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Like to cruise without the crowds? Vacationing with a smaller cruise company may be right up your alley. And Blount Small Ship Adventures -- now offering up to 40 percent off on three itineraries booked by February 27 --  is giving travelers the chance to get a taste for less.

This family-run company specializes in sailing to destinations that bigger lines can't visit -- in fact, their signature ship is the only overnight vessel in the States that can go through New York's Eerie Canal barges, with a flat bottom that was specially designed to allow this. More to the point, Blount has an inclusive and immersive experience in mind. All of their itineraries include three meals daily (with wine and beer at lunch and dinner), refreshments, 24-hour snacks, guest lectures, and workshops. Depending on the particular sail, guests have the opportunity to access special excursions like visiting a lobster processing plant or boarding a ferry for whale watching.

So where are the deals?

The Big Apple to the U.S. Capital sail is an eight-night trip starting in New York City and disembarking in Alexandria, Virginia. The departure dates of May 22 and June 1 and 2 are now going for $1,799 a person, down 40 percent from $2,999. Highlights of the trip include opportunities to explore New York City at your own pace, visiting the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia, taking a guided tour of Baltimore, and stopping by some of Washington, D.C.’s best cultural institutions.

Or if you’re clamoring for some time in Boston, there’s the D.C. to Boston itinerary, whose June 11 departure is also now discounted by 40 percent -- bringing the original cost of $3,999 down to $2,399 per person. The 11-night journey starts off with a full day in Alexandria, followed by some time in Baltimore and Philadelphia, a stopover in New York, a day each in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and finally, Boston.

Finally, the nine-night Two Nation Vacation: Maine and New Brunswick experience departing on August 2 now starts from $3,187, about 15 percent off from $3,749. This is the adventure-packed President's Cruise with company president Nancy Blount onboard -- which usually means special onboard trips and onshore excursions. The trip begins in New Brunswick before moving to St.Andrews-by-the-Sea, followed by several charming destinations throughout Maine, including Eastport, Bar Harbor, Rockland, Bath, and Portland.