River ship vs ocean liner: which is the right one for you?
A cruise holiday is a perfect way to explore a region in the most effortless way possible. A ship takes you from place to place, and you’ll wake most mornings in a new destination to discover. When paired with luxury surroundings, it’s no surprise that the popularity of cruise holidays is booming.
With so many options to choose from around the world, it can be hard to know where to start, especially for first-time cruisers. The destination is a crucial deciding factor, but when you’re looking for a cruise, it’s also about the experience you’ll have on board your floating hotel, which can lead many to wonder: does an ocean liner or a river cruise ship offer the best experience?
Ocean and river ships have many aspects in common, yet size is perhaps their most significant differentiator. The elongated low-rise profiles of river cruise ships carve an elegant path through many of the world’s waterways, effortlessly transporting guests from port to port.
Typically, river ships carry fewer than 200 guests so that the boats can dock in smaller ports. On the other hand, multi-decked ocean liners can take thousands of passengers and dock in large, sometimes purpose-built ports. The current world’s largest cruise ship can host almost 7,000 guests.
Of course, some options fall right in the middle, such as small-scale ocean liners by the likes of Silversea and MS Galileo (which feels more like a private yacht) or large riverboats. The American Queen, for example, is a big and beautiful steamboat that transports over 400 passengers up the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Memphis.
If you’re deciding whether to take to the high seas or weave your way through Europe’s best rivers, here are some factors you may want to consider before making a choice.
You’ll get more dining options on an ocean liner
Mega ships that host thousands of passengers need plenty of dining venues to accommodate their hungry guests. Take Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam ship, for example. It has room for 2,666 guests, so there’s an abundance of restaurants and cafes to keep appetites satiated.
The main Dining Room is an elegant al la carte affair, serving incredible dishes morning, noon, and night. But a further eight restaurants offer a dazzling choice of dining styles.
Such diverse options make Nieuw Statendam the perfect ship for a foodie holiday in the Mediterranean, complemented by the local cuisine in Spanish, French, and Italian ports daily. For cruisers who wish to experience it, you can make it an extra memorable gourmet experience by choosing a departure accompanied by celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, which includes a live cooking demonstration on board.
River ship staterooms have better views
Staterooms (cruise-speak for guestrooms) are typically a little larger on ocean liners because they generally have more space. However, a huge appeal of river ships such as the A-ROSA ALVA, which travels through Portugal, is that all 63 staterooms face outwards and have a gorgeous view of the Douro River from a large window or private terrace.
Ocean liners offer inside cabins as an option, which means guests who book these get no window, let alone a balcony. However, these can be a cost-effective option if you plan to spend more time out of the stateroom than in.
Of course, the view is only as good as the itinerary allows. Whether it’s the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea, the sight of the Wachau Valley along the Danube, or the lavender fields in Provence drifting in and out of view on a cruise along the Rhone, there are so many sweeping panoramas to enjoy around the world.
Ocean liners have a wider choice of staterooms
While the outward-facing staterooms on river ships are undoubtedly a plus for river cruises, the choice of staterooms on ocean liners is unrivalled. Budget-friendly inside staterooms may be small and simple, but as you work through upgrade options, things get much more exciting.
Outside and balcony staterooms offer a private viewing of the scenery and look out for cruise lines offering extras with upgrades, such as access to exclusive restaurants, private lounge areas, and butler service – all yours when you plump for a suite.
The scenery is prettier on a river cruise
The lower profile shape of a river ship means guests are closer to the water than ocean liners, arguably giving passengers a better eye-level view as they journey from port to port. And while a wide-open view of the horizon, particularly at sunset, could create the ultimate feeling of escapism on a large ocean liner, on a river cruise, you can almost always see land, and so the views are often more varied and interesting when you’re on board.
Ocean liners with a dozen or more decks offer sweeping panoramas from large observation decks. Onboard Celebrity Millennium, which sails around Japan, there’s a sundeck and terrace on Deck 12 where you can order a cocktail and sit back to enjoy the view. A 2024 sailing on this ship visits Japan, where you can watch the Tokyo skyline fade away as you set sail for Mount Fuji. Now, what could be more fabulous than that?
The facilities are outstanding on ocean ships
The facilities on big, ocean vessels rival those of enormous resort hotels. You might find carousels, waterslides, and expansive kids’ clubs on the world's largest cruise ships. Even the more modestly-sized vessels have at least one pool, a spa, restaurants, and a choice of bars.
To experience one, you could join Celebrity Reflection as it cruises the Caribbean and you’ll have access to a spa, hair salon, and fitness centre on your travels, as well as a real-grass lawn with outdoor games, a pool, a Broadway-style theatre, casino, and shops, art gallery, library, and relaxation room.
Smaller river cruise ships can also have superb facilities, even if they're not as all-singing, all-dancing. On board A-ROSA DONNA, there’s a heated outdoor pool and traditional games such as shovelboard and a putting green. Although, on an action-packed itinerary that sails the Danube from Germany to Austria and Slovakia, you may have little time to spare for a dip or a friendly putting competition.
The itineraries are busier on river cruises
Spotted ‘day at sea’ on a cruise itinerary? This is a day you spend travelling between destinations and enjoying the ship’s facilities. And if you’re on a mega ocean liner, there will be plenty to keep you occupied. Be sure to check how many sea days are scheduled – on a fabulous Caribbean itinerary on Celebrity Reflection, there are only two over nine days of island hopping.
On the other hand, river cruises typically stop at a new port each day, so there’s less time on board and more time available to explore whatever destination you’ve arrived at. On a river cruise of the Dutch and Belgian waterways, for example, you’ll visit two ports in one day, seeing the windmills of Kinderdijk and then Appeltern Gardens in Dordrecht.
Ocean liners can travel further and faster
The size and power of an ocean liner mean it can travel further, more quickly, which is great when you want to see more diversity on a single trip. For instance, when you’re exploring a destination like Japan, you’ll want to reach the next destination as quickly as possible, but they may be more spread geographically, and an ocean liner can transport you quickly and easily around the East China Sea.
That doesn’t mean to say it’s hurried – look out for itineraries that stay overnight in some ports giving you a couple of days to explore a destination, such as Good Housekeeping’s incredible 2024 cruise of Japan, which stops for two nights in Kyoto, allowing plenty of time to explore.
Rivers may be smoother than seas
Anxious about choppy waters? Then you might automatically assume an ocean cruise will be a bumpier experience. Thankfully, large modern liners will navigate to avoid stormy seas but are well equipped for rougher seas to make them as smooth as possible for passengers.
They use stabilisers to reduce the feeling of rising and falling. While the Drake Crossing on a once-in-a-lifetime Antarctic cruise could mean an exhilaratingly choppy experience, choosing a Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise generally means sailing on calm waters.
River ships often host celebrity events
The size of a river ship makes it suitable for exclusive events or themed cruises. You can take a foodie cruise along the Rhone with TV chef James Martin and wine columnist Susy Atkins. Or consider a musical-themed cruise along the delightful Danube River joined by Sarah-Louise Young, star of West End shows.
And everyone’s favourite weather presenter, Carol Kirkwood, hosts an exclusive talk on a small yacht holiday as it makes its way around the Caledonian Canal and sea lochs on Scotland’s western shore.
River cruises can feel more personal…
River ships such as MS Arena may only have a single restaurant, but there’s a close-knit feel among fellow passengers who often opt to dine together and forge new friendships over shared experiences as they make their way along the Dutch and Belgian waterways on a seven-day, garden-inspired cruise.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows give splendid views of the passing scenery worth lingering over a meal. You may notice a calmness to the dining experience on board a river cruise, which is leisurely and unhurried – perhaps because there aren’t dozens of other facilities to dash off to!
…but ocean ships can be highly personal too
Not all ocean ships are mega cruise liners carrying thousands of people. Expedition ships are designed to take on the ocean waves and bring people to some of the world’s most remote places. Our exclusive holiday to Norway’s Svalbard archipelago aboard Greg Mortimer only carries 132 people. The MS Roald Amundsen has three restaurants to enjoy as you venture around the other-worldly Antarctic, looking out for incredible marine life.
And while Hurtigruten’s expedition sailing to Scotland on board MS Spitsbergen may not be as luxurious as some of the mega ships, it’s comfortably well-equipped for navigating the waters around Scotland’s Hebrides, and it feels exclusive because it only accommodates 180 guests on its epic journeys.
Browse Good Housekeeping Holidays' selection of river and ocean cruises for 2022 and 2023.
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