On ocean cruises, the excitement about seeing the local landmark/record-breaking attraction/ancient site quickly dissipates when there’s a one-hour bus journey between you and the site in question. Not so with river cruising, simply because of the increased accessibility. A great example is the iconic arch in St Louis, Missouri, USA (pictured) – this feat of engineering is just a 10-minute walk from the dock used by river boats.

Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Now discover the tips that will transform your next cruise

28 reasons to book a river cruise