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6 Things River Cruises Do Better Than Ocean. And 3 They Don't!

Tips For Travellers
Tips For Travellers
🥈Expert
👁️ 40K views📅 10 months ago⏱️ 14:38

Key Moments

Editorial Summary

Gary Benbridge compares the experiences of river and ocean cruising based on his extensive travel history. He highlights several advantages of river cruising, including a more intimate atmosphere with smaller passenger counts, which allows for easier social connections and personalized service. He notes that river cruises often feature more inclusions, such as drinks and excursions, and provide direct access to the heart of cities. Additionally, the constant scenery and lack of motion sickness are significant benefits. Conversely, Benbridge identifies areas where ocean cruising excels, specifically regarding variety and flexibility. Ocean ships offer a wider range of global destinations, more diverse onboard amenities like theaters and spas, and a broader selection of cabin types. He points out that ocean cruises are better suited for families, solo travelers, and those with mobility issues. Finally, he notes that river cruises can face itinerary disruptions due to water levels and are generally more expensive per day than most ocean cruise options.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.

What This Creator Said
Creator Had Mixed FeelingsFull Ship Review🥈Expert Creator
OtherVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

Having done 12 European river cruises and over 100 ocean ones, I found the differences are bigger than most people think or expect.

Some things river cruisers absolutely do way better than ocean ships, but some things they don't.

River cruising also has a different focus to ocean cruisers as they do a deeper dive into a region and of course head way further inland than ocean cruisers do and can.

The biggest by far is the sheer amount of choice, variety, and ability to be flexible.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Consider the intimacy and inclusions of river cruises for a more relaxed experience.
Be aware of the limited choices and higher costs of river cruises compared to ocean cruises.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Motion seasicknessRiver cruising is pretty much impossible to get seasick on due to calm rivers.
CostRiver cruises are significantly more expensive per day than most ocean cruises.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat do river cruises do better than ocean cruises?
QWhat do ocean cruises do better than river cruises?

Topics Covered

Ship Condition1½ Happy BaconCrowd Capacity3½ Happy BaconCabin Interior1½ Sad BaconEmbarkation4 Happy BaconDisembarkation3½ Happy BaconService Crew3 Happy BaconValue Pricing2 Sad BaconExcursions2½ Happy Bacon

Port Highlights

Budapest3 Happy Bacon
Passau3 Happy Bacon
Paris3 Happy Bacon
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Meh — no strong opinion either way

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Video content sourced from the creator's original upload. Watch on YouTube