Have you experienced a river cruise?
For many people, river cruising represents the best of both worlds: the carefree, high-service, unpack-once experience of cruising combined with the casual immersion and convenient sightseeing opportunities of a land trip. Perhaps you've been on ocean cruises in the past--river cruising is a world unto itself.
13 Differences Between an Ocean Cruise and a River Cruise
Whether you’re an avid ocean cruiser, or you’re new to the idea of cruising in general, knowing the differences between an ocean cruise and a river cruise will help you decide which appeals to you more and give you an idea of what type of cruiser you really are.
▶ Seasickness is not a Thing on the Rivers
Unfortunately, I am one of those people who suffers tremendously from seasickness, and I know it has prevented me from really becoming an avid ocean cruiser. Somehow I can usually stand to ride a ferry, but oof, put me on a Zodiac or a small whale-watching vessel, and all bets are off. But I've been on tons of river cruises and am happy to say that being on the rivers has only ever been the smoothest sailing imaginable. Sometimes I literally have to fix my eye toward a point on the shore to even be sure the ship is moving!
▶ No Big Queues
Waiting in restaurant lines, waiting for the tender to arrive so you can go ashore, searching endlessly for a spot by the crowded pool...does any of that sound like fun? Of course not. One of the best aspects of river cruises is you never wait for your meals, getting a coffee is a cinch, and it takes mere moments to step off of the ship. Forgot your listening device or your sunglasses? You have time to run back to your cabin and retrieve it.
▶ Highly Personalized Service
Because of a high passenger-to-staff ratio, river cruisers experience a much higher level of personalization on board. River cruise staff not only know your name, they know your preferences and they take pride in trying to wow you at every opportunity.
▶ Clear Pre-Cruise Documents
From the moment you book your cruise, you are provided with electronic documents that are clear, concise, and extremely thorough. Every question you could think of is answered, you are provided information about your departure city, all ports you visit, your onboard experience, important emergency numbers, and anything else that pertains to your trip.
▶ Locally Sourced Foods
Nothing beats dining on local cuisine, mere miles from where it originates. Chefs carefully curate their dishes so they are reflective of the local culture. This is unquestionably one of the best reasons to take a river cruise, and something you’re not going to easily find on an ocean cruise. Typically you'll also enjoy wines produced in the regions you are visiting. If you've stayed on board one morning to take it easy, you might be able to see the whole kitchen crew loading the day's fresh meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables onto the ship.
▶ Excursions, Drinks, and "Special" Dining Are Included
Who wants to keep shelling out hundreds of dollars after they’ve already paid for their cruise vacation? River cruises are far more inclusive which means you get to choose from a selection of incredible pre-paid shore excursions and spend your money on other things like fun souvenirs to bring home. In addition, many companies offer special occasion dinners or alternative dining options onboard, and most are part of your cruise fare. Inclusions vary by line, but AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Tauck, Scenic, and Riverside are the most comprehensive in terms of excursions. Generally all dining is covered, aside from the spectacular semi-private wine dinners offered by Uniworld and Riverside. Most lines also include wine and beer at meals, fancy coffee and tea 24/7, and many also host a daily Happy Hour.
▶ Approachable & Accessible Management
If you ever need anything, you never have to look far to get some help or a question answered. Both the hotel manager and cruise manager can be found easily; in fact, they sit at a desk near the reception area, so they’re always on hand.
▶ Always Steps from the Action
One of the biggest reasons so many travelers choose river cruising over ocean cruising is because of the port of call accessibility. Because so many river cruise ports are part of old trade routes, they dock in the heart of all of the action. You can sometimes step off your ship and find yourself downtown in minutes. And if you want to come and go from the ship, it’s much simpler on a river cruise ship, whether by foot, taxi, or even public transit.
▶ Affordable Laundry Services
If you’re an ocean cruiser, you likely let out a groan because you know full well how much laundry services cost onboard an ocean cruise (or at a hotel), and you know how long it can take to get your things back. You can pack light onboard your river cruise and rest assured that if you do need anything laundered, it can be done efficiently and inexpensively. I'm the person that washes clothes in hotel sinks, and even I use the shipboard laundry service. I've always seen my clean clothes returned by the next day (and sometimes even the same day), with my wallet largely intact.
▶ Stay Connected for Free
No, you’re not dreaming – Wi-Fi is free! It’s important to have the option of checking in with loved ones back home, or maybe you’ll want to share photos with friends along the way. Or, if you MUST, check on your work emails (guilty!).
▶ A Perfect Pace of Travel
For anyone looking for a less frenzied, quieter, more immersive way of experiencing Europe and beyond, river cruises offer all of that and more. With varying departure and arrival times, and longer stays in port, you’re able to get more out of every port of call than you would onboard an ocean cruise.
▶ Luxuriously Cozy Cabins
River cruise cabins are meant to feel like home. The interior is designed to be chic, warm, and inviting as if you were staying in a beautiful floating boutique hotel. You’ll be happy to know that everything you’ll find on an ocean cruise, including TV entertainment, spacious balconies, and luxurious bedding can also be part of the river cruising experience. Cabins are designed with storage needs and ergonomics in mind.
▶ Cruise Managers Make it Personal
If you are flying in early for your river cruise (as you should) during your pre-cruise stay you will likely be able to meet your Cruise Manager when you add a land extension offered by the cruise line. Cruise managers are hand-selected, multi-lingual, highly trained hospitality experts that are there to ensure your river cruise vacation is perfect. Some guests even choose their sailing dates based on when their favorite cruise manager will be on board!
As you can see, the differences between ocean cruising and river cruising are significant.
Even if you’re an experienced ocean cruiser, perhaps you’re now intrigued enough to book your first river cruise.
If you’re after a culturally immersive, slower-paced, more intimate cruising experience, a river cruise should be your next vacation option.
Let's discuss it soon!
Nicole LeBlanc, owner, Mon Voyage LLC