Cruise Specialists Blog

Luxury Cruise News & Reviews

Blog Home / Cruise Lines / American Cruise Line Reviews

10 Ways River Cruising May Surprise and Delight You

Justin Gibson

If you’re a fan of ocean cruising but haven’t yet sailed on a river cruise, you may wonder how different the two could possibly be: they both involve a ship and water, right?

Yes, and that’s just about where the similarities end.

A river cruise is an entirely different kind of cruise experience. Some cruise fans find that the quieter, more intimate river experience is what they’ve been looking for. Others prefer the open sea and the feature-rich ships that sail it. And, some find that alternating between the two is a perfect mix of vacation styles.
Reasons to try your first river cruiseIf you haven’t taken your first river cruise yet, here are some things you may not know about sailing the inland waterways of the world:

  1. River cruise ships are a lot smaller than ocean-going ships. River cruise ships are much lower, too (they have to fit under low bridges). River cruise ships certainly don’t sacrifice any comfort: they are well-appointed and often quite elegant.
  2. River cruises focus on the ports. The spotlight is on what you can explore on shore, not on the features of the ship. River cruise ships may have two or three decks, but don’t expect big sports facilities, casinos, multiple restaurants, children’s programs or giant entertainment venues.
  3. The view is more than water. The shoreline provides an ever-changing view, ranging from historic cities to small villages, from open countryside to stunning river bluffs. You don’t get expansive ocean vistas, but what’s on shore is often fascinating.
  4. River cruises are great if you’re prone to seasickness. Even with their excellent stabilizers, ocean-going ships can move a bit with the waves and wind. Some cruise guests find it thrilling; others simply use a seasickness preventive. But, the smooth glide of a river cruise means there’s extremely little chance of any motion sickness.
  5. You can be on land every day. Many ocean cruises include one or more days at sea, with no port calls, and some guests love that opportunity to relax. If you would rather wake up in a new port each day, you’ll enjoy a river cruise.
    Why you're going to love a river cruise if you love an ocean cruise
  6. You’ll step off the ship into the heart of town. River cruise ships can usually dock right in the city center. There’s no need to drop anchor in the harbor and tender in, or to ride a bus for hour to get to the city that’s on the itinerary.
  7. You can really get to know your fellow guests. River cruise ships usually carry 100 to 200 passengers, so it can be a much more social atmosphere than an ocean-going ship that accommodates thousands.
  8. You can even get to know the captain. The smaller size of river cruise ships will bring you into contact with the ship’s captain and other officers more often, which can add a nice personal touch to the cruise experience.
    More of the fun ways river cruising is different
  9. Shore excursions are included in river cruise fares! Walking tours are a staple of river cruise excursions, so bring your walking shoes. Other amenities that are often “extras” on ocean cruises – such as wine with dinner, airport transfers and Wi-Fi access – are often included in river cruise fares, too.
  10. You can qualify for group discounts with a smaller group. River cruise ships usually begin to provide group discounts to groups of eight or 10 guests, as opposed to the 15+ required by ocean cruise ships.

Options for river cruises are expanding all the time, with new itineraries being introduced in Europe, Asia, South America and the U.S. Let us help you find a river cruise that you’ll love!

[su_button url=”//www.cruisespecialists.com/river-cruises.aspx?utm_campaign=blog&utm_medium=social&utm_source=cruisespecialistsblog”]Let our team help you find the perfect river cruise for you! [/su_button]

 

More from my site

  • River Cruising with Cruise Specialists: A Step AboveRiver Cruising with Cruise Specialists: A Step Above
  • River Cruising: Where can it take you?River Cruising: Where can it take you?
  • First New Riverboat for America’s RiversFirst New Riverboat for America’s Rivers
  • River Cruise Basics: Affordable River CruisingRiver Cruise Basics: Affordable River Cruising

American Cruise Line Reviews, American Queen Voyages Reviews, River Cruises

SEARCH ARTICLES

Article Categories

  • Cruise Destinations
    • Africa Cruise Reviews
    • Alaska Cruise Reviews
    • Amazon Cruise Reviews
    • Antarctica Cruise Reviews
    • Arctic Cruise Reviews
    • Asia Cruise Reviews
    • Australia/New Zealand
    • Baltic Cruise Reviews
    • Canada/New England Cruise Reviews
    • Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Cuba Cruise Reviews
    • Europe Cruise Reviews
    • Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Grand Voyages
    • Hawaii Cruise Reviews
    • Iceland/Greenland
    • Mediterranean Cruise Reviews
    • Mexico Cruise Reviews
    • Panama Canal Cruise Reviews
    • Scandinavia and Northern Europe Cruise Reviews
    • South America Cruise Reviews
    • South Pacific Cruise Reviews
    • Transatlantic Cruise Reviews
    • World Cruise Reviews
  • Cruise FAQs
  • Cruise Lines
    • Abercrombie & Kent Reviews
    • AmaWaterways Cruise Reviews
    • American Cruise Line Reviews
    • American Queen Voyages Reviews
    • Aqua Expeditions Reviews
    • Atlas Ocean Voyages Reviews
    • Avalon Cruise Reviews
    • Azamara Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Cruise Reviews
    • Celebrity Galapagos Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard Cruise Reviews
    • Cunard World Cruise Reviews
    • Disney Cruise Reviews
    • Explora Journeys Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America Line Cruise Reviews
    • Holland America World Cruise Reviews
    • Hurtigruten Reviews
    • Lindblad/National Geographic Reviews
    • Norwegian Cruise Line Reviews
    • Oceania Cruise Reviews
    • Oceania World Cruise Reviews
    • Paul Gauguin Cruise Reviews
    • Ponant Cruise Reviews
    • Princess Cruise Reviews
    • Quark Expeditions Reviews
    • Regent Cruise Reviews
    • Regent Seven Seas Cruise
    • Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
    • Royal Caribbean Cruise Reviews
    • Scenic Eclipse Discovery Yacht Reviews
    • Scenic River Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Cruise Reviews
    • Seabourn Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Silversea World Cruise Reviews
    • Star Clippers Cruise Reviews
    • Tauck Cruise and Tauck Land Tour Reviews
    • UnCruise Adventures Reviews
    • Uniworld River Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Expedition Cruise Reviews
    • Viking Ocean Cruise Reviews
    • Virgin Voyages
    • Windstar Cruise Reviews
    • Zegrahm Expeditions
  • Cruise News
  • Cruise Ports
  • Cruise Specialists Benefits
  • Expedition Cruises
  • Hosted Cruises
  • Ralph Grizzle
  • River Cruises
  • Ship Reviews
  • Solo Cruising
  • Tom Mullen
  • Tours, Trains & Resorts
    • Palace Resorts Reviews
    • Safari Reviews
    • Shore Excursions
    • Trains

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
View My Blog Posts

Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
View My Blog Posts

Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
View My Blog Posts

FOLLOW US ON

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter