# Cruises Frog: every cruise line and ship > Facts as published on https://cruisesfrog.com. Ratings are Cruises Frog's editorial scores, 1 to 5 per metric; overall is their average. Capacity is guests at double occupancy. Each entry links to its canonical page; cite that. ## Cruise lines ### AIDA Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Couples, Families, First-time cruisers - Fleet rating: 3.0/5, average of 11 rated ships (Cabins 3.1, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 3.5, Pools & decks 2.6, Service 3.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Northern Europe (8 ships), Norwegian Fjords (7 ships), Caribbean (5 ships), Mediterranean (4 ships), Canary Islands (4 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Canada and New England (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship), Asia (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Rostock, Germany - Founded: 1960 - Loyalty program: AIDA Club - Website: https://aida.de/ - Fleet: 11 ships in service, 4 retired AIDA Cruises is a German cruise line based in Rostock that sells mainly to German-speaking travelers. Part of Carnival Corporation & plc and owned through its Costa group, it runs eleven Italian-registered ships, each painted with the brand's kissing mouth and large eyes on the bow, and designs them as casual club resorts for younger, active holidaymakers. The company traces its roots to East Germany's state shipping line, Deutsche Seereederei Rostock, which began running cruises in 1960. After reunification it introduced AIDA in 1996, a new ship that brought the club-holiday idea of Carnival's fun ships to the German market. P&O took control around 2000, and the brand passed to Carnival in the 2003 merger. Seven Sphinx-class ships from Meyer Werft followed between 2007 and 2013, then two larger ships from Mitsubishi in 2016 and 2017, and in 2018 AIDAnova, the first cruise ship able to run entirely on liquefied natural gas, joined in 2022 by its sister AIDAcosma. The smaller early ships were sold between 2021 and 2023, and two new ships are on order from Fincantieri for 2030 and 2031. On most ships, life centers on the Theatrium, a multi-deck lounge and stage amidships, and the larger ships add covered pool areas such as AIDAprima's Beach Club. Cruises start from Hamburg, Kiel and Warnemünde, from Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands, and in winter from the Caribbean, with world voyages and Asia or Indian Ocean seasons in some years. Since 2025 the AIDA Evolution program has been rebuilding the older ships with new restaurants, bars and suites. Known for: AIDA describes itself as the market leader in German cruising, and it is closely identified with the informal club-ship style it introduced in 1996. It has also built a record of environmental investment: AIDAnova was the first cruise ship able to run fully on LNG and in 2019 the first to receive Germany's Blue Angel eco-label for its design, newer ships can plug into shore power and carry battery systems, and its LNG ships have ranked near the top of the German conservation group NABU's cruise rankings. There has been criticism too. NABU complained in 2017 that no AIDA ship yet had a soot particle filter, and until 2015 restaurant assistants were paid 587 dollars a month, a fraction of what Die Zeit calculated they would earn under the German minimum wage; the company argued the pay compared well with wages in the Philippines. The pandemic stopped the fleet in 2020 and led AIDA to sell its smallest ships. For guests from outside the German-speaking world, the product's focus on that market is its main limitation. Who it's for: AIDA is built for German-speaking travelers who want a relaxed, active cruise with plenty of choice on board. Couples and families from Germany, Austria and Switzerland can sail from Hamburg, Kiel or Warnemünde without flying, and first-time cruisers can try short Baltic trips of four or five days before committing to a week in Norway, the Mediterranean or the Canary Islands. Travelers who care about emissions will find two LNG-powered ships in the fleet. Travelers who do not speak German should think carefully, because the line designs its product for the German-speaking market. Those looking for an intimate small ship or a luxury-level experience should also look elsewhere. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Single cabins (Einzelkabine Innen and Einzelkabine Balkon), on AIDAnova and AIDAcosma only) - Single supplement: A solo guest in a cabin designed for two pays a surcharge of 70 percent of the regular per-person fare, cut to 10 to 50 percent on selected sailings with limited availability. The single cabins on AIDAnova and AIDAcosma carry no surcharge. - Meeting other solo guests: AIDA's page for solo travelers describes a get-to-know-you meeting (Kennenlerntreff) at the start of the cruise, meetups for solo travelers (Alleinreisenden-Treffs) and organized group excursions to make it easier to meet other guests. AIDA works for German-speaking solo travelers, especially on its two largest ships, AIDAnova and AIDAcosma, which each have 24 single cabins (12 inside and 12 with a balcony, according to touristik aktuell) sold without a surcharge. On the other ships a solo traveler pays a 70 percent surcharge for a double cabin unless a reduced-surcharge offer applies. The line runs solo meetups and a get-to-know-you gathering early in the cruise, and its casual club-ship style lets guests join in or keep to themselves. Onboard programs are designed for the German-speaking market. ### AmaWaterways - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/amawaterways - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Food lovers, Multigenerational groups, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 4.1/5, average of 30 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 5.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Danube (15 ships), Rhine (11 ships), Douro (3 ships), South America (2 ships), Seine (2 ships), Rhône (2 ships), Nile (2 ships), Mekong (1 ship) - Headquarters: Calabasas, California, United States - Founded: 2002 - Loyalty program: AmaWaterways Loyalty Program - Website: https://www.amawaterways.com/ - Fleet: 30 ships in service, 8 on the way AmaWaterways is a river cruise line based in Calabasas, California, founded in 2002 by Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy. It began as Amadeus Waterways, took its current name in 2008, and christened its first purpose-built ship, AmaDagio, in 2006. In 2019 it introduced AmaMagna, a ship twice the usual width, on the Danube. Catherine Powell, formerly of Disney and Airbnb, became chief executive in July 2025, with Schreiner moving to chairman. The line said in April 2026 that it operates 31 ships. Most sail Europe's rivers: the Danube, Rhine, Main, Moselle, Seine, Rhône and Saône, the Garonne and Dordogne around Bordeaux, and Portugal's Douro. Outside Europe it has AmaDara on the Mekong, two ships on the Nile, two on Colombia's Magdalena River since 2025, and the small Zambezi Queen on the Chobe in southern Africa. It plans more than 50 ships by 2032, with AmaNubia, AmaMaya, AmaRudi and AmaFiora among those due next. Fares include meals, wine and beer with lunch and dinner, a daily cocktail hour, Wi-Fi and guided excursions in each port, usually offered at gentle, regular and active levels. Ships carry bicycles, and a Wellness Host runs daily classes. Most newer ships have the line's twin-balcony rooms, which combine a French balcony with a step-out one, and a tasting-menu restaurant called The Chef's Table. Known for: Wikipedia notes AmaWaterways' reputation for spacious ships, wellness amenities and dining; Cruise Critic's 2024 Best in Cruise awards named it best river cruise line and best for active cruisers, and Global Traveler named it cruise line of the year in 2023. Reviewers tend to single out the twin-balcony staterooms, the included excursions with several activity levels, the bicycles and fitness program, and the food, with some ships members of La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. The line itself calls AmaMagna, with its four restaurants and large suites, one of the most talked-about ships in the industry. The fleet is not uniform, though. The four ships from 2008 and 2009 are shorter, with French balconies rather than twin balconies, and fewer amenities than the 135-meter ships. Gratuities, premium drinks and some optional tours cost extra, so fares are not fully all-inclusive. Like any river line it is exposed to high or low water, which the line says can mean swapping ships, busing between towns or changing the schedule. Who it's for: AmaWaterways suits couples and older travelers who want a comfortable, port-heavy river cruise with good food and wine and plenty of included sightseeing. Active travelers get guided bike and hiking options and onboard fitness classes, and food and wine lovers have The Chef's Table and themed wine cruises. Families and multigenerational groups can use connecting and triple rooms on several ships or book Adventures by Disney charters, and solo travelers can find single staterooms without a supplement on four older ships. Trips to Egypt, Vietnam and Cambodia, Colombia and southern Africa add range. Travelers who want nightlife, casinos, big production shows or kids' clubs on every sailing should look at ocean lines. Those on a tight budget may find better prices on value-oriented river lines, and anyone who wants drinks and tips fully covered should compare all-inclusive luxury river brands. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Single occupancy staterooms, on AmaCello, AmaDante, AmaDolce and AmaLyra only) - Single supplement: The single staterooms on AmaCello, AmaDante, AmaDolce and AmaLyra are sold at the standard cruise fare with no supplement. Elsewhere solo guests pay a single supplement that the line often reduces or waives: its solo offers have included a waived supplement on select Europe sailings and supplements of 10 to 25 percent in entry-level categories in Europe and on the Mekong, with suites excluded. - Meeting other solo guests: Solo guests are offered a guided ship tour at the start of the cruise, select invitations to cocktail gatherings or the Captain's Table, and dining tables set for five to make conversation easier. The Cruise Manager and crew look after solo travelers, and small excursion groups help them meet other guests. AmaWaterways is one of the few river lines with cabins built for one, but only four older European ships, AmaCello, AmaDante, AmaDolce and AmaLyra, have them: a few 140-square-foot single staterooms with French balconies, sold without a supplement. On the rest of the fleet, solo travelers rely on promotions that waive the supplement or cut it to 10 or 25 percent on selected sailings. The line adds a welcome tour, invitations to social gatherings and shared tables for solo guests, and its included excursions and daily cocktail hour give plenty of chances to meet fellow passengers. ### Ambassador Cruise Line - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/ambassador-cruise-line - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Couples, Solo travelers, Adults only, Value seekers - Fleet rating: 3.2/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 3.0, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (3 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Caribbean (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), Canary Islands (2 ships), Transatlantic (1 ship) - Owner: Ambassador Group - Headquarters: Purfleet, Essex, England - Founded: 2021 - Website: https://www.ambassadorcruiseline.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service, 1 on the way Ambassador Cruise Line is a British line based in Purfleet, Essex, founded in 2021 by Christian Verhounig, the former chief executive of Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which collapsed in 2020. Its main shareholder is the London investment firm Njord Partners. In January 2025 it merged with France's Compagnie Française de Croisières to form the Ambassador Group; the French operation was renamed Ambassador Croisières in September 2026, and a German brand, Ambassador Kreuzfahrten, launches in 2028. The fleet is made up of secondhand midsize ships: Ambience, the former Regal Princess, which began sailing in April 2022, and Ambition, the former AIDAmira, which followed in May 2023. Renaissance, the former Maasdam, came with the CFC merger; she serves the French market from Dunkirk and Marseille in summer and runs a Caribbean fly-cruise program from Barbados each winter. The former Oceania Sirena joins in May 2028 as Ambella, sailing from Bremerhaven and Kiel for German-speaking guests. Ambassador focuses on no-fly cruises from UK ports, led by London Tilbury and including Liverpool, Bristol, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Dundee and Belfast. Summer trips go to the British Isles, Norway and Iceland, and winter voyages head to the Canaries, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Caribbean, including 40-night-plus loops on Ambience. The line pitches affordable quality on classic ships and is adult-focused, aimed mainly at the over-50s, with some multigenerational sailings in summer. Since launch it has carried more than 130,000 guests, and its 2026-27 program went on sale in October 2026 with the strongest first-day sales in its history. Known for: Ambassador has grown quickly since its 2022 debut, building its business around British travelers who want to cruise without flying, and it has collected trade and consumer awards, including several at the British Travel Awards 2025. Its appeal rests on sailings from regional ports close to home, fares positioned as affordable, and the relaxed atmosphere of ships of 1,200 to 1,500 guests with a high ratio of space per guest. The trade-off is age: Ambience dates from 1991 and Ambition from 1999, and while both have been refitted, they lack the attractions of newer ships, and several dining venues carry extra charges. The line is young and growing fast through secondhand purchases, so the fleet and brand structure are still changing, and the adult focus means it is not designed for families outside a few summer sailings. Who it's for: Ambassador suits British travelers, especially those over 50 and solo cruisers, who want a no-fly cruise from a port near home at a moderate price, on a classic midsize ship with a traditional British feel. Its itineraries suit people who like the British Isles, Norway, Iceland and long winter-sun voyages, and its Caribbean fly cruises on Renaissance add a winter option. Families with young children, travelers who want the newest ships and big-ship attractions, and anyone outside the UK who would need to fly to Tilbury will find better choices elsewhere. French speakers looking for the same group's product can sail Renaissance with Ambassador Croisières. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on every ship (Single (sole-occupancy) cabins in selected grades; on Renaissance, Cabines Intérieures Solo, Vue Mer Solo and Balcon Solo) - Single supplement: Dedicated single cabins in selected grades are priced for one person, with no supplement or a low one depending on the sailing, and the line flags departures with lower solo supplements. A solo guest in a twin cabin pays a supplement over the per-person fare. On Renaissance the three solo categories carry no supplement and other categories a variable one, and selected Caribbean departures between October 2026 and February 2027 waive it in every category. - Meeting other solo guests: On cruises of six nights or more Ambassador hosts solo socials, starting with a welcome get-together, and solo guests can ask for a table of four, six or eight in the main dining room, where the line seats solo travelers together where possible. On Renaissance, Ambassador Croisières offers solo guests a welcome meeting, social gatherings and, when possible, a shared table in the Vatel restaurant. Ambassador is one of the more solo-friendly lines for British travelers: each of its three ships in service, Ambience, Ambition and the French-market Renaissance, has dedicated single cabins (78 on Ambition, according to the line, and about 100 on Renaissance, according to Cruise Trade News) sold with no supplement or a low one. On cruises of six nights or more, hosted solo socials begin with a welcome get-together, and solo guests can ask to be seated together in the main dining room. The midsize, adult-focused ships and no-fly departures from UK ports suit older solo travelers who like a traditional atmosphere. ### American Cruise Lines - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/american-cruise-lines - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.6/5, average of 24 rated ships (Cabins 4.5, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 1.9, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Canada and New England (9 ships), Mississippi (6 ships), Pacific Coast (5 ships), Alaska (3 ships) - Headquarters: Guilford, Connecticut, United States - Founded: 1972 - Loyalty program: Eagle Society - Website: https://www.americancruiselines.com/ - Fleet: 24 ships in service, 6 on the way American Cruise Lines is a family-owned small-ship line based in Guilford, Connecticut, that sails only within the United States. Its riverboats and coastal ships carry between 90 and 180 guests, are built in the United States, most of them by Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, fly the U.S. flag and are crewed by Americans. Charles A. Robertson, a shipbuilder, started the company with his wife, Carol, in 1972. That first business failed in the late 1980s and its ships were sold; Robertson revived the line around 2000 with a new American Eagle. Growth since 2018 has been rapid: a series of modern American Riverboats with glass atriums, followed from 2023 by Coastal Cat catamarans and Patriot-class ships under a newbuild program the line calls Project Blue. It also runs four traditional paddlewheelers and five older coastal ships of the Independence and Constellation classes, and has further riverboats and coastal ships on order through 2029. Routes cover the Mississippi and its tributaries, the Columbia and Snake rivers, the East Coast from Maine to Florida, the Great Lakes, Puget Sound and Alaska's Inside Passage. Fares are largely inclusive: meals, wine, beer and cocktails, a nightly cocktail hour, gratuities, port charges, a hotel night before embarkation and at least one shore excursion in each port, with premium tours sold separately. Most days include a port call, an onboard expert gives talks on the region, and evenings bring live music in a lounge. There is no casino, dinner is a single open seating, dress is casual, and most cabins have balconies. Known for: American Cruise Lines is known for roomy cabins by small-ship standards (the line quotes 250 to 1,500 square feet), inclusive fares and a young fleet: all but one of its ships were built in 2005 or later. Its ships have won recognition: Time magazine listed American Song among its World's Greatest Places in 2019, and Cruise Critic's editors named American Serenade the best new river cruise ship of 2023. Guest reviews are strongly positive; on Trustpilot the line holds an average of 4.8 out of 5 from more than 10,000 reviews as of October 2026, with recurring praise for friendly crew, good regional food, clean ships, and well-run excursions and onboard lectures. The usual reservations concern price and pace. Fares listed on the line's site for its standard eight-night cruises mostly start between about $4,500 and $10,000 per person, and solo guests in a double cabin pay 150 percent of the fare. Some reviewers find excursions short or dining service slow at times. Entertainment is low-key, built around lectures and live music with no casino, and medical care aboard is limited to a trained first responder with defibrillators and oxygen, so anything serious means a transfer ashore. Who it's for: The line suits travelers who want to see American history and scenery up close without flying overseas: Civil War and Mark Twain country on the Mississippi, the Lewis and Clark route on the Columbia and Snake, lighthouses and harbor towns in New England, or glaciers in Alaska. Couples and other travelers who like lectures, included excursions, spacious cabins and a quiet evening with live music fit in well, and solo travelers can book dedicated single cabins. Repeat guests are rewarded through the free Eagle Society. Families will find the onboard program aimed at adults, centered on lectures and live music, and travelers who want casinos, big production shows, lively nightlife or foreign ports should look at large ocean lines instead; every port on this line is in the United States. Budget travelers will find the fares high, and travelers who need ready access to a doctor should note that medical care on board is limited. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on every ship (Single occupancy staterooms, most with a balcony and some with a window) - Single supplement: Single staterooms have their own fares for one person. A solo guest in a double stateroom is charged 150 percent of the double-occupancy rate, according to the line's FAQ. American Cruise Lines suits solo travelers well: every ship in the fleet has single staterooms, from two on the smallest coastal ships to 18 on the paddlewheeler American Heritage, according to QuirkyCruise, and most have balconies. These cabins are limited and are often the first to sell out, so booking early matters; otherwise a solo guest pays 150 percent of the double rate. The ships carry 90 to 180 guests and fares include a nightly cocktail hour and excursions, although the line publishes no solo-specific events. ### A-ROSA River Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/a-rosa - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, Families, Multigenerational groups, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 3.5/5, average of 15 rated ships (Cabins 3.1, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (6 ships), Danube (5 ships), Rhône (2 ships), Seine (1 ship), Douro (1 ship) - Owner: Fidera - Headquarters: Rostock, Germany - Founded: 2002 - Loyalty program: A-ROSA Club - Website: https://www.arosa-cruises.com/ - Fleet: 15 ships in service A-ROSA is a German river cruise line based in Rostock with 15 ships on the Danube, the Rhine with the Main and Moselle, the Rhône and Saône, the Seine and Portugal's Douro. It sells mostly all-inclusive cruises with buffet dining and a casual dress code, and since 2014 it has also courted families with kids' clubs on holiday departures. The brand's first river cruises sailed on the Danube in 2002, when A-ROSA Bella and A-ROSA Donna began service under Seetours, a venture of Deutsche Seereederei and P&O. Deutsche Seereederei took over the brand in 2003; a 2009 management buyout made A-ROSA Flussschiff GmbH independent, and investors have owned it since, with the British investment manager Fidera the majority shareholder from 2025. Most of the fleet came from the Neptun Werft yard in Warnemünde between 2002 and 2014. The Douro ship A-ROSA Alva followed in 2019, the hybrid-powered A-ROSA Sena in 2022, and two smaller 2009-built ships, A-ROSA Alea and A-ROSA Clea, in 2024. Fares come as Premium All-Inclusive, which adds a selection of drinks through the day to full board, or a cheaper Basic fare with meals only. Most ships have a sun-deck pool or whirlpool and a spa with saunas, the ships tie up close to town centers, and more than 650 shore excursions are sold separately. Many guests are German speakers; ships the line designates as international run in English and German, with English-speaking hosts and documents. Known for: A-ROSA is one of the best-known river cruise brands in the German-speaking market, valued for its relaxed style, inclusive pricing and family sailings, on which children up to 15 travel free in lowest-deck cabins on most ships. German travel agents ranked it first among river cruise operators in a 2023 brand study published by the trade magazine fvw | TravelTalk, and A-ROSA Sena was named river ship of the year at Germany's Kreuzfahrt Guide Awards in 2023. Reviews often credit the value of the all-inclusive fare, spa areas that are large for river ships and the relaxed buffet dining. The usual criticisms follow from the same model. Meals are mostly self-service buffets rather than plated dinners, and the atmosphere leans German; English speakers on mixed sailings sometimes report that English commentary and guiding were thinner than they expected. The older Neptun-built ships have no elevator, which limits access for guests with reduced mobility, and lowest-deck cabins have small windows close to the waterline. Who it's for: A-ROSA suits travelers who want an easygoing, all-inclusive river cruise with a German-European feel, including couples, friends and solo travelers who like buffet dining, a spa and plenty of time ashore. It is one of the better river options for families, especially aboard A-ROSA Sena, with its family cabins, Kids Club room and children's pool. English speakers should choose the ships A-ROSA designates as international, such as Sena, Aqua, Silva, Flora, Stella, Viva and Alva, where English hosts and materials are provided. Travelers who expect plated multi-course dinners, an English-only program, shore excursions included in the fare or step-free access throughout the ship may be happier with lines aimed at the North American and British markets. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Solo guests book a two-bed cabin for sole use and pay a single cabin surcharge on the per-person fare. The line's FAQ gives surcharges from 30 percent, falling to 20 percent on selected dates; its 2026 and 2027 single-cruise listings range from 20 to 40 percent on Rhine and Danube cruises and from 40 to 80 percent on Rhône, Seine and Douro cruises. A-ROSA has no cabins built for one: every cabin on its 15 river ships has two beds, so a solo traveler pays a surcharge to have one alone. The line markets single cruises with reduced surcharges, lowest on short Rhine and Danube trips, and its casual, all-inclusive style with buffet dining and a bar and lounge on board suits people who are happy to mingle at their own pace, although it publishes no hosted solo program. English speakers should pick one of the ships A-ROSA designates as international. ### Atlas Ocean Voyages - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/atlas-ocean-voyages - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Couples, Adventure seekers, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 3.3/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 2.0, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Antarctica (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Canary Islands (1 ship) - Owner: Mystic Invest Holding - Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States - Founded: 2019 - Loyalty program: Atlas Yacht Club - Website: https://atlasoceanvoyages.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service, 1 on the way Atlas Ocean Voyages is a small-ship line that sells all-inclusive voyages on yacht-style ships of about 200 guests, mixing polar expeditions with cultural and food-themed itineraries. Established in September 2019 and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, it is the U.S. arm of Mystic Cruises, the ocean cruise division of Portugal's Mystic Invest Holding, and its ships sail under the Portuguese flag. World Navigator entered service in 2021 and World Traveller in 2022, both built at the WestSEA yard in Viana do Castelo; World Voyager, a 2020 sister first chartered to Nicko Cruises, joined in 2023 and from the 2026–27 season spends three Antarctic winters on charter to Quark Expeditions. The next ship, Atlas Adventurer, is planned as a larger sail-assisted expedition yacht for 2028. The ships hold Polar Category C and ice class 1B ratings, which lets them sail from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Arctic. Winters are spent in Antarctica, mostly on round trips from Ushuaia, and the rest of the year in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Europe, Iceland, Svalbard and Greenland. Fares include drinks and 24-hour room service, and each ship has a low Water's Edge deck for wildlife watching. Known for: Atlas has drawn attention for bringing an all-inclusive, yacht-style product to Antarctica on ships small enough for frequent landings. Reviewers often praise the attentive service, the food and the included drinks, and the ships are newer and more design-led than many expedition vessels. Its Epicurean and cultural voyages give it a broader range than polar-only operators. The line is young and small, and its plans have shifted: two newbuilds it had planned, World Seeker and World Explorer, were sold during construction to Windstar Cruises, and World Voyager now spends its winters with another operator. Travelers focused purely on polar science sometimes prefer long-established specialist lines with larger expedition teams, and the sail-assisted Atlas Adventurer has yet to prove itself. Who it's for: Atlas suits couples and experienced travelers who want an Antarctic or Arctic voyage with the comfort of a small luxury ship, as well as food and culture lovers drawn to its Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe itineraries. Inclusive fares make the cost easier to predict, and the ships are small enough for intimate port calls. Families with young children, travelers on a tight budget and anyone looking for big-ship entertainment should look elsewhere, and those who want the deepest polar science program may prefer a specialist expedition line. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: No cabins are priced for one. Under its Single Explorer Savings offer, Atlas sells select voyages to solo travelers at a reduced single supplement starting at 150 percent of the per-person double-occupancy fare; the offer is capacity controlled and excludes air, excursions and land programs. - Meeting other solo guests: Atlas publishes no hosted solo program. Its ships carry about 200 guests with open-seating dining and included drinks, and the line says solo guests meet others over dinner and on shared expedition landings and excursions. Atlas appeals to solo travelers mainly through pricing. Its three yacht-style ships of about 200 guests have no cabins designed for one (the Solo Suites it announced for World Navigator in 2021 no longer appear among its suite categories), but its Single Explorer Savings offer sells select expeditions at a reduced single supplement starting at 150 percent of the per-person double-occupancy fare. All-inclusive fares make the total cost easier to predict, and the small ships suit travelers bound for Antarctica, the Arctic or Europe, although the line runs no formal solo program. ### Aurora Expeditions - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aurora-expeditions - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Adventure seekers, Solo travelers, Couples - Fleet rating: 3.2/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 4.7, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 2.3, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Northern Europe (3 ships), Antarctica (3 ships), Mediterranean (1 ship) - Headquarters: Sydney, Australia - Founded: 1991 - Loyalty program: Aurora Expeditions Loyalty Program - Website: https://www.aurora-expeditions.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service Aurora Expeditions is an Australian expedition cruise company founded in 1991 by mountaineer Greg Mortimer and Margaret Mortimer and named after Sir Douglas Mawson's ship Aurora. It specializes in small-group voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic, and has added warm-water and European itineraries so that its trips now reach all seven continents. The company ran its first Antarctic expedition in 1992 and its first Arctic trip in 1997 on chartered ships. It took delivery of its first purpose-built vessel, Greg Mortimer, in 2019, followed by Sylvia Earle in 2022 and Douglas Mawson in 2025. All three share the Ulstein X-Bow hull and carry no more than 130 guests on expeditions or 154 on the line's small ship cruises. Voyages put the emphasis on time off the ship, with optional sea kayaking, snowshoeing, camping, polar snorkelling and diving, and an expedition team ratio of about one guide for every seven guests. Antarctic voyages leave from Ushuaia, Argentina, while the northern program covers Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and the coasts of Europe. Known for: Aurora is well regarded for its activity program and small guest numbers. Reviewers often mention the range of paddling, camping, alpine and diving options, the knowledgeable guides and the relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere, and the X-Bow ships are praised for a steadier ride through rough seas. The company has also built a reputation for citizen-science programs and for women's-only and photography departures. On the other side, the most popular activities have limited places and need to be booked early, and the ships, though modern, are simpler than luxury expedition vessels. As with any polar operator, ice and weather can force changes to landings and routes. In April 2020 a COVID-19 outbreak on Greg Mortimer left passengers and crew at sea until Uruguay allowed the ship to dock. Who it's for: Aurora suits active travelers who want to do more than watch from the deck: kayakers, campers, divers and hikers, as well as solo travelers, who get ten dedicated solo cabins with no single supplement on every sailing from the 2026 Arctic and 2026–27 Antarctic seasons. Australians and New Zealanders will find an operator with its roots close to home, and the small ships suit people who value landings and expert guiding over onboard extras. Travelers who want gourmet dining, butler service or large suites should look at luxury expedition lines, and those who prefer a larger ship with more entertainment and amenities are not the market Aurora aims at. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on every ship (Solo balcony staterooms (Balcony Stateroom Category A, B and C - Solo); Douglas Mawson also has Aurora Stateroom Single cabins) - Single supplement: Ten dedicated solo cabins on every sailing of the 2026 and 2027 seasons carry no single supplement. A solo traveler who wants another available stateroom alone pays a 50 percent surcharge. Aurora is a strong choice for solo travelers: all three of its expedition ships, Greg Mortimer, Sylvia Earle and Douglas Mawson, have solo staterooms, and the line sets aside 10 dedicated solo cabins on every 2026 and 2027 sailing with no single supplement. Those who want a different cabin to themselves pay a 50 percent surcharge. With no more than 130 guests on expeditions and landings and activities run in small groups, solo guests travel in a small, sociable setting, although the line publishes no solo-specific events. ### Avalon Waterways - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/avalon-waterways - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Adventure seekers, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 19 rated ships (Cabins 4.2, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (14 ships), Danube (11 ships), Seine (4 ships), Rhône (4 ships), South America (1 ship), Galápagos (1 ship), Douro (1 ship), Nile (1 ship), Mekong (1 ship) - Owner: Globus family of brands - Headquarters: Denver, Colorado, United States - Founded: 2004 - Website: https://www.avalonwaterways.com/ - Fleet: 19 ships in service Avalon Waterways is the river cruise brand of the Globus family of brands, the Swiss family-owned travel group that traces its start to 1928 on Lake Lugano and also runs the Globus and Cosmos tour brands. Avalon began sailing in 2004 with one ship, Avalon Artistry, added Avalon Poetry in 2005, and joined Cruise Lines International Association in 2009. Its North American office is in Denver, Colorado. Since 2011 every new European ship has been a Suite Ship, built around 200-square-foot Panorama Suites whose floor-to-ceiling windows open across the room and whose beds face the river. The fleet now has 15 Suite Ships in Europe, from Avalon Panorama of 2011 to Avalon Alegria, which opened the line's Douro program in 2024, plus Avalon Saigon on the Mekong. On rivers and seas its own ships do not reach, Avalon charters other operators' vessels, currently in Peru's Amazon, the Galápagos and on the Nile. Fares include wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, a nightly happy hour, Starlink Wi-Fi and an average of 22 included excursions under its Avalon Choice program, with classic, active and discovery options. Dining is open seating, and bikes and e-bikes are carried for use ashore. Known for: Avalon Waterways is best known for its Panorama Suites, which the line says are more than 30 percent larger than the industry standard, and for a European fleet it describes as the youngest on the rivers. Trade awards have followed: Wikipedia records a 2019 award as best European river line, TravelAge West named Avalon Saigon best new river cruise ship in 2019, and the line says its whole European fleet holds Green Award status. Its main selling points are open-seating dining, a choice of excursion styles and drinks included at meals. There are trade-offs. The Panorama Suites trade a true step-out balcony for windows that slide open, and the lowest-deck Deluxe Staterooms are much smaller (172 square feet on Avalon Envision). Most of the European ships have a Sky Deck whirlpool but no pool; Avalon Alegria, from 2024, was the first with one. Outside Europe and the Mekong the line sells cruises on chartered ships run by other companies, and its website lists no loyalty program for past guests. Who it's for: Avalon suits couples and older travelers who want a modern, mid-sized river ship, a large standard cabin with a wide view, and a mix of guided and active excursions. Travelers who like to choose between classic tours, hikes and bike rides will find the Avalon Choice program useful, and solo travelers sometimes find sailings with the single supplement waived. Its range of themed departures, from wine and jazz to WWII history, suits people who want a focus for their trip. Families with young children, travelers who want a pool or nightlife, and anyone who insists on a walk-out balcony may prefer other lines. Guests who value a loyalty program or a ship operated by the same company everywhere they travel should also note that Avalon has no published rewards scheme and charters its ships in Egypt, Peru and the Galápagos. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Avalon waives the single supplement for Deluxe Staterooms and Panorama Suites on most Europe departures and on select Mekong sailings, including select 2027 departures; these rooms are limited and sold first come, first served. On other departures solo guests pay a single supplement. - Meeting other solo guests: Avalon's solo page suggests joining a table for six with other guests at dinner (or asking for a table for two) and points to small-group excursions, onboard Adventure Hosts and special-interest cruises as ways to meet people; it lists no solo-only gatherings. Avalon has no cabins designed for one, but it waives the single supplement on most Europe departures and some Mekong sailings, so a solo traveler who books early can often have a Deluxe Stateroom or Panorama Suite at the per-person fare. The line says about 10 percent of its guests travel solo. Open-seating dinners with shared tables for six, small-group excursions and Adventure Hosts on board give solo guests easy ways to meet others on ships of up to 166 guests. ### Azamara - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/azamara - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 4 rated ships (Cabins 3.8, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (3 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Asia (2 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Alaska (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: Sycamore Partners - Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States - Founded: 2007 - Loyalty program: Azamara Circle - Website: https://www.azamara.com/ - Fleet: 4 ships in service Azamara is a small-ship cruise line based in Miami that builds its voyages around what it calls Destination Immersion: longer stays, frequent overnights and calls at smaller ports that big ships cannot reach. Royal Caribbean created the brand in 2007 with two R-class ships that had been meant for Celebrity Cruises, and sold it to the private equity firm Sycamore Partners in 2021. All four ships, Azamara Journey, Quest, Pursuit and Onward, were built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique between 1999 and 2001 for Renaissance Cruises, and each carries up to about 700 guests. Pursuit joined in 2018 after sailing for P&O Cruises as Adonia, and Onward, the former Pacific Princess, followed in 2022. Itineraries are port-intensive and worldwide, from Mediterranean country-intensive voyages to Asia, Australia, South America and an annual world cruise, and many sailings combine into longer Grand Voyages. Fares include gratuities, select spirits, beer and wine, and a complimentary AzAmazing Evenings event on most voyages, a private shore event built around local culture. Known for: Azamara is known for destination-focused itineraries with long port days, overnight stays and calls at smaller harbors, for small ships with a relaxed atmosphere, and for fares that cover gratuities and standard drinks. Its AzAmazing Evenings shore events are a signature of the brand. The trade-offs are mostly about the hardware. All four ships date from 1999 to 2001 and, though refitted, have fewer venues and less modern design than new premium and luxury ships, with about seven restaurants, cafes and lounges each. Fares are also higher than on mainstream lines. In 2012 an engine-room fire temporarily disabled Azamara Quest near the Philippines; no passengers were hurt. Who it's for: Azamara suits couples and solo travelers who want to spend real time ashore, with late nights and overnights in port, on a ship small enough to feel personal. It works well for culture-focused travelers, repeat cruisers who want unusual ports and people planning long trips, since voyages can be combined into Grand Voyages or a world cruise. Families with children, travelers who want new ships with many dining venues, and anyone looking for water parks or large-scale production shows will be better served by bigger lines. Travelers on a tight budget may also find the fares high, even allowing for what is included. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Solo guests book a standard double stateroom; the line's offer terms use 200 percent of the per-person fare as the full single-occupancy rate. On select sailings Azamara publishes reduced solo rates: its December 2025 list set supplements at 100 to 175 percent of the per-person fare, and its FAQ cites rates as low as 125 percent. World cruises carry 175 percent. - Meeting other solo guests: Azamara has promoted curated gatherings and activities for solo travelers, designed to help them make friends on board, in a 2023 release about its holiday sailings; it does not publish a regular schedule. Azamara has no single cabins on its four ships of about 700 guests, but it regularly reduces the solo supplement on select sailings, sometimes to 100 or 125 percent of the per-person fare, and solo members of its Azamara Circle loyalty program earn the same double points as a couple. Long port stays, overnights and the AzAmazing Evenings shore events give solo travelers plenty of shared experiences, and the line has promoted gatherings for solo guests. Choosing a sailing with a reduced solo rate makes the biggest difference to the cost. ### Carnival Cruise Line - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/carnival-cruise-line - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, First-time cruisers, Friends and groups, Value seekers - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 29 rated ships (Cabins 3.1, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 2.9, Service 4.0, Value 5.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (18 ships), Bahamas (16 ships), Mexican Riviera (4 ships), Bermuda (4 ships), Panama Canal (4 ships), Australia and New Zealand (4 ships), South Pacific (4 ships), Alaska (3 ships), Hawaii (3 ships), Transatlantic (3 ships), Asia (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Canada and New England (2 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship), South America (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Doral, Florida, United States - Founded: 1972 - Loyalty program: Carnival Rewards - Website: https://www.carnival.com/ - Fleet: 29 ships in service, 3 on the way, 6 retired Carnival Cruise Line is the largest cruise line in the world by passengers carried each year and the biggest brand in Carnival Corporation & plc. Ted Arison founded it in 1972 with a single former ocean liner, the Mardi Gras, sailing from Miami, and the company is now based in Doral, Florida. The fleet of 29 ships spans nearly three decades, from the Fantasy-class Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise of 1998 to the LNG-powered Excel-class Mardi Gras, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee, each over 180,000 gross tons. Several ships came from sister brands: Carnival Venezia, Carnival Firenze and Carnival Luminosa from Costa, and Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter from P&O Cruises Australia, which was merged into Carnival in March 2025. Carnival Festivale (2027) and Carnival Tropicale (2028) will complete the Excel class, and Carnival Destiny, the first of the larger Ace class, is due in 2029. Most cruises last three to eight nights and leave from more than a dozen US ports, with ships also based in Sydney and Brisbane. Itineraries focus on the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Mexico, including Carnival's Celebration Key on Grand Bahama, with seasonal Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Canada and Europe programs. Life on board is casual and busy: water parks, comedy clubs, Playlist Productions shows, poolside rum and tequila bars, and branded casual food such as Guy's Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina, with steakhouses and sushi bars on most ships. Known for: Carnival is known for affordable, high-energy cruises and for bringing many people to cruising for the first time. Its newest ships get attention for features such as BOLT, the first roller coaster at sea, and themed zones, while Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze offer an Italian-themed variation. The line keeps refreshing older ships: in 2025 and 2026 more than a dozen went through dry docks that addedvenues, water parks, updated casinos and youth spaces. The trade-offs follow from the model. Ships are lively rather than quiet, and the fleet still includes ships from the late 1990s alongside the new Excel class, so the experience varies a good deal from ship to ship. The September 2026 switch from the VIFP Club to Carnival Rewards also changed how loyal guests are recognized: status now comes from spending, and some earlier perks, such as a free specialty dinner for new Diamond members, were replaced by point redemptions. Who it's for: Carnival suits families, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want an affordable, sociable vacation with plenty to do, especially a short trip from a nearby US port. Families get supervised youth programs, Dr. Seuss-themed activities and water parks, and the Excel-class ships add roller coasters and themed zones. Travelers in Australia have ships sailing from Sydney and Brisbane. Those after a quiet ship, an adults-only atmosphere, more inclusive fares or long, port-intensive itineraries may be happier with a premium or luxury line; Carnival's Serenity adults-only retreats offer a break, but the overall tone is upbeat and busy. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Fares are quoted per person based on double occupancy, and a solo guest pays a single supplement that varies by sailing and cabin. In a 2025 check by CruiseHive, a solo interior cabin on a Carnival Jubilee sailing cost 92 percent more than the per-person double fare. - Meeting other solo guests: Carnival lists a Singles Mixer, including one for singles over 40, among the mixers and meetings offered fleetwide unless otherwise noted; times appear in the daily schedule in the HUB app. Carnival has no cabins designed for one, and its brand ambassador John Heald said in 2025 that there were no plans to add them, so solo travelers pay a single supplement on a standard stateroom. Most cruises last three to eight nights from more than a dozen US ports, and the busy, social atmosphere, with singles mixers, trivia, comedy clubs and poolside bars, makes it easy to meet people. Solo travelers who want a cabin priced for one will find better options on other lines. ### Celebrity Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/celebrity-cruises - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers, History and culture, Multigenerational groups - Fleet rating: 3.9/5, average of 15 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 4.1, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (9 ships), Mediterranean (6 ships), Bahamas (4 ships), Transatlantic (4 ships), Alaska (3 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), Hawaii (2 ships), Panama Canal (2 ships), Canary Islands (2 ships), Asia (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), Bermuda (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Antarctica (1 ship), Galápagos (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Royal Caribbean Group - Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States - Founded: 1988 - Loyalty program: Captain's Club - Website: https://www.celebritycruises.com/ - Fleet: 15 ships in service, 6 on the way, 2 retired Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise line based in Miami and wholly owned by Royal Caribbean Group. Greece's Chandris Group founded it in 1988 to win upmarket Bermuda contracts, it began sailing in 1990, and it merged with Royal Caribbean in 1997; it is marketed as a more upscale choice than mainstream lines. The ocean fleet of 15 ships includes four Millennium-class ships from 2000 to 2002, the first cruise ships with gas-turbine power, five Solstice-class ships from 2008 to 2012 and five Edge-class ships from 2018 to 2025, plus Celebrity Flora, a 100-guest expedition ship based in the Galápagos. A sixth Edge-class ship, Celebrity Xcite, is due in 2028, and the new Celebrity River Cruises brand plans to start sailing the Danube in August 2027 with ships of about 180 guests. Itineraries range from short Caribbean and Bahamas trips to Europe, Alaska, Asia, Australia and South America, and Galápagos voyages are sold with land packages. Ships are known for contemporary design, a broad choice of restaurants and suite enclaves such as The Retreat, and the line sells an All Included package that bundles drinks and Wi-Fi with the fare. Known for: Celebrity is generally positioned as a step up from mainstream lines, and its newer ships draw attention for design features such as the Edge class's cantilevered Magic Carpet and Infinite Veranda cabins. Celebrity says four of its ships, Apex, Ascent, Flora and Millennium, hold Forbes Travel Guide four-star ratings, and the 2026 Celebrity Renewed program is modernizing the Solstice class. Common criticisms concern value and consistency. Drinks, Wi-Fi and specialty dining cost extra unless guests buy a package, the newest ships carry more than 3,000 guests, which some travelers find large for a premium brand, and the four Millennium-class ships from the early 2000s have seen planned refits cancelled or postponed. Those ships also suffered repeated propulsion-pod failures early in their careers. Who it's for: Celebrity suits couples and adult travelers who want polished service, good food and modern design without luxury-line prices, and multigenerational groups who want a calmer ship than the mega-ship lines with suites and connecting spaces for different budgets. Its Europe, Asia and South America itineraries appeal to culture-focused travelers, and Celebrity Flora offers a comfortable way to see the Galápagos. Families looking for water slides, ice rinks and thrill attractions will find more on sister line Royal Caribbean, and travelers who want an all-inclusive fare with drinks, tips and excursions covered, or a very small ship, should compare luxury lines such as Silversea. Budget-minded first-timers may find mainstream lines cheaper for short trips. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Edge Single Stateroom with Infinite Veranda (Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent); Single Inside Stateroom (Silhouette)) - Single supplement: Single staterooms are sold at a fare for one. A solo guest in any other stateroom pays a single supplement that varies by sailing; Celebrity does not publish a flat percentage but points solo travelers to its solo deals, supplement waivers on select sailings and off-peak departures. - Meeting other solo guests: Celebrity hosts social events for solo travelers, announced in the Celebrity app and the Celebrity Today program, usually in the Sky Lounge on Millennium and Solstice-class ships and in Eden on Edge-class ships, with the Activity Team on hand to break the ice. Solo guests can ask for assigned seating at a shared table or a solos' table, and the cruise team will help pair them with a travel buddy for shore excursions. Celebrity is one of the few premium lines with cabins built for one. Its Edge-class ships Celebrity Edge, Apex, Beyond and Ascent have Edge Single Staterooms with Infinite Verandas of 184 square feet including the veranda, and Celebrity Silhouette has four 103-square-foot Single Inside Staterooms; the line's blog counts 16 to 32 single staterooms per Edge-class ship. Elsewhere a solo guest pays a single supplement, which the line reduces or waives on select sailings. Hosted solo gatherings in the Sky Lounge or Eden, shared dinner tables and excursion buddy matching help solo guests meet people on ships of about 2,900 to 3,260 guests. ### Celestyal Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/celestyal-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: History and culture, Couples, Value seekers - Fleet rating: 2.9/5, average of 2 rated ships (Cabins 2.5, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 1.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (2 ships) - Owner: Searchlight Capital Partners (majority owner) - Headquarters: Piraeus, Greece - Founded: 2014 - Website: https://celestyal.com/ - Fleet: 2 ships in service, 3 retired Celestyal Cruises is a Greek cruise line based in Piraeus, created in 2014 as the successor to Louis Cruises, the shipping arm of the Cyprus travel group Louis plc. Louis began cruising from Cyprus in 1987 and over the following decades ran and chartered a long list of secondhand ships; in November 2021 Searchlight Capital Partners took a majority stake in Celestyal. The fleet is two ships, Celestyal Journey (the former Ryndam, joined 2023) and Celestyal Discovery (the former AIDAaura, joined 2024), which replaced the older Celestyal Olympia and Celestyal Crystal in 2023. Celestyal specializes in short and week-long cruises around the Greek islands, Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean from Athens, with port-intensive itineraries and long stays in places such as Mykonos and Santorini. It has also sailed winters in Cuba and the Arabian Gulf, and for winter 2026/27 it is replacing its Gulf season with Western Mediterranean sailings. Known for: Celestyal is known as a Greek-island specialist: its smaller ships call at ports such as Milos, Patmos and Rhodes on three- to seven-night itineraries that pack in many Greek destinations. It has received Cruise Critic and MedCruise awards and promotes a value package called the Celestyal Inclusive Experience. The trade-offs are scale and age. The two ships date from 1994 and 2003 and have fewer venues and activities than new ships, and with a fleet this small, the choice of itineraries and sailing dates is limited. The line's history includes the 2007 sinking of its predecessor's Sea Diamond off Santorini, though the current company and fleet date from later. Who it's for: Celestyal suits travelers who want to see a lot of Greece in a short time, including first-time visitors who would rather sail between islands than plan ferries and hotels, and cruisers who value destinations and Greek culture over shipboard attractions. Short three- and four-night cruises also make it easy to add a cruise to a land holiday in Athens. Travelers who want large modern ships, a wide choice of restaurants and entertainment, or itineraries beyond the Mediterranean should look at bigger lines. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Celestyal lists no cabins built for one. A solo guest books a standard cabin, and the line says its Celestyal One fare comes with a reduced single supplement; it does not publish the percentage, which varies by sailing. - Meeting other solo guests: Celestyal runs no hosted solo program, but its solo page points to the optional Magical Adventures excursions, which it describes as ideal for solo travelers and small parties, and to onboard Greek dancing, language lessons and crafts sessions as ways to meet people. Selected excursions, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities are included in the fare. Celestyal has no single cabins on its two ships, Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery, but it says it is well equipped for solo travelers and sells a reduced single supplement under its Celestyal One fare, without publishing the percentage. The short, port-heavy Greek island itineraries from Athens, included excursions and drinks, and ships of about 1,250 guests make it an easy way to see a lot of Greece alone, though the line offers no hosted solo gatherings. ### Costa Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/costa-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, Couples, Value seekers, First-time cruisers - Fleet rating: 3.1/5, average of 8 rated ships (Cabins 3.1, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 3.3, Pools & decks 2.4, Service 3.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (8 ships), Caribbean (3 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), South America (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Canary Islands (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Genoa, Italy - Founded: 1948 - Loyalty program: C|Club - Website: https://www.costacruises.com/ - Fleet: 8 ships in service, 9 retired Costa Cruises, Costa Crociere in Italian, is a Genoa-based cruise line that sells mainly to European travelers. It has been wholly owned by Carnival Corporation & plc since 2000, and its eight ships all fly the Italian flag. They sail the Mediterranean all year and spread out to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands, the Caribbean, South America and world voyages as the seasons change. The Costa family business began in Genoa in 1854 trading olive oil and textiles and moved into shipping in the 1920s. After the Second World War it opened a passenger service to South America, and its liner Anna C began full service in March 1948, the date the company counts as its founding. It turned to pleasure cruises from 1959 and took the Costa Cruises name in 1986. Carnival and Airtours bought the company in 1997, and Carnival took full control in 2000. In 2019 Costa Smeralda made Costa the second line to run a ship on liquefied natural gas, and Costa Toscana followed. After the pandemic Costa sold several older ships and moved three others to Carnival Cruise Line, leaving a fleet of eight once Costa Fortuna left in 2026. Ships are big and busy, with Italian names, Italian-themed venues and an emphasis on food: refits from 2022 to 2025 added the Archipelago restaurant, with menus by three Michelin-starred chefs, along with sushi, teppanyaki and pizza venues. Most Mediterranean cruises are seven-night loops that can be joined at several ports, and fares can be booked cruise-only or with drinks included. Daily service charges are added per guest on board. Known for: Costa builds its appeal on Italian style, a strong focus on food and wine, and frequent week-long Mediterranean loops that guests in Italy, France and Spain can join close to home. It has invested heavily in newer tonnage, including two of the first LNG-powered cruise ships, and in a fleet-wide refit program completed in 2025. Its C|Club rewards repeat guests with fare discounts and onboard perks, although points are earned only on standard, non-promotional fares. The line's record also includes serious setbacks. The capsizing of Costa Concordia off Isola del Giglio in January 2012 killed 32 people, and an engine room fire left Costa Allegra adrift in the Indian Ocean weeks later. In 2015 Swedish public television reported that Costa Luminosa discharged sewage at sea in the Baltic rather than using port facilities, and several Costa ships had COVID-19 cases on board in early 2020. Because the ships are large and sell in many countries, the experience tends to be lively and international rather than quiet or intimate. Who it's for: Costa suits travelers who want a lively, Italian-flavored big-ship holiday in the Mediterranean, with plenty of ports, pools and dining options at mainstream prices. Families will find water slides and children's pools on several ships, and Europeans can often board within driving distance of home in Italy, France or Spain. First-time cruisers get simple week-long loops and the option of fares that include drinks. Travelers from North America who want an Italian experience in Europe will find it here, but should expect a multinational crowd and an international rather than American style of service. Those looking for a small, quiet ship, a luxury-level experience or an English-only environment should look elsewhere, as should travelers who want to sail from the United States: Costa's regular cruises start in Europe, South America and the Caribbean islands. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Costa's cabin categories run from inside to suites with no cabins built for one. A solo guest books a double cabin and pays a single supplement that varies by sailing and fare type; the line has run reduced single-occupancy promotions on selected departures. - Meeting other solo guests: Costa publishes no hosted solo program. Its large ships run a full daily program of pool games, dance classes, quizzes and Italian-themed evenings, and dinner in the main restaurants is at assigned shared tables, which is where most solo guests meet people. Costa has no single cabins on its eight ships, so a solo traveler pays a single supplement on a double cabin that varies by sailing, with reduced single-occupancy offers appearing on selected departures. The ships are big, busy and multinational, with assigned shared dinner tables and a packed activity schedule rather than any solo-specific gatherings. Week-long Mediterranean loops that can be joined at several Italian, French and Spanish ports keep flights and logistics simple for Europeans traveling alone. ### Crystal - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/crystal - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Food lovers, Couples, Solo travelers, History and culture - Fleet rating: 4.5/5, average of 2 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (2 ships), Mediterranean (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: A&K Travel Group - Headquarters: Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States - Founded: 1988 - Loyalty program: Crystal Society - Website: https://www.crystalcruises.com/ - Fleet: 2 ships in service, 1 on the way, 2 retired Crystal is a luxury cruise line founded in 1988 by the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha, which sold it to Genting Hong Kong in 2015. Under Genting it branched into river cruising, an expedition yacht, a small yacht and private jets, but the parent's insolvency forced Crystal to stop sailing in January 2022; its two ocean ships were arrested in the Bahamas and its U.S. headquarters closed. In June 2022 A&K Travel Group, owned by Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio and Geoffrey Kent, bought the brand and the ocean ships Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, refitted both in Trieste and relaunched them in 2023, with headquarters in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Crystal ordered two new ships from Fincantieri in June 2024 and a third later that year; the first, Crystal Grace, is due to sail in June 2028. The refits cut capacity to 740 and 606 guests, giving the ships what Crystal calls an industry-leading amount of space per guest. Every room faces the sea and has butler service, there are almost as many crew as guests, and dining includes Nobu Matsuhisa's only restaurant at sea and an outpost of Beefbar. Crystal sails worldwide, with annual world cruises and long Grand Journeys. Known for: Crystal's relaunch has been well received in reader polls: Travel + Leisure readers named it the top midsize-ship ocean cruise line in their World's Best Awards in 2025 and again in 2026. The line's own messaging and guest testimonials center on warm, personal service, butlers for every room, generous space and the dining, especially the Nobu restaurant. The drawbacks are mostly about hardware and history: the ships date from 1995 and 2003 despite their 2023 refits, and the 2022 collapse under Genting Hong Kong, which left the ships arrested over unpaid fuel bills, kept the brand out of service for well over a year before A&K revived it. Crystal Grace, due in 2028, will be its first new ship in decades. Who it's for: Crystal suits experienced, affluent travelers who want a classic luxury-ship experience, with butler service, fine dining, Broadway-style shows and plenty of space, especially on longer voyages and world cruises. Solo travelers get attention too, with reduced solo supplements on some sailings. Those who want the newest ship designs, the intimacy of a yacht of a few hundred guests, or a low fare should look elsewhere, at least until Crystal Grace arrives. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Single Guest Room with Ocean View (Single Ocean View)) - Single supplement: The Single Ocean View rooms are sold only for single occupancy at the fare shown. Elsewhere a solo guest pays a supplement over the double-occupancy fare, and Crystal regularly reduces it: its current So Low Solo offer sets a 25 percent solo supplement on selected voyages and suite categories for bookings made by November 30, 2026, and the line has run zero single supplement offers on selected sailings. - Meeting other solo guests: Crystal carries Ambassador Hosts, gentlemen hosts who dine and dance with solo guests, with nightly ballroom dancing in the Palm Court. The maître d' at the Waterside restaurant offers a solo table where guests traveling alone are seated together, and every room, including the single rooms, comes with butler service. Crystal is one of the most solo-friendly luxury lines. Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony both have Single Guest Rooms with an Ocean View, redesigned in the 2023 refits at about 216 square feet with a queen bed and sofa and sold at a fare for one. On other categories the line runs rolling solo offers, currently a 25 percent supplement on selected voyages and at times none at all. Ambassador Hosts dance and dine with solo guests, the Waterside restaurant seats solo travelers together on request, and ships of 606 and 740 guests with butlers for every room make it easy to travel alone in comfort. ### Cunard - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/cunard - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, History and culture - Fleet rating: 3.8/5, average of 4 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 3.3, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: World cruises (2 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Alaska (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Southampton, United Kingdom - Founded: 1840 - Loyalty program: Cunard World Club - Website: https://www.cunard.com/ - Fleet: 4 ships in service Cunard is a British cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton and owned by Carnival Corporation. It sails four ships, led by Queen Mary 2, the only ocean liner still in regular service, which runs scheduled crossings between Southampton and New York as well as cruises and an annual world voyage. The company dates to 1840, when Samuel Cunard and his partners began a steamship mail service between Liverpool, Halifax and Boston. Cunard held the Blue Riband for much of its first 30 years, moved its British base to Southampton in 1919, merged with the White Star Line in 1934 and was bought by Carnival in 1998. Queen Mary 2 took over from Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2004, followed by Queen Victoria in 2007, Queen Elizabeth in 2010 and Queen Anne in 2024. In October 2026 Carnival announced that Queen Anne will move to P&O Cruises in 2029, which will return Cunard to three ships. Cruises keep many ocean-liner customs. Dining is assigned by cabin grade, with the Britannia Restaurant for most guests and the Princess Grill and Queen's Grill for suites, and the ships have ballrooms, large libraries and theaters with private boxes. Besides Atlantic crossings, Cunard sails to northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Alaska and Asia, and runs world voyages each year. Known for: Cunard is known above all for its history and for Queen Mary 2's Atlantic crossings, a scheduled liner service no other company still offers. It markets its service style under the White Star Service name, and its ships are noted for their traditional interiors, ballrooms and libraries, along with features such as the planetarium and onboard kennels on Queen Mary 2. Its grill-class system, which assigns restaurants by cabin grade, gives suite guests their own dining rooms in the Princess Grill and Queen's Grill. The same system means the experience differs considerably between cabin grades. In May 2025 Cunard began charging for a room-service menu for Britannia-grade cabins, a change that drew a strongly negative response online and comments in cruise publications that the product was slipping. Who it's for: Cunard suits travelers who are drawn to maritime history and ocean-liner tradition: people who want to cross the Atlantic by sea, enjoy ballroom dancing and well-stocked libraries, or want a long world voyage on a mid-size ship. Couples and other travelers who like a traditional atmosphere tend to fit well, and the crossings appeal to anyone who would rather sail than fly between Britain and New York. Families looking for water slides and big kids' programs, and travelers who want a casual, party-style cruise, will be better served by mainstream lines. Guests who care about dining should note that the restaurant they use depends on the cabin they book. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Single staterooms (Britannia Single Inside and Britannia Single Oceanview)) - Single supplement: No fixed published percentage. Single staterooms are priced for one guest; a solo traveler in a standard double cabin pays a supplement that varies by ship, grade and sailing. - Meeting other solo guests: A table is reserved for you in the main restaurant each evening; tell the front-of-house team if you want to be seated at a shared table. Golden Lion pub quizzes and darts, Queens Room dance classes and evening live music, afternoon tea and lectures are the natural places to meet people. No formal hosted solo meetup program is published. Cunard is one of the few premium lines with cabins built for one: Queen Mary 2 has 15 single oceanview staterooms, and single Inside and Oceanview rooms are also found on Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Solo guests get a reserved table in the Britannia Restaurant and can ask to share. Transatlantic crossings on Queen Mary 2 suit solos best; book single staterooms early as there are few of them. ### Disney Cruise Line - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/disney-cruise-line - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Families, Multigenerational groups, First-time cruisers - Fleet rating: 4.2/5, average of 8 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 5.0, Pools & decks 4.5, Service 5.0, Value 2.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (6 ships), Bahamas (6 ships), Alaska (2 ships), Mexican Riviera (2 ships), Mediterranean (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), Bermuda (1 ship), Pacific Coast (1 ship), Panama Canal (1 ship), Asia (1 ship) - Owner: The Walt Disney Company (Disney Signature Experiences) - Headquarters: Celebration, Florida, United States - Founded: 1996 - Loyalty program: Castaway Club - Website: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ - Fleet: 8 ships in service, 1 on the way Disney Cruise Line is The Walt Disney Company's cruise brand, sailing eight ships from Florida, Texas, California and Singapore on cruises built around Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters and stories. It is run from Celebration, Florida, and began carrying passengers in 1998. Disney set up its own line in 1996, after its licensing partnership with Premier Cruise Line ended in 1993. Its first ships, Disney Magic (1998) and Disney Wonder (1999), came from Fincantieri in Italy with black hulls and red funnels in the style of classic ocean liners. The larger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy followed in 2011 and 2012, then the LNG-powered Wish class from 2022, and in 2026 the 208,000-ton Disney Adventure, based year-round in Singapore. Disney Believe is due in December 2027, with more ships on order into the early 2030s. The line runs two private destinations in the Bahamas, Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, and its own terminals at Port Canaveral and Port Everglades. Cruises range from three-night Bahamas getaways to week-long Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and European voyages. Guests rotate through three themed main dining rooms over the cruise, with their servers moving with them, and evenings bring Broadway-style shows, deck parties and fireworks at sea. Youth clubs are split by age, while adults get their own pool area, lounges and extra-charge restaurants such as Palo. Known for: Disney is the name many travelers think of first for a family cruise, and its strengths are consistent across reviews: polished stage shows, frequent character meet-and-greets, elaborately themed youth clubs, and rotational dining in which the same serving team follows a family from restaurant to restaurant. Reviewers also like the family-friendly cabins, many with split bathrooms, complimentary room service, and the two private destinations in the Bahamas. The most common complaint is cost: fares usually run well above those of mainstream lines on similar routes, and there is no unlimited drinks package. Some guests find the fixed dining times and closely spaced tables of rotational dining limiting, and on busy sailings popular extras such as adults-only dinners, character experiences and the water coasters can mean booking early or waiting in line. Opinions on food and service vary between individual reviews. Who it's for: Families with children of any age are the core market, along with Disney fans and multigenerational groups who want shows, characters and youth programs included in the fare. Short Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale make an easy first cruise, and Disney Adventure brings the same approach to travelers in Southeast Asia. Couples and adults travelling without children will find quiet pool areas and adults-only restaurants, but they share the ship with many families. Travelers on a tight budget, those who want an all-inclusive drinks package or flexible dining times, and anyone looking for a nightlife-focused or adults-only cruise are usually better served by other lines. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Disney's terms state that single-occupancy fares are 200% of the double-occupancy package price, so a solo guest pays for two. No published solo promotions. - Meeting other solo guests: No hosted solo program. Solo adults rely on the adults-only spaces: Quiet Cove Pool, Cove Cafe, the adult entertainment district bars and lounges (piano bars, pubs, late-night game shows), Senses Spa, and adults-only dining at Palo, Remy, Enchante and Palo Steakhouse. Rotational dining seats guests at shared tables unless a private table is requested. Disney Cruise Line has no cabins for one and charges a full 200% single-occupancy fare, so it is an expensive way to cruise alone. Solo adults who love Disney still find a lot to enjoy in the adults-only pool, bars and restaurants, the stage shows and the private islands. Shorter three- and four-night Bahamas sailings keep the cost of the supplement down. ### Emerald Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/emerald-cruises - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, Value seekers, Adventure seekers, History and culture - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 13 rated ships (Cabins 4.4, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (7 ships), Danube (7 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Rhône (1 ship), Douro (1 ship), Mekong (1 ship) - Owner: Scenic Group - Headquarters: Zug, Switzerland - Founded: 2013 - Loyalty program: Scenic & Emerald Rewards - Website: https://emerald.cruises/ - Fleet: 13 ships in service, 4 on the way Emerald Cruises is the river and yacht cruise line of Scenic Group, sold as Emerald Cruises & Tours and marketed as relaxed luxury next to its fully inclusive sister brand, Scenic. It has ten river ships in service, which it calls Star-Ships, in Europe and on the Mekong, plus three small ocean-going yachts. Scenic founder Glen Moroney set up the brand in 2013 as Emerald Waterways, and its first river cruises sailed in 2014 aboard the 180-guest Emerald Sky. Sister ships followed through 2017 and again in 2022 and 2026, with Emerald Liberté in southern France, Emerald Radiance on the Douro and, from 2019, Emerald Harmony on the Mekong. In 2020 the company became Emerald Cruises, adding a yacht division whose first ship, Emerald Azzurra, arrived in 2022, followed by Emerald Sakara in 2023 and the larger Emerald Kaia in 2026. A Seine ship, a second Douro ship and two more yachts are due in 2027 and 2028. On the river, fares include guided excursions, EmeraldPLUS cultural events, EmeraldACTIVE outings such as hikes and bike tours, tips, and wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; some DiscoverMORE excursions and other drinks cost extra. The 180-guest European Star-Ships have an indoor pool that becomes a cinema at night. The yachts carry 100 to 128 guests and include meals with drinks, Wi-Fi, port charges and gratuities, with swim stops from a stern marina platform. Known for: Emerald is known for value: Cruise Critic's editors named it best river line for value in 2019 and best value-for-money river line in 2023, and also picked it as best for active cruises that year. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted it the top small-ship line in 2023, Emerald Azzurra was Cruise Critic's best new luxury ship of 2022, and Emerald Sakara made Condé Nast Traveler's 2024 Hot List. The trade-offs follow from the pricing: drinks outside lunch and dinner and the DiscoverMORE excursions cost extra, the European ships carry up to 180 guests, more than Scenic's, and the staterooms have a picture window rather than a balcony. The Douro ship Emerald Radiance has no indoor pool or cinema. Who it's for: Emerald fits couples and value-minded travelers who want a polished river cruise with excursions, tips and mealtime drinks included but without paying for a fully all-inclusive fare. Active travelers will like the EmeraldACTIVE hikes, bike rides and kayaking. The yachts suit people who want a Mediterranean, Caribbean or Seychelles cruise on a ship of about 100 guests, with swimming from the marina platform. Travelers who want every drink and extra included should compare Scenic, and those looking for children's programs, nightlife or big-ship entertainment should look elsewhere. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Emerald Single Staterooms (Category ES), two per ship on selected Central Europe and France river cruises) - Single supplement: US solo program: single supplement from 50% on selected river and yacht sailings (Select fares 75%, Preferred fares 50%), waived on select dates when paid in full. Applies to Category E staterooms and Balcony Suites (C, A, P, BB, PA); Deluxe, Junior, Royal and Riverview suites excluded. Single staterooms must be paid in full 10 months out. - Meeting other solo guests: No hosted solo program. Open-seating Reflections Restaurant with shared tables, the Horizon Bar & Lounge as the all-day hub, and daily guided excursions and EmeraldACTIVE hikes and bike rides are where solo guests meet. Emerald Cruises is a good-value way to river or yacht cruise alone: a published solo program with supplements from 50% and waived on select sailings, plus two single staterooms on some European river ships. The 180-guest Star-Ships and 100-guest yachts are small enough that solo guests fall in with a group by the second day. Book early; the solo fares are capacity controlled. ### Explora Journeys - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/explora-journeys - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers, History and culture, Multigenerational groups - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Asia (1 ship) - Owner: MSC Group - Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland - Founded: 2021 - Loyalty program: Explora Club - Website: https://explorajourneys.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service, 3 on the way Explora Journeys is the luxury brand of MSC Group's cruise division, founded in 2021 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, as a sister line to MSC Cruises. It sails three Fincantieri-built ships: Explora I (2023), Explora II (2024) and the LNG-powered Explora III, which entered service in July 2026. Three more are due between 2027 and 2028, and in September 2026 the line signed a letter of intent with the Dutch yard Den Breejen for its first river ships. Every room is an ocean-front suite with a terrace, and each ship carries fewer than 1,000 guests with a guest-to-host ratio the line puts at 1.25 to 1. Fares include most dining (nine of eleven culinary venues, including in-suite dining), unlimited drinks with fine wines, champagne and premium spirits, Wi-Fi, gratuities and access to the spa's thermal area; shore excursions, flights and a few premium venues cost extra. Itineraries, which the line calls Journeys, range from a few nights to multi-week Grand Journeys, are often one-way, and move with the seasons: the Mediterranean in summer, the Caribbean in winter, and newer routes to Northern Europe, Iceland and Greenland, North America's East Coast, Alaska, South America and Asia, with a 128-day world voyage announced for 2029. The ships put dining, wellness and enrichment ahead of big-ship attractions, and a Nautilus Club serves children and teens. Known for: Explora is praised for spacious suites, uncrowded public areas, understated contemporary design and a fare that bundles drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Reviewers often single out the calm atmosphere, friendly and unstuffy service and consistent dining. The common criticisms are teething problems for a young line, such as slow or disorganized embarkation on some sailings, extra charges for the premium restaurant and shore excursions, low-key entertainment and quiet late evenings, and limited activities for young children. Fares sit firmly in the luxury bracket, several times the cost of a comparable mainstream cruise. Who it's for: Explora suits couples and solo travelers who want a calm, design-led luxury ship with drinks and tips included, travelers who plan trips around food, wellness and destinations, and multigenerational groups with older children or teens, who can use the Nautilus Club. It is less suited to families with young, high-energy children, and to anyone who wants big production shows, late-night venues, water slides or budget fares; those travelers will find more on large-ship lines, including sister brand MSC Cruises. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: A Journey of One offer: solo occupancy from 0% over the current per-person fare on select journeys, in Ocean Terrace, Ocean Grand Terrace and all Ocean Penthouse categories; Ocean Residences excluded. Taxes and port charges are charged for one guest. Otherwise a single supplement applies and varies by journey and suite. - Meeting other solo guests: No hosted solo program. Open-seating restaurants (Fil Rouge, Med Yacht Club, Emporium Marketplace), 14 bars and lounges, and included group wellness, fitness and mindfulness classes are where solo guests meet. Explora Journeys sells solo occupancy of a full Ocean Terrace Suite or penthouse from a 0% supplement on selected journeys, which is rare at this level. Ships carry under 1,000 guests with a near one-to-one host ratio, drinks and tips are included, and dining is open seating. No single cabins and no solo host, but a very easy ship to be alone on. ### Four Seasons Yachts - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/four-seasons-yachts - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 1 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 5.0, Value 2.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (1 ship), Bahamas (1 ship), Mediterranean (1 ship) - Owner: Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings Ltd - Founded: 2022 - Website: https://www.fourseasonsyachts.com/ - Fleet: 1 ship in service, 1 on the way Four Seasons Yachts takes the Four Seasons hotel brand to sea. It was introduced at the Monaco Yacht Show on September 28, 2022, as a venture between Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings, the company of real estate developer Nadim Ashi, whose Fort Partners has built several Four Seasons properties; Marc-Henry is the joint owner and operator. The first ship, Four Seasons I, was built by Fincantieri in Ancona, delivered in February 2026 and began sailing in the Mediterranean on March 20, 2026. She is 679 feet long with 95 suites, many of which can be joined into larger apartments. A second ship, Four Seasons II, with 79 suites including multi-bedroom Yacht Residential Suites, was announced in June 2026 for a 2028 debut, and trade reports expect a third by 2030. Four Seasons presents the product as yachting rather than cruising: a staff of nearly one per guest, several dining concepts, late stays and overnights in port, and a seasonal pattern of Mediterranean summers and Caribbean and Bahamas winters. Known for: Having begun sailing only in March 2026, Four Seasons Yachts has little track record yet. Its selling points are the Four Seasons name, unusually large suites that can be combined in many ways, including a Funnel Suite spread over four decks, and staffing close to one per guest. It enters a crowded corner of the market: hotel brands including Ritz-Carlton, Orient Express and Aman are also building small luxury ships, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has reported heavy losses linked to low occupancy. Published details are still settling, with the line and trade reports giving different figures for her tonnage and guest capacity. Who it's for: Four Seasons Yachts is aimed at affluent travelers who already favor Four Seasons hotels and want a residential-style suite and highly personal service on Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries. Families or friends traveling together may value the ability to connect suites into larger spaces. Travelers looking for value, a wide range of onboard entertainment, or a line with an established record should wait or look elsewhere for now. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Fares are quoted per suite, per voyage, not per person, so there is no single supplement as such: a solo guest pays the full suite fare that a couple would pay. No published solo discounts. - Meeting other solo guests: No solo program is published. Eleven restaurants and lounges, including the Terrasse Mediterranean restaurant and the Miuna omakase counter, a 20-meter pool and the stern marina on Marina Days are the social spaces, with a staff ratio of nearly one to one. Four Seasons Yachts has no solo cabins or solo pricing: suites are sold per suite, so one guest pays what two would. The 95-suite Four Seasons I is small, calm and very well staffed, which suits a solo guest who values privacy over a social scene and is comfortable with the cost. ### Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/fred-olsen-cruise-lines - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, Solo travelers, History and culture - Fleet rating: 3.2/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 2.3, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (3 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Norwegian Fjords (3 ships), Canary Islands (3 ships), Caribbean (2 ships), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: Bonheur (Fred. Olsen Group) - Headquarters: Ipswich, England - Founded: 1848 - Loyalty program: Oceans Club - Website: https://www.fredolsencruises.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service, 3 retired Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is a British-based, Norwegian-owned cruise line headquartered in Ipswich, Suffolk, led by chief executive Samantha Stimpson. It belongs to the Fred. Olsen Group, the shipping business founded in 1848 in Hvitsten on the Oslofjord by three Olsen brothers and still run by the family in its fifth generation, and is owned through Bonheur. The fleet is three midsize ships: Balmoral, built in 1988 and lengthened for Fred. Olsen in 2008, and Bolette and Borealis, the former Holland America Line ships Amsterdam and Rotterdam, bought in 2020 to replace the older Black Watch and Boudicca. Braemar, laid up since 2020, was sold in 2024. Borealis has sailed adults-only since January 2026. Most cruises sail round trip from UK ports, chiefly Southampton and Liverpool but also Newcastle, Portsmouth and Rosyth, to Norway, the British Isles, the Baltic, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, with Mediterranean fly-cruises on Balmoral and long grand voyages each winter, including a 2027 world cruise and an 87-night Amazon and Antarctica voyage in 2028. Since January 2026 the Freedom Fare has included drinks with lunch and dinner, gratuities, port fees, fitness classes and guided port strolls, backed by a four-week price promise for early bookers. The onboard style is traditionally British, with formal and themed nights, afternoon tea and observation lounges, and the three ships meet once a year for the Fleet Fiesta, held in Las Palmas on December 1, 2026. Known for: Fred. Olsen is known for smaller ships, an unhurried, traditional British atmosphere and no-fly cruises from regional UK ports. The line leans on that smaller scale in its marketing, saying its ships can navigate narrow waterways for scenic cruising and that its crews get to know their guests. It is the longest-standing corporate partner of the RNLI lifeboat charity, and its awards include a 2026 Group Leisure & Travel Award for best cruise line. In 2026 all three ships recorded their highest-ever guest satisfaction scores, with Balmoral, the smallest, scoring best, and the July 2026 launch of the Amazon and Antarctica Grand Voyage gave the company its strongest single sales day ever. The trade-offs follow from the same choices. All three ships were built between 1988 and 2000, so they lack the water parks, large production shows and range of venues found on newer ships, and specialty dining and all-day premium drinks cost extra (house drinks with lunch and dinner have been included in the fare since January 2026). The traditional British style, with formal nights and afternoon tea, will feel quiet to travelers looking for nightlife, and Borealis does not take children. Who it's for: Fred. Olsen suits British travelers, especially retirees, couples and solo cruisers, who want to sail from a UK port without flying and prefer a calm ship of around 1,300 guests to a resort-style megaship. Its itineraries suit people who like scenic cruising, Norwegian fjords, Northern Lights voyages and longer winter-sun trips, and its afternoon teas and formal nights appeal to those who enjoy a traditional style. Families with young children, travelers looking for nightlife or big-ship attractions, and anyone outside the UK who would need to fly to Southampton or Liverpool will usually find better options elsewhere. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on every ship (Single cabins (inside, ocean view and balcony)) - Single supplement: Single cabins are priced for one. A solo guest in a twin cabin pays a single supplement that varies by cruise; Fred. Olsen runs regular reduced-supplement solo offers on selected cabin grades. - Meeting other solo guests: Welcome drinks party for solo guests, solo traveler meet-ups listed in the Daily Times, hosted dinners and events run by the Guest Experience team, social dining tables with mixed groups, and dance hosts on board. Fred. Olsen is one of the most solo-friendly lines sailing from Britain: single cabins on Bolette, Borealis and Balmoral, hosted solo get-togethers, and a mostly British, older crowd that travels alone in numbers. Fares now include drinks with meals, tips and port fees. The small ships and no-fly sailings from UK ports suit first-time solo cruisers. ### Hapag-Lloyd Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/hapag-lloyd-cruises - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers, History and culture, Adventure seekers - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 5 rated ships (Cabins 4.8, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Antarctica (3 ships), World cruises (2 ships) - Owner: TUI Cruises - Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany - Founded: 1970 - Loyalty program: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club - Website: https://www.hl-cruises.com/ - Fleet: 5 ships in service, 1 retired Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is a German luxury and expedition cruise line based in Hamburg. It traces its cruising history to 22 January 1891, when HAPAG's Augusta Victoria set out on what the company calls the first pleasure cruise, and took its present form after the 1970 merger of HAPAG and Norddeutscher Lloyd. TUI integrated the business in 2008, and in 2020 it was sold to TUI Cruises, the joint venture of TUI and Royal Caribbean. The fleet is five small ships: the classic luxury ship Europa (1999), the larger and more casual Europa 2 (2013), and the expedition trio Hanseatic Nature, Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit, built by Vard between 2019 and 2021 to the PC6 polar ice class. The older expedition ships Bremen and Hanseatic left the fleet in 2020 and 2018. Europa and Europa 2 carry no more than 400 and 500 guests and sail worldwide, including a world tour split between them, while the expedition ships carry up to 230 guests to polar and remote regions. The line describes itself as the market leader in luxury and expedition cruising in German-speaking countries. Known for: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is regarded as one of the leading luxury brands in German-speaking Europe. Europa was rated the best cruise ship in the world by the Berlitz guide twelve years running, and the small size of all five ships, with a crew-to-guest ratio near one to one on Europa 2, supports very personal service. Its expedition ships are modern, purpose-built and capable of polar voyages, and the line has a long expedition record that includes the Northwest Passage. The trade-offs are cost and language. Fares are high, as the line's advertised combination discounts of up to €22,000 per person on its world tour suggest, and its club charges a membership fee, unlike the free loyalty programs of many lines. The line's home market is German-speaking, so English-speaking travelers should check whether a sailing is offered in English before booking. Who it's for: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suits experienced, well-traveled guests, often German-speaking couples, who want a small luxury ship with fine dining and a quiet atmosphere, or a comfortable expedition voyage to Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote regions. Long voyages and the world tour on Europa and Europa 2 suit travelers with time to spare. Budget travelers, families looking for kids' clubs and big-ship entertainment, and travelers who want an all-English environment without checking the sailing language will be better served by other lines. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Suites are priced per person on double occupancy. Hapag-Lloyd publishes offers for solo travelers with no or only a small surcharge for single occupancy on selected cruises, listed through a filter on its cruise finder; otherwise a surcharge applies and varies by cruise and suite. - Meeting other solo guests: No formal solo program. Small ships (400 to 500 guests on Europa and Europa 2, about 230 on the Hanseatic expedition ships), restaurant staff who will seat solo guests together on request, and expedition-team lectures and Zodiac outings are where solo guests meet. German is the main language on board; check whether a sailing is offered in English. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suits a solo traveler who wants a very small, very well-staffed luxury or expedition ship and is comfortable in a mostly German-speaking environment. No single cabins, but selected cruises carry no or only a small single-occupancy surcharge. Pick a sailing offered in English on Europa 2 or a Hanseatic ship. ### Havila Voyages - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/havila-voyages - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.5/5, average of 4 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Norwegian Fjords (4 ships) - Owner: Havila Holding AS - Headquarters: Fosnavåg, Norway - Founded: 2017 - Website: https://www.havilavoyages.com/ - Fleet: 4 ships in service Havila Voyages, the international name of the Norwegian company Havila Kystruten, sails four sister ships on the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkenes, the classic Norwegian coastal voyage it shares with Hurtigruten. The ships run under a contract with Norway's Ministry of Transport, carrying local passengers and cargo as well as cruise guests, and sell round trips as well as one-way northbound and southbound voyages. The company was founded in Fosnavåg in November 2017, is listed on Euronext Growth in Oslo, and its largest shareholder is Havila Holding. Havila Capella entered service in December 2021 and Havila Castor in May 2022; Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux followed in August 2023 after a Spanish yard's financial trouble and sanctions on the fleet's financier delayed them. All four were completed at the Tersan yard in Turkey to a Havyard design, with LNG engines and some of the largest battery packs fitted to passenger ships, allowing up to four hours of emission-free sailing. Each ship has 179 cabins and suites, restaurants built around ingredients from towns and villages along the route, a glass-roofed lounge for watching the northern lights or midnight sun, and outdoor hot tubs. Known for: Havila's ships are the newest on the Norwegian coastal route, and reviewers often praise their Scandinavian interiors, comfortable cabins, regional food and quiet, low-emission sailing. The company has won attention for its technology: Havila Capella received the Next Generation Ship Award at Nor-Shipping in 2022, and Havila Castor was the first cruise ship to sail the Geirangerfjord emission-free. Its early years were disrupted. Sanctions on the company that financed the ships left Havila Capella tied up in Bergen for part of 2022 and pushed the start of Havila Polaris and Havila Pollux to August 2023. Travelers comparing Havila with Hurtigruten should also note practical differences: the ships cannot load and unload cars at most ports on the route, and Havila does not carry electric or hybrid cars. The onboard program is quieter than on larger cruise ships, which suits some guests more than others. Who it's for: Havila suits travelers who want the classic Norwegian coastal voyage on a new ship, with a calm, design-led atmosphere and lower emissions than older vessels. It works well for couples, solo travelers and first-time visitors to Norway, on the full round trip or a one-way leg, and for anyone who wants to watch coastal life from a comfortable lounge rather than follow a busy activity schedule. Travelers who want a Svalbard voyage, an all-inclusive Signature-style product or a larger ship with more entertainment should compare Hurtigruten and other lines, and anyone hoping to bring an electric or hybrid car on board should look elsewhere. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Solo discount of up to 40% on Seaview and Interior cabins on selected departures, bookable up to 60 days before sailing; limited availability per sailing and not combinable with other offers. Otherwise a solo guest pays the cabin price based on two sharing. - Meeting other solo guests: No hosted solo program. One main restaurant (Havrand) with à la carte included meals, Havly Cafe open early to late, the glass-roofed observation lounge and 34 port calls are where solo guests meet. Many passengers are Norwegians traveling port to port. Havila Voyages is a comfortable, low-key way to sail the Norwegian coast alone. There are no single cabins, but the solo discount of up to 40% on Interior and Seaview cabins makes the 6-, 7- and 12-day voyages affordable for one. Expect a quiet ship, a mix of international travelers and locals, and a daily rhythm of scenery, ports and good regional food. ### Holland America Line - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/holland-america-line - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.8/5, average of 11 rated ships (Cabins 4.1, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Alaska (6 ships), Caribbean (5 ships), Panama Canal (4 ships), Transatlantic (4 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Mexican Riviera (2 ships), Canada and New England (2 ships), Pacific Coast (2 ships), South America (2 ships), Antarctica (2 ships), Asia (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), Mediterranean (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), Hawaii (1 ship), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States - Founded: 1873 - Loyalty program: Mariner Society - Website: https://www.hollandamerica.com/ - Fleet: 11 ships in service, 1 on the way, 4 retired Holland America Line is a premium cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc and based in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in Rotterdam in 1873 as the Netherlands-America Steamship Company, ran passenger and cargo services across the Atlantic until 1971 and became part of Carnival in 1989. Its 11 ships are mid-sized by today's standards, from the R-class Volendam and Zaandam, with about 1,430 guests each, through the Vista and Signature classes to the three Pinnacle-class ships, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and the flagship Rotterdam, which carry about 2,650 to 2,670. Ship names reuse those of the line's ocean liners, and the current Rotterdam is the seventh. Four older ships, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maasdam and Veendam, were sold in 2020. Holland America has said that P&O Cruises' Arcadia, originally ordered by the line, will join the fleet under a new name in 2029, and its Holland America Evolution program is updating six ships. Alaska is the line's signature region: it pairs cruises with overland cruisetours and owns hotels and rail operations in the state. It also sails the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Canada and New England, Europe, South America and Antarctica, Asia and Australia, with an annual world cruise and other Grand Voyages. Cruises tend to be a week or longer, and life on board centers on dining, live music, enrichment and the spa rather than big-ship thrills. Known for: Holland America is regarded as a traditional premium line, with mid-sized ships, longer itineraries and a strong presence in Alaska, where its cruisetours add land travel to Denali and the Yukon. Its ships carry substantial art collections, and the Pinnacle-class Koningsdam and Nieuw Statendam have won readers' and trade awards as mid-sized ships. The Mariner Society rewards loyalty by days sailed, which suits frequent cruisers and those who take long voyages. The trade-offs mirror those strengths: the ships focus on dining, music and enrichment rather than the water parks and thrill rides found on larger mainstream ships, and the R- and Vista-class ships date from 1999 to 2006, although the line has published plans to refresh several of them. Specialty restaurants and drinks cost extra, as on other Carnival brands, and the most generous Mariner perks take many sailings to reach. Who it's for: Holland America suits couples and travelers who want a calmer, more traditional cruise on a mid-sized ship, with good dining and itineraries that spend real time in port. It is a strong choice for Alaska, especially for cruisetours that add Denali and the Yukon, and for longer trips: Grand Voyages, a world cruise and transatlantic crossings. Solo travelers will find single staterooms on the Pinnacle-class ships, and Oosterdam is adding Solo Verandah cabins. Families with young children, or groups looking for nightlife, water parks and short getaways, are usually better served by a mainstream line, and travelers who want most extras included in the fare should look at luxury lines. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Single Ocean View staterooms (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam); Solo Verandahs on Oosterdam from fall 2027) - Single supplement: The dozen single Ocean View staterooms on each Pinnacle-class ship carry no single supplement. In a standard stateroom fares are based on double occupancy and a solo guest pays a supplement; the Standby List offers discounted solo rates of $198 a day inside or oceanview and $258 a day verandah on select sailings. - Meeting other solo guests: Dedicated onboard solo traveler meetups, plus the Music Walk venues (B.B. King's Blues Club, Billboard Onboard, Rolling Stone Rock Room), the Ocean Bar, the Orange Party, trivia, cooking demos and group shore excursions. Fixed or anytime dining; solo guests can ask to share a table. Holland America is one of the better big-ship options for solo cruisers. Its three Pinnacle-class ships each have about a dozen single oceanview staterooms with no supplement, the line runs hosted solo meetups, and the Music Walk makes it easy to find company in the evening. Solo verandah cabins come to Oosterdam from fall 2027. Alaska and the long Grand Voyages draw the most solo guests. ### Hurtigruten - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/hurtigruten - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Adventure seekers, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 2.7/5, average of 10 rated ships (Cabins 3.0, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 1.0, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Norwegian Fjords (10 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships) - Owner: Hurtigruten Group - Headquarters: Oslo, Norway - Founded: 1893 - Loyalty program: 1893 Ambassador - Website: https://www.hurtigruten.com/ - Fleet: 10 ships in service, 1 retired Hurtigruten runs the Norwegian coastal voyages, a combined passenger, cargo and cruise service along Norway's west and north coast between Bergen and Kirkenes that it has sailed since Richard With started the Coastal Express in 1893. Its ten ships are small by cruise standards and call at towns and villages along the way, carrying local travelers and freight as well as cruise guests. The present company grew out of the regional steamship lines that ran the route, including With's Vesteraalens Dampskibsselskab and Troms Fylkes Dampskibsselskap; their successors merged in 2006 and took the Hurtigruten name. In 2021 the expedition ships were split into a separate business, which was sold in 2024–2025 and now trades as HX Hurtigruten Expeditions. Hurtigruten shares the coastal route with Havila Voyages. Seven Original ships sail the classic Bergen–Kirkenes round trip and its one-way legs year-round. Three larger, all-inclusive Signature ships, Trollfjord, Finnmarken and Midnatsol, sail the Svalbard Line from Bergen and the North Cape Line from Oslo or Hamburg. Every ship carries an Expedition Team that gives talks and leads excursions, and menus lean on produce from the coast. Known for: Hurtigruten is known above all for the scenery of the coastal route, the chance to see the northern lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer, and the experience of traveling on ships that still carry local passengers and cargo. Reviewers often praise the Expedition Team's talks and excursions, the regional food and the steady rhythm of port calls, including stops in the middle of the night. Several of the older ships have been rebuilt with battery-hybrid power, which the line promotes as part of a lower-emission strategy. The common criticisms follow from the ferry schedule. Many port stops are short, timed for cargo and local passengers rather than sightseeing, and the Original ships are plainer than modern cruise ships, with small cabins and little evening entertainment; the line itself describes Vesterålen as a traditional ship with no sauna, hot tub or lecture hall. Weather on the open stretches of coast can be rough, especially in winter, and storms occasionally disrupt sailings. Who it's for: Hurtigruten suits travelers who care more about the coast, nature and Norwegian daily life than about onboard entertainment: couples, solo travelers and older travelers who enjoy lectures, local food and a ship that stops often. One-way legs and the full round trip are an easy way to see much of Norway in a week or two, and the Signature ships add an all-inclusive option with Svalbard and North Cape routes. Families with young children and anyone who wants pools, shows, casinos or late-night bars should look at a mainstream line. Travelers who want Zodiac landings in polar wilderness should look at HX or another expedition line, and those who prefer the newest ships on the same coastal route can compare Havila Voyages. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on some ships (Single-bed cabins on Polarlys and Richard With (limited)) - Single supplement: Prices are based on two sharing; a solo guest pays a percentage of the cabin rate on top. Hurtigruten offers lowered single supplements on select 12-day, 7-day and 6-day Coastal Express and Signature voyages (not suites), with the eligible list changing monthly. - Meeting other solo guests: On many longer voyages all solo travelers are invited to an informal get-together in the ship's bar. Daily talks from the Expedition Team and small-group excursions are the other meeting points. No dedicated solo group trips. Hurtigruten is a natural fit for solo travelers: small ships of a few hundred guests, full board, a route with 34 ports, and reduced single supplements on many Coastal Express departures. A handful of single cabins exist on Polarlys and Richard With. Book early for the lowest solo rates, and choose the 12-day round trip for the most sea time and company. ### HX Hurtigruten Expeditions - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/hx-hurtigruten-expeditions - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Adventure seekers, Couples, History and culture - Fleet rating: 3.2/5, average of 5 rated ships (Cabins 4.2, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Northern Europe (4 ships), Norwegian Fjords (3 ships), Antarctica (3 ships), Galápagos (1 ship) - Headquarters: London, United Kingdom - Founded: 2021 - Loyalty program: HX Explorers - Website: https://www.travelhx.com/ - Fleet: 5 ships in service, 2 retired HX Hurtigruten Expeditions, usually shortened to HX, is an expedition cruise line that grew out of Hurtigruten's polar program. Hurtigruten set up its expedition voyages as a separate business in 2021, and in February 2025 a group of investors completed the purchase that made HX an independent company based in London. HX dates its exploring history to a pioneering Hurtigruten voyage from Hammerfest to Svalbard about 130 years ago. The fleet has five ships. Fram, built in 2007 for polar waters, and Spitsbergen, a former ferry hull rebuilt in 2016, were both refurbished in 2025; Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, delivered in 2019 and 2020, are battery-hybrid Polar Class 6 sisters for up to 490 guests. In the Galápagos, HX sells voyages on Santa Cruz II, owned by the Ecuadorian company Metropolitan Touring. Two former coastal ships that spent a few years in the expedition fleet as Otto Sverdrup and Maud returned to Hurtigruten in 2024. Fares include meals, gratuities, drinks, daily excursions and Science Centre activities, and every voyage carries an expedition team of naturalists and guides. Antarctic voyages sail mainly round trip from Ushuaia, while the northern program covers Norway, Svalbard, Greenland and the British Isles. Known for: HX is known for its science-focused onboard program, built around the Science Centre and citizen-science projects, and for running two of the first battery-hybrid expedition ships. Reviewers often praise the expedition team's lectures and landings, the Scandinavian design and the inclusive fares, and Fram and Spitsbergen came back from 2025 refits with new cabins and science spaces. The main criticisms concern scale and change. Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen carry up to 490 guests, large for expedition ships, and travelers sometimes find that shore landings are shorter or less frequent than on smaller vessels because guests go ashore in groups. The brand has also changed shape several times in a few years, with ships moving between Hurtigruten and HX and a sale to new owners, which has confused some repeat guests about programs and loyalty benefits. Fridtjof Nansen ran aground off Norway in January 2022; no one was hurt and she returned to service after repairs. Who it's for: HX suits travelers who want a polar or remote-coast voyage with a strong learning element: couples and solo travelers interested in wildlife, science and history, and people who like an inclusive fare and a casual Nordic atmosphere more than formal luxury. The hybrid sisters have more facilities, including pools, hot tubs and several restaurants, while Fram and Spitsbergen trade some amenities for fewer guests, and Santa Cruz II covers the Galápagos. Travelers who want the fewest people at each landing may prefer a line limited to about 100 to 200 guests, and those looking for butler service and large suites should compare luxury expedition lines. Families can sail, but the program is aimed mainly at adults. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: Low solo supplement on every departure while the solo cabin allocation lasts: 25% on Atlantic crossings and South America; 45% on Alaska, Antarctica, Arctic Canada, the Northwest Passage, Greenland and Iceland on Fridtjof Nansen and Svalbard on Fram; 50% on Galapagos; 70% on the British Isles and on Spitsbergen itineraries. Selected departures within six months carry no solo supplement. Once the allocation sells out the full occupancy rate applies. - Meeting other solo guests: Optional onboard get-togethers for solo guests, flexible dining, the Science Center and daily Expedition Team lectures and landings. About 20% of HX guests travel solo. HX is one of the most solo-friendly expedition lines. Every departure carries a published low single supplement, from 25% to 70% by destination, and selected sailings waive it entirely. No single cabins, but with nearly a fifth of guests traveling alone and a program built around landings and lectures, nobody is on their own for long. Antarctica and Greenland on Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen are the pick. ### Lindblad Expeditions - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/lindblad-expeditions - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Adventure seekers, Couples, Families, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.4/5, average of 12 rated ships (Cabins 3.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 2.1, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Alaska (4 ships), Mexican Riviera (4 ships), Pacific Coast (4 ships), South America (4 ships), Antarctica (4 ships), Galápagos (4 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Panama Canal (2 ships), South Pacific (2 ships), Mediterranean (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Asia (1 ship) - Owner: Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. - Headquarters: New York, New York, United States - Founded: 1979 - Website: https://www.expeditions.com/ - Fleet: 12 ships in service, 1 retired Lindblad Expeditions is an American expedition cruise company that runs small ships, carrying from 16 to 148 guests, on every continent, working in partnership with National Geographic. Its own fleet of National Geographic-named ships covers the Arctic and Antarctica, the Galápagos, Alaska and the Pacific coast of the Americas, Central America, the South Pacific and Europe, and it charters further vessels for river and regional trips on the Amazon, Nile and Mekong, in Scotland and in Indonesia. Sven-Olof Lindblad founded the company in 1979 as Special Expeditions, following his father Lars-Eric Lindblad, whose Lindblad Travel took the first tourists to Antarctica in 1966 and, a year later, began bringing visitors to the Galápagos. It took the Lindblad name in 2000, began its National Geographic alliance in 2004 (since extended through 2040) and went public in 2015. Its first new builds, the U.S.-flagged National Geographic Quest and Venture, arrived in 2017 and 2018, followed by the polar ships Endurance and Resolution, and in 2025 it doubled its Galápagos fleet with Delfina and Gemini. The company also owns land-travel brands including Natural Habitat Adventures. Voyages are built around naturalists, National Geographic photographers and visiting experts, with Zodiac outings, hikes, kayaking and snorkeling most days and evening recaps on board. Ships carry tools such as hydrophones, underwater cameras and remotely operated vehicles, meals are informal with open seating, and guests are welcome on the bridge. Known for: Lindblad is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern expedition cruising, and its family history in Antarctica and the Galápagos goes back to the 1960s. Reviewers often praise the depth of its naturalist staff, the photography instruction from National Geographic-certified guides, and the access its small ships give in places such as Antarctica, Alaska and the Galápagos; the newer polar ships, Endurance and Resolution, are well regarded. The usual criticisms are price, since fares are high and generally exclude international flights, and the age and simplicity of some ships, with small cabins and few amenities on the oldest vessels. Days are full and often start early, which suits active travelers more than those looking for a restful cruise. Who it's for: Lindblad suits travelers who want wildlife, natural history and photography at the center of a trip: couples, solo travelers (the line runs solo offers) and families, with a National Geographic Global Explorers program for children and teens. It works best for people comfortable with active days, Zodiac landings and changing plans around weather and wildlife. Travelers who want resort amenities, entertainment, casinos or low fares should look elsewhere, as should anyone hoping for long, lazy sea days. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on every ship (Solo cabins (dedicated solo cabin suites with balcony on National Geographic Endurance and Resolution; solo cabins on other ships and charter vessels)) - Single supplement: Solo premium is Lindblad's pricing category for single occupancy. Reduced solo pricing from 25% above the per-person fare on a rotating selection of departures and qualifying cabin categories; sometimes waived. Alternatively, request a same-gender roommate and pay the double-occupancy rate whether or not a match is found (select ships and categories). - Meeting other solo guests: Open seating in every dining room, with expedition staff and naturalists joining guests for meals. Evening Recap in the lounge, sign-up sheets at reception for kayak and snorkel partners. Typically two to six solo guests on each voyage, often more. Lindblad Expeditions is one of the easiest expedition lines to sail alone: every ship has solo cabins, a roommate-match option removes the supplement entirely, and reduced solo pricing from 25% rotates across the schedule. Open-seating dining with the naturalists means you never eat alone unless you choose to. Galapagos, Alaska and Antarctica on the Endurance-class ships are the pick. ### Marella Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/marella-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Couples, Families, Adults only, Value seekers - Fleet rating: 3.1/5, average of 5 rated ships (Cabins 2.4, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (5 ships), Caribbean (3 ships), Canary Islands (2 ships) - Owner: TUI Group - Headquarters: Luton, England - Founded: 1973 - Website: https://www.tui.co.uk/cruise - Fleet: 5 ships in service, 2 retired Marella Cruises is the British cruise line of the TUI Group, sold through TUI UK. It traces back to Thomson, which first ran cruises from 1973 to 1976 and restarted in 1995; the line was renamed Marella in October 2017, a name meant to keep it distinct from TUI's German joint venture, TUI Cruises. The fleet is five midsize ships built in the 1990s for Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises: Marella Discovery and Discovery 2 (Vision class) and Marella Explorer, Explorer 2 and Voyager (Century class). Several came by way of TUI Cruises, where Explorer and Voyager sailed as Mein Schiff ships. Two newbuilds ordered for Marella in 2025 were reassigned to TUI Cruises later that year, so the line continues with its existing ships. Marella sells mostly fly-cruise holidays for British travelers, with ships based at Mediterranean ports such as Palma, Dubrovnik and Limassol in summer and in the Caribbean and Canary Islands in winter. Fares are all-inclusive as standard, covering food, drinks and tips, and two ships, Explorer 2 and, from November 2026, Discovery 2, are adults-only. Known for: Marella is known for packaging cruises the way TUI packages beach holidays: flights from UK airports, transfers and an all-inclusive fare that already covers drinks and gratuities, which keeps planning and budgeting simple. Its ships carry under 2,000 guests and offer a broad mix of restaurants, bars and shows for their size, and the line splits its fleet between family-friendly ships and adults-only ones. The trade-off is age. Every ship in the fleet was built between 1995 and 1997 for other lines, so cabins are smaller and attractions fewer than on new megaships, and planned newbuilds that would have modernized the fleet were cancelled in 2025. The British-focused onboard style, sterling pricing and UK-centered sales also make it a less natural choice for travelers from elsewhere. Who it's for: Marella suits British travelers who want an easy, all-inclusive fly-cruise with drinks and tips already paid, especially first-time cruisers and families on the family-friendly ships. Couples who want a quieter trip can choose the adults-only Marella Explorer 2 or, from late 2026, Marella Discovery 2. Itineraries are mostly week-long port-intensive loops in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, which suits travelers who like a new port nearly every day. Travelers outside the UK, and anyone who wants the newest ships with large water parks or many specialty venues, will find more choice on the big international lines. Those who prefer to sail from a home port without flying should look at UK-based lines that sail from Southampton or other British ports. Cruising solo: - Solo cabins on every ship (Single cabins (inside to balcony)) - Single supplement: Single cabins are priced for one with the same fittings as double cabins. Marella runs regular solo deals across single inside to balcony cabins; a solo guest in a standard cabin pays a supplement that varies by sailing. - Meeting other solo guests: Onboard Guest Experience Coordinators host events for solo travelers on every cruise: a coffee morning on day one, a hosted dinner midway and farewell drinks on the last night. Solo guests can choose to sit alone or at a shared table in the restaurants. Marella Cruises is one of the easiest mainstream lines to sail alone. Each ship has single cabins, every cruise has a hosted solo coffee morning, dinner and farewell drinks, dining is flexible with shared tables on request, and the all-inclusive fare covers drinks, tips and flights from UK airports. Marella Explorer 2 is adults-only and the quietest pick for a solo traveler. ### Margaritaville at Sea - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/margaritaville-at-sea - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Value seekers, First-time cruisers, Families, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.1/5, average of 2 rated ships (Cabins 3.0, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.5, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 3.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (2 ships), Bahamas (2 ships) - Owner: Classica Cruise Operator Ltd. (licensed from Margaritaville Enterprises) - Headquarters: Orlando, Florida, United States - Founded: 2022 - Website: https://www.margaritavilleatsea.com/ - Fleet: 2 ships in service, 1 on the way, 1 retired Margaritaville at Sea is a Florida cruise line that operates under license from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville brand, offering short, casual cruises to the Bahamas, Key West, Mexico and the Caribbean. It runs Paradise from the Port of Palm Beach and Islander from Tampa, and adds a third ship, Beachcomber, from PortMiami in January 2027. The line grew out of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, which sailed short Palm Beach to Grand Bahama cruises with Grand Celebration and, from 2018, Grand Classica. Its owners agreed a partnership with Margaritaville in December 2021, and the company relaunched under the new name in May 2022, with Grand Classica refitted and renamed Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. The former Costa Atlantica joined as Islander in 2024, and the line bought Costa Fortuna in 2025 to become Beachcomber, which moves to Galveston in October 2027. The operating company, Classica Cruise Operator Ltd., is based in Orlando. Cruises run from two or three nights on Paradise to as long as ten on Islander. The ships are themed around Buffett's songs and island lifestyle, with 5 o'Clock Somewhere and LandShark bars, Cheeseburger in Paradise, live music, a casino and holiday theme sailings. Dining and drink packages are sold separately, and a Heroes Sail Free program offers free cruises to U.S. military members sailing with a paying guest. Known for: For a small line, Margaritaville at Sea has collected a good number of reader-voted awards, including USA Today 10Best honors in 2025 and 2026 (No. 1 Best Caribbean Cruise in 2026) and a 2025 Newsweek readers' choice award for Islander as best cruise ship for families. Reviewers often praise the friendly, relaxed crew and the strong Buffett theming, and frequent fare promotions make it an inexpensive quick getaway from Florida. Criticism tends to focus on the ships' age: Paradise dates from 1991 and Islander from 2000, and reviews have reported worn finishes, leaks and ongoing maintenance despite refits. Food reviews are mixed, with casual and extra-charge venues rated above the main dining room and buffet, and early reviews of Islander mentioned long waits for dinner, a disorganized boarding process and limited technology, with no app or online planner at the time. Who it's for: Margaritaville at Sea suits travelers looking for a short, inexpensive and casual cruise from Florida, especially Jimmy Buffett fans, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want to try cruising on a two- to five-night trip. Islander's kids' clubs, water slide and mini golf make it the better pick for families, and Islander and Beachcomber's longer itineraries reach Mexico and the wider Caribbean. Travelers who want newer ships, generous included dining, polished technology or a quiet, upscale atmosphere will likely be happier on a newer mainstream or premium line. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: No published solo policy or single-occupancy rate. Fares are quoted per person on double occupancy; a solo guest should expect to pay for two in a stateroom. No single cabins. - Meeting other solo guests: No solo program. The pool decks (5 o'Clock Somewhere Pool, LandShark Pool, License to Chill Pool), the bars, live music, deck parties and the casino are where guests mix. Fins Main Dining and the buffet are included. Margaritaville at Sea is a casual, party-leaning line with short sailings from Florida and Texas. It has no solo cabins, no solo pricing and no solo events, so a solo guest pays for two, but the 2- to 5-night fares are low enough that the total is manageable. Best for a sociable solo traveler who wants a quick Bahamas or Mexico break with a bar-and-band atmosphere. ### MSC Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/msc-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, First-time cruisers, Value seekers, Multigenerational groups, Friends and groups - Fleet rating: 3.4/5, average of 23 rated ships (Cabins 3.3, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 4.3, Pools & decks 2.7, Service 3.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (15 ships), Caribbean (9 ships), Bahamas (5 ships), South America (5 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), Panama Canal (1 ship), Canary Islands (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: MSC Group - Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland - Founded: 1988 - Loyalty program: MSC Voyagers Club - Website: https://www.msccruises.com/ - Fleet: 23 ships in service, 2 on the way MSC Cruises is the cruise line of MSC Group, the privately owned shipping company founded by Gianluigi Aponte. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it is the world's third-largest cruise company after Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group, the largest that is privately held, and the market leader in Europe. Its fleet of 23 ships sails on five continents, with its biggest presence in the Mediterranean and a growing one in the Caribbean from Florida and Texas. The line traces back to 1988, when Aponte bought the Achille Lauro and started StarLauro Cruises; the brand became MSC Cruises in 1995. Growth took off with its first new builds, MSC Lirica in 2003 and MSC Opera in 2004, and the purchase of two nearly new ships from the bankrupt Festival Cruises. The Musica, Fantasia, Seaside, Meraviglia and LNG-powered World classes followed, and in 2021 the group launched Explora Journeys as a separate luxury brand. MSC World Asia is due in December 2026 and MSC World Atlantic in November 2027. The newer ships are large resorts with indoor promenades, water parks, specialty restaurants and kids' clubs, while the MSC Yacht Club offers a gated suite area with its own restaurant, lounge, pool deck and butler service. Mediterranean itineraries usually let guests board at several ports along the route, and most Caribbean cruises call at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the line's private island in the Bahamas. Known for: MSC is known for modern, large ships at competitive fares, frequent promotions that bundle drinks, Wi-Fi or onboard credit, and the MSC Yacht Club, which reviewers often describe as good value compared with suite enclaves on other big-ship lines. Guests tend to praise the newer ships' looks, family facilities and entertainment, and many mention smooth embarkation and disembarkation. The most common criticisms are crowding in public areas on full sailings, uneven food and slow bar service outside the Yacht Club, and extra charges for Wi-Fi, drinks and shore excursions. The experience also varies noticeably between the older Lirica- and Musica-class ships and the newest World-class ships, so reviewers suggest checking which ship a fare is on. Who it's for: MSC suits families, first-time cruisers and budget-minded travelers who want a big, modern ship with plenty to do at a moderate price, and European travelers who want a Mediterranean holiday with an embarkation port close to home. The Florida ships work well for short Bahamas trips that include Ocean Cay, and the Yacht Club gives travelers who want more space and service a quieter base on a large ship. Travelers looking for a calm, polished atmosphere, consistently refined dining or small-ship destinations should look at premium or luxury lines instead, including MSC's own Explora Journeys. ### Norwegian Cruise Line - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/norwegian-cruise-line - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, First-time cruisers, Friends and groups, Solo travelers, Multigenerational groups - Fleet rating: 3.6/5, average of 20 rated ships (Cabins 4.2, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 4.3, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 3.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (14 ships), Bahamas (9 ships), Transatlantic (8 ships), Mediterranean (7 ships), Alaska (4 ships), Bermuda (4 ships), Panama Canal (4 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Mexican Riviera (3 ships), Canada and New England (2 ships), Hawaii (2 ships), Pacific Coast (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings - Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States - Founded: 1966 - Loyalty program: Latitudes Rewards - Website: https://www.ncl.com/ - Fleet: 20 ships in service, 1 on the way, 1 retired Norwegian Cruise Line is a large mainstream cruise line based in the Miami area and owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which also runs Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Knut Kloster and Ted Arison founded it in 1966, and it grew as Norwegian Caribbean Lines before taking its current name. Under Star Cruises ownership in the early 2000s it launched Freestyle Cruising, which dropped fixed dinner times and formal dress in favor of open seating and many restaurants, an approach much of the industry later copied. The fleet has 20 ships, from the 1998-built Norwegian Spirit to Norwegian Luna, which arrived in 2026, with the larger Norwegian Aura due in May 2027. Pride of America is the only US-flagged ship and sails around Hawaii all year; the others sail the Caribbean and Bahamas from Miami, Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York, Philadelphia, Galveston and San Juan, and spend other seasons in Alaska, Bermuda, Europe, Asia and the South Pacific. Norwegian Sky left in September 2026 for India's Cordelia Cruises, and Norwegian Sun is due to follow in 2027. Sailings range from three-night weekend trips to two-week voyages and longer crossings, and many Caribbean cruises call at the line's private island, Great Stirrup Cay, or at Harvest Caye in Belize. The newest ships add race tracks, waterslides, food halls and tribute shows, and the top suites are sold as The Haven. Drinks packages, specialty dining and Wi-Fi are sold as extras or bundled into fare promotions. Known for: Norwegian is best known for the relaxed Freestyle style it introduced: no set dinner times, few dress rules and a long list of restaurants, bars and shows, plus solo staterooms on many ships and resort-style stops at Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye. Its newest ships draw attention for headline attractions such as the Speedway race tracks and the Aqua Slidecoaster on Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna, and it sails from more than a dozen homeports, many of them in the United States. On the other side, much of what makes the ships appealing is extra: specialty restaurants, drinks and Wi-Fi are add-ons or come through fare promotions, so the cost of a trip depends heavily on what is bought. Satisfaction surveys have been weak lately; a 2026 Consumer Reports survey of nearly 19,000 cruise passengers ranked Norwegian last of 19 lines, with low marks for food, service, value and onboard activities. The fleet also spans almost three decades, so a cruise on Norwegian Spirit differs a lot from one on Norwegian Luna. Who it's for: Norwegian suits travelers who want flexibility: families and groups of friends who like to eat when and where they please, first-time cruisers looking for a short Bahamas or Caribbean trip from Florida, New York, Philadelphia or Galveston, and solo travelers who can book a solo stateroom instead of paying for two. Multigenerational groups will find waterslides and race tracks for younger guests and adults-only areas such as the Vibe Beach Club. Its long Europe, Alaska, Asia and South Pacific itineraries give repeat cruisers plenty of choice, and Pride of America is a simple way to see several Hawaiian islands in a week. Travelers who want an all-inclusive fare, small and quiet ships or refined cuisine should look at premium or luxury lines instead, including NCLH's own Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Anyone who dislikes crowds should note that the largest ships carry around 4,000 guests at double occupancy. ### Oceania Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/oceania-cruises - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Adults only, Food lovers, History and culture, Couples, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 7 rated ships (Cabins 4.1, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 4.6, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (4 ships), Caribbean (3 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Asia (3 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), South America (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings - Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States - Founded: 2002 - Loyalty program: Oceania Club - Website: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/ - Fleet: 7 ships in service, 2 on the way, 1 retired Oceania Cruises is a Miami-based line that sails small and mid-sized ships on port-intensive voyages around the world, with food as its main selling point. Frank Del Rio, Bob Binder and Joe Watters founded it in 2002 and started with former Renaissance Cruises ships; Apollo Global Management bought a majority stake in 2007, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has owned it since 2014. Since January 7, 2026, new bookings are open only to guests aged 18 and over. The fleet has seven ships. Insignia, Nautica and Sirena are R-class ships built in 1998-2000 of about 30,000 tons and 670 guests; Marina and Riviera (2011-2012) carry 1,250, and the newer Vista and Allura (2023 and 2025) 1,200. Oceania Sonata, first of a larger class of about 86,000 tons, debuts in August 2027 and Oceania Arietta follows in 2029. Nautica is being rebuilt as Oceania Aurelia, a world-voyage ship for fewer than 500 guests, from late 2027. Regatta left the fleet in August 2026, and Sirena has been sold to leave after spring 2028. Most cruises last 10 to 14 days, alongside Grand Voyages and 180-day world cruises. Fares include the specialty restaurants, such as Polo Grill, Toscana, Red Ginger and Jacques, plus Wi-Fi, gratuities, soft drinks, specialty coffee and laundry; since September 2025 guests also pick either wine and beer with lunch and dinner or a shore excursion credit. Known for: Oceania's reputation rests on food. It markets itself around 'The Finest Cuisine at Sea', includes its specialty restaurants in every fare and runs culinary programs on board and ashore, from cooking demonstrations and workshops to chef-led Culinary Discovery Tours. Small ships, itineraries with long port days and overnight stays, and inclusions such as Wi-Fi, gratuities and laundry are its other main draws, and the 2026 switch to adults-only travel reinforced the calm atmosphere the line says its guests choose it for. The trade-offs are mainly fleet age and inclusions. The three remaining R-class ships date from 1998-2000 and have fewer restaurants and public rooms than Marina, Riviera, Vista and Allura, and the line has been selling, chartering or rebuilding that older group. Fares are also less inclusive than at all-inclusive luxury lines such as its sister Regent Seven Seas Cruises: cocktails and most excursions cost extra, beyond the choice of mealtime wine and beer or an excursion credit. Who it's for: Oceania suits adults, often couples and solo travelers, who choose a cruise for the destinations and the food: people who want varied itineraries with long or overnight port stays and who put a good dinner ahead of nightlife. Vista and Allura have staterooms designed for solo guests, and the many two-week, Grand Voyage and world-cruise options suit mature travelers with time to spare. Since January 2026 no one under 18 can be booked, so families should look elsewhere, as should travelers who want a lively, high-energy ship or the lowest fares. Those who want excursions and drinks fully included may prefer Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania's sister line. ### Oceanwide Expeditions - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/oceanwide-expeditions - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Adventure seekers, Couples, Value seekers - Fleet rating: 3.0/5, average of 4 rated ships (Cabins 2.8, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 2.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Northern Europe (4 ships), Antarctica (3 ships) - Headquarters: Vlissingen, Netherlands - Founded: 1993 - Website: https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/ - Fleet: 4 ships in service Oceanwide Expeditions is a Dutch polar cruise operator based in Vlissingen that runs small expedition ships to Antarctica and the Arctic. Its fleet of four combines a purpose-built ship, Hondius, with two converted research vessels, Ortelius and Plancius, and the sailing schooner Rembrandt van Rijn, carrying between 33 and 170 guests. Founded in 1993, the company bought Plancius in 2010 and added Ortelius and Rembrandt van Rijn in 2012, then took delivery of Hondius, which it describes as the first passenger ship registered to Polar Class 6, in 2019. Its longtime schooner Noorderlicht passed to a new owner in 2021. In March 2026 Oceanwide signed a letter of intent for two 146-passenger expedition ships with hybrid sail propulsion, expected from 2029. Trips lean toward activity: base-camp voyages with camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and photo workshops, Weddell Sea voyages that use helicopters from Ortelius, and Ross Sea and South Georgia expeditions. Antarctic departures are mainly round trips from Ushuaia, while Arctic summers center on Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland. Known for: Oceanwide has a reputation as a practical, activity-focused polar operator. Reviewers often praise the guides, the number of landings and options such as camping and mountaineering, and the company's willingness to run remote routes: Ortelius set records for the farthest south reached by a passenger ship in the Weddell Sea in 2025 and 2026, and in 2025 Oceanwide organized the cleanup of graffiti on a historic building at Whalers Bay for the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. The trade-off is comfort. Ortelius and Plancius are older converted ships with simpler cabins and fewer amenities than newer expedition vessels, and Rembrandt van Rijn is a traditional schooner with close quarters. In April and May 2026 a hantavirus outbreak aboard Hondius, during a voyage that left Ushuaia on 1 April, drew worldwide news coverage; three passengers died and others were evacuated for treatment. Who it's for: Oceanwide suits travelers who put landings, wildlife and activities ahead of luxury: hikers, campers, kayakers, photographers and people who want the more remote Weddell Sea or Ross Sea routes. Hondius offers the most modern comfort; Ortelius and Plancius suit travelers happy with older, simpler ships; and Rembrandt van Rijn appeals to sailing enthusiasts who do not mind small cabins. Travelers who want suites, spas, fine dining or a polished hotel experience should consider luxury expedition lines, and those prone to seasickness should note that the smaller and older ships move more in open water. ### Paul Gauguin Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/paul-gauguin-cruises - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Families - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 1 rated ships (Cabins 4.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 5.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Asia (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Ponant Explorations Group - Headquarters: Marseille, France - Founded: 1998 - Loyalty program: Ponant Yacht Club - Website: https://www.pgcruises.com/ - Fleet: 1 ship in service Paul Gauguin Cruises is a one-ship luxury line devoted to Tahiti and French Polynesia. Its m/s Paul Gauguin, a 330-guest ship built for these waters, sails mostly 7- to 14-night round trips from Papeete to the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas and the Cook Islands, with occasional longer voyages to Fiji, Tonga, Australia and Indonesia. The line takes its name from the painter Paul Gauguin, who lived and worked in Polynesia for about ten years. Its ship began sailing there in 1998 under Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Pacific Beachcomber took over the line and the ship in 2010 and briefly ran a second, smaller ship, Tere Moana, which left the fleet in 2016. Ponant bought Paul Gauguin Cruises in 2019, and the line is now part of the Ponant Explorations Group, which also runs Ponant and Aqua Expeditions. Fares are largely all-inclusive, and the ship carries about one crew member for every one and a half guests. Polynesian culture runs through life on board, with local hosts and entertainers known as Les Gauguins and Les Gauguines, and a retractable marina at the stern launches kayaking, paddleboarding and PADI scuba diving. On select departures a kids' program run with a local ocean foundation offers activities for ages 7 to 15. Known for: Paul Gauguin Cruises is known for its long specialization in French Polynesia and a ship designed around the region, and it does well in readers' polls: Condé Nast Traveler readers voted it the best small cruise line in 2024 and 2025, and Travel + Leisure gave it the top small-ship ocean line award in its 2022 World's Best Awards. Reviewers often praise the crew's warmth, the Polynesian entertainers and the watersports marina. The usual criticisms are that the ship, completed in 1997, is older than many luxury rivals despite its refits, that the lower cabin grades have windows or portholes rather than balconies, and that reaching Tahiti means long and costly flights for most guests. Who it's for: Paul Gauguin Cruises suits couples and honeymooners, snorkelers and divers, and travelers who want to see several Polynesian islands in a week without changing hotels, with most extras included in the fare. Families can sail on the departures that offer the kids' program. Travelers looking for a big-ship resort with many restaurants and nightlife, for itineraries beyond the South Pacific, or for a low-cost holiday should look elsewhere. ### P&O Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/p-o-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, Couples, Adults only - Fleet rating: 3.4/5, average of 7 rated ships (Cabins 3.3, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 3.1, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (2 ships), Canary Islands (2 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Southampton, United Kingdom - Founded: 1977 - Loyalty program: Peninsular Club - Website: https://www.pocruises.com/ - Fleet: 7 ships in service, 1 on the way, 1 retired P&O Cruises is a British cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton and owned by Carnival Corporation. It sails seven ships built or adapted for British holidaymakers, most of them sailing from Southampton, from the adults-only Aurora and Arcadia to Iona and Arvia, the largest ships built for the UK market. Its heritage goes back to 1837, when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company began carrying mail and passengers to Spain and Portugal; the parent P&O set up P&O Cruises as a separate subsidiary in 1977. Its first newbuild, Oriana, arrived in 1995, followed by Aurora in 2000. P&O spun off its cruise business as P&O Princess Cruises in 2000, which merged with Carnival in 2003. Ventura (2008), Azura (2010) and Britannia (2015) followed, and in 2020 and 2022 the line added Iona and Arvia, the first British-market ships to run on liquefied natural gas. Oceana was sold in 2020. In October 2026 Carnival announced that Arcadia will move to Holland America Line after August 2029 and that Cunard's Queen Anne will join P&O in May 2029 under a new name. The ships are designed around British tastes, with pubs, menus created with British chefs and a Union flag painted on the bow since 2014. The large family ships have pools, teen areas and glass-roofed SkyDome venues, while Aurora and Arcadia offer a quieter adults-only alternative. Known for: P&O Cruises claims the longest heritage of any cruise line, and Carnival markets it as Britain's favourite cruise line. Sailing from Southampton, it lets British guests cruise without flying to a port, and its ships carry touches aimed squarely at British travelers, from pubs and afternoon tea to chef-led venues such as the Cookery Club developed by James Martin on Britannia. Iona and Arvia brought the line its largest ships and its first LNG-powered vessels, while Aurora and Arcadia keep an adults-only option in the fleet. Its record also includes well-publicized problems. Aurora's 2005 world cruise was abandoned soon after departure because of propulsion faults, and she had further propulsion trouble on her 2009 world cruise. Ventura and Iona have had norovirus outbreaks, in 2024 and 2025. In 2022 the line also faced public backlash after a mass dismissal of staff at P&O Ferries, a separate company sharing the P&O name, and ran newspaper and social media advertising to make clear that it has different owners. Who it's for: P&O Cruises suits British travelers who want a holiday that starts at Southampton and feels familiar on board: families on the big ships, couples and groups of friends, and first-time cruisers who want British food, entertainment and service. Adults who prefer a calmer, child-free ship can choose Aurora or Arcadia. Travelers from outside the UK, or anyone who would rather fly to a warm-weather port than spend the first days at sea sailing south from Southampton, may find lines with more North American or Mediterranean departures a better fit. Those looking for small ships or all-inclusive luxury should look elsewhere. ### Ponant - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/ponant - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Adventure seekers, History and culture, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 3.8/5, average of 12 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.6, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (7 ships), Northern Europe (6 ships), Antarctica (5 ships), Caribbean (4 ships), Canada and New England (4 ships), Panama Canal (3 ships), Canary Islands (3 ships), South America (3 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), Asia (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), South Pacific (2 ships), Mexican Riviera (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship) - Owner: Ponant Explorations Group (Artémis) - Headquarters: Marseille, France - Founded: 1988 - Loyalty program: Ponant Yacht Club - Website: https://us.ponant.com/ - Fleet: 12 ships in service Ponant is a French cruise line that sails small, French-flagged ships on luxury voyages and polar expeditions, from the Mediterranean and the Caribbean to the Arctic, Antarctica, Asia and the South Pacific. Its 12 ships carry between 32 and 264 guests, and the line now trades as Ponant Explorations within a group that also owns Paul Gauguin Cruises and Aqua Expeditions. Philippe Videau and Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée founded the company in 1988 with fellow French merchant navy officers, and its first ship, the three-masted Le Ponant, began sailing in 1991. The container shipping group CMA CGM bought Ponant in 2006 and moved its head office from Nantes to Marseille; the investment firm Bridgepoint took over in 2012, and Artémis, the Pinault family's holding company, in 2015. Four Fincantieri-built Sisterships arrived between 2010 and 2015, six smaller Ponant Explorers between 2018 and 2020, and the LNG-powered icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot in 2021. A Ponant voyage is built around small numbers and a French sensibility: cuisine is a centerpiece, the ships have spas and pools, and evenings bring talks by guest experts and naturalists, concerts and small-scale shows. Expedition itineraries add Zodiac landings, and the Explorers have an underwater lounge below the waterline. Many departures are themed around music, gastronomy or partners such as Smithsonian Journeys, The Explorers Club and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Known for: Ponant is best known for expedition cruising in comfort: its small ships reach the polar regions, remote islands and harbors that bigger vessels cannot, and Le Commandant Charcot takes guests to the geographic North Pole and deep into the Antarctic ice. Reviewers often praise the French cooking and wine, the design of the ships, and the range of themed voyages and partner programs. The drawbacks most often raised are cost, with polar fares commonly well into five figures per person, and the usual expedition caveat that weather and ice decide what a given voyage actually sees. In 2020 the company was criticized for declining to give refunds on cruises cancelled because of COVID-19. Who it's for: Ponant suits travelers who want unusual or remote itineraries without giving up comfort: couples and solo travelers who care more about wildlife, lectures and good food than nightlife, and anyone drawn to the Arctic or Antarctica. Its yacht-style Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises appeal to guests who like a European atmosphere and small ports. Families with young children, travelers on a tight budget and anyone looking for big-ship entertainment, casinos or a long list of restaurants should look elsewhere, as should those who dislike Zodiac landings or schedules that change with the weather. ### Princess Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/princess-cruises - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, Multigenerational groups, First-time cruisers - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 17 rated ships (Cabins 4.2, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (8 ships), Alaska (8 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), Panama Canal (4 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Mexican Riviera (3 ships), Hawaii (3 ships), Pacific Coast (3 ships), Asia (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), South Pacific (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Antarctica (1 ship), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Santa Clarita, California, United States - Founded: 1965 - Loyalty program: Captain's Circle - Website: https://www.princess.com/ - Fleet: 17 ships in service, 5 retired Princess Cruises is an American cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation and based in Santa Clarita, California. Its 17 ships sail most of the world's cruise regions, from Alaska, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal to Japan, Australia and northern Europe, and the line has run its own rail cars and land tours in Alaska since buying Tour Alaska in 1986. The company began in 1965, when founder Stanley McDonald chartered a Canadian Pacific ship for Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles. P&O bought Princess in 1974, folded in the Sitmar fleet in 1988, and in 1998 introduced Grand Princess, then the largest passenger ship afloat. Princess became part of Carnival Corporation in 2003. During the 2020 shutdown and early 2021 it parted with five older ships, and it has since added the LNG-powered Sun Princess (2024) and Star Princess (2025), the largest ships it has operated. The fleet runs from the roughly 2,000-guest Coral class, built to fit the original Panama Canal locks, through the 3,000-guest Grand family and six Royal-class ships to the 4,300-guest Sphere class. Itineraries range from short Caribbean and Mexico trips to Panama Canal transits, Alaska cruisetours, Antarctica and annual world cruises, and repeat guests earn perks through the Captain's Circle program. Known for: Princess has long traded on its link to The Love Boat, the 1970s and 1980s television series set mostly aboard the earlier Pacific Princess, and it is one of the established names in Alaska, where it pairs cruises with land tours and its own rail cars. The line sails to a wide spread of regions year-round, and its Captain's Circle program rewards frequent guests with perks such as Wi-Fi discounts and, at the top tier, free laundry and priority disembarkation. The line has also drawn criticism. In February 2020 the quarantine of Diamond Princess at Yokohama, where 712 people were infected with COVID-19, brought scrutiny of how Princess had first assessed the risk, and outbreaks on Ruby Princess and Grand Princess followed. In 2016 Princess pleaded guilty to illegal oil discharges from Caribbean Princess and other ships and paid a $40 million penalty. Norovirus outbreaks, a hazard across the industry, hit Star Princess and Caribbean Princess in 2026. Who it's for: Princess suits travelers who want a large, well-equipped ship without making the ship itself the whole holiday: couples, retirees, and families traveling across generations. It is a natural choice for Alaska, especially for anyone adding a land tour, and for Panama Canal transits, long voyages and world cruises, where its mid-size Coral-class ships and frequent repositioning sailings give plenty of options. Shorter Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico sailings make it easy for first-time cruisers to try. Travelers who want thrill rides, big water parks or a nightlife-driven atmosphere will usually find more of that on lines that build their newest ships around those features. Those who want small ships, all-inclusive fares or a very high staff-to-guest ratio should look at luxury lines instead. ### Quark Expeditions - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/quark-expeditions - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Adventure seekers, Couples, Solo travelers - Fleet rating: 3.0/5, average of 2 rated ships (Cabins 4.0, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 2.0, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Northern Europe (2 ships), Antarctica (2 ships), South America (1 ship) - Owner: Travelopia - Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States - Founded: 1991 - Loyalty program: The Shackleton Club - Website: https://www.quarkexpeditions.com/ - Fleet: 2 ships in service, 2 retired Quark Expeditions is a polar specialist that sells small-ship voyages only to the Arctic and Antarctica. It is headquartered in Seattle and belongs to Travelopia, a UK-based travel group, and its ships carry no more than 200 guests, with an expedition team that leads Zodiac landings, lectures and optional activities such as kayaking and camping. Co-founders Lars Wikander and Mike McDowell started the company in 1991 and took the first tourist group to the North Pole aboard a nuclear-powered icebreaker. For years Quark chartered Russian icebreakers and ice-class ships, among them Kapitan Khlebnikov and 50 Years of Victory. Its first owned ship, the 199-guest Ultramarine with two helicopters, arrived in 2021. The current fleet pairs Ultramarine with the chartered Ocean Explorer, and from the 2026–27 season adds World Voyager on a seasonal charter from Atlas Ocean Voyages. The long-serving charters Ocean Adventurer and World Explorer left in 2024 and 2026. Antarctic voyages, including Falklands and South Georgia routes, run in the southern summer and mostly start in Ushuaia, Argentina; northern summer voyages visit Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland. Known for: Quark is one of the longest-established names in polar travel, and reviewers often credit its experienced expedition teams, the range of activities on offer and the careful way it runs landings. Ultramarine's helicopter program and water-level Zodiac hangar are frequently singled out, since few rival ships offer either, and the company's small ships allow frequent time ashore. The main criticisms relate to cost and consistency. Polar voyages are expensive, and the most distinctive experiences, such as helicopter flightseeing or camping, have limited places. Because much of Quark's fleet has been chartered, the ships, cabins and onboard style have changed from season to season, and travelers booking a specific voyage should check which ship operates it. Crossings of the Drake Passage can be rough, which affects any Antarctic operator sailing from South America. Who it's for: Quark suits travelers whose priority is the polar regions themselves: first-time Antarctic visitors who want an experienced operator, and returning polar travelers looking for more active options such as kayaking, camping or helicopter flights from Ultramarine. Solo travelers will find dedicated offers, and the small guest numbers suit people who want time ashore rather than time on board. Anyone looking for warm-water cruising or a broad mix of destinations needs another line, since Quark sails only to the poles, and travelers who want extensive luxury amenities, large suites or a varied entertainment program should compare luxury expedition lines. ### Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/regent-seven-seas-cruises - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 4.7/5, average of 6 rated ships (Cabins 4.8, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (4 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), Australia and New Zealand (3 ships), Asia (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), South America (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings - Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States - Founded: 1992 - Loyalty program: Seven Seas Society - Website: https://www.rssc.com/ - Fleet: 6 ships in service, 1 on the way Regent Seven Seas Cruises is an all-inclusive luxury cruise line based in Miami. It dates from 1992 and sailed as Radisson Seven Seas Cruises until 2006. Apollo Global Management bought it from Carlson Companies in 2008, and since 2014 it has belonged to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, alongside Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises. The fleet has six ships carrying about 500 to 750 guests each: Seven Seas Navigator (1999), Mariner (2001) and Voyager (2003), and the larger Seven Seas Explorer, Splendor and Grandeur (2016-2023). Mariner and Voyager were refurbished in 2025 and 2026. Seven Seas Prestige, the first of a new, larger class carrying 822 guests, debuts in December 2026, with sister ships planned for 2030, 2033 and 2036. The ships roam worldwide, from Alaska, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean to Asia, Australia, South America and annual world cruises. Fares include unlimited shore excursions in every port, specialty restaurants, fine wines and premium spirits, a daily refilled minibar, unlimited Wi-Fi, gratuities and valet laundry, plus a pre-cruise hotel night for Concierge-level suites and above; the top fare also covers flights and transfers. Besides voyages of one to a few weeks, Regent sells Grand Voyages and world cruises of up to 150 nights. Known for: Regent is known for one of the most inclusive fares in cruising: excursions, drinks, specialty dining, Wi-Fi and gratuities are all in the price, so there are few bills on board. It also stresses space and service, with suites for every guest and high crew numbers; Seven Seas Prestige, for example, will have one crew member for every 1.31 guests. Its newer ships have very large top suites, such as the 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite on Seven Seas Splendor. The flip side is that everything is priced into the fare, so guests who skip excursions or drink little pay for inclusions they do not use. The three older ships date from 1999 to 2003 and are smaller and simpler than the Explorer-class trio, although Mariner and Voyager were refurbished in 2025 and 2026 and Navigator has a dry dock planned for late 2026. Who it's for: Regent suits travelers, often couples, who want a luxury trip where almost everything is paid in advance: guests who plan to join excursions in most ports, enjoy wine and cocktails with dinner and value roomy suites and attentive service. Its port-rich itineraries, Grand Voyages and world cruises suit culturally curious travelers with time to spare, and its specialty restaurants and cooking classes appeal to food lovers. Families with young children, budget-minded travelers and anyone after big-ship attractions or busy nightlife will find better matches on mainstream lines such as Norwegian Cruise Line; travelers who want a culinary focus with a lower fare and fewer inclusions might compare Oceania Cruises. ### Resorts World Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/resorts-world-cruises - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, First-time cruisers - Founded: 2022 - Fleet: 0 ships in service, 2 retired Resorts World Cruises was a cruise brand controlled by Malaysian businessman Lim Kok Thay, chairman of the Genting Group, that ran short cruises in Asia and the Arabian Gulf from 2022 to 2025. It no longer sells cruises: in 2025 its ships moved to the revived StarCruises and Dream Cruises brands, which the company now presents together as StarDream Cruises. The brand was set up in 2022 after the liquidation of Genting Hong Kong, the former parent of Star Cruises and Dream Cruises, and Lim's Resorts World also bought the Star Cruises trademarks that year. Its first ship was Genting Dream, chartered after Dream Cruises collapsed and based in Singapore. The former Explorer Dream joined in February 2023 as Resorts World One, sailing from Hong Kong and, from November 2024, from Dubai. In February 2025 the company announced it would split its operations into StarCruises, for affordable port-intensive trips, and Dream Cruises, for a more upscale product; Resorts World One became Star Navigator, and Genting Dream returned to Dream Cruises. Most Resorts World cruises lasted two to five nights and were sold largely to travelers in the region. Onboard programs included family sailings with LEGO activities in summer 2023 and extra privileges for balcony guests introduced in 2024. Known for: Resorts World Cruises was best known as the company that kept two former Genting Hong Kong ships sailing after that group's 2022 collapse, restarting short cruises from Singapore and Hong Kong and adding new bases such as Dubai in late 2024. Trade coverage focused on these deployments and on themed sailings, from LEGO family cruises to special-interest voyages, rather than on detailed passenger reviews, and little English-language review material on the brand itself was found for this profile. Its main lasting effect was practical: the brand lasted under three years before the company returned to the better-known StarCruises and Dream Cruises names, so travelers now book its former ships under those brands. Who it's for: Resorts World Cruises no longer operates, so this profile is a historical record. Travelers interested in the kind of short regional cruise it offered should look at its successors. StarCruises, with Star Navigator (the former Resorts World One) and Star Voyager, aims at budget-conscious travelers with short, port-heavy trips from Singapore and Taiwan. Dream Cruises, with Genting Dream sailing from Singapore year-round, targets travelers who want a larger ship and a more upscale experience on cruises to Malaysia and Thailand. ### Riviera Travel - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/riviera-travel - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, Solo travelers, History and culture, Value seekers, First-time cruisers - Fleet rating: 3.8/5, average of 13 rated ships (Cabins 4.2, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 4.0, Value 5.0) - Usually sails: Danube (8 ships), Rhine (6 ships), Douro (3 ships), Rhône (2 ships), Seine (1 ship) - Owner: Silverfleet Capital Partners - Headquarters: Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom - Founded: 1984 - Website: https://www.rivieratravel.com/ - Fleet: 13 ships in service, 2 on the way Riviera Travel is a British tour operator best known for all-inclusive river cruises on Europe's waterways, on a fleet of ships built and operated with Swiss partners. It also sells escorted tours, yacht cruises in Croatia and grand tours, and has a North American office in Fort Lauderdale. The company traces its roots to the early 1980s, when founder Michael Wright ran camping holidays in the south of France; its first coach trip, to Paris, ran in 1984. Escorted tours across Europe followed, then long-haul trips, and in 2009 its first river cruises. By 2014 it carried more than 110,000 guests a year and called itself the UK's largest escorted tour operator. Its river fleet now numbers thirteen ships on the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Seine, Rhône and Douro, from the 2013 Lord Byron to Riviera Radiance (2025) and Riviera Resplendence (2026). Riviera Reflection and the Mekong ship Riviera Alba follow in 2027, when George Eliot also becomes a solo-travelers-only ship. Most of the ships are 110 or 135 metres long with four decks and 116 to 178 guests. Fares include drinks through the day (wine, beer, cocktails, house spirits), all meals, daily guided excursions, Wi-Fi, port charges and a Riviera cruise director, and more than 80% of cabins have a French or full balcony. Known for: Riviera Travel collects a long list of consumer and trade awards. Its own pages cite USA Today 10Best readers' choice honors every year from 2021 to 2025, including best river cruise line in 2025, a top-five place in Condé Nast Traveler's 2025 readers' choice river lines, World Cruise Awards and Travel Weekly recognition, Which? recommended-provider status for 14 years, and 'Excellent' ratings from thousands of Trustpilot and Feefo reviews. Points to weigh: most ships date from 2013 to 2019 and several are presented by Riviera as classics with traditional interiors, up to a fifth of cabins have no balcony, there are no wheelchair-accessible cabins on any ship, and Riviera posts updates when Rhine and Danube water levels force itinerary changes. Who it's for: Riviera suits couples who want a comfortable, sociable river cruise with drinks, excursions and Wi-Fi included at fares the company pitches as good value, and who enjoy culture-heavy itineraries with daily guided tours. Solo travelers are a particular focus, with solo-only departures, no single supplement on those sailings and, from 2027, the solo-exclusive George Eliot. First-time river cruisers will find a simple, inclusive format and a guarantee that refunds the trip if guests are unhappy by the end of the second day. Families should look elsewhere, since children under 12 are not allowed on the ships, as should wheelchair users, who will find no accessible cabins. ### Royal Caribbean International - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean-international - Style: Mainstream (big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets) - Best for: Families, First-time cruisers, Multigenerational groups, Friends and groups - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 30 rated ships (Cabins 4.2, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 4.9, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (20 ships), Bahamas (18 ships), Mediterranean (6 ships), Transatlantic (6 ships), Alaska (4 ships), Mexican Riviera (3 ships), Asia (3 ships), Bermuda (2 ships), Canada and New England (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), South Pacific (2 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), Hawaii (1 ship) - Owner: Royal Caribbean Group - Headquarters: Miami, Florida, United States - Founded: 1969 - Loyalty program: Crown & Anchor Society - Website: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/ - Fleet: 30 ships in service, 1 on the way, 2 retired Royal Caribbean International is a Miami-based cruise line built around very large ships packed with activities. Started by Norwegian shipping companies and launched in 1969, it put its first ship, Song of Norway, into service in 1970, has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group since 1997, and is the largest cruise line by revenue. The line has repeatedly built the world's biggest cruise ships, from Sovereign of the Seas in 1988 to the Oasis class in 2009 and the LNG-powered Icon class in 2024. Its 30 ships span seven classes, from Vision-class ships of the 1990s carrying about 2,000 guests to Icon-class ships carrying more than 5,600 at double occupancy, and a fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, is due in August 2027. Most of the fleet sails short and weeklong Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from Florida, Texas, New Jersey and Puerto Rico, many stopping at the line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, while other ships are based in Europe, Alaska, Asia and Australia. Days aboard revolve around attractions such as surf simulators, water slides, ice shows and large theater productions, with specialty restaurants and drink and dining packages sold on top of the fare. Known for: Royal Caribbean is best known for big-ship innovation: rock walls, surf simulators, ice rinks and zip lines on older classes, and waterparks, the AquaDome and huge pool decks on the newest ones. It has won industry awards such as Travel Weekly's Best Cruise Line Overall in 2016, and Perfect Day at CocoCay is a major draw on Bahamas sailings. The common criticisms are the flip side of that scale. The largest ships carry well over 5,000 guests, so pools, shows and buffets can feel busy at peak times, and many extras, from specialty dining to drink and internet packages, add to the cost. The fleet also varies widely in age, so a cruise on a 1990s Vision-class ship is quite different from one on an Icon-class ship. The company has also paid environmental penalties, including a US$475,000 EPA fine in 2024 over waste reporting. Who it's for: Royal Caribbean suits families with children and teens, groups of friends and first-time cruisers who want plenty to do on board and easy short cruises from US ports. Multigenerational groups like the range of activities, cabin types and dining on the Oasis and Icon classes, and travelers who want a private-island beach day will find it on most Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries. Travelers who want a quiet, small-ship atmosphere, an adults-only setting or an all-inclusive fare will usually be happier with a premium or luxury line. Those who prefer port-intensive cultural itineraries should look closely at the European and Asian programs, or at smaller ships, rather than the short Bahamas runs. ### Saga Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/saga-cruises - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, Solo travelers, Adults only, History and culture - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 6 rated ships (Cabins 4.7, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 4.3, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (2 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), Canary Islands (2 ships), Rhine (2 ships), Caribbean (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Danube (1 ship), Douro (1 ship) - Owner: Saga plc - Headquarters: Folkestone, England - Founded: 1996 - Loyalty program: Britannia Club - Website: https://travel.saga.co.uk/cruises - Fleet: 6 ships in service, 1 on the way, 1 retired Saga Cruises, formally Saga Shipping, is the cruise division of the British over-50s specialist Saga plc and is based in Folkestone, England. It began in 1997 with the former Cunard ship Gripsholm, renamed Saga Rose, and for two decades sailed secondhand classic ships such as Saga Ruby, Saga Pearl II and Saga Sapphire. A fleet renewal replaced them with Saga's first newbuilds from Meyer Werft: Spirit of Discovery in 2019 and Spirit of Adventure, which debuted in 2021 after pandemic delays. Saga has also built its own river fleet at Serbia's Vahali yard, starting with Spirit of the Rhine in 2021, followed by Spirit of the Danube and Spirit of the Moselle, with Spirit of the Lorelei due in 2027, and it also sells cruises on the Douro Serenity in Portugal. Cruises are sold to travelers aged 50 and over as all-inclusive holidays: the river ship pages list drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi as included, specialty restaurants on the ocean ships carry no charge, and a return chauffeur service to the port is part of the offer. Ocean cruises sail round trip from Portsmouth and Dover to the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean, Norway and the Baltic, with long voyages to the Caribbean and South America. Known for: Saga is known in Britain for cruises built entirely around the over-50s, with smaller new ships, all-inclusive fares and a door-to-door chauffeur service that takes much of the hassle out of getting to the port. Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure are modern but carry fewer than 1,000 guests, so the line offers new-ship comfort without big-ship crowds, and its included specialty dining and solo-friendly approach are part of the draw. The flip side is price and audience. Advertised fares sit well above other UK lines on similar routes: in late 2026 a two-week Canary Islands cruise on Spirit of Discovery was listed from £3,768 per person, against about £1,500 for a two-week Canaries cruise on Fred. Olsen, though Saga bundles in more. The age rule also makes the atmosphere quiet and mature by design. The ocean fleet is only two ships, so itinerary choice is narrower than on larger lines, and the most valuable Britannia Club rewards start only at 500 nights at sea. Who it's for: Saga suits British travelers aged 50 and over, including solo travelers and couples, who want an all-inclusive cruise from a UK port on a modern ship of under 1,000 guests, with transport to the ship arranged for them. Its river cruises suit the same audience on the Rhine, Danube, Moselle and Douro, with the same inclusive approach. Because Saga sails only for guests aged 50 and over, younger travelers and families with children are not catered for, and anyone wanting nightlife, big production shows or the lowest possible fare will find better options on mainstream lines. ### Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/scenic - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Food lovers, Adventure seekers - Fleet rating: 3.9/5, average of 16 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 2.4, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (8 ships), Danube (8 ships), Northern Europe (2 ships), South America (2 ships), Antarctica (2 ships), Mediterranean (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship), Seine (1 ship), Rhône (1 ship), Douro (1 ship), Mekong (1 ship) - Owner: Scenic Group - Headquarters: Sydney, Australia - Founded: 1986 - Loyalty program: Scenic & Emerald Rewards - Website: https://scenic.cruises/ - Fleet: 16 ships in service, 3 on the way Scenic is an Australian-founded cruise and tour company best known for all-inclusive river cruises in Europe and Southeast Asia, and since 2019 for two small ocean-going expedition ships it calls Discovery Yachts. It belongs to Scenic Group, which also owns Emerald Cruises. The business began in 1986 as Warrnambool Scenic Tours, running coach trips along Victoria's Great Ocean Road, and grew into an international escorted-tour operator by the late 1990s. It chartered river ships in Europe from 2006 before building its own fleet of 135-metre "Space-Ships" from 2008; France followed in 2013, the Mekong ship Scenic Spirit in 2016, Scenic Eclipse in 2019 and Scenic Eclipse II in 2023. Today the river fleet counts eleven Space-Ships on the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Rhône, Seine and Bordeaux's rivers, Scenic Azure on the Douro and Scenic Spirit on the Mekong, with Scenic Aura being refitted for India and more ships, including the 270-guest Scenic Ikon, on order for 2027 and 2028. Fares are sold as all-inclusive: drinks are included apart from a few rare wines and spirits, shore excursions are chosen through the Scenic Freechoice program, private Scenic Enrich events add concerts and similar outings, and butlers are part of the crew. River ships carry up to 163 guests in suites, most with an enclosed Sun Lounge balcony, and offer up to five dining venues. The Discovery Yachts add helicopters and a submarine, at extra cost, for polar and warm-water voyages. Known for: Scenic is regularly ranked among the top river cruise lines, including Condé Nast Traveler readers' choice listings in 2018 and 2021 to 2023, and its ships draw praise for space, all-suite accommodation and inclusions that leave little to pay on board. Scenic Spirit was named Asia's best river cruise ship at the 2022 World Cruise Awards, and Scenic Eclipse II was a Cruise Critic pick for best new expedition ship in 2023. Things travelers weigh against that: fares sit at the top of the river market because so much is bundled in; several Europe ships date from 2008 to 2011, though the whole Europe fleet was refurbished in 2024; river itineraries can be altered by high or low water, as Scenic's own terms note; and the yachts' helicopter and submarine outings cost extra and are not allowed in many countries. Who it's for: Scenic suits couples and experienced travelers who want a polished, all-in price, with drinks and excursions settled before departure, and who value roomy suites over onboard entertainment. Food and wine lovers will find several dining venues on each ship and, on the France ships, a cooking school. The Discovery Yachts fit travelers who want Antarctica, the Arctic or the Kimberley with expedition gear but hotel-level comfort. Travelers who want kids' clubs, nightlife or big-ship activities, and anyone shopping on price alone should look elsewhere; Scenic Group's own Emerald Cruises sells a similar river product with fewer inclusions. ### Seabourn - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/seabourn - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers, History and culture, Adventure seekers - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 5 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 4.8, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (2 ships), Antarctica (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship), World cruises (1 ship) - Owner: Carnival Corporation & plc - Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States - Founded: 1986 - Loyalty program: Seabourn Club - Website: https://www.seabourn.com/ - Fleet: 5 ships in service, 2 retired Seabourn is a luxury cruise line based in Seattle and owned by Carnival Corporation. It sails five small ships: Seabourn Quest, with about 450 guests; the 600-guest sisters Seabourn Encore and Seabourn Ovation; and two 264-guest expedition ships, Seabourn Venture and Seabourn Pursuit, built to Polar Class 6 standards. The line was founded in 1986 by Norwegian investor Atle Brynestad and Warren Titus, briefly under the name Signet Cruise Lines, and its first ship, Seabourn Pride, entered service in 1988. Carnival bought a stake in 1991 and later took full ownership, and the company moved its offices from Miami to Seattle in 2011. The three original small ships went to Windstar Cruises in 2014 and 2015 as the larger Odyssey-class ships (2009 to 2011) and Encore-class ships (2016 and 2018) took over, and Seabourn entered expedition cruising with Venture in 2022 and Pursuit in 2023. It sold Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn to Mitsui Ocean Cruises; they left in 2024 and May 2026. All accommodation is in ocean-view suites, most with verandas, and Seabourn sells its fares as all-inclusive. The ocean ships sail the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Alaska, Asia, the Caribbean, Canada and New England and annual world cruises, while the expedition ships carry Zodiacs, kayaks and expedition teams to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Kimberley and the South Pacific. Known for: Seabourn is one of the established names in small-ship luxury cruising. Its ships have collected industry awards, including a Travvy Award for Seabourn Ovation as best luxury cruise ship and a Cruise International British Cruise Awards title for Seabourn Encore as best new ship. Guests get suites throughout, fares that include most extras, and a loyalty program that adds onboard perks and free award cruises for frequent travelers. Its two expedition ships, with polar-class hulls and dedicated expedition teams, have extended the brand to Antarctica and the Arctic. The fleet is small and has been shrinking: sales of Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn cut capacity by about 15 percent between 2021 and 2026, so there are fewer ships and departures to choose from than a few years ago. Fares are well above those of mainstream and premium lines, and the newest ocean ship, Seabourn Ovation, dates from 2018. Who it's for: Seabourn suits experienced travelers who want a small ship, a suite, and fares that cover most extras: couples, food and wine enthusiasts, and people who value port-rich itineraries in the Mediterranean, northern Europe, Alaska and Asia. Its expedition ships suit those who want Antarctica, the Arctic or remote Pacific and Australian coastlines without giving up luxury service, and its world cruises suit guests with months to spare. Budget-minded travelers, and families looking for kids' clubs and big-ship attractions, should look at larger lines. Anyone who prefers a wide choice of departure dates from one home port may find the small, roaming fleet limiting. Cruising solo: - No solo cabins - Single supplement: No single suites. Solo guests pay a single-occupancy fare above the per-person double rate; no fixed fleetwide percentage is published. Seabourn keeps a Solo Travelers offer in its Special Offers section that reduces the single supplement on selected voyages, often on the expedition ships. - Meeting other solo guests: Open-seating dining with shared and hosted tables on request, Seabourn Square as the ship's social hub, pre-dinner gatherings in The Club and Seabourn Conversations lectures. No dedicated solo host or solo meetups. Seabourn's small all-suite ships (264 to 600 guests) are easy places to cruise alone: open seating, hosted tables and an all-inclusive fare that covers drinks and tips. There are no solo suites and the supplement can be steep, so watch the official Solo Travelers offer, which cuts the supplement on selected sailings. The 264-guest expedition ships Venture and Pursuit are the most sociable choice for solos. ### SeaDream Yacht Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/seadream-yacht-club - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers, Adventure seekers - Fleet rating: 3.5/5, average of 2 rated ships (Cabins 3.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (2 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Transatlantic (2 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship), Norwegian Fjords (1 ship) - Headquarters: Oslo, Norway - Founded: 2001 - Loyalty program: SeaDream Club - Website: https://seadream.com/ - Fleet: 2 ships in service, 1 on the way SeaDream Yacht Club was founded in 2001 by Norwegian entrepreneur Atle Brynestad, who had earlier founded Seabourn Cruise Line. He bought the two former Sea Goddess ships he knew from his Seabourn years, rebuilt them, and relaunched them as SeaDream I and SeaDream II, twin yachts of about 4,300 gross tons for 112 guests each. The company describes itself as small and family owned, and in 2026 it marked its 25th anniversary by announcing SeaDream III, a 230-guest new build due in 2029. The motto is "It's yachting, not cruising": the ships carry 95 crew for 112 guests, every stateroom faces the sea, and fares include an open bar and gratuities. A watersports marina that can be lowered into the sea is used for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and other water sports, and the top deck has Balinese Dream Beds and a bar. The twins spend winters in the Caribbean, mostly from San Juan and St. Thomas, and summers in the Mediterranean, with occasional seasons in Northern Europe and Norway and longer voyages farther afield. Known for: SeaDream has a long record of awards: both yachts have held a Berlitz five-star rating since 2003, they have appeared on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and in its Readers' Choice Awards, and in 2025 Forbes Travel Guide cited the highest-rated restaurant at sea while Travel + Leisure named it the best intimate ship experience. Guests tend to praise the personal service, the food and the relaxed, club-like atmosphere. On the other hand, the ships are more than 40 years old, and their accommodations have been described as less luxurious than those on Seabourn or Silversea ships. In November 2020 a COVID-19 outbreak aboard SeaDream I in the Caribbean led the line to cancel the rest of its 2020 sailings. Who it's for: SeaDream suits couples and small groups who want a private-yacht atmosphere, flexible days, water sports from the ship, and an inclusive bar, in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. It is also a natural fit for chartering a whole yacht. Travelers who want large suites, a wide choice of restaurants and entertainment, or the newest hardware should look at larger luxury lines or wait for SeaDream III. ### Silversea Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/silversea-cruises - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Adventure seekers, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 12 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (6 ships), Caribbean (4 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), Transatlantic (4 ships), Asia (4 ships), Antarctica (3 ships), South Pacific (3 ships), Alaska (2 ships), Australia and New Zealand (2 ships), Canada and New England (1 ship), South America (1 ship), Galápagos (1 ship) - Owner: Royal Caribbean Group - Headquarters: Fontvieille, Monaco - Founded: 1994 - Loyalty program: Venetian Society - Website: https://www.silversea.com/ - Fleet: 12 ships in service, 2 retired Silversea is a luxury cruise line with executive offices in Monaco and operations offices in Miami. It was founded in 1994 by Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio of Rome and V-Ships of Monaco, former co-owners of Sitmar Cruises, and it launched all-inclusive fares with its first ship, Silver Cloud. Royal Caribbean bought a majority stake in 2018 and the rest of the company in 2020. The 12-ship fleet runs from the 100-guest Silver Origin to the 728-guest Evolution-class Silver Nova and Silver Ray, which use LNG, fuel cells and batteries. Classic ships include Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Spirit and the three Muse-class ships, while Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Endeavour and Silver Origin form an expedition fleet, a line of business Silversea started in 2007, that sails to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Kimberley and the Galápagos. Most voyages run port to port rather than round trip from a fixed base, with Grand Voyages and world cruises for longer trips. Fares are all-inclusive, and the line highlights butler service in every suite, its S.A.L.T. culinary program and the Otium wellness program. Known for: Silversea is known for all-suite ships with a lot of space and crew per guest, all-inclusive fares and butler service, and its expedition fleet, including the polar-class Silver Endeavour, is one of the established luxury options for Antarctica, the Arctic and the Galápagos. The Evolution-class ships added a distinctive asymmetrical design and hybrid power intended to cut emissions. The main criticism is price: fares sit at the top of the market, even with drinks and gratuities included. The experience also varies by ship, since the classic ships from 2000 and 2001 have fewer venues than the newest builds, and some older ships were reconfigured for expedition use. Silver Shadow drew attention in 2013 when she failed a surprise US public-health inspection after crew reported food being hidden from inspectors. Who it's for: Silversea suits experienced travelers, mostly couples, who want small ships, port-rich itineraries and an all-inclusive luxury fare, and who value food, service and space over onboard attractions. Its expedition ships appeal to adventurous travelers heading to Antarctica, the Arctic or the Galápagos who still want suites and fine dining, and its Grand Voyages and world cruises suit those with time for long trips. Families with young children, travelers on a budget and anyone looking for water slides, big production shows or a lively nightlife scene will find better matches on mainstream or premium lines. Travelers who want a fixed home port for an easy round trip should check itineraries carefully, since most Silversea voyages are one way. ### Star Clippers - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/star-clippers - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, Adventure seekers, History and culture - Fleet rating: 3.0/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 2.0, Dining 3.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 2.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (3 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Transatlantic (3 ships), Panama Canal (2 ships), Canary Islands (1 ship) - Headquarters: Monaco - Founded: 1989 - Website: https://www.starclippers.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service Star Clippers sails three modern tall ships, Star Flyer, Star Clipper and Royal Clipper, on cruises under sail in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and Central America, with Panama Canal transits and Atlantic crossings in between. The ships carry roughly 166 to 227 passengers, and Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Records title for the biggest square-rigger still sailing. The line is the work of Mikael Krafft, a lifelong sailor born in Stockholm, whose plan for new clipper ships took shape during an Atlantic crossing aboard his own yacht. Star Flyer entered service in 1991 and Star Clipper in 1992, both from a Belgian yard, and Royal Clipper followed in 2000. A still larger five-masted ship ordered from Croatia's Brodosplit yard, Flying Clipper, was never delivered because of a dispute with the shipyard and was later chartered to another company as Golden Horizon. A Star Clippers cruise is closer to a sailing holiday than a resort at sea. The ships sail whenever the wind allows, guests can lend a hand with the sails, and the captain holds an informal briefing on deck each morning. Dress is smart casual with a single captain's dinner, meals are open seating, and evenings center on the piano bar and the open-air Tropical Bar rather than production shows. Kayaks, snorkel gear and sailing dinghies are free to use, and most cruises last a week, with Grand Voyages of 15 to 24 nights. Known for: Star Clippers has a loyal following among people who love sailing: the ships are handsome, much of the rigging is still worked by hand, and reviewers often praise the relaxed, sociable atmosphere and the crew's enthusiasm. The small ships also reach harbors and anchorages that big cruise ships skip. The common criticisms follow from the same character: cabins are compact, mostly 12 to 14 square metres, there is little organized entertainment beyond deck games and local performers, and the engines take over when the wind is too light to keep to the schedule. Guests expecting the amenities of a modern luxury ship may find the facilities simple. Who it's for: Star Clippers suits couples, friends and solo travelers who want to feel a ship sail, enjoy swimming and water sports, and prefer small harbors and casual company to big-ship amenities; the line also runs solo, family and themed offers such as yoga cruises. It is a poor fit for travelers who want large cabins, many restaurants, nightly shows or a casino, and anyone who dislikes a ship that moves with the wind should look elsewhere. ### Swan Hellenic - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/swan-hellenic - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Adventure seekers - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 4.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Antarctica (3 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship) - Headquarters: Larnaca, Cyprus - Founded: 1954 - Website: https://www.swanhellenic.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service Swan Hellenic is a cruise line of British origin that built its name on lecture-led cultural cruising and now sails three new expedition ships to Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote regions. Its ships carry 152 to 192 guests and pair polar-class hulls with hotel-style comforts. The brand began as Swan's Tours, a family travel agency whose tours of Greek antiquities, with guest lecturers such as the archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler, grew into a full cruise program; the line dates itself to 1954. P&O bought it in 1983 and it later passed to Carnival, which closed it in 2007. All Leisure Holidays revived it with the ship Minerva until that group went into administration in January 2017. After a brief ownership by G Adventures, a team led by Andrea Zito bought the brand in 2020 and ordered ships from Helsinki Shipyard: SH Minerva (2021), SH Vega (2022) and the larger SH Diana (2023). Voyages combine Zodiac landings with talks by scientists, historians and other experts. Most Antarctic sailings are round trips from Ushuaia, Argentina; the 2026–27 season has 33 Antarctic voyages, including four longer grand voyages. Known for: Swan Hellenic is known for its lecture program and cultural focus, a heritage that predates modern expedition cruising, and its new ships are praised by guests for spacious public areas, observation lounges, infinity pools and spa facilities on vessels of under 200 guests. Reviewers often compliment the crew and the expedition team, and the line has expanded its Antarctic program to 33 voyages for 2026–27. The relaunched company has also had setbacks. SH Minerva was idle for almost three years from 2022 after sanctions affected her financing, and in November 2024 passengers on SH Diana protested, some with a hunger strike, after a motor failure forced the ship back to Ushuaia and cut landings short; the line offered a partial refund or future credit rather than full reimbursement. Travelers should read the cancellation and compensation terms closely. Who it's for: Swan Hellenic suits travelers who want a polar or remote-region voyage with a strong lecture program, comfortable ships and relatively few fellow passengers: typically couples and well-traveled guests interested in history, science and wildlife, including those who remember the brand's cultural cruises. It is less suited to families with young children, travelers on a tight budget or anyone looking for big-ship entertainment, and travelers who want the most activity-heavy polar trips, with camping or mountaineering, may find more options at specialist adventure operators. ### Tauck - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/tauck - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: History and culture, Couples, Solo travelers, Multigenerational groups - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 10 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (5 ships), Danube (4 ships), Seine (2 ships), Rhône (1 ship), Douro (1 ship) - Headquarters: Wilton, Connecticut, United States - Founded: 1925 - Website: https://www.tauck.com/ - Fleet: 10 ships in service, 3 on the way Tauck is a family-owned travel company in Wilton, Connecticut, founded by Arthur Tauck in 1925. It runs guided land journeys, small-ship ocean voyages, safaris and family trips as well as European river cruises; this listing covers the river cruises, which run on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Rhône and Douro and on waterways in Belgium and the Netherlands. The riverboats come from Swiss shipping company Scylla, Tauck's longtime partner, and are registered in Switzerland. There are four sizes: 135-meter Inspiration class boats for 130 guests, 110-meter Jewel class boats for 98, 125-meter Seine boats for 124 and 80-meter Douro boats for 84. Tauck deliberately carries far fewer people than the roughly 190 that other lines fit on a 135-meter hull, and puts many 300-square-foot suites on board. Between 2026 and 2028 it is adding five new boats, ms Lumière, ms Serene, ms Reverie, ms Saudade and ms Harmonie, while retiring two older ones. Every sailing has a Tauck Cruise Director and up to three Tauck Directors who guide guests ashore. The fare covers shore excursions, gratuities, drinks on board including wine, beer and spirits, airport transfers, taxes and fees. Dinner is in The Compass Rose, with lighter meals at Arthur's, and many trips add hotel nights in cities such as Paris, Prague or Madrid. Six-day cruises were added from late 2026 for travelers with less time. Known for: Tauck is a regular in reader and editor rankings: it says Travel + Leisure readers have voted it onto the World's Best Awards for 29 straight years, and Condé Nast Traveler readers have ranked it among the world's best river cruise lines. Praise usually centers on the escorted format, the space per guest, the large share of suites and a fare that leaves little to pay on board, along with Tauck-only events ashore such as early visits to Monet's garden at Giverny and private château dinners. The trade-offs are cost and structure. Fares are high in absolute terms, from about $3,000 per person for the new six-day cruises to more than $7,000 for an 11-day France trip, and the planned, group-guided days suit people who like an organized program more than those who prefer to explore alone. The 110-meter Jewel class boats date from 2008 to 2011, and on them the elevator does not reach the lowest cabin deck. Who it's for: Tauck suits travelers who want a river cruise with the planning done: guided touring in every port, transfers and luggage handled, and almost nothing left to pay once on board. It works well for couples and for travelers drawn to history, art and wine; solo travelers pay no single supplement in Category 1 cabins on every European river cruise, and Tauck Bridges departures on the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Rhône and Douro are planned for families traveling across generations. Travelers on a tight budget, independent types who would rather plan their own days ashore, and anyone looking for nightlife or big-ship amenities should look elsewhere. Guests with limited mobility should check which boat a trip uses, since the older 110-meter boats have no elevator to the lowest deck. ### The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/the-ritz-carlton-yacht-collection - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 3 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (2 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Transatlantic (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Oaktree Capital Management - Headquarters: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States - Founded: 2017 - Loyalty program: Marriott Bonvoy - Website: https://www.ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com/ - Fleet: 3 ships in service The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sails three yacht-style cruise ships under the Ritz-Carlton hotel name. The line was announced in June 2017, developed by Canadian maritime executive Douglas Prothero with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, and is run by Cruise Yacht OpCo, which Oaktree controls; The Ritz-Carlton, part of Marriott International, supplies hospitality services under a long-term agreement. Its first ship, Evrima, was ordered from a Spanish yard that collapsed during construction and debuted more than three years late, in October 2022. Two larger, LNG-powered sisters from Chantiers de l'Atlantique followed: Ilma in 2024 and Luminara in 2025. The ships carry between 298 and 452 guests. Every suite has a private terrace, reported crew numbers come close to one per guest, and fares cover dining, drinks and gratuities. Itineraries favor smaller ports and longer stays over fixed daily programs, and a fold-out marina is used for swimming and water sports. The yachts sail the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Northern Europe, Alaska, Asia and the South Pacific, and guests earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points on voyages. Known for: The line's appeal rests on Ritz-Carlton hotel service at sea: all-suite ships with private terraces, near one-to-one staffing, inclusive fares and Marriott Bonvoy recognition for elite members. Its path has been rocky, though. Evrima's debut slipped by more than three years after her first shipyard failed, and in June 2026 the Financial Times reported that the company had lost nearly $700 million since its founding and borrowed more than $1.5 billion. Reporting on the resulting refinancing, in which lenders delayed repayments and the controlling shareholders committed another $275 million, tied the losses to low occupancy, and the line now competes with new luxury entrants from Four Seasons, Orient Express and Aman. Who it's for: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection suits travelers who already like Ritz-Carlton hotels and want that style of service on a ship of a few hundred guests, with suites, terraces and drinks included. Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points and get recognition on board, and couples looking for a quiet, yacht-like trip in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or Asia are the natural audience. Travelers on a budget, families wanting children's programs, and anyone who wants big-ship entertainment should look at other lines. ### TUI Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/tui-cruises - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Couples, Families, Food lovers - Fleet rating: 4.1/5, average of 9 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (4 ships), Canary Islands (4 ships), Northern Europe (3 ships), Mediterranean (2 ships), Norwegian Fjords (2 ships), Asia (1 ship) - Owner: TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group (50/50 joint venture) - Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany - Founded: 2007 - Website: https://www.meinschiff.com/ - Fleet: 9 ships in service, 1 retired TUI Cruises is the German cruise line behind the Mein Schiff brand, a joint venture formed in 2007 in which the tourism group TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Group each hold half. It began sailing in 2009 with the former Celebrity Galaxy, renamed Mein Schiff, and has since replaced its secondhand ships with newbuilds. Since 2020 it has also owned the luxury and expedition line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The Mein Schiff fleet now numbers nine ships: seven Blue Motion class ships built in Finland between 2014 and 2024, from Mein Schiff 3 to the enlarged Mein Schiff 1, 2 and 7, and two LNG-powered InTUItion class ships from Fincantieri, Mein Schiff Relax (2025) and Mein Schiff Flow (2026). Two more InTUItion class ships are on order for 2031 and 2032. The product is built for German-speaking guests: German is the main language on board, and food, entertainment and service are tailored to German tastes. Fares follow a premium all-inclusive model that covers most restaurants and bistros, a long list of branded drinks, tips, an espresso machine in every cabin and German-speaking childcare. Ships sail from German ports to Northern Europe and Norway, from Palma in the Mediterranean, from the Canary Islands in winter, and from the Caribbean and Asia. Known for: TUI Cruises is known in Germany for its all-inclusive Mein Schiff concept and a young fleet, most of it built for the line since 2014. Guest reviews tend to praise the food, the spacious open decks, pools and saunas, and the fact that drinks and gratuities are already in the fare, which makes the final bill predictable. The line's own comparison puts the extras guests would pay on other lines at well over a thousand euros per couple per week, though that figure is its own marketing claim. The most common complaint from international guests is language: announcements, shows and most activities are in German, and reviewers who do not speak it often say they felt left out of the entertainment. Some find the onboard atmosphere calm rather than lively, with fewer thrill attractions than the big American lines. Specialty restaurants and some services still cost extra, and with the arrival of the 3,984-guest InTUItion class ships the fleet now includes much larger, busier vessels than the original Mein Schiff. Who it's for: TUI Cruises suits German-speaking couples and families who want a polished, predictable holiday at sea with most food and drink included. Families get German-speaking kids' clubs, and food lovers get a wide choice of included restaurants and bistros. The variety of home ports, from Kiel and Bremerhaven to Palma, the Canaries, the Caribbean and Singapore, makes it easy to build a trip around a flight from Germany. Travelers who do not speak German should look elsewhere, or at least expect most entertainment and announcements to pass them by. Those who want waterslides, Broadway-style production shows in English or a party atmosphere will find better matches on the large American lines, and guests looking for small-ship intimacy may prefer sister line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. ### UnCruise Adventures - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/uncruise-adventures - Style: Expedition (small ships to remote places, with naturalists and landings) - Best for: Adventure seekers, Couples, Families - Fleet rating: 3.0/5, average of 9 rated ships (Cabins 2.1, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 1.9, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Alaska (7 ships), Pacific Coast (4 ships), Mexican Riviera (1 ship), Hawaii (1 ship), Galápagos (1 ship) - Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States - Founded: 1996 - Loyalty program: UnCruise Loyalty & Rewards - Website: https://uncruise.com/ - Fleet: 9 ships in service UnCruise Adventures is an American small-ship line that runs active, nature-focused cruises for 22 to 88 guests in Alaska, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Panama, Mexico's Sea of Cortez and the Galápagos Islands. Its nine ships are small enough to slip into coves, fjords and anchorages that big ships pass by, and days are built around kayaking, hiking, skiff tours and snorkeling rather than shopping in port. The company was founded in Alaska in 1996 as American Safari Cruises and began sailing in 1997 with a single chartered yacht. Captain Dan Blanchard bought it in 2008 in partnership with Tim Jacox, it announced voyages in the Galápagos and in Costa Rica and Panama in 2011, and it renamed itself Un-Cruise Adventures in the early 2010s before settling on the UnCruise spelling in 2016. It works from offices at Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle and in Juneau, and it marks its 30th anniversary in 2026. Life aboard is casual. Meals are served at open seating with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices, drinks are included in the fare, and the ships carry kayaks, paddleboards and inflatable skiffs, with hot tubs and underwater cameras on most. Wi-Fi is limited and often unavailable in parks and protected areas. Most cruises last seven nights, with longer voyages through the Inside Passage, to the Aleutian Islands and along the Central American coast, plus family, photography and other themed departures. Known for: UnCruise has a strong following among travelers who want to get off the ship and into the wilderness. Reviewers often praise the range of daily activities, the friendly crews and guides, and the access the small ships provide, and the line appeared in Condé Nast Traveler's 2021 ranking of the world's top cruise ships and placed eighth on USA Today's 2021 list of the best adventure cruise lines. The trade-offs come mostly from the ships themselves: most were built between the 1970s and the 1990s and have small, simple cabins, connectivity is limited, and fares, from about $4,900 per person for a week in Alaska, are high for such modest ships. Weather in Alaska can also change plans from day to day. Who it's for: UnCruise is for active travelers who would rather paddle past a glacier than browse port shops: couples, friends, solo travelers and families, with Families in Nature departures on which children two and under sail free. It suits guests happy with casual dress and a small group of fellow passengers. Travelers who want spacious cabins, spas, evening entertainment or a busy schedule of port towns should look elsewhere, and guests with limited mobility should check each ship carefully, since only Wilderness Legacy has an elevator. ### Uniworld Boutique River Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/uniworld-boutique-river-cruises - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Food lovers, Multigenerational groups - Fleet rating: 4.0/5, average of 17 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 5.0, Value 3.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (6 ships), Danube (4 ships), Nile (2 ships), South America (1 ship), Asia (1 ship), Seine (1 ship), Rhône (1 ship), Douro (1 ship), Mekong (1 ship) - Owner: The Travel Corporation - Headquarters: Calabasas, California, United States - Founded: 1976 - Loyalty program: River Heritage Club - Website: https://www.uniworld.com/ - Fleet: 17 ships in service, 7 on the way Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is a luxury river cruise line based in Calabasas, California, and part of The Travel Corporation (TTC), the group of travel brands that also includes Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, Luxury Gold and Contiki. Serba Ilich founded it in Los Angeles in 1976; it started its European river cruise program in 1993, and a TTC affiliate bought it in 2004. Most of its European ships are company-owned and individually decorated in a boutique-hotel style, with antiques, original art and themes tied to their rivers, and the rebuilt or newer ones are marketed as Super Ships. Elsewhere it charters ships on the Nile, the Douro, the Mekong, the Ganges and the Peruvian Amazon, two former Crystal ships on the Rhine, and from 2027 an expedition yacht in Indonesia. In late 2026 its fleet page lists 24 vessels, including six new ships due in 2027 and 2028, while its oldest River-series ships are moving to sister brand Trafalgar. In Europe the fare covers meals, unlimited drinks including spirits, shore excursions, gratuities, Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service, and suite guests have butler service; inclusions differ on the chartered ships in Egypt, Asia and Peru. Most trips run one to two weeks and often add hotel stays, and the line offers family Generations sailings, Jewish heritage and holiday-market cruises, and cruise-and-rail trips. Known for: Uniworld is best known for the decor of its ships, which mixes antiques, original art, chandeliers and bold fabrics, with each vessel themed to its region; the company says many ships share a design team with its sister company, the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Its fares are among the more inclusive on European rivers, covering premium spirits, gratuities and excursions, and it advertises a ratio of about 2.4 guests per crew member. The look is deliberately ornate, which suits some travelers more than others, and prices sit well above mainstream river lines: Trafalgar, which now sails former Uniworld ships, positions its own river cruises as considerably cheaper and more casual. The older River-series ships that were never rebuilt as Super Ships have smaller standard cabins than the newest vessels, and the line has been retiring them. On its chartered ships in Egypt, India, Vietnam, Peru and Portugal, Uniworld itself says amenities can differ from its own fleet. Like other European river lines, it sometimes has to change sailings when water levels drop, as it warned for parts of the Rhine, Main and Danube in 2026. Who it's for: Uniworld suits couples and other travelers who want a river cruise with nearly everything paid up front and who enjoy rich, traditional decor, wine and food, and guided sightseeing in historic cities. Its suites with butler service and the larger-cabin ships, such as S.S. Victoria and S.S. Elisabeth, appeal to those who want more space than a standard river cabin. Families can pick the Generations sailings, and solo travelers get dedicated savings on some departures. Travelers on a tight budget, those who prefer understated modern design, and anyone who wants big-ship entertainment or a long list of onboard activities should look elsewhere; Uniworld's sister brand Trafalgar now offers a cheaper, more casual river product on former Uniworld ships. ### Viking Ocean Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/viking-ocean-cruises - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: History and culture, Couples - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 15 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 5.0, Service 5.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Mediterranean (4 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), South America (2 ships), Antarctica (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Asia (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship), South Pacific (1 ship) - Owner: Viking Holdings Ltd - Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland - Founded: 2013 - Loyalty program: Viking Explorer Society - Website: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans - Fleet: 15 ships in service, 5 on the way Viking Ocean Cruises is the ocean and expedition side of Viking, the travel company Torstein Hagen founded in 1997 as a river cruise line. The ocean division was formed in 2013 and began sailing in 2015 with Viking Star; it now runs a fleet of nearly identical small ships for 930 or 998 guests, plus two Polar Class expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, that sail to Antarctica, the Arctic and the Great Lakes. All the ocean ships come from Fincantieri's yards in Italy and share a Scandinavian design with veranda staterooms throughout, an infinity pool, the Nordic Spa and several included restaurants. The newer ships of the Vela design are larger, and Viking plans to add hydrogen-powered sisters, beginning with Viking Libra in late 2026. In 2026 the former Viking Sun rejoined the fleet as Viking Yi Dun, sailing Mandarin-language voyages for Chinese guests. A Viking cruise is organized around the destinations. Fares include a shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, specialty dining and spa access, and onboard enrichment comes from lectures and destination performances. Itineraries cover Scandinavia, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, the Americas, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand, along with world cruises of up to 170 days. Known for: Viking sits near the top of reader polls: Condé Nast Traveler readers have rated it number one for ocean cruises six years in a row through 2026, Travel + Leisure lists it among its World's Best, and U.S. News & World Report has named it best luxury line and best line for couples. Reviewers often credit its calm, uncluttered ships, the amount included in the fare and the focus on history and culture. The flip side of a standardized fleet is that one Viking ocean ship feels much like the next, and Viking itself says it does not try to be all things to all people. Incidents have included the 2019 engine failure of Viking Sky off Norway, which led to a partial helicopter evacuation, and a 2023 episode in which Viking Orion was turned away from New Zealand and Adelaide over hull fouling. Who it's for: Viking suits curious travelers who choose a cruise for the ports: the line says it designs voyages for people interested in science, history, culture and cuisine, and its fares bundle a guided tour in each port with lectures on board. Couples and travelers who want a quiet atmosphere on a ship of under 1,000 guests will find the format consistent from one voyage to the next, and the expedition ships add Antarctica and the Great Lakes for those who want more adventure. Travelers who want a big-ship atmosphere with lots of onboard activities, round trips from a home port they can drive to, or a different style of ship on every cruise will be better served elsewhere. ### Viking River Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/viking-river-cruises - Style: River (riverboats through towns and cities, a port most days) - Best for: Couples, History and culture, Adults only, First-time cruisers - Fleet rating: 3.8/5, average of 86 rated ships (Cabins 4.3, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 3.0, Pools & decks 2.2, Service 5.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Rhine (38 ships), Danube (30 ships), Nile (9 ships), Seine (6 ships), Rhône (5 ships), Douro (5 ships), Mekong (2 ships), Mississippi (1 ship) - Owner: Viking Holdings Ltd - Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland - Founded: 1997 - Loyalty program: Viking Explorer Society - Website: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/ - Fleet: 87 ships in service, 13 on the way Viking River Cruises is the river division of Viking, the company Torstein Hagen started in St. Petersburg in 1997 with four river ships bought from Russian owners. Buying KD River Cruises of Europe in 2000 gave it 26 ships, then the largest river cruise fleet in the world, and from 2012 Viking rebuilt that fleet around the Viking Longship, a 190-guest design whose square bow and offset corridor leave room for an indoor-outdoor Aquavit Terrace and true two-room suites. The parent company, Viking Holdings Ltd, has traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 2024, and operations are run from Basel, Switzerland. More than 80 river ships now sail under the Viking name. Dozens of near-identical Longships work the Rhine, Main, Moselle and Danube, while shorter versions sail the Seine, the Douro and the Elbe and a handful of Longships link Lyon and Avignon on the Rhone. A fast-growing fleet of 82-guest ships cruises the Nile, two ships sail the Mekong, and the 386-guest Viking Mississippi runs between New Orleans and the upper river. More Longships and Nile ships are due through 2027, and two ships for India's Brahmaputra are scheduled for 2027 and 2028. Most Viking river itineraries last 8 to 15 days and run one way between cities such as Basel and Amsterdam or Budapest and Passau; trips in Egypt, Portugal and Southeast Asia add hotel nights before or after the cruise. Fares include one guided excursion in each port, all onboard meals, beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, and Wi-Fi, and evenings center on lectures, port talks and local performances. There are no children and no casinos on board. Known for: Viking says it operates more ships than any other cruise line, and readers of Condé Nast Traveler have voted it the top river line in their Readers' Choice Awards for six straight years through 2026. Travelers tend to praise the predictability that comes from sailing near-identical ships, the inclusive fares with a guided tour in every port, and a program built around history and culture rather than onboard entertainment. The flip side of that uniformity is that one Longship feels much like another, so the choice comes down to itinerary rather than ship. The 190-guest Longships list no pool or gym, and their standard cabins (categories E and F) are about 150 square feet with half-height windows and no elevator access. Drinks beyond those served with lunch and dinner cost extra unless guests add the Silver Spirits package, and the tranquil atmosphere and older clientele Viking has courted since it began marketing to English speakers over 55 will feel sedate to some. Who it's for: Viking suits adults, often couples and retirees, who want a well-organized, culture-focused trip with most decisions made for them: a guided tour in every port, lectures on board and the same comfortable cabin layout from ship to ship. First-time river cruisers will find the long-running classics such as the Rhine Getaway and the Danube Waltz an easy introduction, and the Nile, Douro, Mekong and Mississippi programs extend the same formula further afield. Families with children should look elsewhere, since there are no children on board, as should travelers who want nightlife, casinos, production shows or a pool and gym on a European river cruise. Guests with limited mobility should check stateroom categories carefully, because the Longships' elevator does not reach the standard-cabin categories. ### Virgin Voyages - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/virgin-voyages - Style: Premium (smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream) - Best for: Adults only, Couples, Food lovers, Friends and groups - Fleet rating: 4.3/5, average of 4 rated ships (Cabins 5.0, Dining 5.0, Entertainment 4.0, Pools & decks 4.0, Service 4.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (4 ships), Bahamas (3 ships), Mediterranean (3 ships), Transatlantic (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Mexican Riviera (1 ship), Bermuda (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Panama Canal (1 ship) - Owner: Virgin Group and Bain Capital (joint venture) - Headquarters: Plantation, Florida, United States - Founded: 2014 - Loyalty program: Virgin Voyages Sailing Club - Website: https://www.virginvoyages.com/ - Fleet: 4 ships in service Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line backed by Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Bain Capital. Its four mid-sized ships sail from Miami, San Juan, Europe and the US West Coast, every guest must be 18 or older, and the fare covers all of the restaurants, basic Wi-Fi, group fitness classes and tips. The company was announced in December 2014 as Virgin Cruises, took the Virgin Voyages name in 2016 when it signed for three ships from Fincantieri, and is based in Plantation, Florida. The pandemic delayed its start: Scarlet Lady carried her first paying guests from Portsmouth, England, in August 2021 and opened the line's Miami program that October. Valiant Lady followed in 2022, Resilient Lady in 2023 and Brilliant Lady in 2025, the only one of the four able to transit the Panama Canal. Virgin has its own Terminal V at PortMiami and a private Beach Club on Bimini in the Bahamas. Each ship carries about 2,770 guests and replaces the usual main dining room and buffet with some 20 venues, among them an Italian restaurant, a steakhouse, a Mexican restaurant and a vegetable-forward restaurant, plus The Galley food hall. Entertainment mixes stage shows and acrobatics with themed late-night parties, there is a tattoo studio aboard, and many balcony cabins come with a hammock. Alcohol and shore excursions cost extra; instead of a drinks package, guests can prepay a Bar Tab. Known for: Virgin Voyages has collected strong reviews and awards since its 2021 launch, including Travel + Leisure's top ranking among mega ships in 2025 and Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice awards for best large-ship line and best dining in 2024. Reviewers most often praise the food, with a wide choice of included restaurants in place of a set dining room, along with the adults-only atmosphere, the design and fares that already cover tips and basic Wi-Fi. The most consistent criticism concerns cabins, especially very small standard bathrooms and limited storage. Fares sit in the premium range, there is no unlimited drinks package, casual food can take time to prepare, and pool decks fill up on sea days. Some guests miss the big-ship attractions, such as water slides and climbing walls, found on larger mainstream lines. Who it's for: Virgin Voyages suits adults who want a sociable, design-conscious cruise with no children aboard: couples, groups of friends and food-focused travelers who like choosing among many included restaurants rather than eating in a set dining room. The four- and five-night trips from Miami are an easy first cruise for people who have avoided traditional lines, while Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean and Alaska voyages suit more experienced cruisers. Families with anyone under 18 cannot sail. Travelers who want a classic cruise with a buffet, an unlimited drinks package or big-ship attractions, and those who spend a lot of time in their cabin and want a roomy bathroom, may prefer another line. ### Windstar Cruises - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/windstar-cruises - Style: Luxury (small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included) - Best for: Couples, Food lovers, History and culture - Fleet rating: 3.7/5, average of 7 rated ships (Cabins 4.1, Dining 4.0, Entertainment 2.0, Pools & decks 3.0, Service 5.0, Value 4.0) - Usually sails: Caribbean (4 ships), Mediterranean (4 ships), Transatlantic (4 ships), Panama Canal (3 ships), Asia (2 ships), South Pacific (2 ships), Alaska (1 ship), Northern Europe (1 ship), Canada and New England (1 ship), Canary Islands (1 ship) - Owner: Xanterra Travel Collection - Headquarters: Doral, Florida, United States - Founded: 1984 - Loyalty program: Windstar Yacht Club - Website: https://www.windstarcruises.com/ - Fleet: 7 ships in service, 1 on the way Windstar Cruises began in 1984, when ship entrepreneur Karl G. Andrén founded Windstar Sail Cruises around a new idea: a small cruise ship with computer-controlled sails. Wind Star arrived in 1986, followed by Wind Song and Wind Spirit, and in 1998 the line added the much larger five-masted Wind Surf, built for Club Med. Holland America Line bought into Windstar in 1987 and took full ownership in 1988; Carnival sold it to Ambassadors International in 2007, and after that company's bankruptcy it was bought in 2011 by the Anschutz Corporation. It now belongs to Xanterra Travel Collection. In 2014 and 2015 Windstar added three former Seabourn yachts, Star Pride, Star Breeze and Star Legend, and later lengthened all three. Its first new build, Star Seeker, joined in December 2025, and her sister Star Explorer follows in December 2026, taking the fleet to eight ships for roughly 150 to 350 guests each. Windstar calls at more than 330 ports in Europe, the Caribbean, Central America and the Panama Canal, Alaska, Canada and New England, Japan, Asia and the South Pacific, and it sails year-round in the Mediterranean and Tahiti. Days are port-focused, the atmosphere is casual, dining is included, and an all-inclusive package covering extras is sold separately. Known for: Windstar is known for intimate ships, relaxed service and itineraries that reach small harbors bigger ships skip; in 2019 AFAR readers and Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards named it the best small-ship cruise line, and it runs a culinary partnership with the James Beard Foundation. The sailing yachts, where guests can visit the bridge at sea, are its signature. The trade-offs are ships that date from 1986 to 1992 apart from the new Star Seeker, standard staterooms of about 188 square feet on the Wind Class, and fares that cover dining but leave drinks and other extras to an optional package. In 2018 Star Pride lost power for several hours in Buzzards Bay off Massachusetts, and tugboats were sent to help. The current Setting Sails and Star Plus refits have modernized much of the fleet. Who it's for: Windstar fits couples and experienced travelers who want a small-ship feel without the formality or price of ultra-luxury lines, and who would rather spend their days ashore than at sea. The Wind Class sailing ships appeal to anyone drawn to the romance of sails, while the all-suite Star Class offers more space and amenities. Food-minded travelers will appreciate the James Beard partnership. Families with young children, travelers who want the variety of a large resort-style ship, and those who want everything included in the base fare should look at other lines. ## Loyalty programs ### 1893 Ambassador - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/1893-ambassador - Cruise line: Hurtigruten - Tier: Level 1 (Free sign-up; no travel required.): Free Wi-Fi on board, a welcome gift in the cabin and 5% off excursions booked before travel or on board. Partner offers include 10% off the Helly Hansen online shop and Bracenet, CEWE and Waterhaul products, up to 20% off Priority Pass membership, 15% off Strawberry hotels in the Nordics and Baltics, 20% off Lofoten Seaweed Salts and discounted Wanderlust magazine subscriptions. - Tier: Level 2 (Complete a Hurtigruten voyage of three or more consecutive nights; the upgrade is automatic about 24 hours after travel.): Everything in Level 1, plus 5% off all Hurtigruten voyages and 5% off Hurtigruten Svalbard hotels and activities. Partner discounts rise to 20% at Helly Hansen, 12% on Bracenet, 15% on CEWE and 20% on Waterhaul products. - How to earn: There are no points. New members start at Level 1 and are upgraded to Level 2 automatically about 24 hours after completing a Hurtigruten voyage of three or more consecutive nights; travelers who already meet that test start at Level 2. Membership depends on receiving the program's emails: unsubscribing ends the benefits, and a member who rejoins starts again at the entry level. ### AmaWaterways Loyalty Program - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/amawaterways-loyalty-program - Cruise line: AmaWaterways - Tier: Blue (Second AmaWaterways cruise.): $100 per person off the cruise fare and a welcome back celebration on board. - Tier: Silver (Third AmaWaterways cruise.): $100 per person off the cruise fare, a welcome back celebration, a complimentary welcome amenity, complimentary airport transfers on most brochure arrival and departure days (not long-haul or private transfers), and $100 per person off a one-category stateroom upgrade. - Tier: Gold (Fourth and subsequent AmaWaterways cruises.): $100 per person off the cruise fare, a welcome back celebration, a complimentary welcome amenity, complimentary airport transfers on most brochure arrival and departure days, and a free one-category stateroom upgrade, subject to availability, like-for-like and excluding suites except in Africa. - How to earn: Levels depend only on how many AmaWaterways cruises a guest has taken: Blue applies to the second cruise, Silver to the third and Gold to the fourth and later ones. Benefits apply to new bookings, are not transferable, are generally per stateroom, and the $100 per person saving applies only at the level held when booking and is not cumulative. ### A-ROSA Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/a-rosa-club - Cruise line: A-ROSA River Cruises - Tier: Black (Entry level after a first completed A-ROSA cruise, for members with up to four cruises (the club's benefits table applies Black benefits from the second sailing).): Standard club benefits; 8% group discount when six or more full-paying guests book Premium All-Inclusive together; on the Danube, Rhine, Rhône and Seine, 10% off SPA-ROSA treatments, 20% off the Wine & Dine Meet the Officers dinner (or the A-ROSA Sena barbecue menu) on cruises of five nights or more, 10% off A-ROSA shop items and 30% off the A-ROSA Edition jewelry set. The onboard discounts do not apply on A-ROSA Alea and Clea. - Tier: Silver (5 to 9 completed A-ROSA cruises.): Everything in Black, with a 10% group discount; the early-booking price with an extended deadline; one laundry bag washed and ironed (not on Alea and Clea); free parking in Cologne or Passau on Premium All-Inclusive bookings, subject to availability; a ship tour of A-ROSA Sena on cruises of five nights or more; 20% off spa treatments, 30% off Wine & Dine and 20% off shop items; on the Douro, 50% off the Lamego excursion. - Tier: Gold (10 or more completed A-ROSA cruises.): Everything in Silver, with a 12% group discount; the early-booking price year-round; welcome champagne (subject to availability) and a farewell gift in the cabin; 30% off spa treatments, 50% off Wine & Dine and 30% off shop items; on the Douro, a free excursion to Lamego or Castelo Rodrigo. - Tier: Diamond (20 or more completed A-ROSA cruises.): Everything in Gold, with 50% off spa treatments and the Wine & Dine dinner included; one free cabin upgrade a year (before departure, subject to availability, not into suites); a €50 onboard credit once a year (not on Alva, Alea or Clea); a welcome gift on reaching Diamond; exclusive bathroom amenities; one free Discovery excursion per cruise (on the Douro, Lamego or Castelo Rodrigo); the best available rate under the booked conditions; and one free TEFRA luggage transfer a year on the Rhine or Danube. - How to earn: Membership is free but requires at least one completed A-ROSA cruise; to use club benefits on a cruise, a guest must register at least eight days before departure and give the club number when booking. Each completed cruise counts toward the next level and is credited at the end of the sailing, so the level does not change during a cruise or a run of back-to-back cruises. Levels are Black (up to four cruises), Silver (5 to 9), Gold (10 or more) and Diamond (20 or more). Benefits are personal and cannot be transferred, exchanged or paid out. ### Atlas Yacht Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/atlas-yacht-club - Cruise line: Atlas Ocean Voyages - Tier: Atlas Yacht Club member (Automatic after completing a first Atlas voyage of seven nights or longer.): Loyalty savings of up to 5% on select voyages, combinable with some offers; member-only promotions; onboard credit and receptions with senior officers; and a US$250 future cruise credit for each referred new guest who books and pays in full. - Tier: Captain's Yacht Club (201 nights sailed with Atlas Ocean Voyages.): A one-time complimentary voyage of up to 10 nights in a Veranda Suite for the member and one companion sharing the suite, once per household, subject to availability and blackout dates; taxes, flights and optional extras are not included. - How to earn: Status is based on nights sailed with Atlas Ocean Voyages; travel is required to earn all benefits, and a guest who reaches a new tier during a voyage receives its benefits on board. A complimentary voyage awarded at the top level does not earn further sailed-night credit. ### Aurora Expeditions Loyalty Program - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/aurora-expeditions-loyalty-program - Cruise line: Aurora Expeditions - Tier: Bronze Adventurer (Complete one Aurora Expeditions voyage.): A 5% discount on future voyages on top of any running offer, early access to new season launches, US$100 onboard credit per person and a complimentary glass of champagne or top-shelf spirit. - Tier: Silver Explorer (Complete two Aurora Expeditions voyages.): A 5% discount on top of any running offer, with a minimum discount of 15% at all times; early access to new season launches; US$250 onboard credit per person; a bottle of wine per person; and a free stateroom upgrade when available, confirmed about 30 days before departure. - Tier: Gold Pioneer (Complete three Aurora Expeditions voyages.): The Silver benefits, with onboard credit raised to US$500 per person. Onboard credit is non-refundable, expires at the end of the voyage and can be spent on wellness services, premium drinks, the ship shop and laundry, but not gratuities. - How to earn: There is no sign-up and no points system. Status is based on the number of Aurora Expeditions voyages completed: one voyage for Bronze Adventurer, two for Silver Explorer and three for Gold Pioneer. ### Azamara Circle - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/azamara-circle - Cruise line: Azamara - Tier: Adventurer (1 to 149 points.): 5% savings on future voyages booked on board, US$200 onboard credit (US$300 if booked in the first half of the voyage), a 50% reduced deposit, 20% toward an unlimited Starlink Essential package or 30 free Wi-Fi minutes, 10% off select signature spa treatments and 5% off the Ultimate Beverage Package. - Tier: Explorer (150 to 299 points.): 5% onboard future-voyage savings with the same onboard credit and reduced deposit, two earned complimentary nights, 35% toward unlimited Starlink or 60 free minutes, one free bag of laundry per stateroom per seven nights, 15% off select spa treatments and 10% off the Ultimate Beverage Package. - Tier: Discoverer (300 to 749 points.): 6% onboard future-voyage savings, onboard credit and reduced deposit, four earned complimentary nights, 50% toward unlimited Starlink or 90 free minutes, one free bag of laundry per seven nights, 20% off select spa treatments, 15% off the Ultimate Beverage Package, priority check-in at select ports and an exclusive onboard get-together. - Tier: Discoverer Plus (750 to 2,999 points.): 7% onboard future-voyage savings, onboard credit and reduced deposit, six earned complimentary nights plus three more at 1,500 and at 2,250 points, 75% toward unlimited Starlink or 120 free minutes, free laundry, 25% off select spa treatments, 20% off the Ultimate Beverage Package, priority check-in and the members' get-together. - Tier: Discoverer Platinum (3,000 or more points.): 10% onboard future-voyage savings, onboard credit and reduced deposit, ten earned complimentary nights plus three more for every further 750 points, a full unlimited Starlink package or 150 free minutes, free laundry, 25% off select spa treatments and the Ultimate Beverage Package, priority check-in and the members' get-together. - How to earn: Points are earned per night according to the stateroom originally booked: 2 for Interior, 3 for Oceanview, 5 for Veranda, 6 for Veranda Plus, 8 for Continent Suites, 10 for Grandview Suites and 18 for Spa, Ocean, World Owner's and Panorama Suites. Solo travelers earn double points, the same as a double-occupancy stateroom. Upgrades do not change the points earned. ### Britannia Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/britannia-club - Cruise line: Saga Cruises - Tier: Bronze (35 to 74 nights with Saga.): Exclusive offers on selected cruises, priority brochure mailings, a dedicated Britannia Club booking line, a welcome bottle of sparkling wine, a luggage label, a regular newsletter, an onboard cocktail party and a Bronze lapel pin. - Tier: Silver (75 to 149 nights.): All Bronze benefits, a silver-colored lapel pin and 5% off selected items bought on board. - Tier: Gold (150 to 499 nights.): All Silver benefits, a gold-colored pin, complimentary laundry and dry cleaning, and 7.5% off selected onboard purchases. - Tier: Sapphire (500 to 999 nights.): All Gold benefits, a pin set with a sapphire, 10% off selected onboard purchases, private chauffeur service extended to 300 miles each way, a private cocktail party for up to 16 people each cruise (or £100 onboard credit per household), and one half-price cruise of up to 16 nights for the member and a friend on selected sailings. - Tier: Diamond (More than 1,000 nights.): All Sapphire benefits, a pin set with a diamond, a free cruise of up to 22 nights, immediate embarkation where travel arrangements allow, unlimited chauffeur mileage, a complimentary cabin upgrade, advance telephone notice of new itineraries, and a private dinner with the Captain or a senior officer once per cruise. Above 1,500 nights members get 35% off the full fare when choosing a cabin at booking, and above 2,000 nights 50% off. - How to earn: Status is based on nights spent aboard Saga's ocean ships and, since 2023, its river ships (Spirit of the Rhine, Spirit of the Danube, Spirit of the Moselle, Douro Serenity and, from 2027, Spirit of the Lorelei). Benefits of a level apply once the cruise that crosses its threshold is completed. Nights on flights or hotel extensions do not count. To keep membership, guests must book direct with Saga and cruise at least once every 10 years. Members who introduce a newcomer get 10% off their next cruise, and the friend gets 10% off too. ### Captain's Circle - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/captain-s-circle - Cruise line: Princess Cruises - Tier: Gold (After completing a first Princess cruise.): Captain's Circle launch savings, early access to new itineraries, preferential pricing offers, members-only onboard events, dedicated support on board, the Captain's Circle online portal and a Circle Savings Account. - Tier: Ruby (After completing 3 cruises or 30 cruise days.): All Gold benefits, plus access to a dedicated Captain's Circle help desk phone line while ashore. - Tier: Platinum (After completing 5 cruises or 50 cruise days.): All Gold and Ruby benefits, plus 50% off a MedallionNet Wi-Fi package, early access to dining reservations (from the time the cruise deposit is placed), 10% off Lotus Spa treatments, 10% off in the onboard Photo Gallery, and access to an exclusive lounge during disembarkation. Discounts carry conditions set out in the program terms. - Tier: Elite (After completing 15 cruises or 150 cruise days.): All Gold, Ruby and Platinum benefits, plus 10% off in The Shops of Princess, 10% off shore excursions, priority boarding of tenders to shore, a complimentary wine-tasting event, a complimentary mini-bar setup, deluxe canapés on formal nights, complimentary afternoon tea in the stateroom, priority disembarkation, and complimentary laundry and shoe polishing. - How to earn: Each completed Princess cruise counts as one cruise, and its length counts toward cruise days; a member reaches a new tier on the next cruise after meeting the threshold. Booking and sailing in a full suite (mini-suites excluded), or paying the single supplement as a solo guest, earns two cruise credits instead of one, though cruise days are not doubled. Princess cruises and eligible P&O Cruises Australia sailings count; P&O Cruises (UK) sailings no longer do, and the land portion of a cruisetour does not count. Guests are enrolled automatically after their first cruise, except residents of the European Economic Area, who must enroll through a My Princess account. ### Captain's Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/captain-s-club - Cruise line: Celebrity Cruises - Tier: Preview (0 Club Points: created on enrolling or booking.): Member news, access to the Loyalty Desk and offers for a first sailing. - Tier: Classic (2 to 149 Club Points (after a first cruise).): Access to the Welcome Event on board, plus early access and member savings. - Tier: Select (150 to 299 Club Points.): All Classic benefits plus discounted spa and laundry specials. - Tier: Elite (300 to 749 Club Points.): Members-only experiences such as the Captain's Club Cocktail Hour, complimentary laundry services and special spa discounts. - Tier: Elite Plus (750 to 2,999 Club Points.): Elite benefits plus discounts on specialty dining and two bags of complimentary laundry. Milestones: at 1,500 points a digital photo, 480 minutes of Premium Wi-Fi, 20% off specialty dining cover charges and an in-room amenity; at 2,500 points 720 minutes of Premium Wi-Fi, 25% off specialty dining, two digital photos and an amenity. - Tier: Zenith (3,000 or more Club Points.): The program's top benefits, including access to The Retreat Lounge or Michael's Club and complimentary Premium beverage and Wi-Fi packages, plus priority reservations at Daniel Boulud's New York restaurants. Milestones: at 6,000 points a complimentary seven-night Caribbean or Bermuda cruise in an AquaClass stateroom, at 9,000 points the same in a Sky Suite, with specialty dining and champagne amenities on milestone sailings. - How to earn: Points per night depend on the stateroom: 2 for Inside and Ocean View, 3 for Veranda, 5 for Concierge Class and AquaClass, 8 for Panoramic and Sky Suites, 12 for Celebrity, Signature and Royal Suites, 18 for Edge Villas, Penthouse and Reflection Suites, and 24 for the Iconic Suite. Galápagos and river cruises have their own rates of 8 to 18 points per night. Solo travelers paying the full fare earn double points, opting into reduced housekeeping adds one night's points, and Power Up Points from surveys and webinars convert at 10 to 1. Points Choice lets members apply points to Crown & Anchor or the Venetian Society instead. - Status match: One-for-one tier matching across Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Silversea: Classic matches Crown & Anchor Gold and 1 Venetian Society day; Select matches Platinum and 15 VS days; Elite matches Diamond and 100 VS days; Elite Plus matches Diamond Plus and 250 VS days; Zenith matches Pinnacle Club and 500 VS days. ### Carnival Rewards - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/carnival-rewards - Cruise line: Carnival Cruise Line - Tier: Red (On enrollment (0 to 9,999 Status Qualifying Stars).): Earn and redeem points; member-only offers; Red member Sail & Sign card; a complimentary 1.5-liter bottle of water. - Tier: Gold (10,000 to 49,999 Status Qualifying Stars in a two-year window. VIFP Platinum members receive lifetime Gold.): Everything in Red, plus Gold member support, a Gold member Sail & Sign card and one complimentary drink on cruises of five days or more. - Tier: Platinum (50,000 to 99,999 Status Qualifying Stars in a two-year window.): Platinum member support and Sail & Sign card; a collectible pin; two complimentary drinks; a 1.5-liter bottle of water; preferred main dining and specialty dining times; complimentary wash and fold laundry (1 to 4 bags). Priority access: early online check-in (16 days), priority check-in, security (where available), Captain's Lounge (where available), boarding and checked-luggage delivery; onboard priority for carry-on drop-off, Guest Services, the casino cashier and spa reservations; priority tender boarding and debarkation. Also a welcome treat on request on cruises of five days or more, $5 arcade credit for guests under 18 and a logo gift on every sailing. - Tier: Diamond (100,000 or more Status Qualifying Stars in a two-year window. VIFP Diamond members who qualified by 31 August 2026 hold Diamond for life.): Everything in Platinum, plus a special event invitation from the captain; dedicated Diamond member support for sales and service; a Diamond Sail & Sign card; a guaranteed main dining time (early or late, dinner); complimentary wash and fold laundry (2 to 5 bags); retail concierge service; and a dedicated casino host on request. - How to earn: Members earn 3 Points and 3 Status Qualifying Stars for every US dollar spent on eligible Carnival purchases, including gratuities. Each Casino Point left at the end of a sailing converts to 1 Point, and each Casino Point earned adds 1 Star. Points post about 14 days after the cruise ends. Status is earned over a two-year qualifying window and held for the rest of that window plus the following two years; the first window runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 December 2028. The Carnival Rewards Mastercard adds up to 6 points per dollar on Carnival purchases and up to 4 stars. ### Castaway Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/castaway-club - Cruise line: Disney Cruise Line - Tier: Silver (1 completed eligible Disney Cruise Line sailing.): An early-booking window for newly released itineraries ahead of the general public (the latest of the four levels); onboard activities, dining and port adventures can be reserved 90 days before sailing, compared with 75 days for first-time guests. - Tier: Gold (5 completed eligible Disney Cruise Line sailings.): Earlier access to new itineraries than Silver; activity, dining and port adventure reservations open 105 days before sailing. - Tier: Platinum (10 completed eligible Disney Cruise Line sailings.): Earlier access to new itineraries than Gold; activity reservations open 120 days before sailing; one complimentary dinner per stateroom per sailing at Palo, Palo Steakhouse or Palo Trattoria for the member and guests in their stateroom (the prix fixe menu, or its value toward a la carte items; gratuities and anything above that value are extra). - Tier: Pearl (25 completed eligible Disney Cruise Line sailings.): New itineraries open to Pearl members 4 days before general sale; activity reservations open 123 days before sailing; Castaway Club member communications and a dedicated phone line; exclusive terminal check-in where available; a Welcome Back Aboard gift; special discounts; the complimentary Palo dinner; and an unlimited digital photo package for the member's stateroom and other Pearl members in the same party. Members who reach 50 eligible sailings are invited to have their family name displayed at Castaway Cay. - How to earn: There are no points; levels depend on completed eligible Disney Cruise Line sailings. Silver begins after 1 completed cruise, Gold after 5, Platinum after 10 and Pearl after 25. Sailings booked at certain fare types, such as media, vendor or Cast Member business travel, do not count. Everyone in a stateroom receives the benefits of the highest-level member staying in it. Membership lapses if a member does not book or complete an eligible cruise within five years of the last one. ### C|Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/c-club - Cruise line: Costa Cruises - Tier: Blue (Free to join; new members start at Blue with no points.): Member discount of up to 5% on selected departures; occasional member promotions; one free change of departure date; up to 25% off extra excursions with My Explorations or My Land packages; personalized C|Club cabin card; C|Club activities and help at the C|Club Point; 10% Future Cruise discount; onboard discounts of up to 50% on selected products and services; birthday cake and photo; 5% off Business or Premium class on Costa charter flights. - Tier: Bronze (1 to 5,000 points; one cruise is enough to reach it.): Everything at Blue, with the member discount and charter-flight discount raised to 10%, plus one Upgrade or SuperUpgrade to use once between 1 May 2026 and 30 April 2027 and an invitation to the C|Club Show. - Tier: Silver (5,001 to 30,000 points.): Everything at Bronze, with discounts raised to 15%, plus a bottle of sparkling wine in the cabin, a complimentary Gourmet Experience, a limited-edition C|Club gift, 10% off home luggage collection (Bag Express or Tefra) where offered and a chance to be picked for a galley tour. - Tier: Gold (30,001 to 140,000 points.): Discounts up to 20%; fast-track boarding where available; fast-track lanes at Milan Malpensa and Rome Fiumicino for Costa charter flights; free home luggage collection and delivery where offered; VIP party; bathrobe and slippers; extra pool towel; end-of-cruise Magic Bag laundry service; Club Bistro dinner area with a complimentary bottle of wine; a free full day at the Solemio spa; Elegant Tea; a chance to be picked for a bridge, storeroom or backstage tour; priority reception queue on Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana; plus the Silver gifts and Gourmet Experience. - Tier: Platinum (More than 140,000 points.): Everything at Gold, plus chocolates in the cabin, a pillow menu, the option to book dinner at the Elite Suite & Club Restaurant, a complimentary massage or treatment, wine tasting, priority and later disembarkation at the end of the cruise, fast-track disembarkation at ports for guests not on Costa excursions, a C|Club Cruiser's Passport and a meeting with the captain or hotel director with a photo. - How to earn: Points are earned for every night on board according to cabin type: 100 a night in an inside cabin, 200 in a sea view cabin, 300 in a balcony, terrace or minisuite and 500 in a suite. Flat bonuses apply to some bookings: 500 points for the All Inclusive fare, 500 for a My Cruise booking with the My Drinks package and 400 for a Costa flight-and-cruise booking. Members also earn 2 points for every euro spent on board or in advance through MyCosta, including excursions and drinks. Only standard, non-promotional fares earn points. Points last three years, and each year on 30 April the member's level is recalculated from the points earned on cruises taken in the previous three years. ### Crown & Anchor Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/crown-anchor-society - Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International - Tier: Gold (3 Cruise Points, normally reached on completing a first cruise.): Special savings on cruise vacations and onboard offers on each sailing, plus access to Points Choice, status matching with Celebrity and Silversea and partner benefits. - Tier: Platinum (30 Cruise Points.): All Gold benefits with added perks and onboard savings. - Tier: Emerald (55 Cruise Points.): All Platinum benefits with more perks during the cruise. - Tier: Diamond (80 Cruise Points.): Priority access and elevated benefits, including entry to the Crown Lounge, an onboard members' lounge with a dedicated concierge. - Tier: Diamond Plus (175 Cruise Points.): Crown Lounge access and a choice of complimentary amenities delivered during the cruise, along with greater recognition on board. - Tier: Pinnacle Club (700 Cruise Points.): Crown Lounge access and complimentary amenities. At 700 and 1,050 points members qualify for a complimentary cruise of up to seven nights in the Caribbean in a balcony stateroom or US$2,400 toward a cruise, with further awards from 1,400 points. Members may also use suite areas such as the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen, subject to the line's rules. - How to earn: Members earn one Cruise Point per night sailed, or two per night when they book and sail in a suite or sail solo paying single pricing for a double-occupancy stateroom. Points post within 30 days of the cruise. With Points Choice, for sailings departing on or after 30 January 2026, points earned on a Royal Caribbean, Celebrity or Silversea cruise can be applied to whichever of the three programs the member chooses, at published exchange rates. The line also runs limited-time double-points promotions on new bookings. - Status match: One-for-one tier matching across Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea: Gold matches Captain's Club Classic and 1 Venetian Society day; Platinum matches Select and 15 VS days; Emerald matches 50 VS days; Diamond matches Elite and 100 VS days; Diamond Plus matches Elite Plus and 250 VS days; Pinnacle Club matches Zenith and 500 VS days. Members enroll in the sister programs through the Royal Caribbean or Celebrity websites or apps. ### Crystal Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/crystal-society - Cruise line: Crystal - Tier: Crystal Society member (Automatic after the first Crystal voyage): From the second voyage: 2.5% Crystal Society fare savings, 2.5% onboard booking savings and a hosted members' cocktail party on every voyage. Milestone rewards (As You Wish credits, upgrades, cruise credits) and recognition pins at select milestone levels. - Tier: Milestone 50 and above (50 or more milestone credits): Member benefits plus unlimited complimentary dinner reservations at Osteria d'Ovidio and Umi Uma (the first booked before boarding, the rest on board). - Tier: Per Sempre (Invitation only; one-time fee of $50,000 for two household members (enrollment closed December 15, 2025)): Lifetime 10% discount on voyages, complimentary suite upgrades when available, priority access to new itineraries, complimentary laundry and daily pressing, an invitation to the 2028 christening of Crystal Grace, and curated offers from Abercrombie & Kent and partners. - How to earn: Each full-fare voyage of 5 to 15 nights earns one milestone credit and each voyage of 16 nights or more earns two; shorter voyages earn nothing. Combined sailings such as back-to-back cruises, Grand Journeys or world cruise segments earn credits for each segment separately. ### Eagle Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/eagle-society - Cruise line: American Cruise Lines - Tier: Member (Any guest who has completed one cruise with American Cruise Lines; membership is free.): Access to members-only Eagle Society cruises; advance booking on new ships and itineraries; a quarterly newsletter; a referral bonus of $500 off the next booking for both the member and a new guest (up to $1,000 in referral savings per booking); the option to invite family and friends aboard during port calls with advance notice; complimentary premium shore excursions after three cruises; and a complimentary 11th cruise. - How to earn: Membership is free and opens after a guest's first cruise with the line. Members enroll on board, by phone or by email. The program has no points or status levels; benefits are tied to the number of cruises taken, with complimentary premium shore excursions after three cruises and a free eleventh cruise. ### Explora Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/explora-club - Cruise line: Explora Journeys - Tier: Classic (Entry level on enrolment, before any points are earned.): Personalized welcome on board, access to Explora Club member offers, priority access to new Journeys Collections and a dedicated area in My Explora. - Tier: Silver (1 to 5,000 points.): Classic benefits plus a Silver welcome gift, a signature loyalty gift and birthday surprise, 5 percent savings on future Journeys and on Explora merchandise at The Journey boutique, priority assistance at the Explora Experience Centre, a cocktail event with ship leadership, focus group invitations and a personal welcome from the General Manager. - Tier: Gold (5,001 to 20,000 points.): Silver benefits with a Gold welcome gift, an additional surprise gift or ritual, 5 percent savings at The Journey boutique (excluding Encore) and one extra complimentary laundry bag per Journey. - Tier: Platinum (20,001 to 50,000 points.): Gold benefits with a Platinum welcome gift, 100 of Journey Experience Credit for Ocean Wellness and 100 for Destination Experiences, a complimentary laundry bag every day and a behind-the-scenes bridge tour when available. - Tier: Diamond (50,001 points or more.): Platinum benefits plus a Diamond welcome gift, a complimentary week-long Journey for two in an Ocean Suite (terms apply), a private transfer to port, a complimentary suite upgrade (Owner's Residence excluded), an exclusive embarkation area, a President's Journey experience, a complimentary culinary experience such as the Chef's Kitchen, and a private shopping advisor. - How to earn: Members earn 100 points for every night at sea, multiplied by suite category: Ocean Suites x1, Ocean Penthouses x2, Ocean Residences x3 and Owner's Residences x10. Eligible onboard spending earns 100 points per 1,000 euros or dollars, in blocks of 100, excluding pre- and post-Journey hotels, flights and transfers, the casino, Encore by Explora Journeys and the luxury watch and jewelry boutiques. Destination Experiences booked before or during the Journey earn 100 points per 1,000 euros or dollars. Each successful referral adds 500 points. - Status match: Guests who hold status in another cruise line's loyalty program can apply for a status match and receive equivalent Explora Club benefits from their first Journey; Explora publishes a status match table on its Explora Club page. ### Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/hapag-lloyd-cruises-club - Cruise line: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises - Tier: Member (Join on board or ashore; €170 one-off fee per person and €70 per year from the second calendar year.): Bonus miles on every cruise, a club cocktail on board, exclusive club cruises, premium offers on selected cruises, waitlist priority for reservations, individual bonus-mile offers, a welcome package, the Clubzeit magazine and a dedicated club team. - Tier: Gold (15,000 bonus miles collected in total, including miles already redeemed.): Premium-member status in the club. The club pages do not list benefits beyond those of standard membership. - Tier: Platinum (50,000 bonus miles collected in total, including miles already redeemed.): The club's highest premium-member status. The club pages do not list benefits beyond those of standard membership. - How to earn: Members earn bonus miles per night on board: 360 a night on Europa and Europa 2 and 300 a night on the Hanseatic expedition ships, credited for cruises booked with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as tour operator; reduced or special fares earn none. From 1 January 2026, Silver fare bookings earn half the normal rate. Miles convert to onboard credit at 700 miles for €50 (for drinks, internet, laundry up to €100 per trip, spa and hair services, personal training and golf lessons) or can be used for premium offers such as free or discounted cruises and upgrades. Miles stay valid as long as members sail again within five years. Joining on board earns miles for that cruise, and joining within four weeks after a cruise credits it retroactively. ### HX Explorers - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/hx-explorers - Cruise line: HX Hurtigruten Expeditions - Tier: Bronze (0 to 99 points; assigned on joining.): Base member benefits: 5% off optional excursions and partner discounts, including 10% at the Longyear78 shop and selected restaurants in Longyearbyen and 10% off The Cruise Maps, Waterhaul and Bracenet products. - Tier: Silver (100 to 349 points.): HX publishes no Silver-only list. Members who have sailed with HX also get its post-travel benefits: 5% off future expedition cruises, in-cabin welcome chocolates, a welcome cocktail on embarkation, access to the onboard loyalty and future cruise manager, and 5% off Hurtigruten Svalbard hotels and day trips. - Tier: Gold (350 to 499 points.): Complimentary laundry of up to two bags of clothing per week on board, plus one bag per day for guests in Expedition Suites (not on Galápagos sailings), in addition to the member benefits above. - Tier: Platinum (500 points or more.): Gold benefits plus a 25-minute complimentary spa treatment on Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen, a printed photobook of the voyage, access to the HX Price Promise, no change fee on core booking components up to 90 days before departure, and a complimentary cabin upgrade when one is available, confirmed about 30 days before embarkation. - How to earn: Members earn 10 points per night in a Polar Inside, Polar Outside, Arctic Superior or Explorer cabin and 15 points per night in an Expedition Suite or Darwin Suite booked before embarkation, plus 5 points for every 250 euros spent on board (excluding HX credits and gratuities; not on Galápagos sailings). Smaller amounts come from other activities: 1 point per night for a Green Night Stay, 5 points for one polar plunge per cruise, 5 for completing the University of Tasmania Antarctic course, 5 per live HX webinar or event (up to 20 points a year) and 5 for signing up to the newsletter. Pre- and post-cruise hotel nights do not count. Points post within 30 days and stay valid for seven years; members move up automatically when their balance reaches the next threshold. - Status match: No status match is published. Hurtigruten coastal voyages do not count toward HX Explorers tiers, but travelers who have sailed with Hurtigruten receive a one-time 100-point bonus. ### Latitudes Rewards - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/latitudes-rewards - Cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Line - Tier: Bronze (1 point; automatic after the first cruise.): Keycard recognition, a tier pin, the onboard Latitudes Rewards representative, free artwork for attending an art auction, 10% off Norwegian-logo items in duty-free shops, Insider and members-only offers, early news of new products, the Latitudes digital magazine, member cruises and offers from Caesars Entertainment. - Tier: Silver (20 points.): Bronze benefits, with 15% off logo items in duty-free shops, 10% off shore excursions, 20% off photos, 15% off one Spa Signature treatment while the ship is in port, and an invitation to an exclusive cocktail party. - Tier: Gold (45 points.): Silver benefits, with 25% off photos and 20% off a spa treatment in port, plus 50% off one bag of laundry, priority tender tickets, priority disembarkation (for US citizens; varies for others) and one bottle of water per person per sailing. - Tier: Platinum (75 points.): Gold benefits, with 30% off photos, 25% off a spa treatment in port and one free bag of laundry, plus priority check-in, 15% off an unlimited Wi-Fi package, chocolate-covered strawberries, a dinner for two with a bottle of wine (sailings of five nights or more), a wine-tasting event, a behind-the-scenes ship tour, onboard concierge service, a dedicated pre-cruise service desk and dining reservations 125 days before sailing. - Tier: Sapphire (150 points.): Platinum benefits, with 15% off shore excursions, 20% off Wi-Fi and two bottles of water per person, plus priority restaurant and entertainment seating and a dinner with the ship's officers. - Tier: Diamond (350 points.): Sapphire benefits, with 25% off Wi-Fi, an exclusive Sail & Sustain mixology experience and a one-time free cabin upgrade. - Tier: Ambassador (700 points.): Diamond benefits except the cabin upgrade, with 20% off shore excursions, dining reservations 130 days before sailing, a one-time complimentary seven-day cruise and a special gift on reaching the tier. - How to earn: Members earn one point for every cruise night. Booking a full-fare suite (Club Balcony Suites excluded) or The Haven adds one point per night, and booking a Latitudes Rewards Insider Offer on a select sailing adds one point per night (suites and The Haven excluded from that bonus). Missing points can only be credited for cruises taken in the last 12 months. - Status match: Under the NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program (first eligible sailings October 15, 2025), members can ask to have their tier honored on Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, one cruise at a time, at the closest matching tier. Under the 2026 chart, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum keep their names, Sapphire is honored as Platinum, and Diamond and Ambassador as Oceania Club Diamond and Seven Seas Society Titanium. Requests go to the line being sailed at least 10 days before departure; points do not transfer, and milestone benefits such as free cruises, upgrades and gifts are excluded. ### Mariner Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/mariner-society - Cruise line: Holland America Line - Tier: 1-Star Mariner (One completed Holland America cruise (automatic enrollment).): Up to US$400 onboard credit per stateroom on cruises booked within 90 days of a new season launch; a collectible gift; a 'Mariner Cocktail' voucher; 50% off fares for third and fourth guests and free fares for kids on request (voyages of 14 days or fewer, not cruisetours). - Tier: 2-Star Mariner (30 Cruise Day credits.): All 1-Star benefits, plus a complimentary photo of the ship and 10% off select Holland America logo clothing. - Tier: 3-Star Mariner (75 Cruise Day credits.): All 2-Star benefits, plus discounts on select spa treatments, the Mariner Society welcome reception, and 25% off Sommelier Suite wine packages, specialty restaurant surcharges at Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind and Canaletto (and specialty coffees), and mini-bar purchases. - Tier: 4-Star Mariner (200 Cruise Day credits.): Onboard credit offer, gift, cocktail voucher, ship photo, spa discounts and welcome reception, plus 50% off Sommelier Suite packages, specialty restaurant surcharges and mini-bar purchases; a complimentary regional wine tasting; complimentary laundry and pressing; priority check-in, tendering and disembarkation; free fares for third and fourth guests on request (voyages of 14 days or fewer); 15% off select logo clothing; and 25% off the per-person surcharge at Rudi's Sel de Mer. - Tier: 5-Star Mariner (500 Cruise Day credits.): All 4-Star benefits, plus two complimentary dinners at Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind or Canaletto, a day pass to the Greenhouse Spa thermal suite once per cruise, and up to US$30 credit toward an internet package. - How to earn: One Cruise Day credit for each day sailed (each night aboard counts); on Alaska cruisetours, land days count too. Paying a published fare for a suite or penthouse doubles the credits. One bonus credit is added for each US$300 of eligible onboard spending on the booking, up to one bonus day per day sailed, for the first two guests in the stateroom. Past Holland America cruises count toward status. - Status match: No status match is published. Guests who have sailed with Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn or Costa are enrolled as 1-Star Mariners when they make their first Holland America booking. ### Marriott Bonvoy - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/marriott-bonvoy - Cruise line: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection - Tier: Member (Free to join Marriott Bonvoy): Earns and redeems points and Elite Night Credits on voyages; no additional onboard benefits are listed. - Tier: Silver Elite (10 to 24 nights a year): Private invitation to the Marriott Bonvoy Elite reception on board. - Tier: Gold Elite (25 to 49 nights a year): Elite reception invitation and a choice of in-suite welcome gift (varies by tier). - Tier: Platinum Elite (50 to 74 nights a year): Elite reception invitation, choice of in-suite welcome gift and complimentary first-evening laundry pressing. - Tier: Titanium Elite (75 or more nights a year): Elite reception invitation, choice of in-suite welcome gift, complimentary first-evening laundry pressing, and priority boarding and departure. - Tier: Ambassador Elite (100 or more nights a year plus $23,000 in annual qualifying spend): Elite reception invitation, choice of in-suite welcome gift, priority boarding and departure, early access to specialty dining reservations, and complimentary laundry throughout the voyage. - How to earn: Members earn 5 points per US$1 spent on the cruise-only fare and on hotel packages at participating Marriott hotels booked through the line, for up to three suites or rooms they pay for and occupy, plus one Elite Night Credit per night aboard. The member number must be on the booking at least 30 days before sailing, and points post within 14 days of the voyage. Points can be redeemed against the cruise fare: 180,000 points for the first $1,000 off, then 90,000 points per $500, applied up to 121 days before departure. ### MSC Voyagers Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/msc-voyagers-club - Cruise line: MSC Cruises - Tier: Welcome (Entry level on joining. Anyone can sign up, with or without a booking.): Immediate access to MSC Voyagers Selection departures with member discounts of up to 20 percent, and member offers. - Tier: Classic (Reached with points earned on MSC cruises; MSC publishes the threshold on its program page.): Member discounts on cruise bookings (at least 5 percent under the 2022 rules, with more for early bookings), plus a welcome-back cocktail on board and the member newsletter, as MSC described the tier in 2019. - Tier: Silver (Reached with more points than Classic; MSC publishes the threshold on its program page.): Classic benefits plus a complimentary fruit basket and onboard credit on selected departures (2019 description). Under the 2022 rules Silver, Gold and Diamond members booking at least nine months ahead received an extra discount and 50 euros or dollars of onboard credit. - Tier: Gold (Reached with more points than Silver; MSC publishes the threshold on its program page.): Silver benefits plus a one-hour visit to the thermal area of the MSC Aurea Spa, gifts, and priority disembarkation at tender ports, as MSC described the tier in 2019. - Tier: Diamond (Reached with more points than Gold; it has also been available through status match. Called Black Card until September 2019.): Gold benefits plus, as MSC described them in 2019: prosecco and strawberries in the cabin, bathrobe and slippers, a tasting-menu dinner for two in a specialty restaurant, a dance class, a chocolate ship model, late check-out, priority disembarkation and a members' party on board. Diamond and Blue Diamond members get the highest priority for cabin upgrades when available. - Tier: Blue Diamond (Top tier, added in November 2024. Reached only with points earned sailing with MSC, not through status match.): All Diamond benefits plus flexible check-in with priority embarkation and luggage drop-off at the MSC Yacht Club desk, My Choice dining at any time during main-restaurant hours, a free browsing Wi-Fi package for one device, free shuttle bus tickets in selected ports, a meet-and-greet with the captain or an officer, and priority access to tender boats. - How to earn: Members earn points on every MSC cruise. The amount depends on the cabin category or experience booked, the length of the cruise and spending on onboard services and purchases, whether booked ahead or on board, so a Yacht Club suite earns more than a standard cabin. MSC has offered bonus points at various times, such as double points for bookings made at least 12 months before departure and tripled points for a full MSC World Cruise. Points accumulate toward the next tier; MSC publishes the exact thresholds on its Voyagers Club page. - Status match: MSC runs a status match program: members of other cruise, hotel or tour-operator loyalty programs can apply for a matching Voyagers Club tier. The top Blue Diamond tier cannot be reached through status match, only by sailing with MSC. ### Oceania Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/oceania-club - Cruise line: Oceania Cruises - Tier: Bronze (2 cruise credits.): Membership pin, Oceania Club cocktail receptions, members-only offers, 10% off Oceania-logo merchandise on board, a bottle of Oceania Club private-label wine, an embroidered cap on reaching a new tier and a $100 shipboard credit per stateroom. - Tier: Silver (10 cruise credits.): Bronze benefits, with a $500 shipboard credit per stateroom and 10% off the Prestige Select beverage package. - Tier: Gold (15 cruise credits.): Silver benefits, with a $650 shipboard credit, two Aquamar Spa treatment credits of up to $150 each and two custom air fee waivers (total value $398). - Tier: Platinum (20 cruise credits.): Gold benefits, with a $750 shipboard credit, an invitation to a special dinner with officers, priority terminal check-in and a free cruise (restrictions apply). - Tier: Diamond (40 cruise credits.): Platinum benefits, with a $1,000 shipboard credit, spa treatment credits of up to $200 each and a complimentary wine tasting. - Tier: President's Circle (60 or more cruise credits.): Diamond benefits, with a $1,250 shipboard credit, a free Prestige Select beverage package, a place on the General Manager's VIP list and complimentary laundry service. - How to earn: Credits are earned per voyage according to its length: 1 credit for voyages of up to 24 days, 2 for 25-34 days, 3 for 35-44 days, 4 for 45-54 days, 5 for 55-64 days, 7 for 65-99 days, 10 for 100-157 days and 15 for 158 days or more. Tier status depends on total credits. - Status match: Under the NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program (first eligible sailings October 15, 2025), Oceania Club members can have their tier honored on Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, one cruise at a time, at the closest matching tier. Under the 2026 chart, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum keep their names, and Oceania Club Diamond lines up with Latitudes Rewards Diamond and Ambassador and with Seven Seas Society Titanium. Points do not transfer, and benefits marked as excluded, such as pins, caps and the free cruise, do not apply. ### Oceans Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/oceans-club - Cruise line: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines - Tier: Bronze (1 or more nights sailed.): 5% off cruises booked 12 or more months ahead; £25 per person onboard credit for introducing a friend. - Tier: Silver (31 or more nights sailed.): 5% off cruises booked 9 or more months ahead; £25 per person friend reward; 5% onboard discount; invitation to the Oceans party on cruises of 7 nights or more. - Tier: Gold (101 or more nights sailed.): 5% off cruises booked 6 or more months ahead; £25 per person friend reward; 5% onboard discount; 5% off shore tours booked before the cruise; a bag of chocolates per cabin as a welcome treat; Oceans party on 7-night-plus cruises. - Tier: Platinum (251 or more nights sailed.): 5% off cruises booked 3 or more months ahead; £35 per person friend reward; 10% onboard discount; 7.5% off booked shore tours; a laundry voucher or three hot drinks as a welcome treat; Oceans party; onboard event invitation on world cruises and grand voyages of 70 nights or more. - Tier: Diamond (501 or more nights sailed.): 5% off cruises booked at any time; £50 per person friend reward; 15% onboard discount; 10% off booked shore tours; laundry voucher or four hot drinks; Oceans party and coffee mornings on 14-night-plus cruises; wash-and-fold laundry and specialty dining vouchers; onboard event invitation on long voyages; 50% off standard Wi-Fi; dedicated check-in and priority disembarkation on UK departures; priority table reservations. - Tier: Signature (1,001 or more nights sailed.): Everything at Diamond, plus a 17.5% onboard discount, 12.5% off booked shore tours, laundry voucher or seven hot drinks, free standard Wi-Fi for the whole cruise, a complimentary cabin upgrade on Freedom Fare bookings (subject to availability, applied close to departure) and a shoreside event invitation on world cruises and grand voyages. - How to earn: Guests earn one cruise point per night on board, credited on the last day of each voyage. Points are void if more than five years pass between cruises. Saver Fare bookings still earn points, but onboard benefits require a Freedom Fare. ### Ponant Yacht Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/ponant-yacht-club - Cruise line: Ponant - Tier: Major (Reached after completing a second voyage with a Ponant Explorations Group brand.): 5% off future bookings (port-to-port fare); onboard credit of 50 euros (US$50 aboard Paul Gauguin); free onboard laundry, up to two items per person per day. - Tier: Admiral (Reached after completing a fourth voyage.): 7.5% off future bookings; 20% off onboard spending, excluding excursions and certain premium brands and drinks; onboard credit of 100 euros (US$100 aboard Paul Gauguin); free laundry, up to five items per person per day; a possible free upgrade on Ponant ships, offered aboard within 48 hours of embarkation when space allows. - Tier: Grand Admiral (Reached after completing a seventh voyage.): 10% off future bookings; 25% off onboard spending, with the same exclusions; onboard credit of 150 euros (US$150 aboard Paul Gauguin); free laundry, up to five items per person per day; possible free upgrade; one free change of voyage every 12 months, if asked for 90 or more days ahead of departure, to a sailing within six months at the same or a higher price. - Tier: Commodore (Reached after completing a twentieth voyage; not available through status match.): 12.5% off future bookings; 25% off onboard spending; onboard credit of 200 euros (US$200 aboard Paul Gauguin); free laundry, up to five items per person per day; possible free upgrade; one free change of voyage every 12 months; priority boarding at certain embarkation ports on Ponant cruises and priority check-in aboard Paul Gauguin. - How to earn: Status is counted in completed voyages with any Ponant Explorations Group brand, including Paul Gauguin Cruises, and is credited at the end of each voyage, never retroactively. Cancelled and free cruises, group bookings and ship charters are excluded, as are Aqua Expeditions voyages reserved with that company directly. Members reach Major after their second cruise, Admiral after the fourth, Grand Admiral after the seventh and Commodore after the twentieth. - Status match: Ponant offers a one-time status match, from the first voyage, to members of other cruise lines' programs who submit a copy of their card. Examples from its published table: Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Diamond to Major, Diamond Plus to Admiral and Pinnacle to Grand Admiral; Celebrity Captain's Club Elite Plus to Admiral and Zenith to Grand Admiral; Holland America 4- and 5-Star Mariner, Regent Seven Seas Gold and above, Seabourn Gold and above, and Silversea Venetian Society members to Grand Admiral. Commodore cannot be reached by status match. ### River Heritage Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/river-heritage-club - Cruise line: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises - Tier: Member (Automatic after completing one Uniworld cruise.): Past-guest savings on all cruises, combinable with other Uniworld promotions (for 2027 departures, $100 to $500 per person depending on the itinerary); a dedicated phone line; an in-room treat on arrival; one complimentary laundry service per cruise; a members-only cocktail party with the captain; early notice of new cruises; the Riverviews e-magazine; referral credit toward a future cruise; and savings of up to 5% on select trips with other TTC brands. Onboard extras apply on Uniworld-owned ships and may differ in Egypt, India, Peru, Portugal and Vietnam/Cambodia. - How to earn: Membership starts automatically after a first completed Uniworld cruise; there are no points or nights to accumulate, and benefits apply to every later booking. Members can also earn credit toward a future cruise through Uniworld's referral program. ### Scenic & Emerald Rewards - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/scenic-emerald-rewards - Cruise line: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours - Tier: Gold (Entry tier, reached after completing a first trip with a Scenic Group brand; new members receive 1,000 bonus status points.): Earns and redeems MyRewards (1% of eligible bookings); member-only offers, events, newsletter and competitions; access to pre-release cruises and land journeys; a dedicated members' phone and email contact. - Tier: Diamond (15,000 status points.): Gold benefits plus private home or airport transfers (limits apply), an airport hotel stay in some markets, or a transfer credit; one free night of pre- or post-trip hotel on journeys of 20 days or more; on Scenic ocean voyages, priority booking of restaurants, Discovery activities, helicopter and submarine trips, and six pieces of free laundry per person per day. - Tier: Emerald (30,000 status points.): Diamond benefits plus priority service from the Premium Guest Concierge team (Australian bookings only), a lapel pin, upgraded pre- or post-trip hotels when available, and private transfers at the start and end of the journey in selected cities. On river cruises: two pieces of laundry per person per day, a welcome amenity in the suite, an invitation to Table La Rive or Table d'Or (Scenic Europe) or the Chef's Table (Scenic Asia), and a captain's or senior management table invitation on Emerald in Europe. On ocean voyages: laundry (six pieces on Scenic, two on Emerald), a welcome amenity and a one-hour massage or facial. - Tier: Chairman's Club (By invitation only: generally 50,000 or more status points and/or selection by Scenic Group executives.): Emerald benefits with priority access to offers and pre-release trips, a personalized welcome gift pack, early dining reservations, an invitation to the annual Chairman's Club event, 50% off travel insurance in some markets, one free pre- or post-trip hotel night on any length of journey, a one-category suite upgrade when available, an upgraded transfer vehicle, unlimited river laundry, and one complimentary seven-night Europe or Asia river cruise in a lead-in balcony suite on set itineraries. Ocean extras include a Therabody chair session, Champagne and canapés on arrival, a private car excursion on Scenic Signature Yacht cruises from April 2027, one helicopter landing or flightseeing trip on selected Scenic departures from April 2028, a members' lounge on Scenic Ikon and 25% off the Night Market Grill on Emerald Kaia, Raiya and Xara. After the trip: a welcome-home experience and hamper. - How to earn: Members earn status points for each day of travel, scaled by product and suite category. Per day: Scenic Europe river cruises 100 to 150, Southeast Asia river cruises 100 to 150, Scenic land journeys and extensions 100, and Scenic ocean voyages 170 to 300, with more for premium suites. Status points never expire and count only toward tiers. Separately, MyRewards returns 1% of each new booking made directly with Scenic Group or through a travel advisor (cruise, land and flights, excluding taxes, port charges, gratuities and card fees) as credit toward a later Scenic or Emerald trip. The credit is added the day after the trip ends, stays in the booking currency, is valid for up to three years and cannot be used as a deposit or taken as cash. New members from February 10, 2026 also receive 1,000 bonus status points. ### Seabourn Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/seabourn-club - Cruise line: Seabourn - Tier: Club Member (Join Seabourn Club.): Special events and receptions, a Club Host or Hostess on every voyage, a Refer a Friend shipboard credit program, advance notice of new itineraries and offers, and an online member profile. - Tier: Silver (15 Club Points.): Choice of one onboard benefit: a Wi-Fi streaming package, 10% off shore excursions, 10% off premium wines and spirits, 20 minutes of telephone time, a 25-minute signature massage, a day in the Spa Serene Area, or one complimentary laundry bag. Membership of the Seabourn Advisory Board. - Tier: Gold (50 Club Points.): Choice of two onboard benefits from the same list, with 15% off wines and spirits, 30 minutes of telephone time and complimentary laundry (excluding same-day service, pressing and dry cleaning). At home: 10% off luggage shipping, a Travel + Leisure or Condé Nast Traveler subscription, and Advisory Board membership. - Tier: Platinum (100 Club Points.): Choice of three onboard benefits, with 15% off shore excursions, 20% off wines and spirits, 40 minutes of telephone time and complimentary laundry. At home: a dedicated Club Concierge, 15% off luggage shipping, both magazine subscriptions and Advisory Board membership. - Tier: Diamond (200 Club Points.): All onboard benefits: Wi-Fi streaming, 15% off shore excursions, 25% off wines and spirits, 40 minutes of telephone time, a 25-minute massage, a Spa Serene Area day, priority embarkation, and complimentary laundry and pressing. At home: Club Concierge, 20% off luggage shipping, both magazine subscriptions and Advisory Board membership. - Tier: Diamond Elite (500 Club Points.): All Diamond benefits, plus a US$100 spa credit, embarkation and disembarkation transfers of up to 50 miles, a 150% single supplement in the A-PH category on select voyages, upgraded welcome Champagne and a complimentary dry-cleaning alternative. At home: Club Concierge, luggage-shipping discount, magazine subscriptions, Advisory Board membership and a welcome gift. - How to earn: Members earn 1 Club Point for each day sailed on a Seabourn ship, 1 extra point for each day sailed in a Penthouse or Premium suite, 1 point for each night on an escorted Seabourn Journey, and 1 point for every US$500 of eligible onboard and pre-cruise online purchases (at most one additional point per day sailed). Points do not expire. Club Days also count toward award cruises: a 7-day cruise at 350 Club Days, a 14-day cruise at 460, and another 7-day cruise for every further 110 Club Days, in a V1 Veranda Suite. Club Days and awards remain valid as long as the member sails at least once every three years. ### SeaDream Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/seadream-club - Cruise line: SeaDream Yacht Club - Tier: Club Member (Automatic after one sailing at a regular or public fare): $500 per stateroom off select Club Voyages; 10-15% off fares when booking a future voyage on board (25% deposit); $250 savings per stateroom for the member and for new-to-SeaDream guests they bring; early access to new itineraries; Club newsletter; onboard cocktail party with the Captain and officers; one 15% wine cellar voucher and one 15% spa voucher per voyage; occasional surprise offers. Members with more than 100 days sailed also get complimentary pressing of ten items per stateroom. - How to earn: Membership comes with the first sailing at a regular or public fare; there are no points. The only benefit tied to sailing history is complimentary pressing for members with more than 100 days sailed. ### Seven Seas Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/seven-seas-society - Cruise line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Tier: Bronze (Completion of a first voyage (7-20 nights).): Exclusive savings on select voyages, an online personal profile, a Seven Seas Society cocktail reception on board and double nights for single guests paying a supplement of 175% or more. - Tier: Silver (21 nights sailed.): Bronze benefits, plus priority online reservations for Prime 7, Chartreuse and Pacific Rim and for shore excursions, one hour of phone time per suite, a commemorative pin and the Society Pages newsletter. - Tier: Gold (75 nights sailed.): Silver benefits, plus a $100 shipboard credit per suite, unlimited Wi-Fi on up to four devices, two more hours of phone time (three in total), priority disembarkation in select ports and exclusive activities on board or ashore on every voyage. - Tier: Platinum (200 nights sailed.): Gold benefits, plus six more hours of phone time per suite (nine in total), an Air Concierge deposit waiver once per sailing, 10% off Regent Choice shore excursions, hotels and land programs, and leather luggage tags. - Tier: Titanium (400 nights sailed.): Platinum benefits, plus two private transfers through Blacklane, unlimited valet dry cleaning, a further 15% off Regent Choice excursions, hotels and land programs (25% in total) and suites ready at 1 p.m. on embarkation day. - Tier: Diamond (1,000 nights sailed.): Titanium benefits, plus 5% off cruise-only fares, one Regent Choice shore excursion per voyage segment (up to $250 in value) and an invitation to a new ship's christening. - Tier: Commodore (2,000 nights sailed.): Diamond benefits, plus a further 5% off cruise-only fares (10% in total), a commemorative Commodore officer's jacket and a commemorative plaque on every ship in the fleet. - How to earn: Members earn one night for every night sailed, credited when the voyage ends (or at the end of each segment of a Grand Voyage or world cruise). Single guests paying a single supplement of 175% or more earn double nights. First-time guests sailing 21 nights or more start at Silver, and anyone whose voyage takes them past a tier threshold is recognized at the new tier from embarkation. Reduced-rate, interline and charter sailings do not earn nights, and hotel or land-program nights do not count. - Status match: Under the NCLH Loyalty Status Honoring Program (first eligible sailings October 15, 2025), Seven Seas Society members can have their tier honored on Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises, one cruise at a time, at the closest matching tier: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum keep their names, and Titanium is honored as Latitudes Rewards Ambassador and Oceania Club Diamond. Points do not transfer, and benefits Regent marks as excluded, such as pins, luggage tags and fare discounts, do not apply. ### UnCruise Loyalty & Rewards - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/uncruise-loyalty-rewards - Cruise line: UnCruise Adventures - Tier: Second cruise (Booking a second cruise with UnCruise.): $200 per person off the cruise. - Tier: Third cruise (Booking a third cruise with UnCruise.): $350 per person off the cruise. - Tier: Fourth cruise (Booking a fourth cruise with UnCruise.): $500 per person off the cruise. - Tier: Fifth cruise and beyond (Booking a fifth or later cruise with UnCruise.): $700 per person off each cruise, and eligibility to join Beyond the Buoy, a members' program for guests who have sailed five or more times, for additional savings. - Tier: Tenth cruise (After nine cruises with UnCruise.): The tenth cruise is free; Galápagos and Aleutian Islands cruises are excluded. - How to earn: Benefits are based on the number of UnCruise cruises a guest has taken: the second, third, fourth and fifth-or-later cruises each earn a set per-person saving, and the tenth cruise is free after nine. The Next Adventure saving is earned by making a $500 onboard prepayment, which counts toward the 20% deposit on a future booking. ### Venetian Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/venetian-society - Cruise line: Silversea Cruises - Tier: 1 VS Day (1 to 14 VS Days.): Access to loyalty offers and an invitation to the VS Party, plus all-member benefits: 5% off Venetian Society sailings, preview access to new itineraries, events on Reunion voyages and US$500 per suite referral savings. - Tier: 15 VS Days (15 to 49 VS Days.): A one-time welcome offer for reaching 15 VS Days and an invitation to the VS Party, plus all-member benefits. - Tier: 50 VS Days (50 to 99 VS Days.): US$150 shipboard credit per person, an invitation to the VS Party and all-member benefits. - Tier: 100 VS Days (100 to 249 VS Days.): A 5% booking savings benefit (about US$400 per member), access to Destination Expert services, laundry and pressing, the VS Party and all-member benefits. - Tier: 250 VS Days (250 to 349 VS Days.): A 10% booking savings benefit (about US$800 per member), premium internet on one device, priority embarkation when available, an upgraded champagne welcome, laundry, pressing and wet cleaning, Destination Expert services, the VS Party and all-member benefits. - Tier: 350 VS Days (350 to 499 VS Days.): All 250 VS Days benefits plus one complimentary seven-day cruise. - Tier: 500 VS Days (500 or more VS Days.): All 250 VS Days benefits plus one complimentary 14-day cruise, then a complimentary seven-day cruise for every further 150 VS Days earned. - How to earn: Members earn one VS Day for each day at sea on a Silversea cruise, plus one extra VS Day per day for solo travelers paying a 200% fare, and one VS Day per day for Silversea city stays and land programs. With Points Choice, VS Days and points from Silversea, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity sailings can be applied to whichever of the three programs the member prefers. - Status match: One-for-one recognition across Royal Caribbean Group brands: 1 VS Day matches Crown & Anchor Gold and Captain's Club Classic; 15 VS Days matches Platinum and Select; 50 VS Days matches Emerald; 100 VS Days matches Diamond and Elite; 250 VS Days matches Diamond Plus and Elite Plus; 500 VS Days matches Pinnacle Club and Zenith. ### Viking Explorer Society - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/viking-explorer-society - Cruise line: Viking Ocean Cruises ### Virgin Voyages Sailing Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/virgin-voyages-sailing-club - Cruise line: Virgin Voyages - Tier: Sailing Club (One completed eligible paid voyage; enrollment is automatic.): Members-only booking offers sent by email from time to time; voyages begin counting toward Blue Extras. - Tier: Blue Extras (Two completed eligible voyages; the perks apply on a member's third and fourth voyages.): Per qualifying Sailor: dedicated Sailing Club support from Sailor Services before and during the voyage, an invitation to a Sailing Club cocktail event, one bag of laundry, and one specialty coffee a day. - Tier: Deep Blue Extras (Four completed eligible voyages; the perks apply on the fifth and every later eligible voyage.): A $100 promotional Bar Tab credit, unlimited premium Wi-Fi where available, priority boarding with a dedicated queue (including at Terminal V in Miami), dedicated Sailor Services support, the Sailing Club cocktail event, laundry service (two pressed items, one specialty-cleaned item and one bag), and two specialty coffees a day. - How to earn: There are no points within the club; perks depend on the number of completed eligible voyages. An eligible voyage is a full-fare sailing (Base, Essential and Premium fares count as of October 2025); casino, free access-key, travel-advisor, interline, employee and other reduced-rate bookings neither count nor receive perks. Credit posts 30 days after a voyage ends, so a back-to-back sailing does not pick up a newly earned level. Guests who earned Sea-Blazer or Sea-Rover status before 2024 already have Deep Blue Extras. - Status match: For a limited time Virgin Voyages matches airline, hotel and cruise loyalty status to Blue Extras on the next sailing, with applications accepted through October 31, 2026. The program's terms list accepted levels from programs including Disney's Castaway Club (all levels), Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society (Diamond and above), Celebrity's Captain's Club (Elite and above), Carnival's VIFP Club (Platinum and Diamond), Norwegian's Latitudes Rewards (Platinum and above), Princess Captain's Circle (Platinum and Elite), Holland America's Mariner Society (3-Star and above), Oceania Club, Azamara Circle, Windstar Yacht Club, P&O's Peninsular Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Virgin Australia Velocity (Gold and above). ### Windstar Yacht Club - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/loyalty/windstar-yacht-club - Cruise line: Windstar Cruises - Tier: One Star (1 to 15 points): 5% cruise-fare saving, plus another 5% for bookings made on board or within 60 days of disembarking; 5% off the unlimited laundry package, Wi-Fi and Windstar merchandise; customized keycard. - Tier: Two Star (16 to 39 points): The 5% fare savings; $50 onboard credit per person; 5% off beverage packages, laundry package, Wi-Fi, Windstar shore excursions and merchandise; customized keycard. - Tier: Three Star (40 to 89 points): The 5% fare savings; $75 onboard credit per person; 5% off beverage packages; 10% off the laundry package, Wi-Fi, Windstar shore excursions and merchandise; an invitation to dine with one of the ship's officers; customized keycard. - Tier: Four Star (90 or more points): The 5% fare savings; $100 onboard credit per person; 10% off beverage packages; complimentary unlimited laundry and Wi-Fi; 15% off Windstar shore excursions and merchandise; dinner with the Captain or a senior officer; customized keycard. - How to earn: Points are awarded after each completed qualifying cruise: 1 point per night in most staterooms, 1.5 per night in Wind Class suites and Deluxe Suites on the Star Plus ships, and 2 per night in Owner's and Classic Suites on the Star Plus ships, Star Suites on Star Seeker and Star Explorer, and the Bridge Suite on Wind Surf. Nights sailed before October 5, 2020, counted 1 point each. Status updates the day after a qualifying cruise. ## Ships ### Adventure of the Seas - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/adventure-of-the-seas - Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean-international) - Class: Voyager class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2001-11-18 - Entered service: 2001 - Last refurbished: 2016 - Gross tonnage: 138,193 - Guests: 3,114 - Passenger space ratio: 44.4 gross tons per guest - Crew: 1,185 - Length: 311 m - Decks: 14 - Home port: Port Canaveral, Florida - Fly into: Orlando International (MCO), 6 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/mco - Sails: Caribbean, Bahamas - Rating: 4.0/5 overall (Cabins 4, Dining 3, Entertainment 5, Pools & decks 4, Service 4, Value 4) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/adventure-of-the-seas/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/adventure-of-the-seas/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Deck plans): https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/adventure-of-the-seas/deck-plans Adventure of the Seas is a Voyager-class ship that entered service in November 2001 and is registered in the Bahamas. A US$61 million refurbishment in 2016 added staterooms, and the ship now has an outdoor movie screen, an aqua park with the Cyclone and Typhoon slides and a FlowRider surf simulator. Over the years she has sailed from US and European ports to the Caribbean, the Baltic, the Mediterranean and Canada. Her 2026-27 schedule has Southern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale in winter and Caribbean and Bahamas trips from Port Canaveral for the rest of the year. ### AIDAaura - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaaura - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Status: retired from this line - Maiden voyage: 2003-04 - Entered service: 2003 - Left the fleet: 2023-09-21 - Gross tonnage: 42,289 - Guests: 1,266 - Passenger space ratio: 33.4 gross tons per guest - Crew: 389 - Length: 203 m - Sails: Norwegian Fjords, World cruises AIDAaura was a 42,289-ton ship built by Aker MTW in Wismar and christened by Heidi Klum in Warnemünde in April 2003, a twin of AIDAvita. With 633 cabins for about 1,266 guests, it was the last of AIDA's smaller ships and sailed the line's longer, more unusual Selection voyages, including a 117-day world cruise from Hamburg in 2018-19 and winter cruises to northern Norway. Its final AIDA voyage ended in Bremerhaven on 21 September 2023. Celestyal Cruises bought the ship that November and has sailed it as Celestyal Discovery since March 2024. ### AIDAbella - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidabella - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Entered service: 2008 - Last refurbished: 2026 - Gross tonnage: 69,203 - Guests: 2,050 - Passenger space ratio: 33.8 gross tons per guest - Crew: 646 - Length: 252 m - Decks: 14 - Home port: Kiel, Germany - Fly into: Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ham - Sails: Northern Europe, Caribbean, Norwegian Fjords - Rating: 3.0/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidabella/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidabella/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidabella/deckplan AIDAbella is the second Sphinx-class ship, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and in service since 2008, with 1,025 cabins for about 2,050 guests. Its name was picked in a naming contest, and like its sisters it is built around a glass-walled Theatrium in the middle of the ship. From January to March 2026 it spent seven weeks in Marseille for its AIDA Evolution refit, which added restaurants and bars, family activity areas, new suites and two new spaces, the Sky Deck and the Rossini Lounge. It sails the Caribbean in winter from La Romana and Bridgetown and spends summer 2027 on Baltic, Norway and North Cape cruises from Kiel. ### AIDAblu - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidablu - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2010-02-09 - Entered service: 2010 - Gross tonnage: 71,304 - Guests: 2,192 - Passenger space ratio: 32.5 gross tons per guest - Crew: 607 - Length: 253 m - Decks: 15 - Home port: Corfu, Greece - Fly into: Corfu International Airport "Ioannis Kapodistrias" (CFU), 1 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/cfu - Sails: Mediterranean, Canary Islands - Rating: 2.8/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 2, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidablu/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidablu/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidablu/deckplan AIDAblu is a 71,304-ton ship delivered by Meyer Werft in February 2010, the first of a slightly enlarged group of Sphinx-class ships with an extra half deck and room for 2,192 guests. It was the first cruise ship with its own onboard brewery, and it has six restaurants and ten bars. The name had been used before, for an earlier AIDA ship that sailed from 2004 to 2007. AIDAblu spends its summers on Eastern Mediterranean cruises from Corfu to Greece, Malta, Italy and Turkey, and winter 2026-27 on Canary Islands and Madeira cruises from Las Palmas, with Indian Ocean cruises from Mauritius planned for the next winter. ### AIDAcara - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidacara - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Status: retired from this line - Entered service: 1996 - Last refurbished: 2005 - Left the fleet: 2021-08-01 - Gross tonnage: 38,557 - Guests: 1,186 - Passenger space ratio: 32.5 gross tons per guest - Crew: 360 - Length: 193 m - Decks: 11 - Sails: World cruises AIDAcara was AIDA's first ship, built by Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Turku and introduced in June 1996 as AIDA, the 'club ship' that brought the casual style of Carnival's fun ships to the German market. It took the name AIDAcara in 2001, and a 2005 refit added cabins; at 38,557 tons it carried about 1,186 guests. In later years it sailed AIDA's Selection itineraries and, in 2017-18, the company's first world cruise, 116 days from Hamburg. After the pandemic AIDA sold the ship in 2021 to Russian buyers, and it now sails as Astoria Grande, including Black Sea cruises from Sochi. ### AIDAcosma - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidacosma - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Excellence class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2022-02-26 - Entered service: 2022 - Gross tonnage: 183,858 - Guests: 5,252 - Passenger space ratio: 35.0 gross tons per guest - Crew: 1,646 - Length: 337 m - Decks: 16 - Home port: Palma de Mallorca, Spain - Fly into: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/pmi - Sails: Mediterranean, Canary Islands - Rating: 3.5/5 overall (Cabins 4, Dining 3, Entertainment 5, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidacosma/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidacosma/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidacosma/deckplan AIDAcosma is AIDAnova's sister and the second of AIDA's two LNG-powered Excellence-class ships, delivered by Meyer Werft on 21 December 2021 after pandemic delays of more than six months. At 183,858 tons it carries about 5,250 guests at double occupancy and differs from its sister mainly in the design of the upper aft decks. It made its maiden voyage on 26 February 2022. The ship spends summers on Western Mediterranean cruises from Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona, calling at Rome, La Spezia and Corsica, and winters on week-long Canary Islands and Madeira cruises from Las Palmas and Tenerife. ### AIDAdiva - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidadiva - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Entered service: 2007 - Last refurbished: 2025 - Gross tonnage: 69,203 - Guests: 2,050 - Passenger space ratio: 33.8 gross tons per guest - Crew: 646 - Length: 252 m - Decks: 14 - Home port: Warnemünde, Germany - Fly into: Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ber - Sails: Northern Europe, Caribbean, Norwegian Fjords - Rating: 3.0/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidadiva/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidadiva/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidadiva/deckplan AIDAdiva is the first of AIDA's Sphinx-class ships, a 69,203-ton vessel built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg that entered service in 2007 with room for about 2,050 guests. Like its sisters it is arranged around the Theatrium, a glass-roofed, multi-deck lounge and stage in the middle of the ship. From February to March 2025 it was the first ship rebuilt under the AIDA Evolution program at Chantier Naval in Marseille, which added restaurants and bars, renovated every cabin, turned some cabins into suites and gave the Theatrium and outer decks a new look. The ship spends winter 2026-27 in the Caribbean, sailing from La Romana, Montego Bay and Bridgetown, and summer 2027 on Baltic and Norway cruises from Warnemünde. ### AIDAluna - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaluna - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2009-03-22 - Entered service: 2009 - Last refurbished: 2025 - Gross tonnage: 69,203 - Guests: 2,050 - Passenger space ratio: 33.8 gross tons per guest - Crew: 607 - Length: 252 m - Decks: 13 - Home port: Hamburg, Germany - Fly into: Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ham - Sails: Northern Europe, Caribbean, Norwegian Fjords, Transatlantic, Canada and New England - Rating: 3.0/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaluna/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaluna/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidaluna/deckplan AIDAluna is the third Sphinx-class ship, delivered by Meyer Werft in March 2009; its maiden voyage left Hamburg on 22 March 2009 for Palma de Mallorca. The 69,203-ton ship has 1,025 cabins, seven restaurants, eleven bars and a three-level Theatrium, and it was the first AIDA ship with a theater screen beside the pool. Its AIDA Evolution refit ran from October to December 2025. In winter 2026-27 it makes six-week round trips from Hamburg to the Caribbean by way of Bermuda; summer 2027 brings British Isles, Norway, Iceland and Spitsbergen cruises from Hamburg, followed by a crossing to New York and a fall season on the North American East Coast. ### AIDAmar - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidamar - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Entered service: 2012 - Gross tonnage: 71,304 - Guests: 2,192 - Passenger space ratio: 32.5 gross tons per guest - Crew: 620 - Length: 253 m - Home port: Warnemünde, Germany - Fly into: Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ber - Sails: Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands - Rating: 2.8/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 2, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidamar/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidamar/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidamar/deckplan AIDAmar is a 71,304-ton ship in AIDA's Sphinx series, delivered by Meyer Werft on 3 May 2012 and christened in Hamburg nine days later. It has 1,096 cabins for 2,192 guests, an extra deck compared with the first ships of the class, an onboard brewery and a spa of about 2,300 square meters. In winter 2026-27 it sails Western Mediterranean cruises from Palma de Mallorca and Canary Islands cruises from Las Palmas. In summer 2027 it is based in Warnemünde for Baltic cruises to Sweden, Finland, Poland and the Baltic states and a few Norway voyages. ### AIDAmira - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidamira - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Mistral class - Status: retired from this line - Entered service: 1999 - Last refurbished: 2019 - Left the fleet: 2022-01-01 - Gross tonnage: 48,200 - Guests: 1,248 - Passenger space ratio: 38.6 gross tons per guest - Crew: 670 - Length: 216 m - Decks: 8 - Home port: Cape Town, South Africa - Fly into: Cape Town International Airport (CPT), 6 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/cpt AIDAmira was a 48,200-ton Mistral-class ship, completed at Chantiers de l'Atlantique in 1999, that sailed for Festival Cruises, Ibero Cruises and Costa, as Costa neoRiviera, before joining AIDA. A 55 million dollar conversion in Genoa in late 2019 prepared it for AIDA's Selection program, and it was christened in Palma de Mallorca on 30 November 2019 with room for about 1,250 guests. Its first AIDA season was 14-night cruises from Cape Town, but the pandemic ended it in March 2020 and the ship never sailed for AIDA again. AIDA sold it in January 2022 to Ambassador Cruise Line, which sails it as Ambition. ### AIDAnova - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidanova - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Excellence class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2018-12-19 - Entered service: 2018 - Gross tonnage: 183,858 - Guests: 5,252 - Passenger space ratio: 35.0 gross tons per guest - Crew: 1,646 - Length: 337 m - Decks: 16 - Home port: Hamburg, Germany - Fly into: Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ham - Sails: Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords - Rating: 3.3/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 5, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidanova/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidanova/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidanova/deckplan AIDAnova was the first cruise ship able to run entirely on liquefied natural gas when Meyer Werft delivered it in December 2018. The 183,858-ton Excellence-class ship, AIDA's largest along with its sister AIDAcosma, carries about 5,250 guests at double occupancy and a crew of about 1,650. Its maiden voyage on 19 December 2018 was a week around the Canary Islands and Madeira from Tenerife, and in 2019 it became the first cruise ship to receive Germany's Blue Angel eco-label for its design. It now sails Western Europe and Norway cruises from Hamburg in winter and Norwegian fjord voyages from Kiel in summer. ### AIDAperla - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaperla - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Hyperion class - Status: in service - Entered service: 2017 - Gross tonnage: 125,572 - Guests: 3,286 - Passenger space ratio: 38.2 gross tons per guest - Crew: 900 - Length: 300 m - Decks: 18 - Home port: Hamburg, Germany - Fly into: Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ham - Sails: Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, Caribbean - Rating: 3.2/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 4, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaperla/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaperla/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidaperla/deckplan AIDAperla is AIDAprima's sister, a 125,572-ton Hyperion-class ship built by Mitsubishi in Nagasaki and delivered in spring 2017. It has 1,643 cabins for 3,286 guests at double occupancy and 18 decks, 16 of them for passengers. The ship is based mainly in Hamburg for week-long Western Europe and Norway cruises, and it spends winter 2026-27 in the Caribbean, sailing from La Romana and Bridgetown. AIDA plans its AIDA Evolution refit in Marseille for April and May 2027. ### AIDAprima - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaprima - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Hyperion class - Status: in service - Entered service: 2016 - Gross tonnage: 125,572 - Guests: 3,286 - Passenger space ratio: 38.2 gross tons per guest - Crew: 900 - Length: 300 m - Decks: 18 - Home port: Kiel, Germany - Fly into: Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ham - Sails: Northern Europe, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, Caribbean - Rating: 3.2/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 4, Pools & decks 3, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaprima/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidaprima/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidaprima/deckplan AIDAprima is AIDA's flagship, a 125,572-ton Hyperion-class ship built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, the first AIDA ship since 2003 not built by Meyer Werft. Construction delays pushed its debut to 2016, and it was christened in Hamburg in May that year. It carries about 3,300 guests and features the Beach Club, a pool area under a transparent dome, and the Four Elements area with an indoor water slide, climbing wall and lazy river. After its planned Middle East winter was cancelled, it spends autumn 2026 in the Canary Islands and winter on Baltic and Norway cruises from Kiel, then moves to Hamburg in May 2027 for a summer of Norwegian fjord voyages. ### AIDAsol - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidasol - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Entered service: 2011 - Gross tonnage: 71,304 - Guests: 2,192 - Passenger space ratio: 32.5 gross tons per guest - Length: 253 m - Home port: Hamburg, Germany - Fly into: Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/ham - Sails: Northern Europe, World cruises, Norwegian Fjords - Rating: 2.8/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 2, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidasol/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidasol/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidasol/deckplan AIDAsol is a 71,304-ton Sphinx-class ship built by Meyer Werft and christened in Kiel on 9 April 2011, with room for 2,192 guests. Like AIDAblu it has an extra deck compared with the first three ships of the class, an onboard brewery and a spa of about 2,300 square meters. Its 2026-27 season opens with a 127-day world voyage from Hamburg by way of South America, the South Pacific, Mauritius and southern Africa, followed in 2027 by Norway, Iceland, Greenland and British Isles cruises from Hamburg. ### AIDAstella - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidastella - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Class: Sphinx class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2013-03-17 - Entered service: 2013 - Last refurbished: 2018 - Gross tonnage: 71,304 - Guests: 2,192 - Passenger space ratio: 32.5 gross tons per guest - Crew: 620 - Length: 253 m - Decks: 14 - Home port: Palma de Mallorca, Spain - Fly into: Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), 4 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/pmi - Sails: Mediterranean, Asia, World cruises - Rating: 2.8/5 overall (Cabins 3, Dining 3, Entertainment 3, Pools & decks 2, Service 3, Value 3) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidastella/deck-plans - Cabin locations to check and quieter candidates: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidastella/cabins-to-avoid - Deck plan (Official deck plans — select the version for your sailing date): https://aida.de/schiffe/aidastella/deckplan AIDAstella is the seventh and last Sphinx-class ship, a 71,304-ton vessel delivered by Meyer Werft in March 2013 that began sailing on 17 March that year. It carries 2,192 guests at standard occupancy and up to about 2,700, and several of its public rooms were refurbished during a dry dock in Dubai in March 2018. The ship ranges widely: its 2026-27 season starts with a long voyage from Antalya and Palma around Africa to Bangkok, continues with Southeast and East Asia cruises from Bangkok, Singapore and Japan, and returns to Palma de Mallorca for a summer of Western Mediterranean, Spain and Portugal cruises. ### AIDAvita - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/aidavita - Cruise line: AIDA Cruises (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/aida-cruises) - Status: retired from this line - Entered service: 2002 - Left the fleet: 2022-06-01 - Gross tonnage: 42,289 - Guests: 1,266 - Passenger space ratio: 33.4 gross tons per guest - Crew: 426 - Length: 203 m - Decks: 10 AIDAvita was built by Aker MTW in Wismar and entered service in 2002 as AIDA's second ship, identical to AIDAaura. The 42,289-ton ship carried about 1,266 guests and in later years sailed AIDA's Selection program of longer, more unusual itineraries. Idle through the pandemic and laid up in Tallinn from late 2021, it never returned to service, and in June 2022 AIDA announced it had been sold. After a period as Avitak it was leased to a Chinese operator in 2024 and now sails as Blue Dream Melody. ### Allure of the Seas - Page: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/allure-of-the-seas - Cruise line: Royal Caribbean International (https://cruisesfrog.com/cruise-lines/royal-caribbean-international) - Class: Oasis class - Status: in service - Maiden voyage: 2010-12-01 - Entered service: 2010 - Last refurbished: 2025 - Gross tonnage: 226,637 - Guests: 5,484 - Passenger space ratio: 41.3 gross tons per guest - Crew: 2,200 - Length: 362 m - Decks: 18 - Home port: Miami, Florida - Fly into: Miami International (MIA), 10 airport lounges: https://www.loungefrog.com/airports/mia - Sails: Caribbean, Bahamas - Rating: 4.0/5 overall (Cabins 4, Dining 3, Entertainment 5, Pools & decks 4, Service 4, Value 4) - Maintained deck plans: https://cruisesfrog.com/ships/allure-of-the-seas/deck-plans - Cabin locations to c