This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Some of the listed cruise lines are now bankrupt, out of business or have changed owners.(November 2022) |
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.
As of 2021 [update] , the cruise industry was estimated to be around US$23.8 billion with 13.9 million passengers per year. The following is a list of the largest cruise lines with over 1,000 passengers per year and their market share by passengers and revenue as of 2021 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 Group, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, TUI Group, and Genting Hong Kong. [7]
Legend:
The following is a list of defunct ocean cruise lines where 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 | Ships are operated by Tallink | Finland | |
The following is a list of operational river cruise lines.
Name | Headquarters | Notes |
---|---|---|
1AVista | Germany | River cruises in Europe |
AmaWaterways | United States | River cruises in Europe, Asia and Africa |
American Cruise Lines | United States | Paddle-steamer cruises on US rivers |
Aqua Expeditions | Peru | Privately owned by Francesco Galli Zugaro, eco-friendly river cruises on Amazon and Mekong rivers |
American Queen Steamboat Company | United States | 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 | United States | 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 | United States | Owned by Genting Hong Kong, river cruises in Europe |
DouroAzul | Portugal | Owned by Mystic Invest, river cruises in the Douro, Portugal |
Emerald Waterways | United States | Owned by Australian river cruise operator Scenic, river cruises in Europe and Asia |
European Waterways | United Kingdom | Operates converted trading barges on European Rivers |
Grand Circle Cruise Line | United States | Owned by Grand Circle Corporation, river cruises in Europe |
Great Lakes Cruise Company | United States | Privately owned (Conlin family), Great Lakes and river cruises in USA and Canada |
Hansa Touristk | Germany | Privately owned (Kilian family), offers ocean and river cruises (Europe, Asia) |
Heritage Line | Vietnam | River cruises in Asia |
Lüftner Cruises | Austria | Privately owned (Lüftner family), river cruises in Europe |
Nicko Cruises | Germany | Owned by Mystic Invest, river cruises in Europe and Asia |
Orthodox Cruise Company | Russia | River cruises in Russia |
Pandaw River Expeditions | Vietnam | River cruises in Asia |
Paradise Cruises | Vietnam | Ha Long Bay |
Phoenix Reisen | Germany | Privately owned (Zurnieden family), river cruises in Europe, Egypt, Asia and South America |
Plantours Kreuzfahrten | Germany | Offers ocean and river cruises (Europe, Asia) |
President Cruises | China | Operates along the Yangtze river |
Reisebüro Mittelthurgau | Switzerland | Owned by Twerenbold Group, river cruises in Europe |
Riviera Travel (DBA Riviera River Cruises) | United Kingdom | Luxury river cruises in Europe on the Rhone, Rhine, Danube, Douro, Seine, Main and Moselle. [15] Travel Brand of the Year 2017. [16] |
Sanctuary Retreats | United Kingdom | River cruises in Asia |
Scenic | Australia | Owned by coach tour operator Transit Scenic Tours, river cruises in Europe and Asia |
Tauck River Cruises | United States | Privately owned (Tauck family), river cruises in Europe |
The River Cruise Line | United Kingdom | River cruises in Europe |
Uniworld River Cruises | United States | River cruises in Europe, Egypt and Asia |
Victoria Cruises | United States | The only American-based cruise line operating along the Yangtze River |
Victoria Mekong Cruises | 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 |
Yangtze Gold Cruises | China | Operates along the Yangtze River |
Sardinha do Tejo | Portugal | Operates in Tejo River |
The following is a list of defunct river cruise lines.
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 |
TUI FlussGenuss | Germany | Former river cruise branch of TUI Group, ceased operations in 2014 |
Cunard Line is a British shipping and cruise line based at Carnival House at Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. Since 2011, Cunard and its three ships have been registered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports of call, where passengers may go on tours known as "shore excursions". On "cruises to nowhere" or "nowhere voyages", some cruise ships make two- to three-night round trips without visiting any ports of call.
Carnival Cruise Line is an international cruise line with headquarters in Doral, Florida. The company is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Its logo is a funnel shaped like a whale's tail, with a red, white, and blue color scheme. This trademark funnel design is built onto the line's ships. Carnival is ranked first on the list of largest cruise lines based on passengers carried annually.
Carnival Corporation & plc is a British-American cruise operator with a combined fleet of over ninety vessels across nine cruise line brands and one joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). A dual-listed company, Carnival is composed of two companies – Panama-incorporated, US-headquartered Carnival Corporation, and UK-based Carnival plc – which function as one entity. Carnival Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, whereas Carnival plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with an ADR listing on the NYSE. Carnival is listed in both the S&P 500 and FTSE 250 indices.
Royal Caribbean Group, formerly known as Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., is a global cruise holding company incorporated in Liberia and based in Miami, Florida. It is the world's second-largest cruise line operator, after Carnival Corporation & plc. As of March 2024, Royal Caribbean Group fully owns three cruise lines: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises with 65 ships in the current fleet and 5 ships on order until 2028. They also hold a 50% stake in TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships that operate on ocean or rivers and which markets cruises to the public. Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of passengers. Though cruise packages provided by cruise lines vary, there are some features most have in common, such as accommodation, all meals and entertainment. They may include alcohol and shore excursions, sometimes on additional payment.
P&O was a British shipping and logistics company dating from the early 19th century. Formerly a public company, it was sold to DP World in March 2006 for £3.9 billion. DP World currently operates several P&O branded businesses, P&O Ferries, Istithmar P&O Estates, and P&O Maritime Logistics. It also operates P&O Heritage, which is the official historic archive and collection of P&O.
Princess Cruises is an American cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. The company is incorporated in Bermuda and its headquarters are in Santa Clarita, California. As of 2021, it is the second largest cruise line by net revenue. It was previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises. The line has 15 ships cruising global itineraries that are marketed to both American and international passengers.
Fincantieri S.p.A. is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard in 2013, Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world (2014). The company builds both commercial and military vessels.
Costa Crociere S.p.A., operating as Costa Cruises, is an Italian cruise line founded in 1948 and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000. Based in Genoa, Italy, the cruise line primarily caters to the Italian cruise market, but the company's 10 ships, which all sail under the Italian flag, provide itineraries sailing to countries globally.
P&O Cruises is a British cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton, England, operated by Carnival UK and owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. It was originally a subsidiary of the freight transport company P&O and was founded in 1977. Along with P&O Cruises Australia, another former subsidiary of P&O, it has the oldest heritage of any cruise line in the world, dating to P&O's first passenger operations in 1837.
Seabourn Cruise Line is a luxury small ship cruise line headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is owned by Carnival Corporation & plc.
P&O Cruises Australia is a British-American owned cruise line with operational headquarters as part of Carnival Australia, based in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia.
AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line founded in the early 1960s and organized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Costa Crociere S.p.A., which in turn belongs to Carnival Corporation & plc. Based in Rostock, Germany, AIDA Cruises caters primarily to the German-speaking market; as seagoing "club resorts", AIDA ships have on-board amenities and facilities designed to attract younger, more active vacationers. As of September 2023, the cruise line operates 11 ships.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is a cruise line trade association. It merged with International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) in 2006, forming an expanded organization incorporating the existing functions of both organizations. The merged organization, which uses the CLIA name, is located in Washington, D.C.
P&O Princess Cruises plc was a shipping company that existed between 2000 and 2003, operating the P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, A'Rosa Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Ocean Village branded cruise lines. The company was formed from the de-merged passenger services of the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) and operated until 2003 when it was re-listed as Carnival plc following a merger with Carnival Corporation. Its registered office was in the City of Westminster, London.
Carnival Venezia is a Vista-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Originally intended to serve the Chinese market, she debuted as Costa Venezia for sister brand Costa Cruises in Shanghai on 18 May 2019. At 135,225 gross tonnage (GT) and with a capacity of 4,208 passengers, she became the largest ship commissioned for the Costa fleet upon her delivery.
Carnival Firenze is a Vista-class cruise ship operated by Carnival Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Originally commissioned for the Chinese market, she debuted as Costa Firenze for sister brand Costa Cruises, but was never deployed to Asia following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cruise travel in China. Named after Florence, the 135,156 gross tonnage (GT)-vessel was constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in Marghera and delivered in December 2020.