What is the largest cruise line?

With more than 50 cruise lines and over 320 cruise ships in the world, it’s no wonder the cruise industry is a huge contributor to the global economy. But which cruise line is the largest in the world? Here, we look at three major parent companies; Carnival Corporation & plc, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and Royal Caribbean Group, to see how many passengers their ships welcome aboard each year. 

At a glance: 

• Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest parent company, helping 283,633 cruise passengers to sail around the world 
• Royal Caribbean International is the largest cruise line in the world, welcoming 129,188 passengers onboard
• Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International boast fleets of 27 ships  

9 cruise lines | 96 cruise ships | 283,633 cruise passengers 

Carnival Corporation & plc provides travellers around the world with extraordinary cruises at exceptional value. The company’s impressive portfolio of global cruise lines comprises the world’s largest cruise company with a fleet of more than 90 cruise ships sailing over 280,000 cruise passengers to more than 700 ports around the world. 

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable holiday experiences at great value. 

Princess Cruises is the world’s leading international cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of modern cruise ships. It’s renowned for its innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities. 

Costa Cruises delivers Italy’s finest at sea, bringing a modern Italian lifestyle to its ships to provide guests with a true European experience that embodies a unique passion for life through warm hospitality, entertainment and gastronomy. 

AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market. Home of the smile, AIDA Cruises is the epitome of a premium quality relaxing cruise and operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets. 

P&O Cruises is Britain’s favourite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. 

Holland America Line’s premium fleet of spacious, elegant mid-sized ships features sophisticated five-star dining, extensive entertainment and activities, innovative culinary enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries. 

Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travellers who relish the line’s impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. 

P&O Cruises (Australia) provides a quintessential holiday experience for Australians and New Zealanders, taking them to some of the world’s most idyllic and hard-to-reach places across Asia and the South Pacific. 

Seabourn provides ultra-luxury cruising vacations in a unique, small-ship style that focuses on genuine, intuitive service, all-suite accommodations, superb cuisine and unique experiences in destinations worldwide. 

3 cruise lines | 32 cruise ships | 67,132 cruise passengers 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a leading cruise company with a portfolio of three award-winning brands and a vision to be the holiday of choice for everyone around the world. They set themselves apart with their young modern fleet of 32 cruise ships serving over 67,000 cruise passengers. 

As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking boundaries and pioneering leading experiences at sea for over 50 years. The brand continues to serve as an industry leader, continuously raising the standards of contemporary cruising. 

Featuring a fleet of small, luxurious ships, Oceania Cruises offers a cruise experience renowned for its gourmet culinary program and its array of destination-rich itineraries spanning the globe. 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the leading luxury cruise line, delivering An Unrivaled Experience® for over 25 years. The line’s spacious and stylish ships form The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™.

5 cruise lines | 63 cruise ships | 187,394 cruise passengers 

With 5 cruise lines and 63 cruise ships sailing over 180,000 cruise passengers around the world, Royal Caribbean Group is proud of its entrepreneurial spirit. It is this entrepreneurial spirit that drives the group to innovate and see opportunities where others see risks. 

Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea since its launch in 1969. Each successive class of ships is a record-breaking architectural marvel that revolutionises cruises with the latest technology. 

Celebrity Cruises is a Relaxed Luxury℠ resort at sea where guests can sail on the world’s best places to the world’s best places. The cruise line’s sixteen award-winning ships offer unique experiences in more than 300 destinations. 

TUI Cruises do its best every day to ensure that guests feel completely at ease, both on water and on land. The cruise brand Mein Schiff® stands for a contemporary holiday on the sea. 

The ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea is the leading ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line - acclaimed for both its all-inclusive lifestyle offering and its global destination portfolio. 

No matter where you are in the world, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ensures you’re at the centre of the action. With individual ships and a high degree of personal freedom, you’ll be welcomed aboard a fleet without comparison.