Explore Cruises brands

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Carnival Cruise Line markets itself around casual, budget-conscious fun at sea, with ships sailing frequently from many US homeports, which lets a large share of guests drive to…

• ✓Many US homeports make drive-to cruising practical
• ✓Frequent short sailings suit first-timers and weekend breaks
• ✓Relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere with casual dining

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Norwegian Cruise Line built its identity around Freestyle Cruising, a flexible format without fixed dining times or assigned tables and with relaxed dress codes. Its ships offer a…

• ✓Flexible dining with no fixed seating times
• ✓Studio cabins designed for solo travellers on many ships
• ✓The Haven suite complex for a more private experience

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Alaska is a particular strength for Princess Cruises, which pairs its sailings there with land tours and its own wilderness lodges for combined cruisetours. The line, part of…

• ✓Strong Alaska programme with cruisetours and wilderness lodges
• ✓MedallionClass wearable for contactless boarding and payments
• ✓Calmer atmosphere suited to couples and mature travellers

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Positioned between mainstream and luxury cruising, Celebrity Cruises focuses on contemporary design, food and a more polished atmosphere than big family-oriented lines. Its…

• ✓Modern premium ships with a design and dining focus
• ✓The Retreat gives suite guests private spaces
• ✓Galapagos expedition voyages on smaller vessels

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Holland America Line operates mid-size ships with a traditional, unhurried style, which tends to appeal to experienced and older cruisers who value destination time over onboard…

• ✓Mid-size ships with a calm, traditional atmosphere
• ✓Extensive Alaska programme including Yukon and Denali cruisetours
• ✓Long voyages and grand world cruises

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Families with children are the clear focus of Disney Cruise Line, which builds its voyages around Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters, Broadway-style shows and themed…

• ✓Strong children's and teen programming included in the fare
• ✓Character experiences and Broadway-style shows on board
• ✓Rotational themed dining with a travelling serving team

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Cunard is a British cruise line best known for regular transatlantic crossings between Southampton and New York aboard Queen Mary 2, an ocean liner designed for open-ocean voyages.…

• ✓Regular transatlantic crossings on the ocean liner Queen Mary 2
• ✓Traditional onboard experience with afternoon tea and ballroom dancing
• ✓Grill suites include dedicated restaurants and lounges

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In the cruise market, Viking operates river, ocean and expedition voyages with a consistent, adults-focused approach: guests must be 18 or older, and the ships have no casinos or…

• ✓River, ocean and expedition voyages from one company
• ✓Fares typically include a shore excursion in most ports and Wi-Fi
• ✓Adults-only, enrichment-focused onboard atmosphere

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Silversea is an ultra-luxury cruise line, part of Royal Caribbean Group, operating small ships with all-suite accommodation and butler service in every suite. Fares are broadly…

• ✓All-suite ships with butler service
• ✓Broadly inclusive fares covering drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi
• ✓Strong expedition programme including polar and Galapagos voyages

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises sells some of the most inclusive fares in luxury cruising, typically covering unlimited shore excursions, specialty dining, premium drinks, Wi-Fi,…

• ✓Highly inclusive fares including unlimited shore excursions
• ✓All-suite ships with generous space per guest
• ✓Specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities usually included

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Food is the central selling point of Oceania Cruises, which operates small and mid-size ships with multiple open-seating specialty restaurants included in the fare, plus culinary…

• ✓Multiple specialty restaurants included in the fare
• ✓Cooking classes on ships with culinary centres
• ✓Small to mid-size ships with destination-rich itineraries

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Seabourn is an ultra-luxury cruise line, part of Carnival Corporation, sailing small all-suite ships with an emphasis on personalised service, fine dining and calm, uncrowded…

• ✓Small all-suite ships with personalised service
• ✓Fares typically include drinks and gratuities
• ✓Purpose-built expedition ships for polar voyages

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Destination immersion is the theme at Azamara, a small-ship cruise line that schedules longer port stays and more overnight calls than many competitors, so guests can explore…

• ✓Longer port stays and frequent overnight calls
• ✓Small ships reach smaller harbours
• ✓Country-intensive voyages for in-depth travel

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Costa Cruises is an Italian cruise line, part of Carnival Corporation, with a strong presence in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe and a distinctly Italian approach to food,…

• ✓Strong Mediterranean and European itinerary choice
• ✓Italian-themed dining and onboard style
• ✓Value-focused pricing in Europe

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Cruising aimed squarely at British holidaymakers is the speciality of P&O Cruises, which sails mainly from Southampton, so many guests can travel to the ship by road or rail rather…

• ✓Sailings from Southampton avoid flights for UK-based guests
• ✓Choice of family ships and adults-only ships
• ✓Onboard style and currency tailored to British travellers

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Virgin Voyages runs adults-only cruises, for guests 18 and over, with a design-led, social atmosphere that differs from traditional cruising. Instead of main dining rooms and…

• ✓Adults-only ships with a social, contemporary atmosphere
• ✓Fares typically include dining, basic Wi-Fi and gratuities
• ✓Range of restaurants instead of a main dining room or buffet

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Explora Journeys is the luxury ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, launched in 2023, with ships designed around ocean-view suites and residences and a style closer to a high-end…

• ✓All-suite, ocean-view accommodation on newer ships
• ✓Broadly inclusive fares covering drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities
• ✓Resort-style atmosphere aimed at luxury travellers

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Unlike the cruise lines in this category, CruiseDirect does not operate ships; it is a US-based online cruise agency that sells sailings from many lines through a self-service…

• ✓Compares sailings from many cruise lines in one place
• ✓Search by destination, departure port, line and trip theme
• ✓Online booking plus phone agents