A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships and markets cruises to the public. 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. 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); the listing of cruise ship sales, transfers, and new orders; cruise line market share; and the member-based reviews of cruise lines.
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 passengers , the cruise industry was estimated to be around 72.5 billion with 72.5 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 2025 according to Cruise Market Watch. The list also includes the combined market share of each of the cruise line holding companies: Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group, Mediterranean Shipping Company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and TUI Group.
Legend: Bold: Major cruise company Italic: Subsidiary of a major cruise company
Cruise lineParent companyHeadquartersPassengersRevenue(thousands)%(US$ millions)%Carnival Corporation / 13,987.041.526,130.0036.0Carnival Cruise LineCarnival Corporation6,762.020.17,294.3010.1Princess CruisesCarnival Corporation1,942.95.84,503.406.2P&O CruisesCarnival Corporation1,464.94.43,964.305.5Costa CruisesCarnival Corporation1,412.64.22,464.303.4AIDA CruisesCarnival Corporation1,085.83.22,938.304.1Holland America LineCarnival Corporation809.82.42,526.703.5Cunard LineCarnival Corporation434.61.31,492.602.1Seabourn Cruise LineCarnival Corporation74.40.2946.101.3Royal Caribbean Group9,105.327.018,010.0024.8Royal CaribbeanRoyal Caribbean Group7,150.121.210,765.4014.8Celebrity CruisesRoyal Caribbean Group1,761.45.24,507.706.2Silversea CruisesRoyal Caribbean Group193.80.62,736.903.8Mediterranean Shipping Company3,447.910.25,474.67.5MSC CruisesMediterranean Shipping Company3,375.310.05,296.307.3Explora JourneysMediterranean Shipping Company72.60.2178.300.2Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings3,160.89.410,220.1014.1Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings2,861.58.56,946.009.6Oceania CruisesNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings183.90.51,588.002.2Regent Seven Seas CruisesNorwegian Cruise Line Holdings115.40.31,686.102.3Disney Cruise LineDisney Experiences1,039.103.12,827.903.9TUI Cruises TUI Group (50%) and Royal Caribbean Group (50%)862.72.52,119.002.8TUI CruisesTUI Cruises574.31.71,410.601.9Marella CruisesTUI Cruises247.90.7608.900.8Hapag-Lloyd CruisesTUI Cruises40.50.199.500.1Viking Ocean CruisesViking Holdings254.8 0.8 3,011.50 4.2Virgin VoyagesVirgin Group295.00.9724.501.0Resorts World CruisesGenting Malaysia Berhad277.50.8681.300.9HurtigrutenHurtigruten175.10.5430.000.6Adora CruisesChina State Shipbuilding Corporation169.40.5416.100.5Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesBonheur107.80.3264.700.4Margaritaville at SeaJimmy Buffett's Margaritaville93.70.3230.000.3Celestyal CruisesSearchlight Capital92.50.3227.300.3Ponant CruisesGroupe Artémis74.30.2182.600.3Azamara CruisesSycamore Partners62.70.2443.300.6Phoenix ReisenPhoenix Reisen59.00.2144.900.2Saga CruisesSaga plc53.20.2130.600.2Windstar CruisesThe Anschutz Corporation47.00.1115.500.2Crystal CruisesA&K Travel Group35.80.188.000.1Mystic CruisesMysticInvest Holding33.50.182.400.1Lindblad ExpeditionsLindblad Expeditions30.40.174.500.1The Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company29.70.172.800.1American Cruise LinesAmerican Cruise27.70.168.000.1Atlas Ocean VoyagesMysticInvest Holding26.10.164.100.1Star ClippersStar Clippers Ltd22.30.154.900.1Quark ExpeditionsTravelopia22.30.154.700.1Swan HellenicAndrea Zito13.20.032.400.0Scenic Luxury CruisesGlen Moroney12.10.129.800.1MOL Mitsui Ocean CruisesMitsui O.S.K. Lines12.00.029.900.0American Queen VoyagesClosed11.60.028.500.0Emerald CruisesScenic Group8.70.021.500.0SeaDream Yacht ClubAtle Brynestad6.00.014.700.0Four Seasons YachtsFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts5.50.013.400.0Hebridean Island CruisesRob Barlow 2.70.06.500.0Total33,664,600100%72,520.00100%
List of ocean cruise lines
Operational +List of operational ocean cruise lines Name Owner HeadquartersNotesAdora CruisesChina Cruises LimitedCarnival Corp. & plc remains a minority shareholder AIDA Cruises Carnival Corporation American Cruise LinesAmerican Cruise River cruises, coastal cruises and paddle-steamer cruises. Based in Guilford, ConnecticutAmbassador Cruise LineNjord Partners Atlas Ocean Voyages MysticInvest Holding Small cruise ships Aurora Expeditions Expedition cruising. Operates arctic cruises with Polar Pioneer Azamara Cruises Sycamore Partners Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Corporation Celebrity Cruises Royal Caribbean Group Celestyal CruisesSearchlight Capital Club MedClub Med Based in Paris, operates Club Med 2 staysail schooner Costa Cruises Carnival Corporation Crystal Cruises A&K Travel Group Cunard Line Carnival Corporation Disney Cruise Line Disney Experiences Dream CruisesResorts World CruisesCeased operations after Genting Hong Kong declared bankruptcy due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Restarted in as a brand of Resorts World Cruises. Explora Journeys Mediterranean Shipping Company Four Seasons YachtsFour Seasons Hotels and ResortsYachts and small cruise ships Fred. Olsen Cruise LinesBonheur Hapag-Lloyd Cruises TUI Group Hebridean Island CruisesRob Barlow Yachts and small cruise ships Heritage Expeditions Expedition cruising Holland America Line Carnival Corporation HurtigrutenHurtigruten Also marketed as Norwegian Coastal ExpressLindblad ExpeditionsLindblad ExpeditionsExpedition cruising Majestic Line Yachts and small cruise ships. Offers Scottish island cruises Mano Maritime Marella Cruises TUI Group Margaritaville at SeaJimmy Buffett's Margaritaville MOL Mitsui Ocean CruisesMitsui O.S.K. Lines MSC Cruises Mediterranean Shipping Company Mystic CruisesMysticInvest Holding Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Oceania Cruises Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Oceanwide Expeditions Phoenix Reisen Zurnieden family (private) Ponant CruisesGroupe Artémis P&O Cruises Carnival Corporation Paul Gauguin Cruises Branch of Regent Seven Seas Cruises till 2010, offers South Pacific cruises Pearl Seas Cruises Small cruise ships. Offers Great Lakes, New England and Cuba cruises Poseidon Expeditions Expedition cruising. Arctic cruises with nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy Princess Cruises Carnival Corporation Quark Expeditions Expedition cruising Regent Seven Seas Cruises Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Resorts World CruisesGenting Malaysia BerhadThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht CollectionThe Ritz-Carlton Hotel CompanyYachts and small cruise ships Royal Caribbean International Royal Caribbean Group Saga Cruises Saga plc Sail Croatia Yachts and small cruise shipsScenic Luxury CruisesGlen MoroneyExpedition and small cruise ships Seabourn Cruise Line Carnival Corporation SeaDream Yacht Club Atle Brynestad (private) Yachts and small cruise ships Silversea Cruises Royal Caribbean Group Star ClippersStar Clippers LtdYachts and small cruise shipsStarCruisesResorts World CruisesCeased operations after Genting Hong Kong declared bankruptcy due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Restarted in as a brand of Resorts World Cruises. Swan HellenicAndrea Zito Expedition cruising TUI Cruises TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Group UnCruise Adventures Small cruise ships Variety Cruises Yachts and small cruise ships Viking Line Cruiseferries Viking Ocean Cruises Viking Holdings Small cruise ships Virgin Voyages Virgin Group Windstar Cruises The Anschutz Corporation Yachts and small cruise ships
Defunct +List of defunct ocean cruise lines Name HeadquartersNotesAdmiral CruisesDefunct 1992. Acquired by Royal Caribbean Group. in 1988 but ceased operations in 1992. American Classic Voyages Defunct 2001. Bankrupt Birka Cruises Defunct 2020. Subsidiary of Rederiaktiebolaget Eckerö, operated the Birka Gotland. After 49 years on the Baltic Sea, ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic on July 20, 2020 Blue Star Line Defunct 1998. Merged and sold into P&O Nedlloyd Celebration Cruise Line Defunct 2015. Chandris Cruises Defunct 1996. Classic International Cruises Defunct 2012. Liquidated Commodore Cruise Line Defunct 2001. Bankrupt Croisières de France Defunct 2017. Crown Cruise Line Defunct 2001. Cruise & Maritime Voyages Defunct 2020. Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic Cruise West Defunct 2010. Cunard-White Star Line Absorbed into Cunard Line in 1949 Dolphin Cruise Lines Defunct 1997. Merged into Premier Cruise LineEastern Cruise LinesDefunct 1955. Name revived in 1965 and merged into Admiral Cruises in 1986 EasyCruise Defunct 2010. Sold to Hellenic Seaways Effoa Defunct 1990. Epirotiki Line Defunct 1995. Merged its operations with Sun Line. Most well known for losing three of its cruise ships between 1988 and 1991, including the MTS Oceanos in 1991FathomDefunct 2019. Festival Cruises Defunct 2004. Bankrupt Hamburg Atlantic LineGerman Atlantic LineHanseatic Tours Defunct 1997. Merged into Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Home Lines Defunct 1988. Merged into Holland America Line Ibero Cruises Defunct 2014. Merged into Costa Cruises Imperial Majesty Cruise Line Defunct 2009. Became Celebration Cruise Line Island Cruises Defunct 2015. Italian Line / Italian Cruises Defunct 2002. Majesty Cruise Line Defunct 1997. Merged into Norwegian Cruise Line Norwegian America Line Defunct 1995. Merged into Cunard Line Norwegian Capricorn Line Defunct 2000. Merged into Star Cruises Ocean Village Defunct 2010. Orient Lines Defunct 2008. Orion Expedition Cruises Defunct 2013. Taken over by and merged with Lindblad Expeditions P&O Cruises Australia Defunct 2025. Merged into Carnival Cruise Line Peter Deilmann Cruises Defunct 2015. Polar Star Expeditions Defunct 2011. Ceased operations after major damage to MV Polar Star Premier Cruise Lines Defunct 1993. Pullmantur Cruises Defunct 2020. Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic Renaissance Cruises Defunct 2001. Royal Viking Line Defunct 1998. Merged into Cunard Line Sally Cruise Defunct 1992. Merged into Silja Line Shaw, Savill & Albion Line Defunct 1975. Sitmar Cruises Defunct 1988. Merged into Princess Cruises Swedish American Line Defunct 1984. Transocean Tours Defunct 2020. German branch of Cruise & Maritime Voyages. Ceased operations due to the Coronavirus pandemic Van Gogh Cruises Defunct 2009.Western Cruise LinesDefunct 1986. Merged into Admiral Cruises White Star Line Defunct 1934. Merged with Cunard Line to form Cunard-White Star Line Windjammer Barefoot Cruises Defunct 2007. Bankrupt
Shipping line still in service The following is a list of defunct ocean cruise lines where their shipping line is still in service.