River cruises are often seen as better alternatives to ocean cruises due to their smaller size, but there is a lot to consider when it comes to environmental damage and impact to pick the best river cruises. Below, you’ll find an outline of the differences between different types of cruises, how the river cruise industry works, and which ones are the best river cruises for the environment. River cruises are just that: cruises that operate mostly in river systems close to inland towns and cities instead of the open ocean. River cruises still have an impact on our climate, air and water qualityThe results from the analysis we commissioned from Energy and Environmental Research Associates indicate that river cruising (even the best river cruises) yields around 20 – 58% lower emissions per passenger each day than our prior estimates for ocean-going cruises. Land vs. sea travel carbon emissionsEven the best river cruises, and cruises in general, emit way more CO2 than land-based travel.