Types of Cruises, From A to Z
An index of specialty cruises — what each type is, and where to read about it in depth.
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There are far more types of cruises than most travelers realize. Beyond the familiar week in the Caribbean there are riverboats in the heart of Europe, expedition ships among icebergs, hotel barges on French canals, whole ships chartered by music fans, and quiet sailings planned around a family member’s needs. The Specialty Cruise Index lists them A to Z and points you to the site in our network that explains each one properly.
Think of this site as the card catalog, not the book. Every entry has a one-line summary written for this index and a link to a dedicated guide. Browse the full A–Z index, or start with one of the four ways people usually narrow it down:
By kind of ship
Ocean, river, expedition, barge, small ship and sailing ship — the types of cruises by vessel.
Types of cruises →
By theme
Music, food, hobbies, sports, faith and learning: a themed cruises list with links.
Themed cruises list →
For families
Kids, reunions, holidays, school groups and multigenerational trips.
Types of cruises for families →Jump Into the Specialty Cruises Index
Every letter below opens the matching part of the specialty cruises index.
How the index is organized
Each specialty cruise type is listed under the word most people search for — “barge cruises” under B, “solo cruises” under S. Where one site covers two related types, such as senior travel and senior club groups, both are listed so you can find either.
What makes something a specialty cruise
A specialty cruise is shaped around a purpose. Sometimes the whole ship shares it, as on a charter; more often a group shares it on a ship full of other travelers. Either way, the purpose decides the ship, the dates and the company you keep.
Popular Specialty Cruises
River cruises
Smaller boats, town-center docks and included tours. Start with the Official River Cruise Directory.
Expedition cruises
Remote places by small ship with landings by inflatable boat. See Explorer Cruising.
Theme cruises
A shared interest on board, from rock music to bridge. See Special Interest Cruises.
Solo cruises
Studio cabins and social events for people sailing alone. See Sailing Single.
Wedding cruises
Ceremonies at sea or in port and cabin blocks for guests. See Group Cruise Planners.
Special needs cruises
Support built in for autism, recovery and dialysis. See Specialty Cruise Groups.
Not Sure Which Type Suits You?
Write down who is going, what the trip is for, and how you like to spend a day. A couple celebrating an anniversary, a family of three generations and a group of jazz fans will each be happiest on a very different ship. Our sister sites A Voyage Travel and Cruise Compares help you weigh the options, and our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will suggest sailings if you ask.
About the Index
How many types of cruises are there?
There is no official list. Cruises can be sorted by the kind of vessel (ocean ship, riverboat, expedition ship, barge, sailing ship), by where they go, and by who or what they are built around. This index covers nearly fifty specialty types and keeps growing.
What is a specialty cruise?
Any sailing designed around something more specific than a general holiday: a theme, a hobby, a community, a life stage or a particular need. Some are full-ship charters; many are groups on ordinary sailings.
Who writes the pages this index links to?
Each linked site is part of the Mister Cruise and Smart Traveler network and covers one cruise type in depth. The index itself only describes and sorts them.
The Specialty Cruise Index is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
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