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<\/a>In practice, itinerary largely determines the ship you\u2019ll sail aboard. But where things get tricky is in choosing between an older vessel on a desirable run, or taking a newer vessel on a more common one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newer ships, by definition, are just that: newer. Some are sister-ships to tried-and-true vessels while others are trendsetting new vessels that seek to push the boundaries of the traditional river cruise experience.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>Newer ships tend to have larger accommodations than older vessels built in the 1990\u2019s or even the early part of the last decade, but not always: Viking\u2019s new Longships have staterooms that, while beautifully appointed, come in at a much-smaller 135 square feet. If you value space, but can\u2019t afford to cruise in a higher stateroom category onboard a newer ship, an older ship with more spacious cabins might be the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>But newer ships do have a number of advantages over their predecessors. Most new vessels have more French and full balcony staterooms than older ships, and several new ships are bucking the traditional dining trends by offering more than one restaurant onboard. If you like choice, newer ships can provide that in spades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But newer vessels aren\u2019t always all they\u2019re cracked up to be. They tend to command a much higher price than their predecessors, and popular stateroom categories can sell out far earlier. By simply choosing a vessel built three or four years ago, you have the opportunity to potentially get more bang for your buck.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a>Older river cruise ships also offer something that many ultra-modern vessels may not: a warm and inviting classic cruise atmosphere filled with dark woods, polished brass, and other nautical touches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s also some fantastically unique older river cruise vessels out there, including Viking\u2019s catamaran-inspired Viking Primadonna<\/em><\/a>; Avalon Waterways\u2019 popular Avalon Tapestry<\/em><\/a>; and Uniworld\u2019s Art Decoo-themed River Queen<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n