Cruising is a very popular way to see the world these days, and for good reason. Taking a cruise allows you to see numerous different cities and/or countries within a single vacation, and it’s pretty hassle-free. No need to coordinate hotels and transportation for multiple different destinations, just get on the boat and everything is taken care of for you. And it can be done affordably, if you know some good industry tips and tricks (which WorldMark by Wyndham Travel does, and is happy to share with you — read on).

Ocean cruises are perhaps the better-known option, but river cruises are an up-and-comer in the travel industry, and have grown increasingly popular in the last decade or so. Because of their new-found fame, more and more river cruise vendors are springing up, giving you more options, more price points, and more flexibility if you’re looking to book a river cruise. At this point there are just as many options for river cruises as there are for ocean cruises, which means you can pretty much have your pick of amazing cruises the world over. If a river cruise is calling your name, here is everything you need to know about booking a river cruise.

Pretty much every large river that is near a major metropolitan area has a river cruise option. The European river cruises are probably the most well-known of the river cruise options, and for good reason — Europe’s waterways are very well-connected, making cruising from city to city within Europe an easy way to experience more than one place. But Europe’s rivers aren’t the only ones that offer river cruises. Check out these popular river cruise options, listed by continent:

Africa

• Egypt — Nile River
• South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe — Chobe and Zambezi rivers"

Asia

• Cambodia and Vietnam — Mekong River
• China — Yangtze River
• India — Ganges River
• Russia — Volga River

Australia

• Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia — Murray River

Europe

• Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary — Upper Danube River
• Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania — Lower Danube River
• Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands — The Rhine River
• France — The Seine, Rhone, and Saone rivers
• Portugal and Spain — The Douro River
• Italy — The Po River

North America

• Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee — Mississippi River
• Oregon, Washington, and Idaho — Columbia and Snake rivers
• New York — Hudson River"

South America

• Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador — Amazon River

There are many perks and benefits to choosing a river cruise over an ocean cruise. For starters, the most obvious benefit is that river cruises can take you to places that ocean cruises can’t. Sure, large ocean liners can hop from island to island in the Caribbean, no problem, but they can’t take you down the Nile River past the pyramids in Egypt, or up the Amazon River surrounded by the Brazilian rainforest and exotic wildlife. When you cruise on a river, you’re able to sightsee 24/7 — there are no full days or nights at sea without land in sight. You’re constantly surrounded by beautiful scenic landscapes, interesting landmarks, and urban areas, both big and small. You’ll never run out of things to look at on a river cruise.

Additionally, river cruises are smaller and more intimate than ocean cruises. On an ocean liner, there may be thousands of passengers and hundreds of options for things to see and do on board. River cruise boats are smaller, with a passenger list in the hundreds instead of thousands, and are quieter, with a more relaxed setting and less glitz and glamor. Unlike ocean cruises, river cruises tend to be truly all-inclusive; on ocean cruises things like shore excursions, alcohol, and some entertainment options cost extra, whereas on river cruises everything from your nightly cocktail to your museum tour is included in the cost. And a bonus: calm river waters generally mean you won’t get seasick!

If you’ve got questions, need a recommendation, or are ready to book an amazing river cruise vacation, make sure to give WorldMark by Wyndham Travel a call. Their friendly, knowledgeable Travel Advisors are well-equipped to make your river cruise dreams come true (and they’ll book your flights and transportation, too!). WorldMark by Wyndham Travel will help save you time and money, and remove the headache of trying to plan and book it all on your own. Give them a call or visit their online booking page today.