The shipping industry is growing in leaps and bounds and are increasingly looking to venture into newer, uncharted lands with constant improvements and upgrades. One of the most evident instances is river cruises that have made quite a name for themselves with the novel experiences that they provide. The previous year saw the emergence of more than 15 river ships and the industry is looking to expand further. River cruises have been in existence for years now, however, recent times have seen a growth in their popularity amongst the younger generation.
These modern ships offer similar amenities but on a smaller scale. From lounges, fancy restaurants, spas and endless other options for entertainment, these ships are in no way to be underestimated. The experience atop a river cruise is more like travelling on land as these ships make pit stops on every port letting travellers avail the option of multiple locales on a single trip. To summarise, if you are looking to have the high end experience that a cruise ship offers yet want to travel on a budget, river cruises should definitely be looked into. Listed below are a few differences between ocean and river cruises that you are likely to come across:
Smaller Cabins
The cabins allotted for travellers are much smaller than what you can avail in ocean cruises. However, the rooms more often than not resemble luxurious suites that are not short of amenities. The current line of river cruise vessels for sale have even added small balconies to make most of the space available making the room seem larger. The fact that every room faces the serene waters is also an added bonus.
Limited Options For Food
You cannot really expect a whole lot of restaurants offering cuisines from all over the world inside the much smaller river cruises. River cruises boast of restaurants that lean more towards buffets that offer every meal in one place. From breakfasts, afternoon snacks, lunches and more, the options available have an informal air to them. Ships are also adding in live BBQ stalls on deck along with a few private dining areas to add on to the experience.
Cultural Tours
The tours aboard river cruises involve walking or cycling through quaint towns while a guide takes you through their nooks and crannies. Although the time allotted to shop and explore will be limited, the cultural experience that you would go through would be completely enriching. Active travellers can also however enjoy quick workshops pertaining to cooking or painting or even indulge in an impromptu round of golf. The options indeed are limitless if you are on their lookout.
Fuller Itineraries
The itineraries that you had set out with will inevitably be fuller as the ships stop at every port that come on the way. The river cruise tour packages are packed to the brim with activities and excursions and you would indeed find yourself spending more and more time offshore than on board. A lot of sight seeing, be it countries or cities are packed into the travel itineraries and the fact that the ports are situated a few miles apart also contribute to continuous exploration.
Norwegian Ship Sales AS, one of the premier ship brokers in the Norwegian circuit keeps a complete and updated inventory of cruise ships that have been put up for sale. The brokers also keep track of the many upgrades that have been incorporated within older ships, rewarding investors with a complete know-how.