The types of cruises available to you!

There are several types of cruises

 

Popular cruises (perfect for families)

• It's like a resort on the water, with lots of activities included.

• Plenty of activities for kids, teens, and adults.

• The atmosphere on these boats is relaxed and relaxed.

 

Premium cruises (Exceptional and affordable)

• Like popular cruises, but with added values and high-end features such as more spacious and refined spaces, gourmet cuisine, superior services, etc., for travelers who want to enjoy these added values.

 

Luxury cruisers (the creme of the creme of cruising)

• This is the place to be pampered and enjoy personalized high-end service.

 

River cruises (captivating and immersive)

• Allows you to discover a variety of inland European destinations

• Offers exceptional privacy, comfort, and convenience

• Smaller boats often dock directly in towns and cities

 

River cruising has advantaged that ocean cruising doesn't... and vice versa. But after reviewing the most important points of these 2 types of travel, you'll soon realize that they're more complementary than competitive.

 

BOAT SIZE: GIGANTIC LINER VS. INTIMATE SHIP?

 

• This is undoubtedly the most obvious distinction: the boats on which river cruisers embark are smaller. Boats operating on rivers of varying narrowness are necessarily limited in size. So, logically, there are fewer people, fewer queues, and less promiscuity (although this is not necessarily the feeling you get when you're on a big liner).

• Those who could easily get lost on a large cruise ship will have no reason to fear this.

• With over 10 decks (floors) on a cruise liner versus 2 or 3 decks on a riverboat, the choice for these worried passengers will be quickly made.

• Less space also means less space in the cabins (even if comfort will be the order of the day since riverboats also offer balcony cabins and compete in ingenuity and creativity). The major consequence of limited space?

• The need to book your river cruise well in advance!

• The main lesson to be drawn is that the size of river vessels is inevitably small. And don't forget that, as long as you pay the right price, you can enjoy luxury services on both sea and river.

 

LIFE ON BOARD: CULTURE VS. LEISURE?

 

• Another logical effect of this change in scale is the number of onboard activities. On a smaller boat, the number of activities is inevitably lower. But that doesn't mean you'll lose out.

• You'll still be able to enjoy the intimate ambience of a piano bar, or some of the shows (necessarily less grandiose than on a cruise ship stage).

• On a river cruise, you'll put culture at the heart of your trip, since you'll have more time to devote to it.

• But don't be fooled by the fact that most cruise lines have no reason to be ashamed of the ports of call they offer (Rome, Malta, Miami, Ho Chi Minh, Nassau, Havana, Athens, Trapani...).

• Far be it from you to compare destinations that are very different in any case, it's just that you'll have more time to make the most of your time ashore on a river cruise, when you'll also have more choice to enjoy yourself on board a sea cruise. It's up to you to decide how you'd like to spend your next vacation.

 

SAILING: FORCE 12 VS. SMALL CHOP?

 

• Sailing enthusiasts love them; quieter passengers dread them.

• On an ocean liner, you'll be at the mercy of the weather whims of your itinerary.

• A very rough sea announced by the captain is never good news for those most sensitive to seasickness.

• On a river cruise, however, the problem will either be non-existent, or only in homeopathic doses.

• What's more, the time between 2 stops on a river cruise is generally shorter, and the sailing will take place in the late evening and early morning.

• As you can see, the rest of the time will be devoted to sightseeing on land.

• And that's exactly what we're interested in now...

 

STOPOVERS: CRUISING PACE VS. FAST PACE?

 

• Did you know? While a sea cruise ship offers - on average - 1 different stopover per day, a river cruise ship can offer up to 2 different stopovers in the same day.

• The distances are shorter, the major tourist attractions are closer together, and the time to get there is inevitably shorter.

• This is one of the major advantages of river cruising over sea cruising.

• What's more, since river boats are smaller, they can access smaller ports and truly unique locations.

• But what might appear to be a handicap for sea travel is also an advantage.

• In fact, as the distances covered on a sea cruise are greater, so too is the diversity of the countries you'll discover.

• In this respect, the 2 experiences are quite complementary.

• For fans of ocean cruises, discover the differences between small ships and large liners.

• We tell you all about these differences in destinations.

 

CATERING: QUALITY VS. QUANTITY?

 

• Since boats are smaller on rivers, the number of catering outlets is logically lower.

• In general, a riverboat will offer a single restaurant, as opposed to an array of different dining areas on a cruise liner.

• But that doesn't mean the quality isn't there.

• Just as on prestigious ocean cruise restaurants, riverboats can also embark renowned chefs.

• In fact, gastronomic cruises are organized on both types of cruises.

• River cruises have the added advantage of more frequent ports of call and fewer places to serve, making it easier to cater for local specialities and special orders from passengers. As for drinks, a dedicated passenger menu is often available to facilitate consumption. Just like on ocean cruises.

 

In the end, there's no one type of cruise that's better than another, but simply travel conditions that meet different needs.