15 Largest Cruise Line Companies

The Largest Cruise Line Companies boast spectacular cruise ships with top-notch amenities and entertainment options. They handle millions of passengers annually and offer diverse destinations and onboard experiences.

From family-oriented Disney Cruise line, loved by all children to an adult-oriented luxury cruise line Seabourn, the cruise industry has many options you can choose from, as per one’s travel needs.

According to Cruise Market Watch, the 2024 ocean cruise industry is estimated at 66.2 billion dollars, a 13.8% rise from 2023 with 30.1 million passengers carried annually, a rise of 4.2% from the previous year.

The industry is dominated by a few major players like Carnival Corporation which handled 42.9% of passengers, a total of 12.9 million in 2024 along with a revenue share of 37.3%.

It is followed by Royal Caribbean Group with a 25.7% passenger share amounting to 7.7 million passengers and a revenue share of 23.9%.

These cruise ship operators have many cruise lines under them, each having several ships in their fleets.

Read this article to learn more about the 15 Largest Cruise Line Companies in the World, ranked according to the number of passengers handled.

1. Carnival Cruise Line

A subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc, Carnival Cruise Line is based in Doral, Florida. It was founded in 1972 and has 27 ships in its fleet which sail on 2 to 29-day long trips, leaving from every U.S Coast.

Carnival is famous for its Caribbean cruises, but it also sails to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Bahamas and Europe.

It promises fun vacations with day and nighttime entertainment including stage shows, musicals, deck parties, casinos, waterslides and more.

It saw 13.5 million passengers in 2024 and recorded a revenue of 25 billion dollars.

2. Royal Caribbean International (RCI)

It was established in 1968 in Norway and is wholly owned by Royal Caribbean Group which also owns Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

It is based in Miami, Florida and has 28 ships in its fleet with cruises to the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Bahamas, Mediterranean, Baltic, Alaska, Spain, Mexico, Hawaii etc.

RCI is one of the few cruise lines offering full-length Broadway productions onboard, including the famous CATS, Saturday Night Fever, MAMMA MIA! and Grease.

The cruise line saw over 6 million passengers in 2024 and a revenue of 16.4 billion dollars.

3. MSC Cruises

Founded in 1988, MSC Cruises is a part of the MSC Group which is a privately held Swiss-based shipping conglomerate with more than 300 years of rich maritime heritage.

MSC Cruises is based in Geneva, Switzerland and employs over 30,000 people. It has 23 ships which offer year-round trips to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, including Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, a private island in the Bahamas.

Seasonal itineraries include South America, Asia, Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Red Sea, Egypt, North America and South Africa.

It handled 2.55 million passengers in 2024 and generated a revenue of 14.4 billion dollars.

4. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

This American cruise line was founded in 1966 and is based in Miami. NCL was the first to do away with set dining times and offer guests the freedom to cruise on their schedule with more than 450 destinations to choose from.

It has 20 ships in its fleet which will increase with the arrival of their Prima Class Ships.

NCL is known for its fun, laid-back and innovative freestyle cruising concept that means no enforced dress code, no fixed dining time and many onboard entertainment options and family-friendly activities.

The cruise line saw 2.51 million passengers in 2024 and recorded a revenue of around 8 billion dollars.

5. Celebrity Cruises

Based in Miami, Celebrity Cruises is a premium line known for offering a refined experience to its guests, especially elevated services and dining.

It was established in 1988 and now offers cruises to around 300 destinations around the globe, including Alaska and Antarctica.

They have both small and massive ships in their fleet comprising a total of 15 vessels, so one can choose as per their requirements.

Celebrity offers a Resort Deck where you can take a swim while a live band plays at the poolside, relax in the adults-only Solarium or play pickleball. You can also enjoy at a silent disco or go for star gazing while enjoying a cocktail on the Magic Carpet.

On the Retreat, one can access exclusive areas such as Luminae, a private-suites-only restaurant.

Celebrity Cruises welcomed 1.7 million guests in 2024 and had a revenue of 4.8 billion dollars.

6. Princess Cruises

Owned by Carnival Corporation, Princess Cruises is based in Santa Clarita, California and has a fleet of 17 ships which travel to 330 destinations in 7 continents.

The cruise line became popular after an American TV Show called The Love Boat was set on its ship the Pacific Princess.

Princess Cruises is known for offering a personalised hospitality service to their guests. They also promise freshly made multicourse meals, original shows from the most talented artists, comedy shows, band performances and much more.

They also organise family activities inspired by popular Discovery and Animal Planet shows.

Princess Cruises catered to 1.6 million guests this year and generated a revenue of 3.5 billion dollars.

7. P&O Cruises

This British Cruise Line is based in Southampton, England and offers cruises to 300 destinations, such as Iceland, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, North and South America and the British Isles.

It has 7 ships, of which Arvia, Iona, Azura, Britannia and Ventura are family-friendly while Arcadia and Aurora are exclusively for adults.

Iona is the biggest ship in their fleet, which boasts multiple dining venues, a SkyDome which is an entertainment space, a grand atrium and an array of activities for all age groups.

P&O Cruises served 1.5 million guests this year and generated 4.2 billion dollars in revenue.

8. Costa Cruises

This Cruise Line was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Genoa, Italy. It caters to the Italian market and has 9 ships in service mainly on routes in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Baltic Sea, Northern Europe, the Americas, the Arab Emirates and the Far East.

It is different from other European cruise lines as it offers a Mediterranean-inspired design and atmosphere. Itineraries last from one night to 130 nights and the cruise line attracts many families, couples and retired people, especially in summer.

Their main attraction is affordable cabins which are easy to find in their fleet and then there are casinos, gyms, pools, hot tubs, and live shows. You can also go on excursions by paying extra fees like gondola rides in Venice, or boating and snorkelling in Barbados.

It received 1.4 million guests this year and generated $2.5 billion in revenue.

9. AIDA Cruises

This German Cruise Line was founded in the 1960s and caters to the German-speaking population. AIDA ships are designed with various amenities to attract young and active travellers.

It has a fleet of 13 ships which offer trips to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Central America, Africa, Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia.

AIDA is known for innovation and adoption of new technologies. Of its 13 vessels, 12 have advanced sewage treatment plants and all ships have plug-in capability. 12 can dock at ports with shoreside power. No AIDA vessel travelled to Alaska from 2010 to 2021 and 10 have scrubbers installed.

AIDA served 1.1 million guests and made $3.1 billion in revenue this year.

10. Disney Cruise Line

A subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, this cruise line was incorporated in 1996 with its headquarters in Celebration, Florida.

The Cruise Line is famous among families with kids as it provides Disney-themed experiences from dining to entertainment and even Disney-inspired accommodations onboard its ships.

This cruise line has 5 ships, each distinct in style and design offering Disney character greetings, themed pools and play spaces for children, activity clubs, Disney movie screenings, deck parties and much more. However, it also has a lot to offer adults and teens.

It welcomed 848,000 passengers in 2024 and made $2.7 billion in revenue.

11. Holland America Line

With a 150-year heritage, this cruise line offers over 500 sailings annually onboard its 11 ships which visit all seven continents.

It offers shorter getaways to 128-day itineraries to popular and less-crowded ports in Alaska, Europe, South America, New Zealand, Asia, Panama Canal etc. They also offer unique trips to Antarctica and the Amazon.

Its mid-size cruise ships have one crew for every two guests, providing attentive service and a classic cruising experience.

It mainly caters to adults who can take up enrichment programs like digital photography, cooking workshops or Pilates sessions onboard their cruise ships.

Holland America Line handled 796,500 passengers this year and generated $2.6 billion in revenue.

12. TUI Cruises

This Cruise line is based in Germany and was created in 2007 as a joint venture between tourism company TUI AG and cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Group, both of which have a 50% stake in the company.

TUI Cruises began operating in 2009 and competes for the German market, offering a premium experience onboard including food, entertainment etc tailored mainly for German taste.

TUI Cruises has 6 ships in its fleet and in 2023, they announced the new InTUItion class, which would include ships with a new name, the first being Mein Schiff Relax which will be delivered by the end of 2024.

The cruise line welcomed 800,000 passengers and generated $1.3 billion in revenue.

13. Virgin Voyages

Based in Plantation, Florida, this is a joint venture between Virgin Group and Bain Capital. This adult-only cruise line has a fleet of 4 cruise ships built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA.

It was voted the No.1 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line of 2023 in the Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards.

Virgin Voyages is great for couples who can spend some quality time away from their kids and even for solo travellers who wish to take a break from their daily routine.

This cruise line offers top-notch entertainment with its nightclub, drinking games in the Korean BBQ Restaurant, group fitness classes, karaoke sessions, pyjama parties and other events like a shipwide bar crawl.

Virgin Voyages saw 324,000 guests and approximately $ 840 million in revenue this year.

14. Marella Cruises

Earlier called Thomson Cruises, this British Cruise Line operated by TUI UK, offers cruise experiences around Europe, the Caribbean and Asia.

It has 5 ships, all of which have everything one needs for a laidback, relaxed vacation at sea, including pool areas, spas, restaurants with live music, west-end style shows, cookery lessons, fitness sessions and much more.

You can choose from 120 destinations with Marella Cruises. Their fleet has family-friendly and also adults-only ships, plus they are all-inclusive, with tips and service charges covered.

Marella Cruises welcomed 272,300 guests this year and generated $706 million in revenue.

15. Cunard Line

This cruise line is based in Southampton, England and has a maritime heritage dating back to a century. Its fleet consists of 4 ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and their newest Queen Anne.

In 2025 and 2026, the cruise line will offer grand, world voyages to Asia, Africa, Australasia, Europe, Americas and overnight calls in famous cities.

Cunard is a reputable name and many of Hollywood’s biggest names like Cary Grant, Charlie Chaplin and Elizabeth Taylor have sailed onboard its vessels.

Cunard ships have libraries, open-air pools and feature theatre performances, guest speaker events, deck games, board games, quizzes, children’s clubs, sports facilities, film screenings, planetarium shows and the famous Gala evenings.

Cunard saw 250,400 passengers and made $1.1 billion in revenue this year.

Conclusion

The largest cruise line companies are pivotal for the hospitality and tourism sector. They not only offer thrilling vacations but contribute to the global economy by providing jobs to thousands of people, supporting small businesses and promoting cultural exchanges too.

They have something for everyone, right from dining to fun and entertainment onboard cruise ships, which are massive floating cities laden with the latest technologies. However, the industry has its challenges too, the biggest being reducing its carbon footprint.

Looking ahead, we can say that these companies will likely reshape leisure travel in the maritime sector, and develop more eco-friendly ships and technologies to protect marine environments.

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