Global Voyages Group acquires SmallShipCruises.com

Billed as 'The biggest website in the world on small ships,' SmallShipCruises.com is said to be one of the longest established and most visited online sources of information about small ship cruise operators, destinations and itineraries. The site has a cruise booking request function.

According to Scott and Bob Linde, sons of Shirley Linde, since the late 1990s the Linde family, an intrepid trio of authors, photographers and avid travelers, created the online resource that was extolled by media from Frommer’s to Good Morning America.

Shirley Linde, who died in 2013, was the primary writer, traveling extensively around the world.

Linde's sons said they reached the point where expansion was needed to meet the growing niche industry and a few months ago they started talks with David Giersdorf, president and ceo of Global Voyages Group.

'We realized GVG had the vision, experience and organizational strength to advance SmallShipCruises.com into the 21st century,' Linde's son said, adding that GVG purchase allows them to 'look forward to seeing our mother’s vision and legacy advance to a leading role in the cruise industry.'

Veteran cruise line executive Giersdorf launched GVG in 2011 to help specialty cruise brands expand their market share in North America.

'The vision of the Linde family helped call attention to the small ship cruise category in its infancy and exposed millions of vacationers and their professional travel agents to the exceptional and diverse experiences available aboard small ships,' Giersdorf said. 'We are very enthused about the potential of SmallShipCruises.com given the continued expansion of specialty cruising worldwide.'

Giersdorf said GVG intends to increase the reach and content of the site and 'continue its successful connection with travel enthusiasts from around the world.'