Cruise lines and cruise holiday promotions Select up to four brands to compare them side by side.
Featured brand
Royal Caribbean
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2 brands selected for the VS tool, showing 20 brands
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Big-ship cruising is the core of Royal Caribbean International, whose largest vessels pack attractions such as water slides, surf simulators, climbing walls, ice rinks and…
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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…
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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…
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With European roots and a large fleet, MSC Cruises sails year-round in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, and also runs extensive Caribbean, Middle East and seasonal world…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
VS comparison tool
| Compare up to 4 brandsThe lowest comparable price and highest available ratings or scores are highlighted. | VIViking | RCRoyal Caribbean | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise Style | Destination-focused river, ocean and expedition cruising; small ocean ships of up to about 930 guests | Mainstream, activity-focused cruising on large resort-style ships | — | — |
| Target Audience | — | Families, multi-generational groups and active travellers; Adventure Ocean youth programme | — | — |
| Fleet | 17 ocean ships listed on official site (incl. Viking Star, Sea, Sky, Sun, Orion), expedition ships Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, plus a large river fleet (76 vessels as of 2019) | 29 ships (Nov 2025), 30 expected by end-2026; 7 classes: Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager, Radiance, Vision; Hero of the Seas (Icon class) on order | — | — |
| Destinations | River: Europe, Asia, Egypt, Mississippi; Ocean: Scandinavia, British Isles, Mediterranean, North, Central & South America, Caribbean, Asia, Australia & NZ, World Cruises; Expedition: Antarctica, Arctic, Great Lakes | Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Europe & Mediterranean, Canada & New England, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Asia, Australia & South Pacific, transatlantic/transpacific | — | — |
| Price Positioning | Premium | Mainstream; US site advertised Caribbean cruises from US$239 and weekend getaways from US$299 per person (Oct 2026); varies by sailing | — | — |
| What's Included | Not verified | Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, select casual venues, most shows and activities; specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, excursions, port fees and gratuities extra | — | — |
| Onboard Highlights | — | AquaTheater shows, Broadway-style productions, FlowRider surf simulators, ice rinks, Thrill Island waterpark (Icon class), Ultimate Abyss slide, North Star capsule (Quantum class) | — | — |
| Gratuities | Automatic US$20 per person per day, all cabin types (as of Oct 2026) | Automatic US$18.50 per person per day (standard cabins incl. junior suites), US$21 in suites (as of Oct 2026) | — | — |
| Loyalty Programme | Viking Explorer Society; no tiers | Crown & Anchor Society; 6 tiers from Gold to Pinnacle Club; 1 point per night, 2 per night in suites or when sailing solo | — | — |
| Private Destinations | — | Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas), Labadee (Haiti), Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (Nassau, extra charge); Royal Beach Club Cozumel, Santorini and Lelepa listed | — | — |
| Optional Packages | — | Beverage, specialty dining and internet packages bought pre-cruise via My Royal Cruise | — | — |
| Parent Company | — | Royal Caribbean Group | — | — |
| Founded | 1997, as Viking River Cruises | 1968, Norway (as Royal Caribbean Cruise Line) | — | — |
| Headquarters | Basel, Switzerland (operations); Los Angeles, California (marketing) | — | — | — |
Prices and specifications are supplied by the current brand records.
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