A cruise is a perfect vacation for many people, but choosing between a river or ocean cruise can be difficult. The best way to decide which one is right for you is to consider what you want from your vacation and how much time and money you have available.  

No matter if you’re considering a river or an ocean cruise, luxurious private cruises are an excellent choice to enjoy an unforgettable vacation with your friends or family. That way you will enjoy personalized service and you’ll be able to completely relax, bond, and make unforgettable memories!

Differences between the ocean and river cruise 

The choice between a river cruise or an ocean cruise is often a difficult one. River cruises are intimate and provide the opportunity to explore the inner workings of local culture, while ocean cruises offer more activities for children and diverse scenery. What do you prefer: exploring rivers or exploring oceans? A river cruise or an ocean cruise might be best suited for the type of person you are. The rest of this article will break down some differences so that you know what to expect from both types of vacations before choosing which suits your needs most.

 A river cruise offers various stops along its route, giving passengers the opportunity to explore new lands before returning home. An ocean voyage gives passengers an all-inclusive experience with no need to go ashore. If it's adventure and excitement that you're looking for then a river cruise may be more your speed whereas if luxury surrounds are more of what appeals to you then an ocean voyage might be better suited for your needs. 

River cruise

Ship basics

When it comes to the cruising itself, it usually lasts shorter than an ocean cruise. The boat is also smaller, meaning it can accommodate around 150-250 people at once. It’s more focused on the destination than the onboard experience, which can be a turn-off for many people. 

There are only basic activities onboard, such as some minor artists’ performances and comedy shows, or an occasional musical band playing. This means there are no casinos and no adventure onboard since the real adrenaline rush is outside. 

Where does it sail?

Usually, river cruises take place on rivers with bigger banks. Europe and Asia are quite popular for their rivers, but river cruises are possible in America as well. In the following, here is a list of the rivers where river cruising is popular: the Rhine, Main, Danube, Rhone, Seine, Moselle, Douro, Saone. 

River cruising is possible on the Volga River, Russia, and in China. Also in Cambodia and Vietnam, or the river Zambezi in Africa. Like we’ve mentioned, cruising is possible in the US, on the Mississippi River and Tennessee.  All of the mentioned ones are big river cruises, but small river cruises are possible as well. 

The food 

Usually, river cruising ships are accommodated with restaurants where guests can eat. There are normally three meals a day. Generally, there is a buffet for breakfast, and in the evening, the guests are free to choose what meal they would prefer. Contrary to many beliefs, river cruisers can offer amazing food, just like the ocean ones. 

Ocean cruise

Ship basics 

Ocean cruises tend to be a tad bit longer than river ones, but that’s not always the case. The ships are bigger, high-class, more luxurious, and can accommodate around 1500-2000 guests. There are ships that can fit up to 6000 people as well. The onboard experience is amazing. There are restaurants, swimming pools, spas, casinos, and sometimes there are even shops of different kinds. Often, there are live music bands, movie nights, and stand-up comedy. 

One of our favorite ocean cruises we did was the Midnight Sun Cruise with Viking.

Where does it sail?

Ocean cruises sail near the coastlines of multiple countries and usually stop in some of them. That way, tourists have the time to explore the nearby area, but not nearly enough time to experience everything they see. It’s usually just a quick stop of several hours, and afterward, passengers return to the ship and carry on with the journey. 

The Food 

The food on the ocean cruisers is amazing! It doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better than the one served on the river cruisers, but you definitely have a bigger choice. Usually, big cruisers have several restaurants onboard, and you can choose where you want to eat. The choosing list is rather big and you might want to take your time. Either way, you will leave the hunger behind! 

Summary 

We’re at the end of the article, and we’ve gone through all of the basic differences between the river and the ocean cruise. Now, we will leave the final decision to you- which cruise journey will you choose?