How to take a mini-cruise

Small and perfectly formed: From sail ships to luxury yachts

In an age in which every new cruise liner seems bigger than the last, it's reassuring to find there are some ships that still resemble ocean-going vessels rather than floating hotels.

Perhaps the most romantic are masted sailing yachts, which offer the charms of a relaxed, intimate atmosphere and the ability to moor in small harbours or drop anchor in secluded coves.

And what could be more thrilling than standing on deck looking up at billowing white sails... knowing you are never going to have to climb the rigging yourself? If you prefer - and if you have the budget - you can even experience the luxury of a super-yacht worthy of an oligarch in the Mediterranean.

Here is a variety of suggestions for those who want to sail away from the crowds...

Budding sea dogs might want to sail the Med on Star Clippers' five-masted Royal Clipper, where you can volunteer to help hoist the sails or climb a mast. A four-night cruise from Civitavecchia, the port that serves Rome, takes you to Corsica to moor overnight, Sardinia's Costa Smeralda and finally to Elba, where Napoleon was briefly held captive.

Travel is by Eurostar and sleeper train via Paris. The cost for departure on June 5 is from £1,319 per person (0845 200 6145, www.starclippers.co.uk).

On the three yachts of Windstar Cruises, there's no need for anyone - crew or passengers - to climb the rigging: the sails are fully automated. The sleek part-yacht, part-cruise ships have a casual dress code and the mood is laid-back luxury.

Wind Star - one of the two smaller vessels, with just 74 cabins - has a six-night cruise from Rome to Barcelona departing on July 15, costing from £2,859pp, including flights. You'll call at Elba, Porto Vecchio in Corsica, Alghero in Sardinia and Palma de Mallorca.

Alternatively, you can head to the Baltic Sea on the magnificent, five-masted Wind Surf, one of the two largest sail cruise ships in the world, on a week's cruise from Oslo to Stockholm leaving July 27.

It stays overnight at Copenhagen and calls at Rugen in Germany - where you can see spectacular white chalk cliffs that flank one of the two national parks, and also the Danish island of Bornholm, with its dramatic landscapes and historic buildings. The cost is from £2,294pp including flights (020 7292 2369, www.windstarcruises.co.uk).

Built as the identical twin to Wind Surf, Club Med 2 sails on a variety of itineraries around the Eastern Mediterranean for the French holiday company. A seven-night cruise from Bodrum to Athens costs from £2,959pp, including flights (0845 367 0670, www.clubmed.co.uk).

A French option for lovers of Gallic chic is the Compagnie de Ponant fleet. Le Ponant is a three-masted sailing yacht for 64 passengers. The company also operates L'Austral, a new ultra-smart super-yacht launched last year. It has 132 cabins and suites.

A week aboard Le Ponant sailing from Nice on July 7 to St Tropez and western Corsica costs from £2,460pp, and a ten-night cruise on L'Austral from Venice to Croatia and Montenegro sailing on August 10 is from £2,780pp.

The price includes €150 (£122) per person onboard credit, but not flights (020 7399 7670, www.mundycruising.co.uk).

On glamorous twin mega-yachts SeaDream I and II, there are plenty of attractions to lure you out of your luxury cabins. In the evening you can go to sleep on deck in a 'Balinese dream bed'.

SeaDream say their itineraries visit the intimate ports, harbours and yachting playgrounds larger ships cannot reach.

A week sailing from Dubrovnik to Venice on SeaDream I, departing August 4, is from £4,070pp including tips, open bar and flights when booked with Azure Collection (01244 322770, www.azurecollection.com).

Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.