When they first start cruising, most people seem to book ocean cruises, and I’m in the same boat. But you have options, and there’s big difference between river and ocean cruises.
Ironically, the first cruise I remember was a river cruise in China, but it was a 700 person ship. Aside from that, I didn’t really know much about river cruises until I took my first one and definitely not when I first started booking cruises as an adult.
If you’re trying to choose between an ocean cruise and a river cruise, this guide should help. The experience can be surprisingly different depending on which type of water you’re sailing.
The Basics of Ocean vs. River
I mean, it seems pretty obvious at some level, right? Ocean cruises travel across large seas and oceans, while river cruises move along inland waterways like the Danube, Rhine, Mekong, or Mississippi.
But once you dig into them more, you discover differences you might not have thought about at first, like size. Ocean cruises are usually on massive ships that can accommodate thousands of guests, while river cruises are much smaller, often carrying fewer than 200 passengers.
The destinations also differ. Ocean cruises stop at coastal cities and island ports, sometimes with full days at sea. River cruises are more about constant sightseeing, docking daily in small towns and cultural hubs you wouldn’t reach otherwise sometimes visiting more than one in a day.
Ship Size and Amenities
Ocean cruise ships are floating resorts. They typically offer multiple restaurants, pools, theaters, casinos, water slides, and even go-kart tracks or ice-skating rinks or roller coasters and more. Some of the newest ships from Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, or Carnival feel like mini cities at sea, with up to 6,000 guests aboard.
River cruise ships, on the other hand, are built to navigate narrow waterways and fit under bridges, so their size is limited. Expect one main dining room, a lounge, and an upper deck. You won’t find nightlife or big shows, but that’s and intentional given where and how often the ships dock.
What’s Included in Your Fare
River cruises often include more in the upfront price. Daily shore excursions, wine and beer with meals, and wifi are standard on many river lines like Viking, Uniworld, or AmaWaterways. Some even include airport transfers or gratuities.
Ocean cruise fares tend to have a lower pricepoint to start, but that’s often a base price. Extras like drink packages, excursions, specialty dining, wifi, and tips are add-ons that can drive up the total cost.
While some luxury ocean lines such as Regent Seven Seas or Silversea do include more, they come with a luxury price tag. Always look at the specific booking you’re interested in to see what may be included, as Norwegian often offers “free” drinks and wifi and specialty dining, you still pay taxes and gratuitities that add hundreds to the cost.
Where They Travel
Ocean cruises cover vast territory, as they’re generally based in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, or South Pacific, as well as transatlantic crossings. They’re ideal if you want warm beaches, big cities, or remote islands.
River cruises tend to stay within continents and follow historic trade routes. In Europe, you can sail through wine country in France, past castles in Germany, or right into the heart of Budapest.
In Asia, rivers like the Mekong and Irrawaddy connect travelers to temples, villages, and markets that are otherwise hard to reach. Even in the United States, river cruising is growing with ships that operate along the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers.
Cost Differences
River cruises usually cost more per day than ocean cruises. But they also include more in the base fare and deliver a more intimate, land-focused experience. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $600 per person per day on a river cruise, compared to $100 to $250 for most mainstream ocean cruises.
As with any type of vacation, there are higher-end and lower-cost providers, so this isn’t an absolute. You’ll also find significant differences in price for any vacation depending on the time of year you want to visit, as high season always costs more.
The value depends on what you’re looking for. If you want non-stop entertainment, ocean cruises offer more bang for your buck. If you’d rather have smaller crowds, guided tours, and port-intensive itineraries, river cruising may be worth the higher upfront cost.
Atmosphere Onboard
Ocean cruises are generally more social and fast-paced, with large groups, activity schedules, and a mix of ages. Some lines cater specifically to families with kids’ clubs and themed events, while others lean into adults-only options.
River cruises are quieter. Many travelers are older, often 55 and up, though that’s starting to shift as more people discover the joys of river cruising and new players enter the market.
The atmosphere is refined but casual, and many guests are seasoned travelers who have already done several ocean cruises. With fewer people onboard, the staff often knows your name by the second day, and conversations tend to run deeper than surface-level small talk.
You won’t find casinos on a river cruise, and the entertainment may run more towards a piano player in the lounge or lectures from experts in the areas where you travel. Most river cruise ships don’t have a pool, and there’s definitely no loud music playing or games throughout the day organized by the crew.
You won’t find your favorite towel animals on a river cruise, but the standard of service does include room refreshing twice a day still, which has generally changed to once a day on ocean cruises. The cabins are often larger than ocean cruise ships, though there are fewer cabin types available and river cruises don’t generally have inside cabins.
The Food
One of the big things about cruises is their unlimited food options at just about any hour of the day or night. While many ocean cruises have reduced this with midnight chocolate buffet extravaganzas a thing of the past, you can find food on an ocean ship at pretty much any hour of the day or night.
Ocrean ships often have multiple restaurants and options from the buffets to sit down meals at assigned and open dining times with smaller specialty options that may be included or available at an extra cost. The food tends to be the same from ship to ship on a given line and – with some exceptions – is not five star dining.
River ships tend to have much more limited options with that single dining room and more snack options outside that. You generally can still find food at just about any time, but the number of options isn’t the same as a larger ocean cruise ship.
As the river cruises have a smaller passenger base, the food is often more variable based on the local options the chef finds at markets. And without question, cooking for a smaller number of passengers tends to mean that the taste and quality is higher, as well.
Both types of ships generally offer room service with a limited menu, though there may be a charge on some ships and cabin types, especially for ocean cruises.
Excursions and Ports
River cruises offer nearly a new port every day, and most itineraries include guided tours. When I recently sailed on the Riverside Ravel, we often visited more than one city in a day since the ports are so close to each other, and yes, that meant more than one excursion in a day if we chose.
River cruise ships dock in the center of towns, so passengers can often walk straight off the boat and explore without going through the duty-free store and a mass of vendors pitching their services.
That makes it easy to dive into local markets, historic sites, and authentic restaurants without a long drive or tender boat. That said, many excursions are in nearby cities that you do drive to if you choose to explore them, though it isn’t necessary.
Ocean cruise ports often involve a larger terminal and more logistics. In some destinations, you’ll need a shuttle or tender boat just to reach land, though this is becoming less common as destinations dredge ports to allow bigger ships to dock.
Excursions may involve longer bus rides to get to inland attractions. On the upside you have a greater variety of choice in excursions from both the cruise lines and the local vendors based on the sheer number of passengers.
A one-week ocean cruise might take you to multiple countries or islands with completely different vibes, which allows you to see and do more types of locations. Many of the activities are more active, such as snorkeling or sailing or ATV riding, which often appeals to a different audience than those interested in the history and food of Europe, which is the focus of many river cruise excursions.
Motion and Weather
If you’re prone to seasickness, river cruising is the safer bet. River ships move smoothly and avoid open water. You’re also never far from land, which can be comforting.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have a rocky experience, as Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate, but the odds are lower. And if you are prone to seasickness, there are great options to avoid seasickness (which my husband utilizes as he succumbs very easily without these remedies).
Ocean cruises face more variables, from rough seas to hurricanes, depending on the season. Large ships do have stabilizers and modern navigation, which has made a significant difference in their rocking motions.
The ocean can still be unpredictable, but booking a lower deck cabin in the center of the ship can help mitigate this. I’ll be honest that I often don’t even notice an ocean ship moving, but it’s still enough to bother my husband.
Some itineraries, especially in the Caribbean or transatlantic crossings, may involve multiple sea days in a row. That said, I enjoy sea days, as they’re a great time to explore the ship’s offerings.
Why Pick One Over the Other?
Choose a river cruise if you want a slower pace, cultural immersion, and a more inclusive, small-group setting. It’s ideal for travelers who want to explore more inland destinations and are comfortable without the bells and whistles of a larger cruise ship.
Go with an ocean cruise if you want more entertainment, onboard variety, and a wider range of destinations. It’s often a better fit for multigenerational travel or anyone looking for resort-style features and flexible trip lengths.
For me, I enjoy both river and ocean cruising. It’s about where I want to go for vacation and who I’m traveling with, especially as I started cruising with my kids when they were small and would not have enjoyed a river cruise.
No matter what you choose, go in with your eyes open and knowing what you’re signing up for. Cruising is a fantastic way to explore multiple destinations in a cost-effective and safe manner, and there’s a reason the industry continues to grow so rapidly.
