What's your cruising style: river or ocean?
As with many things, size matters. The biggest differentiator? Those massive, oceangoing ships packed with thousands of passengers are themselves the destination: floating cities with lots to do and see. Not so with river ships.
River ships, trim and nimble, are engineered to dock in the heart of your destination _ a short walk from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, as an example, or steps from the French Quarter in New Orleans.
As Richard Marnell, senior vice president of marketing for Viking River Cruises, frames it: "River cruising harkens back to what ocean cruising has gotten away from: the destination _ being able to experience the destination in an authentic and intimate way."
When it comes to figuring out your personal cruising style, there are lots of moving parts. How do you feel about crowds? If you're like me, the crowds on the oceangoing ships can be off-putting, but they also offer a restful anonymity that you don't find on river ships, which typically accommodate fewer than 200 passengers.
What are your entertainment requirements? Large ships provide an abundance. You can pretty much do everything from clubbing to climbing. When I sailed on Celebrity Silhouette in the Caribbean in April, I almost needed a magnifying glass to make out the 100-plus entertainment listings in the daily newsletter. Among them, bocce, bingo, a makeover workshop, a social media lecture, and an LGBTQ & Friends social hour. The entertainment on most river ships consists of a solo piano player.
As you conduct your self-inventory, here are four other categories to consider:
