The "elegant" small ship cultural and expedition cruising company. Explore the undiscovered treasures of Europe, the Red Sea and Antarctica.

Headquartered in Port Washington, NY, Elegant is a family-owned, family-run business, and welcomes reservations from travel agents.

2008 is Elegant’s eighth season as the leading small ship operator to Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. With convenient departures from Venice, the 62-passenger M.S. Monet is the ship of choice for travelers from U.S. alumni associations, museums and leading cultural organizations.

Seven- and 14-night programs include Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, Zadar, Korcula, Pula, Mljet and other Croatian gems. Relax in comfortable, attractively furnished outside cabins and suites, and enjoy freshly prepared, Mediterranean-style cuisine accented with regional Dalmatian specialties.

The 105-passenger M.S. Andrea began her career as the popular Harald Jarl, cruising the rugged Norwegian coastline and fjords year-round. Purchased and extensively renovated by Elegant in 2003, Andrea follows the sun, from the enchanting Azores in April to the starkly beautiful outer islands of Scotland, England and Ireland in May and June.

Midsummer finds her exploring the Baltic capitals and remote Finnish and Swedish coastal towns north into Lapland, “Land of the Midnight Sun.” Andrea heads south in early autumn for the Iberian Peninsula, Balearics, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily and Adriatic.

The Red Sea is a magical region, an oasis of sunny warm weather, monumental archaeological sites and calm water cruising. The Monet operates a series of 14-day cruise-tours between Cairo, Egypt and Amman, Jordan, with an emphasis on early Christian monastic sites and the antiquities of Luxor and Petra. Extensions to Cairo are available.

Andrea offers expedition cruises to Antarctica at the height of the Austral summer, when wildlife is at its most active. Her ice-strengthened hull is designed for safe exploration of polar waters, and her maneuverability and small size allow her to pursue itineraries not possible aboard larger cruise ships.

An experienced team of naturalists accompanies guests on excursions among vast penguin colonies, complemented with informal discussions onboard. Zodiacs can be deployed quickly to take advantage of the opportunities to view seals, whales and seabirds. Elegant is an active member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO), supporting all environmental and conservation guidelines.