River Cruises vs Ocean Cruises: What’s the Difference?
As experienced cruisers living in the US, we have been to practically every island in the Caribbean and many places often multiple times. We are looking to not only branch out towards other cruise lines than the ones we have been sailing with, mainly Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Virgin Voyages, but we are also looking for different experiences that can come with cruising. River cruising is continually and increasingly becoming a part of that conversation.
River cruises can, of course, take you places that a big cruise ship meant for the ocean could never take you. In Europe, you can explore the many cities on the Danube or the Rhine. You can, as well, visit the many cities found on the Seine and Rhone rivers. You can even vineyard hop on rivers such as the Douro River, which takes you through Portugal. In Southeast Asia, the Mekong River will take you by the floating markets and the many beautiful temples. The Nile River will allow you to see all that Egypt has to offer while staying in a comfortable environment. You could travel down the Amazon and see all of the beauty and wildlife that it has to offer. If you would rather not leave the US, you can cruise up and down the Mississippi to learn more about the history of jazz or see more of the Pacific Northwest on the Columbia and Snake River. Going on a river cruise certainly opens up all kinds of possibilities.
Other than the obvious difference that river cruises take place on a river and ocean cruises take place on the ocean, what are some differences between a river cruise and an ocean cruise? The biggest difference is likely to be ship size. While ocean cruise ships can accommodate as many as 7K+ passengers, most river cruise ships are built to accommodate around 200 passengers. If looking for a more intimate experience while cruising, river cruising could be right for you. Ships have fewer passengers not just because it brings a sense of intimacy and luxury, but because by necessity only the smaller and more narrow ships can fit on the rivers.
For many people, the motion of the ocean or the thought of being stuck out at sea is a non-starter when it comes to booking an ocean cruise. Many people who experience motion sickness will already find that because of the size of the big cruise ships that sea sickness is minimized. This fact along with some of the basic motion sickness remedies, Dramamine or the sea sickness patch, for example, make cruising doable for many. For those with more severe motion sickness issues, seasickness is rarely felt for most while cruising on a river, which, along with being able to keep eye contact on the shore, allow for many who are unable to cruise on the ocean able to do so comfortably on a river cruise.
Unlike some ocean cruises that will have sometimes multiple sea days in a row, river cruises are very port heavy with often the cruise staying in a port overnight. With river cruises, the attraction of the day might be the scenery that is viewed as you travel from port to port. Many cruise lines that specialize in river cruises will offer as a part of the cruise fare an included excursion in every port. While this makes it so that the cruise fare is more than you would pay for an ocean cruise, it guarantees that you will be able to see each port in a safe and organized way.
The potential downside to the port heavy river cruises is that often this means that there is much less focus on the activities and entertainment offered on the ship. Many river cruise ships have done away with the pool deck in favor of a comfortable viewing area. You will likely not find a casino or a spa on a river cruise. And, if you are hoping for a big Broadway style production, then river cruising is not for you. For many, the lack of those things is a plus, but others have felt that river cruising is boring because of it.
Unlike on many ocean cruises, you will find a significant decrease in the “nickel and diming” or amount of add-ons on a river cruise. River cruises come with a higher price tag, especially on cruise lines such as Tauck and Viking, but practically everything is included. All of the food, beer and wine at meals, internet, gratuities and excursions are included. Yes, you are paying more up front, but your invoice at the end of the cruise will be close to zero.
While there are some river cruise lines or itineraries designed specifically for multi-generational families, many river cruise lines are 18+, and if they do allow kids then there will generally be very few on board. For many, this is a huge plus and makes the higher price tag of Viking, for example, more worth it. Fewer to no kids on board allows for the cruise line to put their focus on the food, drinks and more adult-friendly activities that are offered. The kid free mentality present on board along with the nicer suites available (most river cruise ships do not have any interior cabins and very few cabins with only windows available) allows for a more luxurious and worthwhile experience.
So, get out your bucket lists and see what experiences a river cruise can help you check off. Get a group together and make a whole incredible event out of it. Traveling with a group not only doubles the fun but can bring about some nice perks and discounts. And, I would, of course, love to help you guys get that next adventure planned.
