Cruise Lines to Sail With Every cruise line worth knowing, from the mega-ship giants to intimate luxury, river, and expedition lines — ranked by size so you can see who carries the most guests, then sort A–Z to find your line. If a cruise line is of any decent size, it's here.
44 items · Updated Jun 30, 2026 · Copy link
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1. Sail with Royal Caribbean
Mainstream cruise line
The single largest cruise brand in the world by berth capacity and home to the biggest ships afloat (Icon of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas). Flagship of Royal Caribbean Group, which holds ~27% of global passengers.
2. Sail with Carnival Cruise Line
Mainstream cruise line
The flagship 'Fun Ship' brand of Carnival Corporation (the world's largest cruise company at ~41% of global passengers). Highest-volume single mainstream brand by guests carried in North America.
3. Sail with MSC Cruises
Global cruise line
The largest privately owned (Aponte family) cruise line and the third-largest globally, dominant in Europe and growing fast in North America with mega-ships like World Europa and the new World America.
4. Sail with Norwegian Cruise Line
Mainstream cruise line
The original 'Freestyle' mainstream brand and flagship of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, with large Breakaway/Prima-class ships. Fourth-largest cruise company group worldwide.
5. Sail with Costa Cruises
Carnival Corp's Italian-style mainstream brand and, combined with AIDA, Europe's largest fleet. High-volume Mediterranean and global operator with very large ships.
6. Sail with AIDA Cruises
Carnival Corp's market-leading German brand ('club ship' casual mainstream). One of the highest-volume single-country brands in Europe.
7. Sail with Princess Cruises
Premium cruise line
Carnival Corp's flagship premium brand, large mid-to-upscale fleet known for big destination-focused ships and broad global deployment.
8. Sail with Celebrity Cruises
Premium cruise line
Royal Caribbean Group's premium brand with modern, design-forward Edge-class ships. A leading upper-premium operator carrying large guest volumes.
9. Sail with Holland America Line
Premium cruise line
Carnival Corp's classic premium brand with a mid-size fleet and a 150-year heritage; major player in longer/destination-rich itineraries and world cruises.
10. Sail with TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff)
Joint venture of TUI and Royal Caribbean Group; the dominant premium German-market brand with a modern fleet and strong year-round volume.
11. Sail with P&O Cruises (UK)
Carnival Corp's flagship British mainstream brand and the market leader in the UK, with the country's two largest cruise ships.
12. Sail with Disney Cruise Line
Family cruise line
Family-focused premium brand in rapid expansion (doubling its fleet by 2031). Mid-size by berths today but very high per-ship demand and brand power.
13. Sail with Viking
Adults-only, no-casino destination brand and the world's largest river-cruise operator; its ocean fleet is also growing fast toward ~20+ ships. Combined river+ocean+expedition guest volume is among the highest of any line.
14. Sail with Marella Cruises
TUI Group's UK mainstream brand offering mostly all-inclusive sailings; a leading mid-size British operator.
15. Sail with Virgin Voyages
Adults-only cruise line
Adults-only, lifestyle-driven newcomer (since 2021) that has scaled to four large modern ships; a fast-growing premium disruptor.
16. Sail with Cunard
Classic ocean-liner brand
Carnival Corp's iconic British ocean-liner heritage brand (Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne); upscale, formal, transatlantic and world-cruise specialist.
17. Sail with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Long-established British small-ship line favored for no-fly UK departures and smaller-port itineraries; a staple of the British market.
18. Sail with Celestyal Cruises
The leading Greek-islands and eastern-Mediterranean cruise specialist, offering accessible, culturally focused short cruises.
19. Sail with Azamara
Upper-premium 'destination immersion' brand known for late-night and overnight port stays on R-class ships; a recognized mid-luxury name.
20. Sail with Oceania Cruises
NCLH's upper-premium 'finest cuisine at sea' brand with mid-size ships; a leading culinary-focused operator just below true luxury.
21. Sail with Saga Cruises
British boutique line exclusively for travelers 50+, offering all-inclusive, no-fly luxury from UK ports.
22. Sail with Ambassador Cruise Line
Newer British no-fly value brand (since 2021) sailing classic mid-size ships from regional UK ports; fills the gap left by older traditional lines.
23. Sail with Margaritaville at Sea
Jimmy Buffett-themed casual short-cruise brand from Florida; accessible, value-oriented island getaways.
24. Sail with American Cruise Lines
The largest US-flagged domestic small-ship/river operator, with the fastest-growing American-built fleet sailing US rivers and coasts.
25. Sail with AmaWaterways
One of the top luxury river-cruise lines, with a large and growing European fleet plus exotic itineraries; on a path toward 50+ ships.
26. Sail with Hurtigruten / HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)
Norwegian pioneer of the Norwegian Coastal Express plus a dedicated polar/expedition arm (HX); among the largest and most established expedition operators.
27. Sail with Avalon Waterways
Globus-family river brand known for open-air 'Panorama Suites'; a major European river operator with worldwide reach.
28. Sail with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Australian all-inclusive luxury river line with butler-serviced suites; also operates the Scenic Eclipse discovery yachts.
29. Sail with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Boutique all-inclusive luxury river line famed for lavishly decorated 'floating boutique hotels' across Europe, Asia, Egypt and beyond.
30. Sail with Emerald Cruises
Scenic Group's premium-value river brand ('Star-Ships') on European and Asian waterways, plus small luxury yachts.
31. Sail with Lindblad Expeditions / National Geographic
The pioneer of modern expedition cruising, in partnership with National Geographic; one of the largest expedition fleets, from polar regions to the Galapagos.
32. Sail with Ponant
French luxury-expedition line with the largest modern small-luxury fleet and the world's only luxury polar icebreaker; spans yacht-style cruising and serious expedition.
33. Sail with Silversea Cruises
Royal Caribbean Group's ultra-luxury all-inclusive brand with both classic luxury ships and dedicated expedition vessels; a benchmark luxury name.
34. Sail with Seabourn
Carnival Corp's ultra-luxury all-suite brand with intimate ships and two purpose-built expedition vessels; consistently top-rated luxury.
35. Sail with Regent Seven Seas Cruises
NCLH's all-inclusive 'most luxurious' brand with all-suite, all-balcony ships (flagship Seven Seas Grandeur); a leader in ultra-luxury ocean cruising.
36. Sail with Tauck
Premium all-inclusive land-and-river tour operator running lower-density European riverboats with elevated service and guiding.
37. Sail with Explora Journeys
MSC Group's new luxury-lifestyle ocean brand (launched 2023), rapidly scaling a fleet of larger luxury ships; a major luxury newcomer.
38. Sail with Windstar Cruises
Small-ship luxury line famous for its sail-powered yachts plus all-suite power yachts; intimate, port-intensive itineraries and a growing fleet.
39. Sail with Crystal
Storied ultra-luxury brand relaunched in 2023 under A&K Travel Group; Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity remain icons of classic luxury cruising.
40. Sail with Atlas Ocean Voyages
Newer luxe-adventure brand sailing small, ice-strengthened 'World'-class yachts to polar regions and beyond with an all-inclusive expedition style.
41. Sail with Aurora Expeditions
Australian small-ship expedition specialist with modern Infinity-class vessels (X-Bow design) focused on intimate polar and remote voyages.
42. Sail with Quark Expeditions
Dedicated polar-expedition pioneer with decades of Antarctic and Arctic experience and a fleet ranging from ice-strengthened ships to a true icebreaker.
43. Sail with Star Clippers
Operator of the world's largest true sailing clipper ships; a unique luxury sailing experience under canvas in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and beyond.
44. Sail with Paul Gauguin Cruises
The specialist luxury line for Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific (now under Ponant), purpose-built for those shallow island waters.
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