5. In the end, choose between consistency and variety.

On a cruise ship, you get to build a rapport with the same crew members for the entire trip compared with the ever-changing cast of waitstaff you have for meals and in hotels on a land tour. Each day on a river cruise also has a specific flow that you can count on: breakfast, morning tour, back to the boat for lunch, afternoon sailing or optional tour, dinner, and entertainment — such as a performance by a local dance troupe or pianist playing standards in the lounge.

Land tours often give you more chances to interact with locals, including bartenders and waiters who live and work in the destinations you are visiting. The itinerary is also less regimented, with more free time. If you are a night owl, being at a hotel near the city center makes it easier to explore a city’s bar or music scene on your own at night.