Maybe it's your first time on a river cruise, second or sixth. Whether you're new to this form of small ship cruising and want to learn more about what it's like to cruise on this type of vessel, or a seasoned pro who wants to reminisce and laugh along with us, Dan and Mikkel, as we recall recent river cruise trip, we invite you to join us as we discuss the Top Things to Know about River Cruising. 

Find out what a typical river cruise ship layout is like and how many decks there are, if there's a workout room on these ships, or what to expect in terms of a spa. 

Is your cabin location important? What are the dining options, or what can you expect in terms of entertainment onboard? 

We answer all this and more in this two-part episode. 

You may find these articles helpful, which we mention in the episode: 

• Read the Things to Know Your First Time on a River Cruise, which complements this episode.  
• Did you know that cruises that start in one city but end in another have a name? Check out the Complete Guide to Closed-Loop Cruises (and Open Jaw Itineraries)
• If you're wondering how to remember the port or starboard side of the ship, listen to the episode because we have a tip for you! But if you want more info, read this: Port vs. Starboard: Cruises Ship Left and Right Sides
• It's more likely to experience motion sickness during a winding bus ride during a river cruise vacation than it is on the ship! We always travel with Anti-Nausea Medication and Other Sea Sickness Solutions just in case, no matter the situation. "Better to have and not need," as Dan says.

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©2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

Explore the world of small ship cruising, focusing on three main types: river cruises, yacht cruises, and barge cruises. 

We discuss the unique features, experiences, and benefits of each type, including easy embarkation, cultural immersion, luxury service, and personalized experiences. 

We'll help you understand the differences between these three small ship cruise types and guide you in choosing the right experience for your travel preferences.

During this episode, we mention our experiences on the Douro River, cruising on the Danube River (including sailing through the Wachau Valley), and seeing castles on the Rhine River in Germany.

Dan's love of the Tarascon Turtle is mentioned, which we saw on a cruise through Provence. (Mythical turtle photo is included in the link!)

We touch on their yacht cruise experiences aboard Emerald Azzurra and Windstar Star Pride.

And finally, we discuss our incredible experience on a barge cruise in France, including the Wi-Fi travel hotspot we always vacation with, so staying connected on the ship is not a problem.

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Support the show

👉🏻 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, released every Wednesday.

✈️ Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

💙 Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

💻 Follow us on Instagram, Threads, & Pinterest.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

Join us as we explore the differences between ocean & river cruising. 

Discussing our personal experiences on both types of cruises, we highlight the stark contrasts in amenities, entertainment, dining options, and atmosphere. Curious about the typical layout of a river cruise ship? Listen to find out what it is! 

Our conversation delves into the unique features of each type, from the spa options to dining, how river cruises are priced, the a la carte pricing nature of mega-ship ocean cruises, demographic differences, & ease of excursions on river versus ocean cruises.

You'll gain insights into what to expect from both cruise options, helping you decide which experience is best for your next vacation.

During the episode, we mention the following resources: 

• Ocean vs. River Cruises article on our site, Sometimes Sailing.
• Our experience in MSC Yacht Club.
• Our Douro River Cruise experience with Viking.
• The food at Enchanté and Palo on Disney Cruise Line ships. 
• Dining at Luminae, part of Celebrity Cruises The Retreat ship-within-a-ship suites category.
• You might not buy an Omega aboard a river cruise ship, but you can buy a luxury watch on a mega-ship, which has lots of onboard shopping. 
• Motion sickness is unlikely on a river cruise, but pack sea sickness remedies for other cruises! 
• River cruise cruise fares include a lot.

Send us a text

Support the show

👉🏻 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, released every Wednesday.

✈️ Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

💙 Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

💻 Follow us on Instagram, Threads, & Pinterest.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

Come along as we explore a unique travel world within cruising! During this episode, you'll learn some of the basics of small ship cruising, like:

• What qualifies as a small ship, and how many passengers can you expect
• An overview of the advantages of smaller vessels
• The unique experiences small ship cruises offer

We delve into the community aspect of small ship cruising, the cost considerations, and how these cruises compare to larger ships. 

Our discussion of some popular small ship cruise lines will excite your future vacation planning - some of which you may have heard of, and others you likely have not, but are certainly worth knowing about! 

For more information about small ship experiences, we encourage you to visit our website, Sometimes Sailing. 

Send us a text

Support the show

👉🏻 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, released every Wednesday.

✈️ Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

💙 Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

💻 Follow us on Instagram, Threads, & Pinterest.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.

Small Ship Cruise Talk can help you plan more fulfilling vacations just by listening to the helpful information in each episode. Join us as we share insider information for a look into the world of river cruising, expedition, yacht, and barge cruises.

Send us a text

Support the show

👉🏻 Subscribe so you never miss an episode, released every Wednesday.

✈️ Use our preferred travel advisors to book your cruise.

💙 Join our Small Ship Cruise Talk community on Facebook.

💻 Follow us on Instagram, Threads, & Pinterest.

📩 Sign up for our newsletter.

🌏 SometimesSailing.com has even more planning tips, firsthand experiences, & advice.

📱 Have questions or topic suggestions? Contact us.

©2025 Small Ship Cruise Talk. All rights reserved. May contain affiliate links. Some trips and experiences have been hosted. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are our own.