I often speak with
seasoned ocean cruisers who have seen the ads for river cruising, and wonder if
a river cruise is right for them.
Here are some reasons
you may want to consider a river cruise:
1. The
Ports – It may be a
blinding flash of the obvious, but you will encounter ports on a river cruise
that are not accessible by ocean. If you find yourself staying on board
your ocean ship because you’ve already been to a port of call several times, it
may be time to find some new ports to visit. You can do that on a river
cruise.
2. The
Size – Ocean ships
measure their guests by the thousands, where a river cruise have between 100
and 180 people. It’s a much different experience for embarking and
disembarking, as well as using the ship amenities.
3. The
Culture – Ocean cruising
is all about the culture on board the ship – the entertainment, the activities,
and the food. In contrast, river cruises are about the culture of the
ports you visit. If you’re a person who enjoys the famous sites and
museums on your ocean cruise port stops, you’ll find the river cruise
experience to be much more in touch with the local culture.
4. The
Service – The mass-market
ocean lines generally do a fine job of taking care of the guests. The
river cruise lines do even better. It is akin to comparing staying at the
Marriott (generally good service), with staying at the Waldorf-Astoria (much
better service). You don’t have to be dissatisfied with the service on
your ocean vessel to appreciate the elevated level of service on a river
cruise. It’s difficult to describe the difference until you’ve experienced it
for yourself.
5. The
Food – Much like the point
above, as good as the food is on board your favorite mass-market cruise line,
they are better on board the river cruise lines.
6. River
Cruises are More Casual –
Some people really like to get dressed up in ball gowns and tuxedos, while
others are not as excited about that program. The river cruise lines are
much more casual than the mass-market lines. There are no formal nights.
7. More
Active – One of the
attractions of a mass-market ship for some people is to put up your feet, and
read a book and sip cocktails for a week. For people like me, this is fun
but only for about an hour, and after that I’m looking for something
to do. River cruises offer far more activities that are normally
connected to the people and culture of the port being visited.
8. Night
Time Ports of Call. Have you ever
wondered what a port of call looks like after 6pm? River cruises are
much more likely to stay in port in the evenings so you can get a feel for the
place after dark.
9. All
inclusive – If you’ve ever
gotten to the end of your ocean cruise, and discovered that your ship-board
charges are more than what you paid to get on the ship in the first place, you
might want to look at the river cruise lines. Far more is included in the
fare.
10. Motion
Sickness – Seasickness is
not a problem for everyone, but you may be surprised how many people have
to take measures to make sure they don’t get sick. This isn’t a
consideration on river cruises.
If the aspects discussed
above appeal to you, it may be time to consider a river cruise!
But beware... river
cruising is often a stepping stone to luxury ocean cruising. Once you
experience a small ship with fewer passengers, all-inclusiveness, and top-notch
personalized service, it can be difficult to return to a mass market cruise
line.
Planning a Cruise? I'd love to help! Get in touch today.
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