You’re dreaming of setting sail on an epic voyage, but there’s just one thing stopping you: choosing the right style of cruise! You can opt for a classic ocean cruise, or choose a river cruise, a completely different style of sailing that’s been gaining in popularity for years.
If you’re stuck choosing between the two for your next cruise escape, then keep reading—we’ve broken down the biggest differences between ocean and river cruising so you can land on the best cruise experience for yourself:
Size and Passengers
Traditional ocean cruise ships often act like floating resorts, with all the bells and whistles—and lots of passengers on board who create an exciting, dynamic atmosphere. Mega cruise ships often host up to 10,000 passengers; even on more moderately sized ships, you can expect to rub elbows with anywhere from 2,000-3,000 other passengers.
River cruise ships, meanwhile, are long and narrow by design—so they can easily navigate long and narrow rivers. Their unique design limits how many passengers can come aboard; you’ll often be sharing a river cruise ship with just 100-200 other passengers. If you prefer a more intimate on board atmosphere where staff quickly learns to greet you by name, a river cruise will give you that!
On Board Entertainment
Traditional ocean cruises are known for their nearly endless entertainment options—everything from Broadway-caliber shows to waterparks with water slides and lazy rivers are at your finger tips. With mall-style shopping, casinos, huge spa spaces, and multiple bars and nightlife areas, you can spend your entire vacation on your ocean cruise ship if you wanted to and never get bored!
River cruise ships, meanwhile, are a bit more sedate—the focus is more on the exploration you’ll do off the ship in each port of call. On board, you’ll typically get to enjoy live musical entertainment and “mixer” experiences where you get to meet and mingle with the other guests.
Destinations and Access
Ocean cruise ships can sail you practically anywhere in the world! There are of course your classic sun-splashed itineraries in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, but you can also do more adventurous exploring to places like Alaska, the Galapagos, and beyond. An ocean cruise vessel’s large size means it will need to stick to large ports that can accommodate it, so you don’t necessarily get that “off the beaten path” feel to your itinerary.
River cruises sail down—you guessed it!—rivers, which means itineraries are concentrated in inland regions of Europe (though you can also sail down rivers in China, Egypt, and South America!). Because cities tend to have been built up around riverbanks over the centuries, it’s very easy to simply stroll off your ship and find yourself in the very heart of a city’s old town. If you’ve always wanted to explore the cultural capitals of Europe but aren’t keen on driving or taking trains through your destination, a river cruise is an easy way to explore the continent.
Cultural Engagement
On many ocean cruises, enjoying the ship itself is a central part of the vacation experience—that makes sense, because these ships are architectural marvels! In addition to all of the entertainment options on board, it’s also very easy to just “take it easy” on an ocean cruise, soaking up the sun and indulging in spa experiences. Of course, if you wanted a more exploratory type of vacation, you could engage in the cruise’s port excursions (or even opt for private port excursions that can be tailored to exactly what you want to see and do).
River cruises, by contrast, are designed to immerse you in the local environment. Excursions are a central part of the experience—you can cycle along the river banks and through the countryside on a guided bike excursion, sip vintages on a vintner-led winery tasting, climb castle turrets, visit historical sites and battlefields, explore world-renowned museums, you name it! If you’re eager to discover on your vacation, a river cruise is your ticket.
Whether you’ve decided to set sail on an ocean or river cruise, we’re here to help! Discover our custom cruise booking services, or complete our brief cruise inquiry form to schedule your complimentary consultation call with us soon.
