You’ve always wanted to take a cruise, and you have decided that this is the year to do it.  Great!  The next question is, do you take an ocean cruise or a river cruise, and what’s the difference?

Besides the size of the body of water you’d be traveling on, river cruises and ocean cruises will offer a completely different experience for you as a traveler.  In fact, you’ll find that both are very popular these days, and you’ll see more offerings of both in the future.

So let’s get down to basics:

Ship size:
Ocean cruises typically are larger ships with 3000 passengers or more (some of the bigger ships can hold 6000 passengers!).  On the other hand, river cruise ships are much smaller in size and typically hold about 150 to 225 passengers.  That also means the even though both types of cruises will have lots of amenities, the smaller river cruises won’t have the large water parks, multiple fitness centers, on-board entertainment spectaculars, etc.

Port Time/Excursions
One of the main differences between river cruises and ocean cruises is the amount of time you spend in port.  There are no days at sea on a river cruise, and when you dock you’ll be in port all day.  With ocean cruises, you usually stay near the port for some shopping and an occasional excursion to get acquainted with the locals.  On a river cruise, you typically dock near the center of the action, can take trips into the countryside to experience the local culture and history and more.  The best way to think about it is a river cruise is like a land tour on water, whereas an ocean cruise is more about the on-ship experience.

Family Affair
Another big difference between river and ocean cruises is the make-up of your fellow passengers.  Ocean cruises typically cater to the entire family, with a range of on-board activities for every age.  On a river cruise, however, there are few activities for younger children, so you may want to consider this carefully when deciding between the two.

Destinations
The deciding factor for you as you choose between a river cruise or an ocean cruise could very well be the first question you ask yourself:  Where do you want to go?  River cruises are limited by those rivers that can handle the ships – they don’t go into very remote areas.  On the other hand, there is a lot more coastline to be had for ocean cruises.  So whether it’s the Mediterranean, Antarctica or another exotic port of call, an ocean cruise may be your best bet.
 

So, what will your next choice be?  If you need help deciding between a river cruise or an ocean cruise, contact Luxury Destinations Concierge at 805-236-4437.