River voyages considered a fit for many ocean cruisers

Many big-ship cruisers are looking to small ships and river cruises as intimate alternatives, according to a panel of small-ship and river-cruise executives at Travel Weekly's CruiseWorld 2010 conference. As for potential crossover clients, "there are clients that want to experience everything," said an agent who attended the session. "The same clients who are going on Oasis [of the Seas] are also going on a river cruise."

Once a passenger river cruises, it's hard to go back to a big, impersonal ship! River cruising is made for people who enjoy learning about new cultures, not just shopping and playing in the water.