River Cruising vs. Ocean Cruising Packages: Which Cruise Experience is Right for You?
At Lake Macquarie Travel, we understand that choosing the perfect cruise can be a big decision. With so many options available, you may be wondering whether a river cruise or an ocean cruise best suits your travel style. Both offer incredible experiences but differ in destinations, onboard experiences, and the type of adventure you'll have. In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between river cruising and ocean cruising, highlight some fantastic destinations for each, and dive into the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision for your next getaway.
Carly started her career in the travel industry working for a cruise specialist travel agency and was involved in the product development, packaging, liaising with suppliers, product training, delivering incredible client experiences with their cruise holidays and of course, had the opportunity to undertake any ship inspections as well as several personal cruise experiences. Following that, Carly went on to work with APT Travel Group and experienced river cruising with the christening of a new ship in Durnstein, then worked with MSC Cruises who hail from Italy and offer worldwide cruise destinations. This intimate cruise expertise and knowledge hopefully assures you that when you're booking your next cruise holiday with Lake Macquarie Travel, that we are in a position to recommend the right cruise experience for you to make the most out of your holiday! So when you're considering river cruising vs ocean cruising packages, Carly can assist you with comparisons.
River Cruising: Intimate Journeys Through Historic Landscapes
Destinations:
River cruising allows you to explore some of the world’s most iconic rivers, gliding past breathtaking scenery and docking in the heart of historic cities and charming villages. Here are a few popular river cruising destinations:
The Danube & Rhine (Europe): Discover medieval castles, vineyards, and charming towns in countries like Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
The Seine (France): Sail through the romantic countryside of France, from the iconic landmarks of Paris to the quaint villages of Normandy.
The Mekong (Vietnam & Cambodia): Explore the vibrant culture and stunning temples of Southeast Asia while cruising past lush landscapes and local villages.
The Nile (Egypt): Step back in time as you sail past ancient temples and pyramids, experiencing the history and mystique of Egypt firsthand.
Benefits of River Cruising:
Intimate Ships & Personalised Service: River cruises typically accommodate between 100 to 200 passengers, offering a more locally-focused, intimate, boutique experience compared to larger ocean liners. With fewer passengers, you receive personalised service and a more relaxed atmosphere.
Premium Inclusions: River cruising often includes your beverages with meals and even all-day packages with some river cruise companies. Shore excursions are also included with selected river cruise companies or the ability to explore each port via provided bicycles.
Up-Close Access to Destinations: One of the biggest advantages of river cruising is that ships dock directly in the heart of towns and cities. You can step off the boat and immediately start exploring, often with no need for lengthy transfers or tenders.
Scenic Sailing Every Day: Unlike ocean cruises, where much of your time between ports is spent surrounded by endless sea, river cruising offers stunning views throughout the entire journey. Whether it’s castles along the Rhine, lush countryside or temples on the Mekong, there is always a reason to have your camera at the ready.
Cultural Immersion: River cruises focus heavily on cultural experiences, with shore excursions often including guided tours, visits to local markets, and intimate encounters with local traditions and cuisine.
Cons of River Cruising:
Smaller Ships: While smaller ships create an intimate experience, they lack the vast array of entertainment and amenities found on ocean cruises. There are often fewer dining options and onboard activities compared to ocean liners.
Limited Onboard Facilities: River cruise ships typically don’t have large pools, spas, or big entertainment venues, so if you're seeking a more "resort-style" experience, this may not be the best option for you.
Shorter Destinations: Since rivers run through continents, destinations on a river cruise are typically smaller, more concentrated, and based on the river’s geographic path. You won’t have the opportunity to experience the same remote, exotic islands that ocean cruising offers.
Itinerary Diversions: Even with the most well-planned travel itinerary, sometimes there are events beyond our control that throw plans up in the air. And, in the case of river cruising, it may be due to the water levels making the locks impassable and in this instance, coach transfers may be substituted for the cruise.
Our Top Recommendations for River Cruising:
Compare: This is what we are here to help you with! We'll do the research and present what we believe are the best options to suit your requested experience and compare the inclusions, accommodation and onboard experience.
Book Early: Due to the boutique river cruise ship sizes and limited passenger capacity, departure dates do book out early. We typically recommend to look at booking your preferred river cruise approximately one year prior to travel to ensure we have the best opportunity to secure your preferred departure date, itinerary and accommodation type. The advantage of booking early for your river cruise, is that some cruise operators offer 'fly free' or 'airfare credit' packages or other earlybird promotions so you will often save money by booking in advance!
Year Round Experiences: River cruising itineraries are offered almost year round so if you have flexibility in your travel dates, you may be able to secured your preferred itinerary at a lower fare. Similarly, with the change in seasons, you have a wonderful reason to repeat the same itinerary in summer as well as in winter if you've always had European Christmas Markets on your bucket-list experiences.
Ocean Cruising: Expansive Adventures Across the Seas
Destinations:
Ocean cruising offers a wide variety of itineraries that span the globe, visiting multiple countries, continents, and remote islands. Here are some popular ocean cruise destinations:
The Caribbean: Sail through a tropical paradise, hopping between islands like St. Lucia, Barbados, and the Bahamas, each offering pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.
The Mediterranean: Discover Europe’s sun-soaked coastlines with stops in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey, visiting iconic cities such as Rome, Athens, and Barcelona.
Alaska: Cruise through the rugged beauty of Alaska, experiencing glaciers, wildlife, and the natural wonders of the Last Frontier.
The South Pacific: Explore the stunning islands of Fiji, Tahiti, and Bora Bora, where you can swim in turquoise lagoons and relax on powder-white beaches.
Benefits of Ocean Cruising:
Large Variety of Amenities: Ocean cruise ships are like floating resorts, offering a wide range of entertainment options including pools, casinos, spas, Broadway-style shows, and multiple dining venues. There's always something to do onboard.
Extensive Itineraries: Ocean cruises cover vast distances and often visit multiple countries or continents on a single itinerary. From the Caribbean to Antarctica, the world is truly your oyster when it comes to ocean cruising.
Ocean Views & Exotic Islands: There's something undeniably magical about sailing through the open sea, surrounded by endless blue. Ocean cruises offer access to remote, hard-to-reach destinations like the Galapagos Islands, the fjords of Norway, or the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef.
More Time at Sea: For travelers who love the idea of spending time onboard, enjoying spa treatments, lounging by the pool, or indulging in gourmet meals, ocean cruising offers plenty of "sea days" where you can relax and enjoy the ship’s amenities.
Cons of Ocean Cruising:
Less Time in Ports: Ocean cruises often dock further from city centers, meaning you may need to take long transfers or excursions to reach popular attractions. Additionally, ocean cruises spend less time in port than river cruises, sometimes only allowing a few hours to explore.
Crowded Ships: Larger ocean liners can accommodate thousands of passengers, which may lead to a more crowded experience, particularly at popular dining venues or during excursions.
Rough Seas: While river cruising offers smooth sailing, ocean cruises are at the mercy of the sea, and rough weather can lead to choppy waters and the potential for seasickness.
Seasonal Itineraries: While there are some ships that are based in a destination year-round, many ocean cruise ships follow the warmer weather. Our Top Recommendations for Ocean Cruising:
Compare: This is what we are here to help you with! We'll do the research and present what we believe are the best options to suit your requested experience and compare the inclusions, accommodation and onboard experience.
Be Prepared: Cruise ships are well designed with stabilisers, however sometimes you may encounter rough seas and for this reason we always suggest to be prepared in the event that you may experience sea-sickness, even if you cruise regularly. What we can share with you, is that the most stable location onboard is always midship and on the lower levels.
Early Bird Offers: Cruise lines do offer some fantastic early bird booking offers which may include onboard credit, cruise fare savings or bonus inclusions such as shore excursions. These deals may save you thousands of dollars, so wherever possible we recommend to book early for the best cruise deals.
Beverage Packages: There are some cruise lines which do include beverages in your cruise fare. However if you are booking a cruise ship where you will have to pay for your beverages onboard, we do recommend to consider pre-purchasing a beverage package as this upfront outlay will typically save you significantly and greatly decrease the potential of blowing your cruise budget whilst onboard!
Pre-Book Shore Excursions: One of the best ways to make the most of your time in each cruise port, is by pre-booking your shore excursions. Shore excursions do have limited capacity so it is our recommendation that as soon as the pre-booking is opened, that you consider to pre-book any that you don't want to miss out on! Of course, you can usually disembark the ship and explore independently in each port however you do need to ensure you aren't late back for embarkation as otherwise you risk missing sail away! ( Trust me, I have personally waved goodbye to fellow passengers that we left on a dock in the Mexican Riviera many years ago whilst I was sailing on Diamond Princess' inaugural cruise!!)
So in summery, river cruising vs ocean cruising packages; Which Cruise is Right for You?
Both river and ocean cruising offer unique and unforgettable experiences, but the choice comes down to what type of cruise holiday adventure you're seeking.
If you dream of immersing yourself in history, culture, and intimate destinations with plenty of time to explore each place, a river cruise may be your perfect match. It’s ideal for couples and solo travellers alike, history buffs, and those seeking a slower-paced, enriching journey.
If you prefer vast itineraries, luxurious resort-style onboard amenities, and exotic islands, then an ocean cruise is your best option. Ocean cruising is ideal for travellers who enjoy the shipboard experience as much as the destination and for those seeking to visit far-flung parts of the world.
Book Your Dream Cruise with Lake Macquarie Travel
Whether you're enticed by the serene rivers of Europe or Asia, or the vibrant oceans of the South Pacific, Mediterranean or the Caribbean, Lake Macquarie Travel is here to help you plan your perfect cruise holiday. We specialise in creating tailored cruise experiences that fit your travel style, interests, and budget. Contact us today to explore our exclusive river and ocean cruise packages, and let’s set sail on your next great adventure!