River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise at 55 and Up
This is the first question I help almost every traveler answer. The short answer is: choose a river cruise if you want small, calm, and close to town. Choose an ocean cruise if you want more space, more dining, and more to do onboard. Tell me how you like to travel and I will point you to the right one.
Pick river if you want small and calm
Here is what I tell travelers who ask me about rivers. A river cruise is a small ship, about 100 to 200 guests. You dock in town centres. You step off into the town. Scenery is always close to land. The pace is slower. You unpack once and see many towns. A Viking Longship carries 190 guests, so it never feels crowded.
Pick ocean if you want space and variety
And here is what I tell travelers who lean toward ocean. An ocean cruise is a much larger ship, with thousands of guests. You get more dining places, more entertainment, sea days, and more room to roam. Ports can be farther from town, so you may need a bus or a transfer to reach the centre. What I look for is whether you want the ship to be the trip, or the towns to be the trip.
| What matters | River cruise | Ocean cruise |
|---|---|---|
| Ship size | About 100 to 200 guests | Thousands of guests |
| Where you dock | In town centres, most days | Ports, sometimes far from town |
| Seasickness | Extremely rare, almost no wave action | Possible, more movement at sea |
| Pace | Slower, one town most mornings | More to do, with sea days |
| Onboard life | Lounges, library, lectures, local shows | Many dining places, shows, spa, pools |
Will I get seasick on a river?
This is one of the first worries the travelers I help bring up, and the answer is good news. Extremely rare. Rivers have almost no wave action. The motion is mainly a gentle lift in locks. People who get sick on the ocean often tell me they had no problem on a river.
How long is a typical river cruise?
Most of the sailings I book are 7 to 10 days. Short samplers of 3 to 5 days exist. A 14 to 15 day Grand European cruise, Amsterdam to Budapest, is for repeat travelers, and I usually suggest it as a second river cruise, not a first.
Will I be bored on a river cruise?
I am honest about this one. The focus is destinations, not onboard spectacle. There is no casino and no big theatre on Viking River. There are lounges, a library, lectures, local performances, cooking demos, and the sun deck. If you want shows every night, I will tell you an ocean cruise fits better, and I would rather say that now than have you bored on day three.
Pick a river cruise if: you want calm water, small groups, and a new town most mornings.
Pick an ocean cruise if: you want more dining, more space, sea days, and places like the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Caribbean, or a world cruise.
Questions people ask
Is a river cruise a good first cruise?
Yes, and it is the first cruise I suggest most often for travelers who want many cities without packing and unpacking. The Rhine, Amsterdam to Basel, or the Danube, Budapest to Vienna, are the standard first routes I book.
What is included on a river cruise?
It varies by line, and this is where I check the fine print for you. Viking river cruises include all onboard meals, beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, one excursion in every port, WiFi, and port taxes. Gratuities and premium drinks cost extra. See the cost guide for the full list.
Which is cheaper, river or ocean?
This is the mistake I see most often. A river cruise often costs more per day, even if the total is lower, because it includes more. An ocean cruise gives more space and more amenities for the money. When I check a sailing for you, I compare the total trip, not the headline fare.
Not sure where to start?
Take the two minute quiz. It points you to one river, one line, and one cabin.
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Prefer email? Email me at ashleyhendrickson@travelmation.net