Myth-busting Ocean Cruises: 6 Common Misconceptions
If you've never taken an ocean cruise before, you're missing out! A holiday at sea is the ultimate escape, you get to explore beautiful coastlines, visit many fascinating beaches, islands and port towns and relax aboard a yacht, tall ship or cruise ship.
Myths about ocean cruises
Myth: “The price looks expensive.”
Fact: The price you pay includes everything you need.
We'll admit it: We don't seek to be the cheapest. But we also know you won't find the same quality experiences for less with someone else and that unbeatable value comes with thoughtful inclusions to ensure your holiday is stress- and hassle-free.
With Riviera Travel, you can fly from a wide range of regional airports at no extra cost and we include on-board portage, airport and port taxes as standard. Our stylish, yet informal, ships offer a luxurious base from which to explore and, onboard, you can expect the very best service from our friendly, first-class crew.
Every morning you can wake up to a delicious breakfast, with an array of hot and cold options. Lunch and dinner feature mouthwatering menus inspired by local cuisine, served by our expert chefs, carefully balanced with the opportunity to dine independently ashore - after all, sampling the local cuisine is all part of the fun!
But don't take our word for it, 96% of guests on our independent review partner Feefo rate our service as excellent (we're working on the other 4% - just give us time)
Plus, don't forget about our three price guarantees:
- If you find the same holiday cheaper with another company (you won’t!), then we'll match the price.
- As a rule, you'll get our lowest prices by booking early. But if we ever drop the price after you've booked, we'll give you the value of the difference back (we think it's the decent thing to do).
- No hidden extras - the price we quote is the price you pay.
The whole holiday was amazing. The ship was excellent, as were the crew and tour guide. All the tours were very interesting. The places we visited were fantastic. The food on board was excellent - especially as the galley was so small.
Myth: “I don’t want to travel on a big ocean cruise liner.”
Fact: Neither do we!
If you don't want to travel on a big ocean cruise liner, look no further than Riviera. We believe in travelling well - treading lightly and taking nothing for granted. Exploring, not exploiting. So it's safe to say, we don’t do big ocean cruisers.
Embark on a new adventure in Croatia, The French Riviera, the Greek Islands and the rest of the Mediterranean on our small ships. With an intimate sailing experience, our smaller ships moor right in the heart of beautiful coastal towns and cities in the small ports larger cruisers can't reach. This allows us to show you the iconic locations known to many and a few hidden spots known only to the locals.
Our yacht cruises feature an exclusive guest list of like-minded explorers. Our smallest yacht, MS Stella Maris, measures 49 meters in length, offering 18 fully equipped cabins with a maximum capacity of just 36 guests. Its smaller size allows you to access the smaller ports and enjoy swim stops in secluded bays.
Our tall ships are truly something special - and the smallest has just 83 cabins. Offering a cruising experience from the golden age of nautical travel, nothing beats the moment the captain unfurls the sails.
The whole experience was amazing! The ambiance of being on the most beautiful ship was breathtaking, especially when the sails were raised to the sound of Vangelis' Conquest of Paradise. It was so emotional and brought tears to your eyes.
Small ship cruise with 31 passengers, very relaxing and opportunities to visit small old Croatian coastal towns. Smooth running of the lovely ship.
Even the largest ship we use has 630 cabins, which is a lot smaller than the 3000 cabins in a big ocean cruise liner. That's small enough to visit some of the most fascinating sites in the Aegean Sea, sites synonymous with legendary tales of Greek gods.
Myths: “I don’t want to pay extra for excursions.”
Fact: You don't!
Whether you're exploring ancient ruins with a local guide, setting off on one of the world's greatest train journeys through Canada's Rocky Mountains, or BBQing on a beach in the Maldives, our insightful excursions are included in the price you pay.
Myth: “There won’t be a window in my cabin.”
Fact: Nearly all our cabins have windows
If you're looking at a yacht cruise, good news: all yacht cabins include a window. So you can wake up to the sun to shine through in the morning and enjoy the views.
On our tall ships, nearly all cabins include a window. There are only two cabins on both the Star Clipper and the Star Flyer - that do not have windows, and these inside cabins are cheaper. As you choose your cabin, you can choose to have a window or not (depending on availability).
"Absolutely superb! Our cabin (lower deck) was very spacious and had everything you could possibly need. The food on board was excellent and plentiful. The sun deck was great with lots of seating and loungers.
Myth: “I’ll have to pay more to travel from my local airport.”
Fact: Not with Riviera!
Our pricing is fair and straightforward - with no hidden fees. Unlike some of our competitors, they include a range of thoughtful extras we know are important to you, like departures from regional airports at no extra cost, naturally, so you can enjoy hassle-free travel.
Myth: "Big ocean cruise liners are better than yacht cruises."
Fact: That depends on what you want.
The benefits of a larger cruiser are focused inward to what's on board. Sure, all that space means more amenities and dining spaces but you'll be sharing those spaces with more than 3000 passengers and that can get crowded. And, due to their size, cruise ships must stop in larger and deeper ports.
Our yacht cruises hold a maximum of just 40 guests. That’s pretty small. This offers a very intimate experience and with a 4:1 ratio of guests to crew, you are guaranteed a first-class personal service. And, unlike larger cruise ships, there’s little formality on board, shorts and t-shirts are the order of the day (meaning there's more room in your suitcase for souvenirs).
Thanks to their small size, yacht cruises can moor on smaller islands, visit hidden beaches and avoid the swarms of cruise ship crowds. You can hop off our ships and start exploring straight away as well as drop anchor in secluded bays to swim right off the back of the ship. Plus, all yachts are moored overnight, so you can also enjoy local cuisine in onshore restaurants and an evening stroll – we think this is part of the holiday fun.
So there you have it; the facts about ocean cruises. But if you still don't believe us, look at these reviews, you'll notice many of our guests keep coming back - what could be a better endorsement?
Wonderful trip on the Royal Clipper. Beautiful ship, with splendid officers and staff. This is the fourth time we've done this trip with Riviera. Need we say more?
Wonderful and impressive ship. The crew and Riviera staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly. Fantastic itinerary. Relaxed atmosphere throughout. Our second cruise on the Royal Clipper.
