Cruising 101: Ocean vs River

Ever wondered if ocean cruising is really that different from river cruising?

Well, the answer is simple.

It is completely different!

Yes, both involve getting on a boat, unpacking your suitcase once, and waking up somewhere new. But that's about where the similarities end.

Ocean cruising generally involves larger ships, more people, more entertainment, and more things happening onboard.

River cruising is generally smaller, quieter, and much more focused on the destinations you're visiting.

Choosing which one you want to experience It's really about what kind of vacation you want!

My goal with this series is to help you better understand the cruising industry and make vacations feel like vacations instead of homework!

Ocean cruises generally involve larger ships, more passengers, and a lot more happening onboard.

Depending on the ship, you might have multiple restaurants, pools, theaters, lounges, casinos, fitness centers, kids' clubs, water slides, shows, and enough activities to make you wonder when you're supposed to sleep.

Ocean cruises also give you a huge variety of destinations. You can cruise the Caribbean, Alaska, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Mexican Riviera, South Pacific, and plenty of other places.

The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is choice.

Want to see a show, grab dinner at three different places, hit the casino, and somehow end up at a trivia competition at 9 PM?

Want to do absolutely nothing?

Everything goes when you are on the ocean!

Ocean cruising can also be a really good option for families and multigenerational groups because everyone doesn't have to do the same thing. Grandma can relax by the pool, the kids can be in the kids’ club or racing on go karts, and the parents can go to the spa and finally relax!

That's one of the reasons I think larger ocean ships can work particularly well for groups.

There are obviously a lot of cruise lines out there, and everyone has its own personality.

These are some of the lines that have made the biggest impression on my clients.

Known as the “Love boat” I've heard consistent praise for the service, itineraries, and overall experience, and Princess has a particularly strong presence in Alaska.

In fact, when I'm talking with someone about an Alaska cruise, Princess is almost always a line worth considering.

Viking Ocean is a very different experience from some of the giant mainstream cruise ships.

It's more focused on the destination and a quieter onboard experience, and it has an adults-focused atmosphere.

If someone tells me, "I don't want to be on a floating amusement park," Viking is usually a name that comes up pretty quickly.

Viking also has really interesting an unique itineraries around the world in Europe, Asia, and the Med

Royal Caribbean is almost the opposite end of that spectrum.

These ships can be huge.

There can be water attractions, entertainment, restaurants, activities, pools, and enough going on that you could probably spend an entire week onboard and still not do everything.

If your idea of a cruise is "I want the ship to be part of the vacation," Royal Caribbean is worth looking at.

Celebrity sits in a more upscale space while still giving you many of the amenities people expect from a larger ocean cruise.

It's a line I would look at for travelers who want something a little more refined without necessarily going all the way into ultra-luxury cruising.

Seabourn takes things in a much smaller and more luxury-oriented direction.

The ships are smaller, the atmosphere is more intimate, and the focus is heavily on service and the overall experience.

Holland America is another line I like to consider, particularly for Alaska.

It's a little more traditional, with a relaxed atmosphere and strong itineraries.

For travelers who don't need a waterslide on their cruise ship but still want a full-service ocean cruise experience, Holland America can make a lot of sense.

Now let's completely change gears.

River cruises are generally smaller ships, fewer passengers, and much less emphasis on the ship itself.

Instead of crossing an ocean between destinations, you're traveling along a river and frequently stopping in or near cities and towns.

You might have breakfast on the ship, get off and explore a historic European city, come back for lunch, and then continue sailing while watching the scenery go by.

That's a very different vacation from spending the afternoon on the world's largest cruise ship.

River cruising is particularly popular in Europe, with major itineraries along rivers such as the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, and Seine.

The biggest advantage is the destination experience.

You're generally not booking a river cruise because you need 17 restaurants, a waterpark, and a Broadway theater.

You're booking it because you want to see the places along the river.

And this is where river cruising can be fantastic.

You unpack once, your hotel moves with you, and you get to see multiple destinations without constantly changing hotels or dragging your suitcase through train stations.

River cruises also often include more in the standard fare than ocean cruises.

Depending on the cruise line and itinerary, that can include things like excursions, drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities.

When you're comparing prices, you need to look at what you're actually getting for the price, rather than just comparing the advertised cruise fare.

Viking is probably one of the first names most people think of when they hear "European river cruise." They have a huge presence in European river cruising and offer a very destination-focused experience. Couple that with their very impressive marketing campaigns they essentially know that you want to cruise before you even do.

Uniworld is more toward the luxury end of river cruising. It has more of that boutique hotel floating down the river feel. The ships themselves are part of the experience, with a lot of attention paid to design, service, dining, and the overall feel of the trip.

AmaWaterways is another river cruise line I frequently look at when matching travelers with European itineraries.

They offer a wide range of itineraries and tend to have a lot included in the cruise experience.

I've had clients basically tell me:

"Once you sail Tauck, you don't sail anything else."

That isn't exactly an official Tauck slogan, but I've heard the sentiment from clients.

Tauck combines the river cruise with a broader luxury travel experience, and the included experiences are a big part of the appeal.

I'd think about it this way.

Choose an ocean cruise if you want:

Choose a river cruise if you want:

And here's the thing.

I've had travelers who thought they wanted an ocean cruise end up loving river cruising.

I've also had travelers look at river cruising and basically say:

"Yeah...where's the rest of the ship?"

And that's okay.

If you want five restaurants, three pools, entertainment every night, and enough activities to keep an entire family occupied, a river cruise probably isn't going to scratch that itch.

If you want to wake up in a European city, walk off the ship, explore for the day, and come back to a smaller ship with fewer passengers, river cruising might be exactly what you're looking for.

The real question is:

What do you want your vacation to feel like?

Let me know if you are ready to book an Ocean or River Cruise! or if you are not sure which one you want to book, and we can find out together!

This Is Just the Beginning of Cruising 101

Ocean vs. river is only the first question.

Once you've figured that out, there are a whole bunch of other questions:

Which cruise line should I choose?

What cabin should I book?

What's actually included?

How much does a cruise really cost?

Should I book the ship's excursions or explore on my own?

When should I book?

And, perhaps most importantly:

How do I avoid booking the wrong cruise for the way I actually like to travel?

That's what I'll be covering throughout my Cruising 101 series.

Explore the full Cruising 101 guide on Travel with Frederick →

Disclosure: Cruise inclusions vary by cruise line, ship, itinerary, and fare. Always compare what is included in the specific cruise you're considering.