Independent travelers often turn their noses up at the idea of cruising, but for those who want to enjoy some of the benefits of a cruise without succumbing to the mass tourism pitfalls associated with megacruises, a small-ship cruise is an excellent compromise.
If you'd like to set sail, but aren't in the mood to have thousands of others along for the ride, have a look at six interesting options that Deanna Hyland has found.