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AdventureSmith Explorations Offers Family-Friendly Adventure Cruises

By Matt Hannafin
November 25, 2011

Small-ship cruises are usually the domain of adults only, and finding families with kids aboard is a serious rarity. Still, a few small-ship lines do program a family-oriented voyage here and there — and occasionally they go at it whole hog. One such is AdventureSmith Explorations, a company that charters a number of different small ships for its world-ranging adventure cruises.

For 2012 and 2013, AdventureSmith is offering a whole grab-bag of child-friendly cruises, from Alaska to Borneo. The ships, chartered from companies like Lindblad Expeditions, American Safari Cruises, InnerSea Discoveries, and Orion Expeditions, carry between 12 and 148 passengers, and the focus is on guided, off-ship cultural opportunities and adventure excursions, such as hiking, sea kayaking, and wildlife viewing.

The company’s top upcoming family cruises include:

• Baja aboard the 22-passenger Safari Quest, with departures December 24–31, 2011, and December 31 to January 7 (special $400 off ages 12–19) and over spring break, March 3–10 and March 24–31, 2012. There’s a 25% discount for ages 12 and under.
• Panama Canal & Costa Rica aboard the 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion, from now through March. There’s a $500 savings ages 18 and under.
• Galapagos aboard the 20-passenger Eric, Letty, or Flamingo, with family departures between March 4 and April 8 and May 27 and August 19. Kids ages 11 and under get 25% off the regular fare; kids 12–17 get 15% off.
• Hawaiian Seascapes aboard the 36-passenger Safari Explorer, with dedicated family cruises March 8–15 and March 24–31, 2012, and March 9–16 and March 30 to April 6, 2013. Ages 12 and under get a There’s a 25% discount.
• Alaska Eastern Coves Adventure Cruise aboard the 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer, with designated family trips June 23–30, July 21–28, and August 4–11, 2012. Ages 12 and under get a 25% discount.
• Glacier Bay National Park aboard the 22-passenger Safari Quest, with departures June 22–29 and July 20–27, 2012. Ages 12 and under get a 25% discount. Galapagos aboard the 100-passenger National Geographic Endeavour, with year-round departures. Ages 18 and under save $500.
• Peruvian Amazon Cruise aboard the 28-passenger Delfin II, with year-round departures. Ages 11 and get a 20% discount.
• Borneo "Camp Leaky / Faces in the Forest" cruise aboard the 100-passenger Orion II, with year-round departures. Ages 2–15 save 75% when sharing a cabin with two adults.