I went to the Bahamian Out Islands with Blount it was the best vacation I have ever taken. We boarded in Nassau and cruised past 4 HUGE cruise ships. We went to the outer islands that big ships will never reach. Spanish Wells, Harbour Island and Compass Cay to name a few. We had complete access to remote beaches and small towns inaccessible by usual tourists. We were docking with yachts and sailboats the entire time, even running into a few celebrities. The optional excursions were fantastic as well - my favorite is the ride in a glass bottomed boat with the Naturalist Luz who lectured us on fish and coral below the surface. The crew on these boats are absolutely phenomenal. Beginning on day 1, they will know you by name. If you need ANYTHING, just ask! Fantastic service. I also enjoyed the food onboard greatly. One of my favorite meals was a fun cookout on the top deck during Caribbean night where the captain made his famous punch and handed out delicious grilled shrimp. Blount is the type of cruise you take if you want to do something different and meet great people in the process. You bond with both passengers and crew greatly over the duration of your trip since they sail with less than 83 passengers. The ships are not luxurious by any means. It's truly about cruising in comfort and enjoying your experiences with people who make you feel as if, you are cruising on a friend's yacht! Blount also does trips from New York or Boston to Montreal, wish I am hoping to do one day, especially during fall foliage. I would highly recommend you put a trip with this cruise line on your travel bucket list!! Read Less

Blount Small Ship Adventures is just that, a small ship with adventures aplenty. Hubby and I have cruised with Blount many times over the past few years, but the cruise that I enjoyed most and I enjoyed twice was the Bahamian Out Islands. I always thought of the Bahamas as Nassau, well I soon learned that the Bahamas consists of 700 islands 30 of which are inhabited. Nassau was just our embarkation point. Our ship, The Grande Mariner, is a small but well equipped small ship. Our cabin was also small, but it had two twin beds with a night stand between, it was clean, it had adequate drawer, shelf, closet area and a large mirror and it had a window to open if you so desired. The room had A/C. Our cabin also had a small, clean, well lit and well-appointed toilet and sink room and a separate shower stall. No television was also a plus for us. Our cabin had everything we needed. This was a very laid-back and fun cruise. All the staff and crew were friendly and very accessible. Being able to visit the Captain as he sails the ship makes for a casual and relaxed atmosphere. The food is plentiful and delicious. With about 80 passengers on board, it felt like cruising on a friend's yacht. The cruise also had on-board very knowledgeable and friendly naturalists. They gave lectures in the evening about the day's activities and also presented a very informative snorkeling "how to" for us beginners. The naturalists were always available to answer questions and point out interesting facts. The ship comes equipped with kayaks and snorkeling gear for your use. No extra charge, by the way. Feeling comfortable with the crew and fellow passengers made me enjoy my trip even more. The bow landings were amazing. There's nothing like having your cruise ship only steps away while you're swimming, snorkeling or just sunning. Casual open seating meals is a nice way to meet new friends. Lots of fun activities are offered every day...hiking, sight-seeing, snorkeling, botanical garden walks, even swimming with pigs and swimming with sharks. Participation was your choice. Sometimes it's just fun to sit on the top deck in the sun and snooze. A BBQ on the top deck was fun. Visiting places like Spanish Wells where the people use only golf carts to get around and visiting some islands where there are no people at all was interesting. Get off the beaten path and go where the big ships cannot. We enjoyed our Bahamian Out Island cruise so much that we took the cruise again a couple of years later. It was still an amazing, fun and educational trip the second time. I guess that answers the question, "Would you do it again?"...Yes! Read Less

We, a couple in our 50s, have sailed many times with Blount (formerly ACCL - American Canadian Caribbean Line) and absolutely love it. Here's the deal: The cabins are small, efficient, clean and comfortable. Public space is abundant: top and aft outdoor decks, a large lounge and dining room. The crew is very friendly and accessible creating a relaxed family atmosphere. They are caring and real - no put-ons. The food is healthy and delicious with choices at every meal. Everything is homemade and tastes it. Even all the baking is done onboard which is tough on the waistline. Beer and wine is served with lunch and dinner if desired and the BYOB policy is great. The ship supplies mixers, condiments and soft drinks. Most of the cruisers are in their 60s, 70s and 80s but surprisingly spry and adventurous. Many are experienced boaters/yachters who are happy to let someone else take the helm for a change. There are bikes and kayaks available on some itineraries and, at least in the Caribbean, almost daily opportunities for swimming and snorkeling. Because of the unique design of the ships, they have access to small isolated ports. The other ships in port are usually private yachts. Also, when visiting a port we feel we are not "invading" the towns since there are only 50-80 of us onboard. We don't change the ports - the ports change us. We get to visit incognito or, if the town is really small, we are treated as appreciated visitors. It is close to private charter cruising - more like independent travel than a tour or a big cruise ship. That being said, it is so nice to have your cabin and the welcoming ship and crew to return to and not have to pack/unpack or find a restaurant or negotiate a busy hotel/resort/cruise crowd. Cruising with Blount is nothing like the big cruise ship experience. It is so much more real, personable, lower impact, rewarding and feels like true travel. Read Less