Acruise line is a company that operatescruise 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 andHolland America Line are cruise lines within the larger parent corporationCarnival 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 inCruise 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 2025[update], the cruise industry was estimated to be aroundUS$23.8 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 toCruise Market Watch. The list also includes the combined market share of each of the cruise line holding companies:Carnival Corporation & plc,Royal Caribbean Group,Mediterranean Shipping Company,Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings andTUI Group.[7]
Legend:
The following is a list of defunct ocean cruise lines where their shipping line is still in service.
| Name | Status | Headquarters | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltic Shipping Company | No longer operates cruise ships |  Russia | Engaging in construction of 116 vessels for various purposes including 4 passenger ferries |
| Black Sea Shipping Company | No ships in operation |  Ukraine | |
| 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 | Operator of marine shipping,roll-on/roll-off, rail transportation and port handling. |
| Finnlines | No longer operates cruise ships |  Finland | Operator ofro-ro and passenger services |
| Kristina Cruises | No ships in operation | Finland | Last cruise shipKristina Katarina sold off in 2013. Company is concentrating on selling cruises on other ships as a tour operator |
| Majestic International Cruises | No ships in operation |  Greece | |
| Ocean Cruise Line[12] | No ships in operation |  United States | |
| Ocean Star Cruises | No ships in operation |  Mexico | Last cruise shipOcean Star Pacific sold for scrap in 2014 |
| Silja Line | No longer operates cruise ships | Finland | Operator ofcruiseferrys |
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 |
| A-ROSA Flussschiff | Germany | River cruises in Europe, offered ocean-going cruises withA-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 byGenting Hong Kong, river cruises in Europe |
| DouroAzul |  Portugal | Owned by Mystic Invest, river cruises in the Douro, Portugal |
| Emerald Cruises |  Switzerland | |
| 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.[13] Travel Brand of the Year 2017.[14] |
| Sanctuary Retreats | United Kingdom | River cruises in Asia |
| Scenic | Australia | Owned by coach tour operatorTransit 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) |
| Viva River Cruises | Switzerland | Owned by Scylla AG (Tauck), river cruises in Europe |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| American Queen Steamboat Company | United States | Ceased operations in Feb 2024. 4 riverboats sold toAmerican Cruise Lines in Apr 2024.[15] |
| DDSG | Austria | |
| Transocean Tours | Germany | From 2014 to 2021, German branch ofCruise & Maritime Voyages, Ceased operations due to theCoronavirus pandemic July 2020 |
| TUI FlussGenuss | Germany | Former river cruise branch ofTUI Group, ceased operations in 2014 |
