Intimate Yachting Explorations

Discover the allure of yacht-style cruising with Atlas Ocean Voyages, where intimate journeys meet luxury and exploration. Our recent voyage from Malaga, Spain to the Canary Islands was a tapestry of charming ports and cultural immersion. From the majestic Madeira Islands to vibrant Morocco, each destination offered a unique story. Dive into my full review below.

Yacht-style cruising featuring immersive experiences is a must-do with Atlas Ocean Voyages

Courtesy Atlas Ocean Voyages

A RELATIVE NEWCOMER to expedition and exploration cruising, Atlas Ocean Voyages is making its mark, offering fantastic voyages with its three incredibly charming yachts. We had previously sailed on Atlas to the Arctic in the fall of 2023, enjoying both the cruise line and the ship – World Traveller – so much that we decided to return. This time, we sailed the Med and places south, cruising from Malaga, Spain to the Canary Islands on a nine-night itinerary, visiting some delightful, lesser-visited ports.

Madeira, Spain

The three expedition-style ships in the Portuguese-owned Atlas Ocean Voyages fleet are the World Navigator, the World Traveller and the World Voyager. Virtually identical, each carries just under 200 guests in a relaxed yet stylish onboard atmosphere – a luxurious all-inclusive lifestyle at sea. Their attractive itineraries and excellent pricing are just two reasons for the immediate success Atlas has enjoyed since launching in 2021.

In the winter months, the three vessels sail the icy depths of Antarctica. In the warmer weather, they cruise both to the Arctic and to Europe on exploration sailings, emphasizing culinary and cultural immersion. These intimate ships are a delight, as are their staff. In fact, every aspect of sailing with this company is a pleasure – think intimate yacht-style cruising with wonderful onboard camaraderie. There are no casinos and no big theatre for entertainment; the atmosphere is low-key, focused on destinations and the joy of exploration, and their like-minded guests mix and mingle with delight.

We arrived in Malaga a few days before the cruise departed and found it a wonderful embarkation port with a lovely old town, cozy restaurants and lively nightlife.

FUnchal, Madeira

Our itinerary was one of the reasons we chose World Traveller again. We enjoyed stopping in Gibraltar, where guests were thrilled by their island tour, and visited two ports in Morocco – Casablanca and Safi. A sea day followed before reaching Madeira, and the Portuguese Islands of Porto Santo and Funchal. Everyone loved Madeira, which is very beautiful with fascinating mountainous terrain, abundant foliage, and the lovely town of Funchal on Madeira itself (a very popular spot for Canadians). We then sailed onward to the Canary Islands, the lush tropical islands off the coast of Africa, called at Santa Cruz in La Palma and then San Sebastian on La Gomera before ending our nine-day cruise in Gran Canaria and Las Palmas.

Veranda Stateroom

The ship has a very appealing nautical-style décor with shades of blue, polished, gleaming wood and an airy, welcoming feel. One instantly feels at home, and the staff members are outstanding in every way. The staterooms are well-furnished, with comfortable queen beds with sumptuous Portuguese linens, an in-room stocked minibar, 24-hour room service, a Nespresso machine and tea service, and still and sparkling water in reusable bottles. There are plush bathrobes and slippers, a roomy marble bathroom with shower and L'Occitane products, a spacious wardrobe and TV with infotainment system.

We enjoyed our well-appointed, relaxing haven as we watched the world go by from our balcony. Guests who choose a suite also enjoy butler service, double sinks and a tub (in the Navigator Suites). Although Atlas offers an indulgent, inclusive lifestyle at sea with all wine, liquor and gratuities included in the fare (and some access to Wi-Fi) when on cultural expeditions, the shore excursions are extra. There was a lengthy list of choices in each port and we found them all to be of great interest, making it hard to choose.

Hassan II Mosque Casablanca

Visiting Morocco for the first time, we decided to tour the city and see the stunning Hassan II Mosque. Our guide shared fascinating information about the city and its history, telling our group that the Berbers founded it in the seventh century BC. Thereafter, the Phoenicians and then the Romans used it as a port, and it became a French territory in the early part of the 20th century. Many guests visited Rick's Café, made famous by the movie, "Casablanca", but little did they know, there was never a Rick's café – it existed only on a Hollywood movie set (a clever entrepreneur is cashing in anyway!). A second call in Morocco brought us to Safi, where a tour of the Medina or old town was fascinating.

Pottery demonstration, Morocco

The Madeira Islands Archipelago, a Portuguese territory, was a great hit, leaving everyone gushing about these two islands – Porto Santo and Funchal. Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, they offer panoramic views, delightful small villages and towns, marvelous scenery and welcoming locals. Some guests toured Funchal by Tuk-Tuk, some did a 4x4 expedition on rocky Porto Santo, while others enjoyed a wine tasting. There was something for everyone – just what you want in a destination.

Our two ports of call in the lush and dramatic Canary Islands were enjoyable with a panoramic tour of La Gomera (unbelievable views and winding cliff-side roads) and a National Park tour in Santa Cruz. All were beautiful islands worthy of visiting.

DomeObservation Lounge

Atlas Ocean Voyages includes a special Shoreside Epicurean Cultural Immersion on each of its European itineraries, and ours was on the island of La Palma. Dressing in cream and white, as instructed, almost 200 of us were taken into the countryside to attend a typical Carnaval de Los Indianos – a re-creation of one of Europe's most original and striking festivals. We enjoyed cocktails made with 100 percent local and organic products, saw artisans producing cigars, visited a sugar cane pressing workshop and listened to a fabulous 11-piece live Latin music band, which soon had guests up and dancing. We tasted local delicacies and enjoyed the stunning views, appreciating the cruise line's efforts to set up such a unique experience.

Back on the ship, there were wonderful lectures and port talks, movies with popcorn and cooking demonstrations given by renowned visiting guest chef, Christy Rost. Tea Time was offered daily to accompany piano stylings and occasional engaging games of Trivia or Name That Tune. Our Cruise Director, Michael, was ever-present, charming and talented, and we enjoyed various shows in the Dome Observation Lounge and the Atlas Lounge – the crew show was fantastic!

A great kick-off at the cruise's start was "Meet The Neighbours," where everyone was encouraged to open their stateroom door, enjoy cocktails and canapes, say hi to their neighbours, and meet some of the ship's officers. It was a great way to set sail, and on such a small ship, part of the charm was meeting fellow guests in whatever fashion.

Dining terrace

Our ship offered one main restaurant – Lisboa – with a popular dining terrace at the aft, ideal for a cruise in warm climes. Guests dined when, where and with whom they pleased, encouraging even more camaraderie – one of the things I love best about small ship cruising. On the Pool Deck, the 7 Aft Grill served a buffet lunch, snacks in the afternoon and dinner for 18 guests per evening at the Josper Grill, which offered an à la carte menu with reservations required. We enjoyed a few lunches and two dinners from a small menu. The self-serve ice cream cart nearby was also a big hit! Paula's Pantry offered daily snacks, tasty treats, sandwiches and drinks from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Atlas Ocean Voyages is getting everything right, by offering guests appealing journeys to the world's most delightful places while ensuring a carefully curated and much-appreciated onboard atmosphere. It is now firmly in place as one of my favourite cruise lines.

Written by Vanessa Lee for Cruise and Travel Lifestyles (Spring/Summer 2025)