There’s plenty to consider when you’re weighing up ocean vs. river cruises for your dream vacation. Perhaps you’re already an ocean cruise fan, but you’re curious to try life along Europe’s rivers. Or maybe you’ve only ever sampled river cruising and are wondering what your experience would be like on a much bigger ship.
So which to choose? There are plenty of similarities between both, not least a comfortable stateroom, great food, and the excitement of discovering a new place every day. Both types of cruises would make a fantastic vacation. But there are differences, too. Here are some points to help you decide between an ocean cruise or a river cruise.
Big Ship or Small?
Infinite Veranda, Celebrity Edge
One of the biggest differences in the ocean vs. river cruises debate is the size of the ship. Riverboats in Europe carry under 200 passengers, whereas a mid-sized ocean-going ship will carry upwards of 2,000.
Designers of ocean-going ships can be wildly creative when it comes to imaginative amenities and things to do, from lavish cruise ship spas and state-of-the-art gyms to high-tech theaters, pickleball courts, kids’ clubs, and a grand central atrium.
This is because there’s much less restriction on space. So if you’re looking for Broadway-quality production shows, an expansive pool deck with cabanas, and high-tech workouts like Peloton bikes and bungee fit, you’ll probably love the variety that an ocean-going ship offers.
Budapest, Hungary
Riverboats in Europe, on the other hand, can only ever be a certain size. This is because rivers like the Rhine and the Danube, and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal that connects these mighty waterways, are controlled by a series of locks. They’re also spanned by multiple bridges.
So shipbuilders are restricted to a certain width so that ships can fit through the locks, and height, so that they can pass under bridges. Interior designers then work within these parameters to create a stylish, contemporary look and feel.
On a river cruise, you’ll certainly find features like a gym, a small spa, a beautiful sun deck, and most probably a plunge pool. Evening entertainment will take place in the lounge—or there may be organized excursions to nighttime attractions ashore, such as a pub crawl in Budapest or a private classical concert in Vienna.
There will be chic veranda staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows so you can watch life on the river drift by. But the ship itself will be a fraction of the size of its ocean-going cousins, with a more intimate vibe.
Read: What to Wear on a River Cruise in Europe
Sailing Days
Sunset Bar
On an ocean cruise, there will typically be at least one “sea day”, which is a day when the ship is sailing all day and there is no port of call. To many people, sea days are a wonderful time to relax and unwind, get up late, relax by the pool, visit the spa, or join a quiz or a wine tasting class.
Some savvy cruisers will even book a repositioning voyage, when a ship moves from one cruising area, such as the Caribbean, to another, usually the Mediterranean, with multiple days at sea to relax and commune with the ocean.
Other cruise fans prefer to be in a different port every day. This is where river cruising, which is more akin to a land tour in style, comes in. You will usually have a chance to go ashore at least once every day, and on river cruises where distances between stops are short, there will often be a late departure.
Iron Gates Gorge
When the river boat is sailing, there’s always something to see. You could be gazing at medieval castles on a voyage along the Rhine, or marveling at the spectacular rock formations of the Danube’s Iron Gates Gorge.
There’s constant activity along the river. Barges laden with goods chug up and down these busy waterways, while you can spot birds along the banks and see locals fishing or enjoying the river beaches. A river cruise is a great way to gain an insight into everyday life in Europe.
Weather & Seasons
Cologne, Germany
Any cruise, ocean or river, is more enjoyable when the weather is fine. Ocean cruises, to an extent, are more weather-dependent as there are often visits to beaches and outdoor attractions involved.
River cruises, on the other hand, tend to focus more on culture and cities. So if you are unlucky on your river cruise, there will always be museums and galleries to enjoy, castles to explore, and riverside pubs in which to relax.
Celebrity Edge
Ocean cruises operate year-round, ships following the sun and moving from one sailing area to another as the seasons change. River cruising tends to be more seasonal. The European season starts in March for the Dutch bulbfields and spring voyages on the Rhine and Danube and runs to early November.
There’s a lull then, as November in Europe is generally cool and often wet, with cruises picking up again in December for the enchanting Advent markets that spring up in every European city. This can be an absolutely magical time to sail, especially when there’s snow on the ground and the ship is all decked out for Christmas.
Onboard Entertainment
The Theatre, Celebrity Edge
One aspect of ocean cruising that regulars tend to love is the impressive scale of the entertainment on board, from live bands and DJs to state-of-the-art production shows in high-tech theaters, as good as anything you’ll find on Broadway or in London’s West End.
If you love this theatricality, as well as karaoke and late-night dancing, you will be right at home on an ocean-going ship. There’s always plenty to do in the day, too, from quizzes and game shows to bingo, wine tasting, time in the spa, and exercise classes.
On river cruises, the entertainment is much lower key. You can enjoy cooking demos and perhaps craft classes during the day, as well as talks by experts on the local history. Some sections of Europe’s rivers are so spectacular that there’s expert narration as you sail through them. For example, you can understand what you’re looking at as you sail the Romantic Rhine, where every castle tells its own story.
Cocktail
The main lounge on a riverboat will be buzzing during cocktail hour as guests gather to swap tales of their day’s adventures, usually to a gentle soundtrack of a pianist or guitarist. After dinner, local entertainers are often brought on board, from opera quartets to folk dancing groups.
There may be dancing after this—every riverboat has a dance floor—but the reality with river cruising is that people tend to go to bed fairly early, happily tired after the port-intensive days.
Seasickness
Villa Suite, Celebrity Beyond
A lot of first-time cruisers worry about getting seasick. While modern ocean-going ships are extremely stable, and a wide variety of seasickness remedies are available, a handful of unlucky folk do still feel the motion of the ocean.
Often, worrying about being seasick is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. So if you love the idea of a cruise but are concerned about not finding your sea legs, a river cruise is the perfect solution. You’ll have all the fun of cruising—the wonderful food, the attentive service, the social atmosphere—but absolutely no chance of getting seasick.
Incidentally, if you do try a river cruise and find you’re hooked on life on the water, there are plenty of ocean-going itineraries that hug coastlines and don’t expose you to potentially choppy seas. So perhaps make a destination like the Norwegian fjords in summer your first foray into ocean cruising once you’ve gotten the bug.
Exceptional Cuisine
Le Voyage, Celebrity Ascent
One aspect of cruising that aficionados love is the delicious food. On ocean-going ships, there’s a wide choice of restaurants; you can eat somewhere different every night if you wish, ranging from steak to sushi to Italian to gourmet French. There will be a Spa Café for juices and healthy snacks, a coffee bar for specialty coffees and pastries, and a poolside grill for made-to-order burgers and salads.
The food on a river cruise is just as good, but the size and nature of riverboats in Europe mean that you won’t have such a large choice of restaurants. Riverboats tend to have one main dining room and perhaps a second al-fresco restaurant on deck, or a more intimate alternative to the main restaurant that can be pre-booked.
You’ll still get your specialty coffee and your favorite cake, and you can still breakfast on eggs made to order or explore the salad bar at lunch. You’ll also find local dishes on the menu, made from ingredients sourced in riverside towns. But generally speaking, most passengers on a river cruise will eat together for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Cafe in Vienna, Austria
The good thing about river cruising, though, is that you’re often docked close to the center of a city, which presents an excellent chance to try the local cuisine. In Vienna, head for one of the famous historic coffee houses for a decadent coffee piled high with whipped cream.
In Germany, try a currywurst—a hot dog in a bread roll doused in a curry sauce. Take a break from exploring Amsterdam for pancakes or waffles, Dutch style. Or find a restaurant in Budapest’s pretty castle district for an authentic Hungarian goulash, a beef stew rich with paprika.
History to Discover
Budapest, Hungary
Europe’s great waterways, the Rhine and the Danube, have served as transport arteries, trading routes, and frontiers for millennia. The Danube served as the northern boundary of the Roman Empire from the first century AD and later, in the Middle Ages, provided a vital transportation highway in an era when there were few roads.
In the 16th century, the river was a natural border between the Muslim Ottomans from the east and the Christian Habsburg Empire to the north.
Nuremberg, Germany
So essentially, on a river cruise, you’ll be immersed in history, from the vestiges of the Romans in Cologne to fairytale castles built in the Middle Ages and quaint riverside towns of half-timbered buildings and cobblestone streets.
You’ll experience modern history, too. Pick a voyage along the eastern Danube and you’ll learn about the Balkans conflict of the early 1990s and visit locations shaped by the war.
Acropolis in Athens, Greece
If you’re a history buff and you love ocean cruising, it’s hard to beat a Greece cruise, where you could explore the Acropolis in Athens, the Palace of Knossos in Crete, and the atmospheric temples of Delos in one single voyage.
Italy is also a fabulous choice, with time in Rome, a city packed with antiquities, as well as Naples, gateway to Pompeii, and Renaissance Florence, with unimaginable art treasures.
Activities & Excursions
Whale watching in Alaska
One of the great joys of cruising is the chance to experience new places through carefully curated excursions. You could be touring the Colosseum in Rome from an ocean cruise, whale watching in Alaska, or rum tasting in the Caribbean.
River cruises are no different, with a wonderful variety of tours on offer to introduce you to cities and towns along Europe’s waterways. Join a guided cycle ride around Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse and through the city’s leafy parks. Follow forested hiking trails in Germany’s beautiful Rhine Gorge, with spectacular views down over the river, every bend guarded by a medieval castle.
Cologne Cathedral, Germany
Tour Cologne’s vast cathedral or wander the exquisitely pretty heart of Strasbourg, stopping to taste Flammkuchen, the local answer to pizza, and the crisp Alsace wines that are produced here.
What’s also delightful about river cruising is the fact that if you don’t want to join an excursion, you can simply step ashore and stroll around town or find a sunny beer garden with river views. There are walking trails and towpaths along all of Europe’s rivers, and you can’t get lost—simply follow the riverside path.
Cultural Attractions
Colosseum, Rome
While some ocean-going cruises, particularly in Europe and Asia, are heavily culture-focused, many are designed to maximize fun in the sun.
The Caribbean is one such example; you wouldn’t choose a cruise here if you wanted to spend every day in museums and galleries. And you’d most likely pick Alaska for your vacation if you were interested in wildlife and the great outdoors.
Bratislava, Slovakia
River cruises are different in that they tend to focus much more on history and cultural attractions. Imagine your river cruise as a series of exciting city breaks. You could, for example, visit three capital cities in the space of a week if you chose to sail the Danube, taking in Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.
Of course, there are dozens of ways to enjoy a river cruise even if you’re not a culture vulture, from cycling and hiking to exploring markets, local bars, and theme parks. But it would be a shame to travel all the way to Europe to join a river cruise and not learn a little about the complex and fascinating history here.
Celebrity Beyond
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