List of cruise lines
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships and markets cruises to the public.[1] Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of their passengers. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain, and a hospitality staff headed by the equivalent of a hotel manager.
Because of mergers and consolidations, a cruise line may also be a brand of a larger holding corporation. For example, as noted below, Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line are cruise lines within the larger parent corporation Carnival Corporation & plc. This industry practice of using the brand, not the larger parent corporation, as the cruise line is also followed in the member cruise lines in Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA);[2] the listing of cruise ship sales, transfers,[3] and new orders;[4] cruise line market share;[5] and the member-based reviews of cruise lines.[6]
Cruise ships can cruise in oceans or rivers. The listing of cruise lines below includes separate lists for both areas. Cruise lines operating ocean and river ships can be found in both lists.
List of cruise lines by size[]
The cruise industry is estimated to be around US$45.6 billion with around 26 million passengers annually. The following is a list of the largest cruise lines with over 1,000 passengers annually and their market share by passengers and revenue as of 2018 according to Cruise Market Watch. The list also includes the combined market share of each of the cruise line holding companies: Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Genting Hong Kong.[7]
Legend:
- Bold: Major cruise company
- Italic: Not owned by a major cruise company
| Cruise line | Parent company | Passengers (thousands)[7] |
Revenue (US$ millions)[7] |
Passengers % | Revenue % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Corporation & plc | 12,302.30 | 18,305.16 | 47.4% | 39.4% | |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | 5,716.5 | 4,166.89 | 22% | 8.9% |
| Princess Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc | 1,667.5 | 4,228.85 | 6.4% | 9.1% |
| Costa Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc | 1,560.6 | 2,235.62 | 6% | 4.8% |
| AIDA Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc | 1,183.7 | 2,128.28 | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Holland America Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | 831.5 | 2,589.60 | 3.2% | 5.6% |
| P&O Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc | 623.4 | 1,031.85 | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| P&O Cruises Australia | Carnival Corporation & plc | 499.6 | 548.02 | 1.9% | 1.2% |
| Cunard Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | 169.6 | 823.79 | 0.7% | 1.8% |
| Seabourn Cruise Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | 49.9 | 552.26 | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 5,963.80 | 9,389.80 | 23% | 20.2% | |
| Royal Caribbean International | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 4,987.0 | 6,525.18 | 19.2% | 14% |
| Celebrity Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 909.5 | 2,447.45 | 3.5% | 5.3% |
| Silversea Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 81.0 | 685.00 | 0.3% | 1.5% |
| Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings | 2,471.20 | 5,833.20 | 9.5% | 12.6% | |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings | 2,269.8 | 3,897.80 | 8.7% | 8.4% |
| Oceania Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings | 132.5 | 1,057.97 | 0.5% | 2.3% |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings | 68.9 | 877.43 | 0.3% | 1.9% |
| MSC Cruises | Mediterranean Shipping Company | 3,010[8] | 4,108.00 | 10.2% | 9.8% |
| Genting Hong Kong | 525.80 | 2,309.02 | 2.1% | 5% | |
| Dream Cruises | Genting Hong Kong | 258.1 | 1,024.45 | 1% | 2.2% |
| Star Cruises | Genting Hong Kong | 227.6 | 722.72 | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Crystal Cruises | Genting Hong Kong | 40.1 | 561.85 | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| (Other) | |||||
| Tallink Silja | Other | 9,800 | 967 | ||
| Viking Line | Other | 6,411.537 | |||
| Disney Cruise Line | Disney Parks, Experiences and Products | 589.5 | 1,006.77 | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| TUI Cruises | TUI AG (50%) Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (50%) |
523.8 | 1,057.84 | 2% | 2.3% |
| Pullmantur Cruises | Other Springwater Capital (51%) Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (50%) |
370.4 | 467.67 | 1.4% | 1% |
| Hurtigruten | Hurtigruten, Inc. | 246.2 | 952.52 | 0.9% | 2% |
| Viking Cruises | Other | 163.2 | 604.43 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Cruise & Maritime Voyages | Other | 122.9 | 487.95 | 0.5% | 1% |
| Celestyal Cruises | Louis PLC | 118.8 | 377.17 | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| Marella Cruises | TUI AG | 106.4 | 338.00 | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines | Bonheur | 106.2 | 156.31 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Phoenix Reisen | Other | 81.0 | 257.28 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Hapag-Lloyd Cruises | Hapag-Lloyd AG | 72.3 | 147.21 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Azamara Cruises | Sycamore Partners[9] | 67.3 | 417.17 | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Compagnie du Ponant | Artémis | 51.1 | 185.77 | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Windstar Cruises | The Anschutz Corporation | 46.9 | 186.32 | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Quark Expeditions | Travelopia | 31.1 | 123.51 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Saga Cruises | Saga plc | 30.8 | 97.88 | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Other | 26.1 | 103.79 | 0.1% | 0.2% | |
| Star Clippers | Star Clippers Ltd | 21.6 | 85.57 | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| American Cruise Lines | Other | 19.9 | 68.31 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Other | 11.5 | 45.73 | >0.0% | 0.1% | |
| Paul Gauguin Cruises | Other | 9.8 | 38.71 | >0.0% | 0.1% |
| SeaDream Yacht Club | Other | 8.6 | 33.99 | >0.0% | 0.1% |
| Other | 6.4 | 20.22 | >0.0% | >0.0% | |
| Other | 5.9 | 23.31 | >0.0% | 0.1% | |
| Orion Expedition Cruises | Other | 5.1 | 20.32 | >0.0% | >0.0% |
| Other | 3.8 | 12.15 | >0.0% | >0.0% | |
| Other | 1.4 | 2.13 | >0.0% | >0.0% | |
| Sail Croatia | Sail Croatia Adventures Ltd. | ||||
| Total | 26,001.0 | 46,571.9 | 100% | 100% | |
List of ocean cruise lines[]
Operational[]
The following is a list of operational ocean cruise lines.
| Name | Owner | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIDA Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc |  Germany
|
|
| American Cruise Lines |  USA
|
Based in Guilford, Connecticut, offers coastal cruises and paddle-steamer cruises | |
| Ambassador Cruise Line |  United Kingdom
|
Replacement of cruise and maritime voyages | |
 Australia
|
Operates arctic cruises with Polar Pioneer | ||
| Azamara Cruises | Sycamore Partners | USA
|
|
| Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line | USA
|
Formed by former executives from the defunct Celebration Cruise Line, operates the Grand Celebration | |
| Birka Line[10] |  Finland
|
Subsidiary of Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö, operates the Birka Stockholm. As of July 20, 2020 and after 49 years on the Baltic Sea, Birka operations ceased in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. | |
| [11] | China (state owned) |  China
|
Owns Chinese Taishan. |
| Carnival Cruise Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | USA / United Kingdom
|
|
| Celebrity Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | USA (originally  Greece)
|
|
| Celestyal Cruises |  Cyprus
|
Previously named Louis Cruises | |
| Compagnie du Ponant |  France
|
Based in Marseille, operates yacht cruises | |
| Costa Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc |  Italy
|
|
| Crystal Cruises | Genting Hong Kong | USA
|
|
| Cunard Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | United Kingdom
|
|
| Disney Cruise Line | Disney | USA/ United Kingdom
|
|
| Dream Cruises | Genting Hong Kong |  Hong Kong
|
|
| Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines | United Kingdom
|
||
| Germany
|
Cruise branch of Bavarian travel company , operates | ||
| Germany
|
Privately owned (Kilian family), offers ocean cruises with MV Ocean Majesty and river cruises | ||
| Hapag-Lloyd Cruises | TUI Group | Germany
|
|
| Holland America Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | USA (originally  Netherlands)
|
|
| Hurtigruten |  Norway
|
Also marketed as Norwegian Coastal Express | |
 Switzerland
|
Operates arctic cruises with MV Ocean Diamond | ||
 India
|
Operates MS Karnika via Zen Cruises | ||
| Majestic International Cruises | Greece
|
||
| St Hilda Sea Adventures | United Kingdom
|
Dunoon (Scotland), offers Scottish island cruises | |
| The Majestic Line | United Kingdom
|
Dunoon (Scotland), offers Scottish island cruises | |
| Mano Maritime |  Israel
|
||
| Marella Cruises | TUI Group | United Kingdom
|
|
| MSC Cruises | Aponte family (private) | Switzerland / Italy
|
|
 Portugal
|
Has yet to receive its first of three new builds | ||
| [12] | China (state owned) | China
|
Exclusively run South China Sea cruises |
| Germany
|
Operates MS World Explorer, MS World Voyager and Vasco da Gama in Northern Europe | ||
| Teevin family (private) | USA
|
Offers Alaska cruises with | |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd | USA (originally Norway)
|
|
| Oceania Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd | USA
|
|
 Canada
|
Operates arctic cruises with MS Akademik Ioffe | ||
| P&O Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc | United Kingdom
|
|
| P&O Cruises Australia | Carnival Corporation & plc | Australia
|
|
 Argentina
|
Operates cruises with MS Salamis Filoxenia | ||
| Paul Gauguin Cruises | United States
|
Branch of Regent Seven Seas Cruises till 2010, offers South Pacific cruises | |
| Pearl Seas Cruises | United States
|
Offers Great Lakes, New England and Cuba cruises | |
| Phoenix Reisen | Zurnieden family (private) | Germany
|
|
| Germany
|
Operates MS Hamburg and several river cruise ships | ||
| USA
|
Operates arctic cruises with MS Ocean Atlantic | ||
| Poseidon Expeditions | United Kingdom
|
Arctic cruises with nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy | |
| Princess Cruises | Carnival Corporation & plc | USA/ United Kingdom
|
|
| Quark Expeditions | USA
|
Expedition cruising | |
| Regent Seven Seas Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd | USA
|
|
| Royal Caribbean International | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | USA (originally Norway)
|
|
| Saga Cruises | Saga Group | United Kingdom
|
|
| Seabourn Cruise Line | Carnival Corporation & plc | USA
|
|
| SeaDream Yacht Club | Atle Brynestad (private) | Norway
|
|
| Silversea Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. |  Monaco
|
|
| Star Cruises | Genting Hong Kong | Hong Kong
|
|
| TUI Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and TUI Group |
Germany
|
|
| UnCruise Adventures | USA
|
||
| Variety Cruises | Greece
|
Yachts and small cruise ships | |
| Grupo Vidanta |  Mexico
|
||
| Viking Line |  Åland ( Finland)
|
Cruiseferries | |
| Viking Ocean Cruises | Viking Cruises | USA
|
|
| Windstar Cruises | Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. | USA
|
|
| Voyages to Antiquity | United Kingdom
|
||
| CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping | Carnival Corporation & plc | China
|
Shipping line still in service[]
The following is a list of defunct ocean cruise line with their shipping line is still in service.
| Name | Status | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Cruise | No longer operates cruise ships | Netherlands
|
Continues to charter cruise ships to other companies |
| Far East Shipping Company | No longer operates cruise ships |  Russia
|
|
| Finnlines | No longer operates cruise ships | Finland
|
|
| Kristina Cruises | No ships in operation | Finland
|
Last cruise ship Kristina Katarina sold off in 2013 |
| Ocean Star Cruises | No ships in operation | Mexico
|
Last cruise ship Ocean Star Pacific sold for scrap in 2014 |
| Silja Line | No longer operates cruise ships | Finland
|
Defunct[]
The following is a list of defunct ocean cruise line.
| Name | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Admiral Cruises | USA
|
Acquired by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in 1988. Ceased operations in 1992. |
| American Classic Voyages | USA
|
Bankrupt |
| Baltic Shipping Company |  Soviet Union
|
|
| Black Sea Shipping Company | Soviet Union
|
|
| Blue Star Line | United Kingdom
|
Merged and sold into P&O Nedlloyd |
| Celebration Cruise Line | USA
|
Re-branded into Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line in 2014 |
| Chandris Cruises | Greece
|
Merged and re-branded into Celebrity Cruises in 1988 |
| Classic International Cruises | Australia
|
Liquidated on 20 December 2012[13] |
| Commodore Cruise Line | USA
|
|
| Croisières de France | France
|
Owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., ceased operation in 2017 |
| Crown Cruise Line | USA
|
|
| Cruise & Maritime Voyages | South Quay Travel & Leisure Ltd. United Kingdom
|
Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic July 2020 |
| Cruise West | USA
|
Ceased operations on September 18, 2010 [14] |
| Cunard-White Star Line | United Kingdom
|
Reverted name to Cunard Line in 1950 |
| Dolphin Cruise Line | Greece
|
Merged into Premier Cruise Line |
| Eastern Cruise Lines | USA
|
Merged into Admiral Cruises in 1986 |
| EasyCruise | Greece
|
Sold to Hellenic Seaways |
| Effoa | Finland
|
|
| Epirotiki Line | Greece
|
Most well known for losing three of its cruise ships between 1988 and 1991, including the MTS Oceanos in 1991 |
| Fathom | USA
|
Ceased operations in June 2017 |
| Festival Cruises | Greece
|
|
| Pullmantur Cruises |  Spain
|
Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic in July 2020 |
| Hamburg Atlantic Line German Atlantic Line Hanseatic Tours |
Germany
|
Merged into Hapag-Lloyd Cruises |
| Home Lines | Italy
|
Merged into Holland America Line |
| Iberocruceros | Spain
|
Merged into Costa Cruises |
| Imperial Majesty Cruise Line | USA
|
Became Celebration Cruise Line in 2009 |
| Island Cruises | UK
|
|
| Italian Line / Italian Cruises | Italy
|
|
| Majesty Cruise Line | Norway
|
Merged into Norwegian Cruise Line |
| Norwegian America Line | Norway
|
Merged into Cunard Line |
| Norwegian Capricorn Line | Australia
|
Merged into Star Cruises |
| [15] | USA
|
Formed in 1984 by a combination of British, Swiss and American travel interests |
| Ocean Star Cruises | Mexico
|
First Mexican cruise line |
| Ocean Village | United Kingdom
|
Ceased operations in 2010 |
| Orient Lines | USA
|
|
| Orion Expedition Cruises | Australia
|
Taken over by and merged with in 2013 |
| Peter Deilmann Cruises | Germany
|
Ceased operations in 2015 |
| Polar Star Expeditions | Canada
|
Ceased operations in 2011 after major damage to MV Polar Star |
| Premier Cruise Line | USA
|
|
| Renaissance Cruises | USA
|
|
| Royal Viking Line | Norway
|
Merged into Cunard Line |
| Sally Cruise | Finland
|
Merged into Silja Line |
| Shaw, Savill & Albion Line | United Kingdom
|
|
| Sitmar Cruises | Italy
|
Merged into P&O Cruises/Princess Cruises |
| USA
|
Merged into Admiral Cruises in 1986 | |
| Swan Hellenic | United Kingdom
|
Ceased operations in 2017 after shutdown of All Leisure Holidays |
| Swedish American Line |  Sweden
|
|
| Transocean Tours | Germany
|
From 2014 to 2020, German branch of Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic July 2020. |
| Van Gogh Cruises | United Kingdom
|
|
| United Kingdom
|
Ceased operations in 2017 after shutdown of All Leisure Holidays | |
| Western Cruise Lines | USA
|
Merged into Admiral Cruises in 1986 |
| White Star Line | United Kingdom
|
Merged with Cunard Line to form Cunard-White Star Line in 1934 |
| Windjammer Barefoot Cruises | USA
|
List of river cruise lines[]
Operational[]
The following is a list of operational river cruise line.
| Name | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germany
|
River cruises in Europe | |
| AmaWaterways | USA
|
River cruises in Europe, Asia and Africa |
| American Cruise Lines | USA
|
Paddle-steamer cruises on US rivers |
 Peru
|
Privately owned by Francesco , eco-friendly river cruises on Amazon and Mekong rivers | |
| USA
|
Mississippi river | |
| A-ROSA Flussschiff | Germany
|
River cruises in Europe, offered ocean-going cruises with A-Rosa blu 2002-04 |
| Australian Pacific Touring (APT) | Australia
|
Privately owned (McGeary family), river cruises in Europe, Asia and Africa, shares many ships with AmaWaterways |
| Avalon Waterways | USA
|
River cruises in Europe, Egypt, Asia and South America |
| Century Cruises | China
|
Operates along the Yangtze river |
| CroisiEurope | France
|
Privately owned (Schmitter family), river cruises in Europe and Asia |
| Crystal Cruises | USA
|
Owned by Genting Hong Kong, river cruises in Europe |
| Portugal
|
Owned by Mystic Invest, river cruises in the Douro, Portugal | |
| Emerald Waterways | USA
|
Owned by Australian river cruise operator Scenic, river cruises in Europe and Asia |
| European Waterways | United Kingdom
|
Operates converted trading barges on European Rivers |
| USA
|
Owned by Grand Circle Corporation, river cruises in Europe | |
| USA
|
Privately owned (Conlin family), Great Lakes and river cruises in USA and Canada | |
| Germany
|
Privately owned (Kilian family), offers ocean and river cruises (Europe, Asia) | |
 Vietnam
|
River cruises in Asia | |
| Lüftner Cruises |  Austria
|
Privately owned (Lüftner family), river cruises in Europe |
| Germany
|
Owned by Mystic Invest, river cruises in Europe and Asia | |
| Russia
|
River cruises in Russia | |
| Vietnam
|
River cruises in Asia | |
| Vietnam
|
Ha Long Bay | |
| Phoenix Reisen | Germany
|
Privately owned (Zurnieden family), river cruises in Europe, Egypt, Asia and South America |
| Germany
|
Offers ocean and river cruises (Europe, Asia) | |
| China
|
Operates along the Yangtze river | |
| Switzerland
|
Owned by Twerenbold Group, river cruises in Europe | |
| (DBA Riviera River Cruises) | United Kingdom
|
Luxury river cruises in Europe on the Rhone, Rhine, Danube, Duoro, Seine, Main and Moselle.[16] Travel Brand of the Year 2017.[17] |
| United Kingdom
|
River cruises in Asia | |
| Australia
|
Owned by coach tour operator Transit Scenic Tours, river cruises in Europe and Asia | |
| Tauck River Cruises | USA
|
Privately owned (Tauck family), river cruises in Europe |
| United Kingdom
|
River cruises in Europe | |
| Uniworld River Cruises | USA
|
River cruises in Europe, Egypt and Asia |
| USA
|
The only American-based cruise line operating along the Yangtze River | |
| Vietnam
|
Partnership between Vietnam-based hospitality managers Thien Minh Group and Wendy Wu Tours | |
| Viking River Cruises | Switzerland
|
River cruise line of Viking Cruises with operating HQ in Basel, Switzerland, marketing HQ in USA (California) |
| Vodohod | Russia
|
Owned by UCL Holding, river cruises in Russia |
| China
|
Operates along the Yangtze River |
Defunct[]
The following is a list of defunct river cruise line.
| Name | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DDSG | Austria
|
|
| Transocean Tours | Germany
|
From 2014 to 2021, German branch of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic July 2020 |
| Germany
|
Former river cruise branch of TUI Group, ceased operations in 2014 |
See also[]
- List of largest cruise lines
- List of ferry operators
- List of cruise ships
- List of largest cruise ships
References[]
- ^ "Cruise line definition". Travel industry dictionary. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Member Cruise Lines". Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Ship sales and transfers". Cruise industry news. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Cruise ship orderbook". Cruise Industry News. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Cruise line market share". Cruise market watch. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ "Member reviews of cruise lines". Cruise Critic. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- ^ a b c "2018 Worldwide Cruise Line Market Share". Cruise Market Watch. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
- ^ "Best and worst cruise lines 2020 revealed: Where did Viking Ocean Cruises and MSC place?". www.express.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
- ^ "Royal Caribbean Group Completes Sale of Azamara".
- ^ "Vi slutar kryssa - tack för oss!". Birka Cruises (in Swedish). Retrieved 2020-08-17.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "南海邮轮官方网站". www.nanhaicruises.com.
- ^ "Classic International Cruises Pty Ltd". Press Release. Lawler Partners. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Cruise West".
- ^ "Ocean Cruise Line". www.simplonpc.co.uk.
- ^ "Explore Our Rivers". Riviera River Cruises. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ "Which? Awards 2017 winners revealed". Which? News. May 17, 2017.
Categories:
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