42 cruise lines
Find the cruise line that fits you
The line matters more than the ship. Compare the atmosphere, dining, entertainment, what's included and who each line is really built for, from big family resorts at sea to adults-only, luxury, expedition and river cruising.
Photo: Corey Seeman, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mainstream cruise lines
- 30 ships
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean is the big-ship, high-activity line: surf simulators, water slides, ice rinks and Broadway shows on some of the largest cruise ships ever built. It suits families, groups and active couples who want a floating resort and a private-island beach day, and it’s less suited to anyone who wants quiet, small ships or an all-inclusive fare.
29 shipsCarnival Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line is America’s budget-friendly “Fun Ship” brand: casual, sociable and packed with free food, comedy and pool-deck parties. It sails from more US ports than almost any other line, which makes short Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico getaways easy to reach. It suits families, groups and value seekers, less so travelers wanting quiet elegance or fine dining.
20 shipsNorwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) built its identity on Freestyle Cruising: no fixed dinner times, no formal nights and a long list of restaurants you choose from each evening. Its big, modern ships add go-kart tracks, Broadway-style shows and The Haven, a private suite enclave. It suits independent-minded couples, groups and families who like flexibility, less so budget purists who dislike add-on charges.
23 shipsMSC Cruises
MSC Cruises is a Swiss-Italian line with one of the youngest, fastest-growing fleets at sea, sailing big, glossy ships in the Caribbean from Florida and across Europe. It is known for competitive fares, kids-sail-free deals, the luxurious MSC Yacht Club and Ocean Cay, its private Bahamas island. Expect a European flavor and a multinational crowd, especially in the Mediterranean.
17 shipsPrincess Cruises
Princess Cruises is a mid-priced, relaxed line known for Alaska, smooth MedallionClass technology and a calm, grown-up atmosphere with traditional touches. It sails almost everywhere, from Glacier Bay to Japan and the Mediterranean. It suits couples, retirees and multigenerational families who want comfort without big-ship thrills, less so travelers hunting for water parks or nightlife.
8 shipsDisney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line is the premium family cruise: Broadway-style Disney shows, character meet-and-greets, rotational dining with themed restaurants and some of the best kids clubs at sea, plus adults-only spaces for parents. Fares are higher than other family lines, but much more is included and the service is polished. It suits families with children of almost any age and Disney fans, less so budget travelers or anyone avoiding kids.
8 shipsCosta Cruises
Costa Cruises is Italy’s biggest cruise line, built for Italian and continental European holidaymakers who want an affordable, sociable ship with Italian food and late nights. Most sailings are in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, with winter seasons in the Caribbean and South America. North Americans can sail happily, but should expect English to be one of several languages onboard rather than the main one.
6 shipsP&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is Britain’s best-known cruise line, designed for UK holidaymakers: prices in pounds sterling, British food, pubs, comedians and mostly round-trip sailings from Southampton. It runs big family-friendly ships alongside two adults-only ships, and gratuities are included in the fare. North Americans are welcome, but the line is built around British tastes, school holidays and sailing schedules.
11 shipsAIDA Cruises
AIDA Cruises is Germany’s largest cruise line and a German-language product from top to bottom: announcements, entertainment, menus and service are designed for guests from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It runs casual, buffet-centered “club ships,” recognizable by the red lips painted on every bow. North Americans who don’t speak German will feel like outsiders, so this line suits German speakers and adventurous travelers who want an immersive European experience.
5 shipsMarella Cruises
Marella Cruises is TUI’s British cruise line, built for UK holidaymakers who want a relaxed, all-inclusive fly-cruise package: drinks and tips are included as standard, and most sailings pair with flights from UK airports. Ships are mid-size and informal, with some sailing as adults-only. It is designed and sold for British travelers, so North Americans will find it hard to arrange and less tailored to their tastes.
2 shipsMargaritaville at Sea
Margaritaville at Sea is a small, budget-friendly Florida cruise line themed around Jimmy Buffett’s laid-back Margaritaville lifestyle, with short getaways from Palm Beach and Tampa to the Bahamas, Key West, Mexico and beyond. Ships are older, mid-size vessels with island-themed bars and restaurants. It suits adults and families looking for an easy, inexpensive escape with a party-friendly beach vibe, less so anyone who wants new ships or polished service.
2 shipsCelestyal Cruises
Celestyal Cruises is a small Greek cruise line specializing in short, port-packed sailings around the Greek islands and Turkey from Athens, with a distinctly Greek atmosphere, cuisine and crew. Its single fare includes meals, Wi-Fi, soft drinks during the day, port fees and gratuities. It suits travelers who want to see several islands in three to seven nights without a big-ship experience, less so those wanting resort-style ships.
Premium cruise lines
15 shipsCelebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a premium line with sleek, design-led ships, strong food, cocktail bars and spa-style cabins, aimed at couples and grown-up travelers who want a step up from mainstream cruising without luxury prices. Its Edge-class ships, with the cantilevered Magic Carpet, are among the most stylish at sea. It suits food lovers and couples, less so families seeking water parks or budget fares.
11 shipsHolland America Line
Holland America Line is a classic premium cruise line with mid-size ships, live music, traditional service and especially strong Alaska, Panama Canal and long-voyage programs. The atmosphere is calm and mature, with good food and plenty of room to relax. It suits couples and retirees who value comfort and destinations over thrills, and it’s a less natural fit for young families or nightlife seekers.
4 shipsVirgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line (18 and over) with stylish, boutique-hotel-style ships, more than 20 eateries with no extra charges, and Wi-Fi, gratuities, basic drinks and fitness classes included in the fare. There’s no buffet, no formal night and no kids. It suits sociable adults from their late 20s to 60s who want a hip, food-focused cruise, less so travelers who want traditional cruising or a quiet ship.
4 shipsCunard
Cunard is the world’s oldest and most famous name in ocean travel, sailing four elegant Queens, including Queen Mary 2, the only ocean liner in regular transatlantic service between Southampton and New York. Expect gala evenings, afternoon tea, ballroom dancing and British tradition. It suits travelers who love classic ocean travel, dressing up and long voyages, less so anyone wanting casual, high-energy cruising.
8 shipsOceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is an upper-premium line built around food and destinations: small to mid-size ships, specialty restaurants with no extra charge, and long, port-rich itineraries around the world. Fares include gratuities, Wi-Fi and soft drinks, and the dress code is relaxed country-club casual. It suits food-loving, well-traveled adults, mostly over 55, and isn’t designed for families or nightlife.
11 shipsViking
Viking is an adults-only (18+) cruise line for curious travelers, running river cruises in Europe, Egypt, Asia and the US alongside small, elegant ocean and expedition ships. Fares include a shore excursion in every port, wine and beer with meals, Wi-Fi and specialty dining, and there are no casinos, kids or upsell-heavy extras. It suits older, culturally minded travelers, less so anyone wanting nightlife or family fun.
4 shipsAzamara
Azamara is an upscale small-ship line built around “destination immersion”: longer port stays, frequent overnights and late departures so you can see places in the evening. Its four ships carry around 700 guests, and fares include select drinks, gratuities and, on most longer voyages, a private evening event ashore. It suits well-traveled adults who want relaxed, port-focused cruising, less so families or entertainment seekers.
2 shipsFred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is a family-owned British line sailing three smaller ships, designed for mature UK travelers who like traditional cruising, no-fly departures from regional British ports and destinations big ships can’t reach, such as narrow Norwegian fjords. Fares include gratuities, guided walks ashore and selected drinks with meals. North Americans can sail, but onboard style, pricing and itineraries are tailored to British guests.
2 shipsSaga Cruises
Saga Cruises is a British boutique line exclusively for travelers aged 50 and over (companions 40 and over), sailing two modern, all-balcony ships of under 1,000 guests from UK ports. Its package is unusually inclusive for UK residents, covering drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, excursions and even a chauffeur to the port. It is built and sold for British travelers, so most North Americans will find it hard to arrange and less tailored to them.
Luxury cruise lines
6 shipsRegent Seven Seas Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is one of the most all-inclusive luxury lines at sea: fares cover unlimited shore excursions, specialty dining, premium drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and, for US and Canadian guests, roundtrip flights on most voyages. Its six all-suite ships carry 500 to 750 guests on worldwide itineraries. It suits affluent travelers who want luxury without extra bills, less so those seeking a casual vibe or a bargain.
11 shipsSilversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises is an ultra-luxury line with small, all-suite ships, butler service in every suite and one of the broadest itinerary maps at sea, from classic Mediterranean voyages to Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galápagos on dedicated expedition ships. Fares include drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and dining. It suits affluent, experienced travelers who want intimate luxury and remote places, less so those seeking entertainment or family facilities.
5 shipsSeabourn
Seabourn is an ultra-luxury line with small, all-suite ships that feel like private yachts, famous for warm, personal service, a stern watersports marina and signature events such as Caviar in the Surf. Fares include drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and dining, and its two expedition ships carry submarines to Antarctica and the Arctic. It suits affluent couples who want intimacy and polish, less so families or entertainment seekers.
3 shipsExplora Journeys
Explora Journeys is the luxury brand of the MSC Group: sleek, European-styled ships of about 900 guests with all ocean-front suites that each have a private terrace. Fares include drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and almost all dining, and itineraries favor longer port stays in the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Caribbean. It suits younger luxury travelers and couples who want a contemporary, resort-like feel rather than old-school formality.
3 shipsThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection brings the Ritz-Carlton hotel brand to sea with three superyacht-style ships carrying about 300 to 450 guests, every suite with a private terrace. Voyages favor glamorous, smaller harbors in the Mediterranean and Caribbean with long stays and overnights. Fares include drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and most dining, and Marriott Bonvoy members earn and redeem points. It suits affluent travelers who want a resort-like yacht experience rather than a traditional cruise.
2 shipsCrystal
Crystal is a classic luxury line, revived in 2023 under Abercrombie & Kent’s parent company, sailing two elegant, refurbished ships of roughly 600 to 740 guests on worldwide voyages and world cruises. Fares include drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and specialty dining, including Nobu Matsuhisa’s Umi Uma. It suits affluent, traditional luxury travelers who enjoy dressing up and long voyages, less so younger travelers or families.
1 shipsPaul Gauguin Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises is a one-ship luxury line built for French Polynesia, sailing The Gauguin year-round from Tahiti to Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine and the outer archipelagos. With about 330 guests, a stern watersports marina and Polynesian crew who share their culture, it is one of the most immersive ways to see the South Pacific. It suits honeymooners, couples and divers, less so travelers who want variety or big-ship amenities.
Expedition cruise lines
5 shipsPonant
Ponant is a French luxury expedition line sailing small, yacht-like ships of 180 to 265 guests everywhere from Antarctica and the Arctic to the Mediterranean, the Kimberley and Japan, including the polar icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, which can reach the North Pole. Fares include an open bar, gratuities and Wi-Fi, with French cuisine and a bilingual French-English atmosphere. It suits curious, well-traveled adults who enjoy a European style.
Lindblad Expeditions
Lindblad Expeditions, sailing in partnership with National Geographic, is the leading American expedition cruise line, using small ships of roughly 50 to 150 guests to explore Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galápagos, Alaska, Baja California and dozens of other wild places. Naturalists, National Geographic photographers and undersea specialists lead Zodiac landings, kayaking and snorkeling. It suits curious travelers and families who prize wildlife and learning over luxury and nightlife.
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten runs Norway’s famous Coastal Express, a daily service of working ships linking 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes, far above the Arctic Circle. Part ferry, part cruise, it offers fjords, fishing villages, the midnight sun in summer and Northern Lights in winter on ships of around 500 guests. It suits nature lovers and Norway enthusiasts who prefer scenery over spectacle, less so anyone wanting resort-style ships or nightlife.
HX Expeditions
HX Expeditions, formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions, is a Norwegian-rooted expedition cruise line sailing ships of roughly 90 to 500 guests to Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Alaska and the Galápagos. Fares are all-inclusive, covering drinks, Wi-Fi, most landings and the onboard Science Center, with no added gratuity charges. It suits adventurous travelers who want serious expedition content with a casual, Scandinavian style.
Quark Expeditions
Quark Expeditions is a polar specialist that sails only to the Arctic and Antarctica, with small expedition ships of roughly 130 to 200 guests, including Ultramarine, which carries two helicopters for flightseeing and remote landings. Expert guides, Zodiac landings and a free parka to keep are standard, and fares now include drinks and basic Wi-Fi. It suits adventurous travelers focused on wildlife and ice rather than luxury or onboard entertainment.
Atlas Ocean Voyages
Atlas Ocean Voyages is a small “expedition-luxe” line sailing yacht-style ships of under 200 guests to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Mediterranean and other coastal regions. Fares are highly inclusive, covering drinks, gratuities and most onboard extras, with a warm, Portuguese-influenced style. It suits travelers who want polar-capable ships with a boutique, social feel and fewer formalities than traditional luxury lines.
Small ship & sailing cruise lines
6 shipsWindstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises sails small ships of roughly 150 to 340 guests, including graceful masted sailing ships and all-suite motor yachts, to smaller ports in Europe, the Caribbean, Tahiti, Central America and Alaska. Its casual, yacht-like style includes swimming and kayaking off a stern watersports platform and an open bridge. It suits couples and active, well-traveled adults who want intimacy without luxury-line formality, less so families or big-ship fans.
Star Clippers
Star Clippers sails three genuine tall ships, square-rigged clipper ships that really cruise under sail, carrying about 170 to 230 guests to small Caribbean and Mediterranean islands. Days are casual and hands-on: help hoist sails, lounge in the bowsprit net and swim from the beach. It suits romantics, sailors and active travelers who want an authentic, informal adventure, less so anyone wanting luxury amenities or all-inclusive pricing.
American Cruise Lines
American Cruise Lines is the largest US small-ship cruise line, sailing only in the United States with a fleet of around 28 US-flagged riverboats, paddlewheelers and coastal ships carrying about 100 to 190 guests. It covers the Mississippi, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, Alaska, New England and more. Fares include drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and a featured excursion in every port. It suits older American travelers who want to explore their own country without flying overseas.
River cruise lines
AmaWaterways
AmaWaterways is a family-owned luxury river cruise line known for excellent food and wine, twin-balcony staterooms and active touring options, sailing Europe’s great rivers plus the Douro, the Nile, the Mekong, Colombia’s Magdalena and Africa’s Chobe River. Fares include multiple shore excursion choices daily, wine and beer with meals, Wi-Fi and bicycles. It suits food lovers and active couples, and its family sailings broaden the appeal.
Avalon Waterways
Avalon Waterways is a river cruise line from the Globus family of brands, best known for its Suite Ships, whose Panorama Suites face wall-to-wall windows that open to create an open-air balcony. It sails Europe’s major rivers plus Asia’s Mekong, with daily shore excursions in classic, discovery and active styles. It suits couples and friends who want comfortable, flexible river cruising at a price that often undercuts the most inclusive lines.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is a truly all-inclusive luxury river line known for opulent, one-of-a-kind ships decorated like boutique hotels, with antiques, chandeliers and original art. Fares include unlimited drinks including premium spirits, gratuities, excursions, Wi-Fi and airport transfers. It sails Europe, Egypt and Asia and suits travelers who want indulgent, design-forward river cruising with nothing extra to pay onboard.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is an Australian-founded, all-inclusive luxury brand known for its river Space-Ships, where every suite has butler service, and for its Discovery Yachts, Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II, which carry helicopters and a submarine to Antarctica, the Arctic and beyond. Fares include drinks, gratuities, excursions and transfers. It suits travelers who want a high-touch, everything-included experience on rivers or at sea.
Emerald Cruises
Emerald Cruises is the more affordable sister brand of Scenic, offering modern river cruises on its Star-Ships in Europe and Asia and small luxury yacht voyages of about 100 guests in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and beyond. Fares include excursions, Wi-Fi and wine and beer with meals, at prices below the most inclusive luxury lines. It suits value-minded couples and first-time river cruisers who want contemporary design and an active, social vibe.
Head-to-head comparisons
- AmaWaterways vs Avalon
- Azamara vs Oceania
- Carnival vs MSC
- Carnival vs Norwegian
- Carnival vs Princess
- Celebrity vs Holland America
- Celebrity vs Norwegian
- Celebrity vs Princess
- Cunard vs Holland America
- Disney vs Carnival
- Disney vs Royal Caribbean
- Explora Journeys vs Regent
- Norwegian vs MSC
- Norwegian vs Princess
- Oceania vs Regent
- Princess vs Holland America
- Princess vs Royal Caribbean
- Regent vs Seabourn
- Regent vs Silversea
- Royal Caribbean vs Carnival
- Royal Caribbean vs Celebrity
- Royal Caribbean vs MSC
- Royal Caribbean vs Norwegian
- Silversea vs Seabourn
- Viking vs AmaWaterways
- Viking vs Azamara
- Viking vs Oceania
- Virgin Voyages vs Celebrity
- Virgin Voyages vs Norwegian
- Windstar vs Azamara