This week’s holiday on an 8-cabin Gullet in Turkey reminded me why small boat cruising is my favourite out of the various catamarans, river cruises, or large ocean cruising we have done as a family over the last 20 years.

Although not as sleek looking as the mega cabin cruises that surround us in the harbour, the Gullet offers faultless practicality with reasonably sized air-conditioned en-suite cabins, along with plenty of sunbathing space for the 13 holidaymakers on board.

I appreciate the plentiful outdoor space on the Gullet because it allows you to find a quiet spot to read or join other members of the two-family group for a few wines or beers as the sun sets and we enter port. This, combined with flexibility around departure and arrival times, as well as the option for full-scale changes to the pre-planned tour itinerary to provide more partying time for the youngsters in Fethiye, makes the product a winner for me.

However, it’s always worth remembering that 80% of the enjoyment of a holiday stems from the people you’re with and the friendliness of the staff hosting you. We could not have had a more welcoming or helpful crew, where nothing was too much trouble, than our Turkish crew this week on the S.Nur Taylan.

The crews of almost all the cruise ships I have travelled on have been excellent, but a 2:1 crew ratio on a small boat means you get to know everybody by name and much more closely.

I developed a love for the tranquillity of sailing boats over power boats many years ago. However, I still frustrate my sailing mates with my refusal to show any interest in sailing beyond being a “ballast weight” who reads his book as we sail along and has zero interest in gaining the navigational skills or sailing qualifications that would allow me to buy my own boat. Not that I ever would as why buy what you can rent? In my mind, holiday assets are just weights that stop you from travelling to many other destinations.

Although I enjoyed our trips on twin-hulled catamarans around Greece, Turkey, and Croatia, the space is much more confined, and with just one Captain as crew, you’re far more susceptible to a disaster. Ours occurred in Ibiza when Waska, the captain, was such a contentious character that we ended up leaving a day early because he had upset the kids so much that they no longer wanted to stay on board with him.

Getting my group of five kids aged 18 to 29 to go on holiday with me now requires inviting partners and an expensive trip they can’t afford themselves. Like most kids, they expect the bank of mum and dad to cover the entire cost throughout the holiday as compensation for their company, but to be fair, it’s worth every penny as quality time with your kids is hard to come by when three of them live 5 hours away.

The youngsters particularly enjoyed last year’s cruise from Rome around the Greek Islands on Royal Caribbean’s latest mega-ships, Odyssey of the Seas, which can hold 4,200 adults. Undeterred by the large crowds on board, the kids loved the wide range of food and entertainment available from evening theatre shows, gourmet restaurants, bars, and multiple visits to the casino and nightclubs.

I, however, struggled and felt more like a “battery-fed chicken”, squeezed onto a sun lounger next to strangers and forced to get up at 6 am to join a queue for disembarkation tickets to ensure you could visit some of the popular destinations requiring tendering. Although I understand the benefits of the Mega Cruise lines, I have not found one yet that suits me, and I prefer the more “Butlins” like Airtours Cruise ships of old, as they were small enough for me to cope with. And did I even mention that the Royal Caribbean WIFI “Pirate Robbery” at £890 for the combined families’ various laptops, iPads and phones? It’s amazing the grips that stick in your mind post what was a fabulous multi-generational holiday to be fair.

We have only ever experienced one River Cruise so far, even though TV adverts for Viking Cruises have constantly tempted me. This was secured through a bid from my lovely wife Ruth at last year’s ITT conference with the fabulous Arose River Cruising brand.

However, once again, we failed to think it through properly, and a winter river cruise is an entirely different beast from their summer counterparts, as the cold weather effectively traps you below decks in spaces designed for only half their winter capacity. Add to this the fact that we were the only native English speakers on board, and it’s not surprising that things did not quite meet my high expectations.

The experience has not put me off, however, as these multi-city floating “coach tours” offer the freedom to get off each day and enjoy breathtaking views as you cruise at a slow pace down Europe’s beautiful waterways.

But small boat cruising remains my favourite, and we have just booked our third Croatian Cruise next year with 34 other travel sector buddies who, like me, love this particular brand of Cruising.

Each Cruise version has its pros and cons, but they all have one thing in common. They are in a healthy and expanding sector of the UK Travel Industry. Viva le Cruise!