Cruising, But Make it Bespoke

From a steam ship that inspired Agatha Christie to a yacht that was gifted to Princess Grace Kelly for her honeymoon, these are not your typical luxury cruises.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been super into the idea of taking a cruise lately. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but in college I was fortunate enough to do Semester at Sea, a multi-country study abroad program where a ship is your floating university. That’s the extent of my cruising experience, and I know sometimes they get a bad rap, but there really is something so magical about being out on the water and taking in the world from a different vantage point.

That being said, traditional cruises seem a little cookie-cutter and far too chaotic for me, so I'm on a mission to find some really special cruises. Cruises befitting of a honeymoon or milestone birthday celebration, perhaps? For my first go, I’ve rounded up some super small journeys — all sailing with 50 passengers or less — from a 12-guest luxury barge through some of France’s most iconic waterways to a floating ryokan sailing Japan’s Seto Inland Sea.

Photo by Dylan Chandler | Courtesy of Nour El Nil

Photos by Dylan Chandler | Courtesy of Nour El Nil

Nour El Nil - Egypt

If you’re looking for a chic and intimate way (24 passengers max) to cruise the Nile, let me introduce you to Nour El Nil, a luxury cruise company whose goal is to blend authentic architecture and modern luxury. You’ll sail from Esna to Aswan on a dahabiya, a shallow-bottomed wooden sailboat with magazine-worthy red-and-white striped sails. On the six day cruise, you’ll stop at ancient temples, archaeological sites and tombs. Meals are made with fresh, local ingredients, often purchased daily from farmers and fishermen along the Nile. If having AC 24/7 is a non-negotiable, their newest boat Poppee is the one for you.