Responsible Tourism | MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

Small-ship expedition to the Galapagos. From Alaska small ship cruises to Galapagos cruises, Adventuresmith Explorations specialists point to more and more options to focus a journey with kid-friendly meals, activities and other families, or ensure you’re aboard just with other adults © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Specialists at AdventureSmith Explorations, a global leader in small-ship, adventure cruise vacations, closely track what’s happening in the travel industry and in the destinations where its expedition trips operate.

As 2026 approaches, AdventureSmith is reporting on the interest and trends among travelers booking small ship cruises with the company:

Booking trends: Booking windows have lengthened, indicating travelers are planning farther ahead and booking less last-minute travel.

Shift to (years in) advance reservations: Higher demand is also evidenced by small ship fleets setting their departure dates farther into the future than ever. Many operators are boasting their earliest launch dates in history, listing 2027 and even 2028 dates before 2026 even begins, and select expedition cruises are experiencing multiple year sell-outs with waitlists.

Micro and small ship cruise growth: In 2025, AdventureSmith has seen a 20% increase in bookings aboard ships that are 30 guests or less. They have also seen a 101% jump in organic traffic for new users to their small ship cruises webpage over the past two years to date vs. the previous two years.

Digital love/hate: AdventureSmith reports noticing an interesting dual trend around digital connectivity. Some travelers are seeking out opportunities for a “digital detox,” but many are asking AdventureSmith’s travel specialists the opposite: to be connected in remote areas. Thanks to Starlink options coming to many small ships, this request can often be accommodated. AdventureSmith can speak to examples from both ends of the spectrum.

LAST CALL

Very limited inventory flash sales come and go around the Black Friday period, however they are sometimes not recommended by AdventureSmith’s specialists as they’re often “what’s left” vs. what travelers want/need for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. But, AdventureSmith loves to help travelers sift through the deals to find the best overall value.

New this year, some cruise operators are extending “winter” sales vs. offering a specific weeklong campaign. Consult AdventureSmith’s Antarctica cruise deals, Alaska cruise deals, Galapagos cruise deals and global adventure travel deals pages for all the hottest deals as they are released.

Now is the time to book trips to Alaska for 2026 before coveted space starts to vanish at a rapid pace in January, historically AdventureSmith’s biggest booking month. Some great early-booking Alaska small ship cruise deals are available now that were not offered this same time last year.

NEW THEMED SMALL SHIP CRUISE OPTIONS

Music gets time to shine on a series of luxury small ship cruises. Think jazz at the Lincoln Center, a symphony at sea through Portugal and Spain with Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, or chamber music in the Aegean with Trio Wanderer and Trio Arnold. AdventureSmith’s experts can link travelers to all the available routes.

Those who enjoy sampling the iconic libations of the destinations they visit won’t want to miss the Spirited Shores: Ireland to Portugal Cruise in June of 2027. Aboard the 154-guest Douglas Mawson (a brand-new expedition ship launching this winter), guests will explore the rich history of Europe’s spirited shores with a master storyteller host who is a professor, archaeologist or curator selected for their in-depth knowledge, expert storytelling abilities and unbridled passion.

The Feb. 23, 2027 departure of the Active & Wild Antarctica Air Cruise is for women only and will be led by female expedition leaders—this is truly a first for Antarctica cruises. The ship (132-guest Sylvia Earle) is also notable as it’s named after NOAA’s first female chief scientist, and all of the decks are named after other female leaders in science and conservation.

AdventureSmith is reporting more interest from families and adults who are seeking to travel with their own demographic. From Alaska small ship cruises to Galapagos cruises, there are more and more options to focus a journey with kid-friendly meals, activities and other families, or ensure you’re aboard just with other adults.

CRUISING ON THE GALAPAGOS LEGEND: SANTIAGO ISLAND

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Welcoming guests starting June 1, 2023, **Cayo Levantado Resort** is Dominican Republic’s newest five-star oasis located on the island of Cayo Levantado, just a few miles away from Samaná Bay, combining elements of sustainability and innovation to have a positive ecological, cultural and economic impact.

MIAMI, FL – Welcoming guests starting June 1, 2023, Cayo Levantado Resort is Dominican Republic’s newest five-star oasis located on the island of Cayo Levantado, just a few miles away from Samaná Bay, combining elements of sustainability and innovation to have a positive ecological, cultural and economic impact.

The luxury resort is an exclusive and sophisticated product from Grupo Piñero, a Spanish multinational family-owned company founded in 1977. In addition to its Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts portfolio, the company now launches Cayo Levantado Resort as a unique and differentiated brand, entering a new market- the luxury segment. This brand-new all-inclusive resort will feature premium standards in alignment with Forbes Travel Guide, the world’s leading authority on excellence in hospitality.

“With a profound respect for the environment, we focus our expertise on protecting the delicate ecosystem and preserving its spectacular flora and fauna,” said Pablo del Toro, Technical Environmental Advisor, Grupo Piñero. “In order to operate and power the hotel efficiently, gardening, waste management and renewable energy is required. Among the renewable energy sources, you’ll find thermal energy, heat recovery and solar panels.”

Other aspects of the project that are less concealed but equally important to their sustainability efforts, are the landscaping and gardening, which goes beyond regular gardening to include gardening with a conservation approach. The island has an extremely unique ecosystem where only certain species can be found. In terms of landscaping, the goal is to specifically support and preserve the inclusion of all these species, active on the island and northern part of Samaná, which holds a significant quantity of endemic types and biodiversity, to be reflected in the hotel’s garden.

Under the concept A Rhythm All Its Own, Cayo Levantado invites guests to cultivate their inner rhythm, designed to promote the deepest personal wellness: mind, body and spirit through the island’s four enchanting wellness paths – REFRESH, RESTORE, RELAX and RENEW.

Sustainability Pillars

Honoring the Natural Rhythm-

To stay at Cayo Levantado Resort is to be at one with nature. With a deep respect for the environment, Cayo Levantado focuses its expertise on ecological impact and sustainability, protecting its delicate ecosystem and preserving its spectacular fauna and flora.

Waste management is a very important component of Cayo Levantado given that islands require rubbish to be removed. Through a biodigester, the island’s waste is transported and used for energy purposes. Naturally, there will be many elements at a sustainability level that are both visible and invisible; this is where the A Rhythm All Its Own notion comes to play. At Infrastructure-levels, there are elements that customers typically directly perceive and experience first-hand, but elements like waste management via a biodigester are intangible to visitors and help to convey the “hidden reality” of the project.

Celebrating the Cultural Rhythm-

An invitation to immerse yourself in the Dominican lifestyle awaits every visitor to Cayo Levantado Resort. After decades of creating experiences linked to local life, the resort has designed a delicate and authentic stay for their guests. By integrating the heartbeat of island life—its music, its dances, its traditional cuisine and, most importantly, its vibrant residents—the resort celebrates the cultural rhythm in each of its encounters.

One of the great strengths of Cayo Levantado Resort is the integration of the local culture by incorporating Dominican Republic talent in the refurbishment, operation and maintenance of the resort, thus contributing to the development and generation of employment in the area and showing the world the authentic heart of Samaná.

Cayo Levantado Resort has brought in a group of Dominican designers, interior designers and architects who will contribute to reflecting the Dominican culture through its different areas.

The entire concept of the local culture of the reform is headed by architect Ramón Emilio Jiménez and his studio Arquimilio. While all part of the culinary and cocktail development is under the responsibility of Dominican chefs Pedro Mota and Carlos Romero.

Cultivating Our Inner Rhythm-

The experience at Cayo Levantado Resort offers an intense and meaningful connection with the environment. The rhythm and feel of each activity are designed to promote the deepest personal wellness: mind, body, and spirit. Only through careful attention to detail, subtle listening and an intuitive and generous team can the resort offer the greatest of luxuries: facilitating self-discovery and connection with oneself, the most cherished and healing rhythm of all.

For more information and bookings, visit Cayo Levantado Resort, https://www.bahia-principe.com/en/resorts-in-dominican-republic/cayo-levantado-resort/