August 25, 2025

Spring break or holidays spent at sea on a huge ocean liner has been a popular way to travel for decades, but recently many travel professionals have been seeing a sharp increase in the number of travelers booking river cruises instead. Both river and ocean cruises are amazing vacation options, with each type of cruising offering unique benefits based on travelers preferences. So, which type of cruise is right for you? Let’s break it down.

River Cruising: Relaxed, Intimate, & Culturally-Enriching

Slower than ocean cruising, but faster than road trips, river cruises are perfect for travelers that want to constantly soak in riverside views (and never lose sight of land!) while also stopping in plenty of ports to explore colorful, historic cities. Many travelers choose this style of cruising because it offers a more culturally-enriching experience. Because river ships are much smaller than their ocean counterparts, they can dock in more ports of call. This means cruisers can spend more time on land exploring quieter, less-traveled cities.

Smaller ships also lead to a more intimate cruising experience. Most river ships only accommodate up to 200 passengers, so guests can expect personalized service, easy socialization and connection with fellow travelers, and relaxed boarding and deboarding at ports. Because of their size, most river ships only have window and balcony rooms, so every traveler will be able to soak in riverside views while cruising, which is a huge part of the experience!

Another aspect of river cruising that draws in many passengers is the local food and wine. Since river ships typically make daily stops, chefs and wine professionals can get fresh provisions more often, meaning passengers can enjoy exceptional regional cuisine and drinks while on board. Although there are usually only a couple dining options on board river cruises, they tend to be very high quality and included in the upfront price.

The slower, relaxed, and intimate experience aboard river cruises makes it a great option for older travelers or multi-generational families. Families who choose to travel together with our river cruise partner AmaWaterways even have the option to book connecting or triple occupancy staterooms! Travelers of any age have endless options when it comes to land excursions, with most river cruise companies offering different intensity levels for activities. Similar to food and drinks, almost all excursions tend to be included in the upfront price of river cruises, taking the second guessing out of budgeting.

With cruises on the Mississippi, through Central Europe, over the rivers of Egypt, and across every corner of the world, our partners at AmaWaterways and Viking have incredible river cruise itineraries waiting for every traveler!

Ocean Cruising: High Energy, Food & Entertainment Options Galore, & Family Friendly

For bigger, flashier cruisers, ocean cruising is a great way to bring the energy up and cover large distances quickly. Taking to the open waters on huge ocean liners offers travelers endless food, entertainment, and activities all aboard their floating resort!

Larger ships mean more options. Travelers looking for a variety of food options ranging from buffets, to taco stands, to five star steakhouses will never run out of cuisine to explore on ocean liners. Staterooms are also plentiful. Whether cruisers are interested in budgeting and booking an inside stateroom or treating themselves to a balcony suite, there is room for upgrades and personalization when aboard ships that can accommodate 2,000 plus passengers. Options aboard ocean cruises don’t stop at food and staterooms, many passengers never feel the need to leave the boat because there is something to do around every corner. From bars, to live music, to cultural performances, and pools, many ocean sailors can’t even cram in every activity on their journey, let alone the excursions at ports of call. When in port, travelers get the opportunity to explore cities, do water activities, shop, and even enjoy private beach clubs, depending on what itinerary and ship they choose to travel on.

Younger families may also find that ocean cruising is a great vacation option! Many large ships offer kids activities, teen clubs, and even babysitting services. With so many options on board, every member at every age will be able to find something to do…and parents can even sneak away for a bit with kids supervised by professional staff members.

Because ocean cruises are so customizable, they can be a great choice for budget travelers. There are often last minute deals close to cruise dates that can offer major savings. With so many options, ocean cruises can be personalized and high energy.

At SoulVenture Travels we partner with two top-of-the-line ocean cruise operators, Virgin Voyages and Viking. With itineraries all over the world and even the unique opportunity to experience combination river and ocean cruises with Viking, our partners offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to vacation in style on the open ocean. (Note: both of our ocean cruise partners are adults-only, but our team is always happy to help find options for you if you’re traveling with kids)

At the end of the day, our suggestion is this: choose the energy level, destination, and ports of call that speak most to you…and we can help you make this decision! With so many options available through our amazing travel partners, we honestly believe that there is both a river and ocean cruise itinerary that would fuel every traveler's soul!

Written by Erin Finneman