Whether you know which cruise line you want to book with or are researching which is the right one for you, get in-depth insight from our independent cruise line guides.
A-ROSA
A-Rosa is a river cruise line based in Germany, operating for both a German and international audience with German and English-speaking cruises. The cruise line has a fleet of 14 homely river ships operating on Europe’s most popular waterways, like…
Austrian-owned Amadeus has been going for more than 30 years, one of the oldest in Europe and one of the most established and reliable river cruise lines. Originally for the German-speaking market, the cruise line has branched into international…
AmaWaterways is one of the most luxurious river cruise lines around, with its fleet 23 custom-designed five-star river ships sailing to destinations all over the world, across Europe, Asia and Africa. A family-run business, AmaWaterways has been in…
Ambassador Cruise Line describes itself as a "premium value" service, offering value-for-money breaks aimed primarily at the over-50s. The company, based in Essex sails out of Tilbury from 2022, with its first Ambassador ship, Ambience. Guests can…
Aurora Expeditions is a small Australian cruise line which specialises in off-the-beaten-track voyages led by remote area experts. The company’s adventurous co-founders, Greg and Margaret Mortimer, established Aurora Expeditions in 1991 and had by…
Avalon's suite ships in Europe and Southeast Asia boast wall-to-wall windows that transform cabins into open-air balconies, and there are river-facing beds to make the most of passing views. There are no restricted mealtimes with the FlexDining…
Sold by Royal Caribbean Group in January 2021, Azamara is already expanding under its new owners, Sycamore Partners. The destination-focused line has brought forth a ship, Azamara Onward - the former Pacific Princess - which, like the rest of the…
Carnival is a cruise line that specialises in fun-filled, family-friendly cruises. The US-based cruise line, part of parent company Carnival Corporation (which also owns Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises UK and…
Captain Kate McCue has come to symbolise the modern approach of this Royal Caribbean Group line. The Instagram-famous American skipper - accompanied by her cat Bug Naked - will be taking the helm of the latest ship Celebrity Beyond on its debut…
Greek line Celestyal offers the chance to sail around a selection of islands in a handful of days, staying in port longer at popular destinations such as Mykonos and Santorini. But its two ships also call at less-visited places including the island…
Known for its river cruises, CroisiEurope also offers ocean voyages on two small ships. The 130-passenger La Belle des Oceans (formerly Silversea's silver discoverer), introduced in 2020, is heading to the main towns of Corsica this coming year,…
The age of elegance lives on aboard Cunard's three ships, with white-gloved afternoon teas, grand staircases, and formal nights in fine restaurants. Flagship Queen Mary 2 offers talks, lectures, a planetarium, and even kennels for passengers' cats…
Three wishes will come true for Disney as the line welcomes a new trio of ships, starting in June 2022 with the LNG-powered Disney Wish. Like a theme park at sea, a Disney cruise offers, famous characters, exciting rides, pirate nights and…
River cruise line Emerald is bringing out not one but two glamorous new superyachts to the world's oceans. Emerald Azzura, launching in March 2022 with cruises to destinations including Saudi Arabia, will be joined a year later by Emerald Sakara,…
This favourite among more mature cruisers lost two ships but gained another pair during the pandemic. Out went veterans Boudicca and Black Watch, to be replaced by former Holland America ships Amsterdam (now called Bolette) and Rotterdam (now called…
One of the most luxurious ships in the world, Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2 will start 2022 in the Indian Ocean, sailing to Mauritius, the Seychelles and Réunion. The ship will then head to South Africa, Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, visiting the…
Seattle-based Holland America Line, which has been sailing for nearly 75 years, visits 400 ports in 114 countries every year. In October 2021 it welcomed its latest ship, the seventh to bear the name Rotterdam since the lines very first vessel of…
Hurtigruten, a Norwegian-based cruise line first launched in 1893, offers year-round sailings around the Norwegian coast. The Coastal Express boasts seven ships that connect 34 communities along Norway's coastline with the aim of bringing travellers…
Hurtigruten Expeditions has 127 years of cruising experience and offers small-ship exploration of more than 250 destinations across 30-plus countries. These include Antarctica, Alaska, the Northwest Passage, Greenland, Iceland, Svalbard, Norway, the…
Marella Cruises - formerly Thomson Cruises is to add a fifth ship to its fleet in 2023. Having parted with Marella Celebration and Marella Dream during the pandemic, the line is to acquire Mein Schiff Herz from the parent TUI Group and convert it…
The Swiss-based line was a driving force in the return of cruising, with new ships MSC Grandiosa and sister ship MSC Virtuosa now joining the fleet. Aboard the latter is a new crew member - Rob the talking robot barman - alongside more familiar…
Founded in 1966, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), part of global cruise company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (which also owns Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) is the third-largest cruise line in the world in terms of cruise…
There's a new Vista on the horizon for Oceania Cruises, with the foodies favourite welcoming a new 1200-guest ship in 2023, to be followed by an as-yet unnamed sister in 2025. The Miami based line - a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings -…
After launching new flagship Iona in August, P&O is gearing up to welcome sister vessel Arvia in 2022. Taking 5,200 guests, Iona is the biggest ship ever built for the British market, with a three-story glass atrium and a two deck sky dome that…
Poseidon Expeditions specialises in polar expedition cruises to Antarctica and the Arctic destinations of Svalbard, Greenland, Franz Josef Land and Iceland. With over 22 years of experience, the cruise line aims to bring you closer to these amazing…
Princess Cruises has a fleet of 15 ships ranging in size from 2,000 passengers to 3,660 passengers. The brand is famed for its Alaska sailings, but also offers cruises all over the world. Princess is widely credited for having introduced millions of…
Regent is almost in a class of its own, offering luxury on an incredible scale with original Picassos, an acre of marble and 500 chandeliers aboard Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor and - joining the fleet in 2023 Seven Seas Grandeur. The…
Riviera Travel is one of the oldest and most reliable river cruise operators in the world, with 36 years of experience running guided and escorted tours, a land and water all around the world, including river cruises. Riviera Travel operates a…
US cruise line Royal Caribbean International has an impressive history and global reputation. The cruise line is famed for its fleet of mega-ships, including the 3,100-passenger Voyager-class ships, which were once the largest cruise ships in the…
Spirit of adventure joined sister ship - Spirit of discovery in 2021, bringing the saga fleet bang up to date with two sleek, modern, purpose-built ships. Both carry up to 999 guests in considerable comfort, with Adventure offering some different…
Scenic River Cruises is one of the most luxurious cruise operators in the world. It’s the cruise line behind the innovative and super luxurious yacht-style ship Scenic Eclipse, a ship that revolutionised the cruise industry when it launched in 2019,…
We believe true luxury is all-inclusive and found in the thoughtful detail. That’s why, when you travel with Scenic, you can be confident that every detail is taken care of.
Seabourn, known for its all-inclusive luxury ships, has now entered the expedition market with the new Seabourn Venture launched in 2022. Accommodating 264 guests, the ship is equipped with two submarines, each of them - this being Seabourn -…
Post-lockdown, SeaDream was the first luxury line back at sea when it began sailing along the Norwegian coast in June 2020. The line's two 112-passenger ships are, however, more at home in the Med and Caribbean, where they can offer a "champagne in…
Wellness should be about balanced indulgence, not self-sacrifice - that's the philosophy behind Silversea's new programme called Otium, named after the Roman leisure time dedicated to bathing, talking, singing, drinking, eating and relaxing. The…
Swan Hellenic cruise line takes pride in providing elegant cruises that sail their guests to far-flung destinations across the world such as New Zealand and the Arctic. With over 70 years of experience, enjoy a sophisticated and comfortable…
Tauck is a super-premium river cruise line offering small, intimate sailings on the waterways of Europe. The cruise line launched in 1992, offering luxurious and all-inclusive river cruises on the likes of the Danube, Rhine and Rhone, but also going…
New UK-based cruise line Tradewind Voyages will launch officially in March 2021 and recently announced that its five-masted ship Golden Horizon will set sail for the first time in June 2021. Tradewind Voyages has partnered with ship management…
TUI river cruises offer adults-only voyages on all the major European rivers. The all-inclusive sailings come with top service and an array of tempting shore excursions. There are three river cruise ships TUI Isla, TUI Maya and TUI Skyla; all have…
U by Uniworld is Uniworld’s younger, more edgy sister, a new cruise line offering Uniworld’s signature market-leading river cruises but in a more modern environment and aimed at a younger audience. The cruise line was designed to attract younger and…
Uniworld is one of the most luxurious river cruise lines in existence, operating a fleet of 13 unique, opulent and lavish six-star river ships. The company was founded in 1976, becoming part of the Travel Corporation in 2004 – a group which also…
Viking Cruises began as a river cruise line and only entered the ocean-cruise market in 2015 with the launch of the 930-guest Viking Star. But despite this short period of time, Viking has already made an indelible mark on the sector with its fleet…
Viking River Cruises is the largest river cruise line operators in the world, with a fleet of 76 ships running sailings across four continents on an army of award-winning ships. The cruise line is the river arm of Viking Ocean cruises, the…
Virgin Voyages cruise ship Scarlet Lady finally carried her first passengers in 2021, not in the warmth of the Caribbean but the chillier climes of the English Channel. Just about everything is different on this brash new entry to the cruising…
Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships. The cruise line has six yachts - three of which are masted sailing ships - and offers laid-back luxury. Wind Star and Wind Spirit each carry 148 guests and Wind Surf carries 342. 'Power…
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