Cruising Basics
What are the differences between a river cruise and ocean cruise?
If you're thinking of taking a European vacation, two of the best travel options are river and ocean cruises. However, you should know river and ocean cruises are two completely different experiences. Three big differences are:- Number of passengers. Ocean ships are huge and up to 4,000 guests are onboard while a river boat has on average 150 passengers.
- Ports. Because ocean ships are so large they can only dock at large ports which require taxis, buses and walking to get to the heart of the city. River boats travel along the rivers through the land and dock right in the heart of the cities where you want to be; A new port every day.
- Entertainment. Ocean ships have much more and varied entertainment on board. They also have more dining options which typically include a variety of specialty restaurants.
- The View. Instead of looking at water while cruising, on a River Cruise you'll be looking at the picturesque landscaping along the way.
- What's included. Both ocean cruises and river cruises include stateroom accommodations and meals. In addition to a river view stateroom on a river cruise, guided sightseeing tours, museum admissions, onboard cultural lectures, demonstrations, and wine and beer with meals are all included.