Cruise Line Guide
Which lines are which, and what each category means for you.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesHome › Cruise Line Guide
Cruise lines fall into broad categories. Knowing the category tells you most of what to expect about price, atmosphere and what is included. (Lines are listed alphabetically; categories are approximate, and many lines span two.)
| Category | What to expect | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Contemporary / mainstream | Big, lively ships, lots of activities, great value; many extras cost more | Carnival Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean |
| Family specialists | Characters, kids’ clubs, family suites | Disney Cruise Line (and the family programs of the big lines) |
| Premium | More refined, more space, better dining, enrichment | Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Virgin Voyages (adults only) |
| Upper-premium | Mid-size ships, destination focus, more included | Azamara, Oceania Cruises, Viking (adults only) |
| Luxury | Small ships, all-suite, most things included | Crystal, Explora Journeys, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection |
| Expedition | Small, ice-class ships with naturalists and landings | Hurtigruten / HX, Lindblad Expeditions, Ponant, Quark Expeditions, and the expedition arms of several luxury lines |
| River | Small river ships; excursions and wine with meals often included | AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Emerald Cruises, Scenic, Tauck, Uniworld, Viking |
Go Deeper
Luxury lines compared
Side-by-side comparisons at Luxury Cruise Search.
Suites and butler service
The ship-within-a-ship programs explained at Cruise Butler.
Every cruise line
Browse lines and deals at the Official Cruise Directory, and river lines at the Official River Cruise Directory.
Not Sure Which Line?
Tell us what you want from your cruise. Specialists will match you to the right lines and send free quotes.
Get Free Cruise Quotes