New Zealand Small Ship Cruises

5 Cruises
2 Offers
New Zealand cruises by small ship are the best way to discover the country’s incredible 4,350 miles of coastline with guided adventures inland. Browse adventure cruise routes or speak with one of our experts now to learn more.
Trips, Tours & Cruises

The Best Way to Cruise New Zealand

Contact Us to Compare
5 Cruises
2 Offers

The island nation of New Zealand, with endless bays, fjords and coastline, is perfectly suited to exploration by small ship. See more of this unforgettable land than the average traveler while aboard a New Zealand small ship cruise. Expedition ships carrying around 100 guests include your guides, gear and activities. Flexible routes allow for optimal wildlife encounters, and naturalist guides ensure you’re getting the most of every minute. Can’t decide which island to see? Cruise them both. It’s efficient & you’ll unpack just once as your captain sails you efficiently to each location.

We offer the largest selection of New Zealand small ship cruises available. Find popular routes such as Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Doubtful Sound, Bay of Islands and Napier, all done with the special twist of ease and adventure that’s a hallmark of adventure cruising. Look for our New Zealand cruises aboard everything from high-tech expedition ships to more intimate vessels that are off the radar of most travelers. Soak up vast scenery, legendary hospitality and unique Maori culture while exploring the adventure capital of the world on a small ship cruise around New Zealand.

A man stands alone on the bow of a small New Zealand cruise ship seen with green trees and mirrored water

OUR EXPERTS WERE HERE

You have questions.
We have answers.

Learn More

Cruises to New Zealand
with AdventureSmith

Ready to experience the near-tangible magic of these incredible islands? AdventureSmith Explorations offers the largest selection of New Zealand small ship cruises. Let our experienced team guide you to best plan, book and enjoy your New Zealand cruise. Why book with us?

personalized custom pin icon

Personalized Service

Work with one dedicated U.S.-based specialist to purchase & prepare for your New Zealand cruise.

green ship icon

Authentically Small

Truly small. All our ships are under 150 guests for the ultimate access & off-ship adventure.

green compass rose icon

Trusted Cruise Experts

Our relationships with reputable ship operators result in tried & trusted New Zealand cruises.

green hiker icon

Active, Guided Itineraries

Our New Zealand cruises include guided hiking, skiff rides, kayaking & township visits.

a bright red Maori mask depicting a face with black paint

New Zealand Cruises 2024 & 2025

The New Zealand cruise experience in 2024 & 2025 feels like stepping back in time to a less-visited Aoteoroa. Explore remote shorelines roads can’t reach. And enjoy the famed hospitality of local Kiwis who love welcoming travelers to their unique islands and pristine landscapes.

Aboard small ship New Zealand cruises, small group sizes and onboard guides ensure personalized attention, while flexible schedules enhance opportunities for wildlife viewing, learning about the Maori culture and natural interaction with locals.

If you want to see New Zealand, there’s no better way than by small ship.

Exclusive Access, Unique Wildlife

Sail aboard a ship and you’ll see why the local Maori called New Zealand the “land of the long white cloud.” White clouds often hang over the dramatic mountain ranges, and there’s no better view than at being at sea. Diverse landscapes ranging from alpine mountains and sandy beaches to subtropical forests mean travelers never tire of views from the ship’s bow.

Hike along famous tracks, kayak in calm scenic fjords and reach remote offshore islands full of wildlife. Don’t miss the famed kiwi bird, the mischievous alpine parrot, the kea, or the multiple species of penguins.

green kea bird seen among green hillsides on a new zealand cruise

Cruises Around New Zealand Only

Focus just on this island nation with our selection of New Zealand only cruises. A New Zealand South Island cruise with AdventureSmith visits not only the iconic Milford Sound, but the more remote reaches of the greater Fiordland National Park. Quickly leave the day boats behind to explore New Zealand fjords and coastlines in true AdventureSmith style—away from ports and into the wilderness.

To go farther on a New Zealand South Island cruise, look for Stewart Island, Dunedin and even Abel Tasman on your route. On the North Island, highlights include the Bay of Islands, Auckland, Gisborne and Napier, among many other lesser-known coastline gems. Many of our islands combine both islands into comprehensive east coast explorations. And luxury New Zealand cruises can offer exclusive experiences like helicopter flightseeing.

Include Antarctica

Another unique way of cruising New Zealand is to embark or disembark here on an Antarctica cruise itinerary. You’ll explore a far less visited region of Antarctica including the Ross Sea and New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic Islands like the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. On these routes you’ll spend way more time below the Polar Circle than an average Antarctica itinerary as well as be able to continue your travels in New Zealand. New Zealand Antarctica cruises embark from either Dunedin or Bluff, the country’s “most southerly” town.

When Should You Cruise New Zealand?

The most popular time to cruise New Zealand is during November through April, when temperatures are warmer and rainfall is less. Since New Zealand is an island in the South Pacific, with miles of ocean in every direction, a maritime climate prevails bringing warm summer months (Dec-March) and mild winters.

Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

test message
View Wishlist