Cruise Lines
Every cruise line has its own style, from big family ships to small luxury and river vessels. Start with the travel style that suits you, then compare the lines in it. Our advisors book all of them, with no booking fees.
Big ships with plenty to do: water slides, Broadway-style shows, kids’ clubs and many places to eat. Fares are usually the lowest per night, and short 3- to 5-night sailings are easy to find from U.S. ports. A good fit for families, first-time cruisers and groups.
A step up in food, service and design, with a calmer feel and more time in port. Ships range from mid-size to large, and drinks and extras are usually sold separately. A good fit for couples and travelers who want comfort without full luxury pricing.
Smaller ships, more space per guest and more crew per guest. Many fares include drinks and gratuities, and the ships reach smaller ports the big ships skip. A good fit for travelers who value service, quiet and unusual itineraries.
Small ships that sail Europe’s rivers and other waterways and dock close to town centers. Fares usually include guided excursions and most meals. A good fit for history and culture lovers who prefer to unpack once.
U.S. home ports are counted from our booking engine and update automatically.
| Cruise line | Style | Main regions | U.S. home ports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean | Mainstream and family | Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Asia | 14 |
| Carnival Cruise Lines | Mainstream and family | Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Alaska | 10 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Mainstream and family | Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, Alaska | 12 |
| MSC Cruises | Mainstream and family | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Middle East, South America | 4 |
| Disney Cruise Line | Mainstream and family | Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe, Alaska | 6 |
| Celebrity Cruises | Premium | Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Galapagos | 10 |
| Princess Cruises | Premium | Alaska, Mediterranean, Japan, Panama Canal | 11 |
| Holland America Line | Premium | Alaska, Northern Europe, Transatlantic, World Cruises | 6 |
| Cunard | Premium | Transatlantic, World Voyages, Northern Europe, New England | 4 |
| Virgin Voyages | Premium | Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, transatlantic crossings | 4 |
| Silversea Cruises | Luxury and small-ship | Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Alaska | 9 |
| Seabourn Cruise Line | Luxury and small-ship | Antarctica, Arctic, Mediterranean, Caribbean | 5 |
| Crystal Cruises | Luxury and small-ship | Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Americas | 5 |
| Oceania Cruises | Luxury and small-ship | Mediterranean, South America, Asia, South Pacific | 6 |
| Azamara | Luxury and small-ship | Mediterranean, South America, Asia, Australia | 6 |
| Viking Ocean Cruises | Luxury and small-ship | Mediterranean, Scandinavia, World Cruises, Asia | 4 |
| Windstar Cruises | Luxury and small-ship | Tahiti, Greek Isles, Costa Rica, Caribbean | 2 |
| Paul Gauguin Cruises | Luxury and small-ship | Society Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Cook Islands | 0 |
| AmaWaterways | River | Danube, Rhine, Douro, Mekong | 0 |
| Avalon Waterways | River | Rhine, Danube, Main, Moselle | 0 |
| Uniworld River Cruises | River | Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube | 0 |
| Viking River Cruises | River | Rhine, Danube, Seine, Nile | 1 |
Mainstream lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, MSC and Disney are built for families, with kids’ clubs, pools and slides, and cabins that sleep four or more. The best fit depends on your kids’ ages, your budget and your departure port. See our guide to the best cruise lines for families.
Premium lines such as Celebrity, Princess and Holland America focus on better food, service and design on mid-size to large ships, with most extras sold separately. Luxury lines such as Silversea, Seabourn and Crystal sail smaller ships with more space per guest, and many fares include drinks and gratuities. Compare them in Luxury Cruise Lines Compared.
Yes. We book all of the cruise lines on this page. Our fares come straight from the cruise lines with no booking fees added, and you get a personal advisor and our Price Drop Promise at no extra cost.