Keen to get away from the crowds? These four small ships bring voyagers off the beaten track in diverse locations from Thailand and Vietnam to Indonesia and the Philippines.

Heritage Line Violet in Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam — Heritage Line Violet sailing the waters of Vietnam’s Bai Tu Long Bay. (Courtesy of Heritage Line)

HERITAGE LINE VIOLET

From January, Ho Chi Minh City–based Heritage Line will run two-night cruises into Bai Tu Long Bay, a quieter and more remote alternative to the crowded waters of Ha Long. Guests will explore hidden caves, secret lagoons, and floating villages amid karst-studded seascapes that are as striking as those of Bai Tu Long’s more famous neighbor. Heritage Line Violet has just six suites done up in retro Franco-Vietnamese style, alongside facilities like a library lounge, a pair of spa rooms, and a steam bath.
heritage-line.com

RV RIVER KWAI

Formerly operated by Pandaw Cruises, this reliable vessel has been plying the River Kwai in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province for the past two decades. The 20 passengers aboard can expect an intimate experience combining rural scenery with local culture and World War II history. Sightseeing stops include Hellfire Pass and the railway bridge immortalized in the 1957 film, as well as Prasat Muang Sing—a Hindu temple that once marked the edge of the Khmer Empire. Itineraries range from three to six nights.
cruiseasia.net

The teakwood-built RV River Kwai cruising its namesake river in Thailand. — The teakwood-built RV *River Kwai* cruising its namesake waterway in Thailand. (Courtesy of CruiseAsia)

SH MINERVA

German expedition cruise line Swan Hellenic will deploy the SH Minerva for an epic island- hopping voyage from Sorong to Manila, departing April 28, 2026. Named Raja Ampat and Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth, it spans 11 nights and calls in not only at remote marine sanctuaries but also Indonesia’s northernmost island, Pulau Miangas, before sailing to the white- sand beaches of Siargao’s Daku Island, Bohol, and the Camotes Archipelago. SH Minerva accommodates 152 guests in modern staterooms.
swanhellenic.com

SPIRIT OF KALIMANTAN

Ethical outfitter Wow Borneo offers several wildlife-focused cruises on the waterways of Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province. Among its small fleet is the four-cabin Spirit of Kalimantan, which carries travelers on three- or four-night journeys down the Katingan River into Sebangau National Park. This affords nature-lovers a chance to spot orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and rhinoceros hornbills in the wild. Jungle trekking is on the agenda, as are visits to the area’s Dayak villages and black-water lakes.
wowborneo.com

Inside the 38-square meter Dragon Suite aboard Heritage Line Violet. — Inside the 38-square meter Dragon Suite aboard Heritage Line *Violet*. (Courtesy of Heritage Line)

This article originally appeared in the October/November 2025 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Against the Current”). Buy a single issue or subscribe here.

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