River Cruising vs Ocean Cruising

What’s the difference?

If you are considering a cruise for your next vacation you might be wondering where to go and for how many days, but another aspect to contemplate is the type of cruise you want—river or ocean. Each offers its own unique benefits, and understanding the difference is key to making sure you get the experience you want on your next cruise adventure!

1. The Ships

When it comes to the type of ship, ocean and river cruising vessels are designed with a different mindset and goal. Ocean cruise ships are far larger than their river ship cousins, containing passengers in the thousands, where a river cruise ship may be in the low hundreds. For activities, restaurants, and amenities, ocean cruise ships will general not only have more but also a greater variety than what is available on river cruise ships. River cruise ships may feature only a handful of restaurants, a small spa or gym, and one to two lounges.

2. The Itinerary

Ocean and river cruises are opposites when it comes to where you will be spending most of your time. Ocean cruises feature multiple days at sea, allowing you to take advantage of all the different amenities on board. Most ocean cruises only have either one or a handful of destinations with a day or two at most to explore the area before heading to your next destination or back to the port of arrival. When river cruising you can expect to visit a new destination each day—sometimes even more—across multiple different countries. Each day allows you to explore a new city for a packed week of sightseeing and experience each new locations culture.

3. The Entertainment

If you are looking for multi-leveled theaters, rock-climbing, gambling, and more while you are out at sea, ocean cruises are the way to sail. Ocean cruise ships have a large variety of different options to enjoy while aboard the ship. River cruises on the other don’t focus as much on entertainment available on the ship, but keep it topical and culturally informative based on the destination. Events such as cooking lessons, evening shows from local performers, and educational seminars help better connect you to the places you are visiting.

4. The Travelers

River cruising tends to attract those who are well-traveled, enjoy learning about the culture and history surrounding them, and want something a little slower. The smaller ships and slower pace makes river cruising a ripe setting to make new friends during your journey. Ocean cruises being larger and more inclusive ships, cater to a wide variety of travelers with all different tastes. When it comes to ocean cruise ships, there is something for everyone.

5. The Destinations