Europe or cruising down the Nile in Egypt.
River cruises are a wonderfully relaxed way to travel, with a chance to soak up the scenery as you sail along, as well as being able to explore destinations along the waterways. Classic river cruises include the Rhine and Danube, with Christmas river cruises for a festive escape in Germany, France and Austria, plus itineraries visiting the vineyards of the Douro Valley in Portugal. The sleek, smaller river cruise ships from CroisiEurope are a great way to enjoy a more personal cruise, with around 130-160 passengers on board.
The ultimate river cruise has to be a trip along the Nile though, the world’s longest river, passing ancient temples and discovering fascinating sites such as the Valley of the Kings. These ships tend to be slightly smaller, with around 110-120 passengers on board, or you can also opt for a traditional dahabiya boat cruise with just eight cabins aboard.

Expedition cruising
While ocean and river cruising might be the best-known types of cruise, expedition cruising is also becoming more popular among those travellers looking for an adventure to remember. Rather than hopping between European cities or sunny destinations, expedition cruises visit Antarctica and the Arctic, designed to venture into some of the most remote and unspoiled destinations on earth.
If you’re heading to the top of the world, Arctic Circle cruises are often combined with a visit to Iceland, as well as time in Greenland and the dramatic icy scenery of Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay, or head north from Norway to Svalbard and the ‘icy edge’, the zone where the waters of the Arctic Ocean become pack ice.
For Antarctica, cruises usually depart from Argentina, venturing down to the Antarctic archipelago for wildlife-spotting and a chance to go ashore in the icy wilderness of the Antarctic. Specialist expedition vessels from experts Hurtigruten Cruises are equipped for the weather and conditions, while still being comfortable and having all the essentials along with plenty of mod cons. With restrictions on the number of passengers allowed on board, the best expedition cruises to Antarctica are smaller ships.

Safari cruises
You might not associate safari holidays with a chance to take a cruise, but it’s actually a fantastic way to see some of the country’s wildlife. Visit Botswana, for example, and you can cruise along the Chobe River in Chobe National Park for a chance to spot elephants and hippos on the banks, along with some of the park’s birds.
It’s not just Africa where you can enjoy cruises to spy the native animals either. In Costa Rica, you can cruise through Tortuguero National Park as well as along the Pacific coast to Corcovado National Park, looking out for monkeys in the trees, and some of the country’s vibrantly-coloured birds. And in Asia, one of the highlights of a trip to Borneo is sailing along the Kinabatangan River, where proboscis monkeys live alongside macaques in the trees and pygmy elephants can be seen bathing in the water. In most cases, these smaller boats are designed for short wildlife spotting cruises, before returning you to your base hotel.

Galapagos cruises
There are few places like the Galapagos Islands for nature lovers. With its unique wildlife, volcanic landscapes and unspoiled scenery, the best way to discover the Galapagos Islands is by boat, hopping between some of the small isles in the archipelago. See endangered giant tortoises, Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas and some of the other unusual creatures which have evolved in this corner of the world, and which inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution.
As with Antarctica, there are restrictions on numbers allowed in the Galapagos National Park, both on different types of cruises (including day cruises), as well as limits on boat size. Titan’s Galapagos cruises use boats with a maximum capacity of around 100 guests to ensure you can make the most of this fascinating destination.

Norwegian fjords cruises
A cruise through the Norwegian fjords is one of the most popular options for people planning cruise holidays in Europe, not least because it’s the best way to appreciate this dramatically beautiful scenery. With sheer wooded cliffs rising up from the deep blue water, waterfalls cascading into the fjords, this corner of Norway is simply spectacular with stretches listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Geirangerfjord, Nærøyfjord, Europe’s narrowest fjord, and Aurlandsfjord, an arm of the world’s second-longest fjord. Some cruises focus solely on exploring the majestic landscapes, others take you onwards to northern Norway and the Arctic Circle, while you can also include a day cruise in the fjords as part of a longer holiday.

Houseboat cruises
Some destinations are best explored by river, and that includes the region of Kerala in southern India. While there’s plenty to tempt on land, from historic Fort Kochi to the tea plantations of Munnar, no trip is complete without a houseboat cruise, sailing the backwaters around Alleppey (also known as Alappuzha).
These traditional boats were once used as cargo vessels transporting goods through the 1,500km maze of waterways, but have now been restored as eco-friendly deluxe houseboats. Cruising slowly between lagoons and past riverside villages, you can sit back and relax with some delicious food and drink, or stop to explore some of the surrounding area – one of the most unusual types of cruise experiences, it’s an unforgettable part of a trip.

Sightseeing cruises
When you’re considering what are the different types of cruises available for your trip, it’s fair to say you’ll be spoiled for choice. But if you’d prefer not to spend your whole holiday on board ship, you’ll also find plenty of tours which let you sightsee by boat – a chance to get out on the water but with stays back on land.
In the Italian Lakes, how better to see the region’s beautiful bodies of water than from the lakes themselves, after all, with everything from a cruise around Sirmione to a boat trip to the Borromean Islands. Or try our little boats holidays; in Catalonia, the itinerary is themed around chances to get out on the water, from canals to the coast, while in Andalucia, you can do everything from sailing along the Guadalquivir River in Seville to a boat trip to Donana National Park.
Further afield, there’s around 2,700 miles of Mekong River to explore, with countless opportunities to take a boat trip here, especially in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Watch the sun set from the water in Phnom Penh or discover traditional life around the Mekong Delta. Don’t miss a chance to cruise Halong Bay in Vietnam too.
Explore our range of holiday types, including cruises combined with tours, small ship cruises and expedition cruises

Cathy Winston is a London-based travel journalist, who’s steadily working her way around the world – 60+ countries visited so far.
Cathy Winston | About the author

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