Cruise lines

Working seafarer's guide to the 25 major cruise lines. Each profile covers fleet size, typical contract length, pay tier (low / mid / high / very-high relative to other cruise lines, not relative to deep-sea cargo), common deployment markets, and what to watch for when joining. Contract length and pay tier vary by department and rank — these are typical for the operator, not guarantees.

• Carnival Cruise Line
  27 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ United States · 6-8 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii, Australia
• Royal Caribbean International
  26 ships · Royal Caribbean Group · HQ United States · 6-8 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Asia-Pacific
• MSC Cruises
  22 ships · MSC Group · HQ Switzerland · 6-9 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, Persian Gulf
• Norwegian Cruise Line
  19 ships · Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings · HQ United States · 6-9 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Asia
• Princess Cruises
  16 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ United States · 5-8 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, Asia, world cruises
• Celebrity Cruises
  16 ships · Royal Caribbean Group · HQ United States · 5-8 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Galapagos
• Hurtigruten
  14 ships · Hurtigruten Group · HQ Norway · 3-5 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: Norway coastal, Arctic, Antarctic expedition
• Ponant
  13 ships · Artémis Group (Pinault family) · HQ France · 3-5 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Small-ship luxury + expedition — polar, Mediterranean, Asia
• Viking Cruises
  12 ships · Viking Holdings · HQ Switzerland · 4-6 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Rivers (Rhine, Danube), ocean (Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antarctic)
• AIDA Cruises
  12 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ Germany · 6-9 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean
• Silversea Cruises
  12 ships · Royal Caribbean Group · HQ Monaco · 4-6 month contracts · very-high pay tier
  Routes: All-inclusive luxury — world cruises, expedition, Antarctic
• Holland America Line
  11 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ United States · 6-9 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: Alaska, Caribbean, Europe, world cruises
• Costa Cruises
  9 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ Italy · 6-9 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Asia
• Oceania Cruises
  8 ships · Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings · HQ United States · 4-6 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Premium — Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, world cruises
• P&O Cruises
  7 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ United Kingdom · 5-8 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe, around UK
• TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff)
  7 ships · TUI Group + Royal Caribbean Group (JV) · HQ Germany · 5-8 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: German-language — Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe
• Disney Cruise Line
  6 ships · The Walt Disney Company · HQ United States · 4-6 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, Northern Europe
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  6 ships · Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings · HQ United States · 4-6 month contracts · very-high pay tier
  Routes: All-suite luxury — world cruises, Mediterranean
• Seabourn Cruise Line
  6 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ United States · 4-6 month contracts · very-high pay tier
  Routes: Ultra-luxury — Caribbean, Mediterranean, Asia, Antarctic
• Windstar Cruises
  6 ships · Xanterra Travel Collection · HQ United States · 4-6 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Sailing yachts + small ships — Mediterranean, Caribbean, Tahiti
• Marella Cruises
  5 ships · TUI Group · HQ United Kingdom · 5-8 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: British market — Mediterranean, Caribbean
• Cunard Line
  4 ships · Carnival Corporation · HQ United Kingdom · 4-6 month contracts · high pay tier
  Routes: Transatlantic, world cruises, Northern Europe
• Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
  4 ships · Fred. Olsen & Co. · HQ Norway · 5-8 month contracts · mid pay tier
  Routes: British market — smaller-ship Mediterranean, Northern Europe, around UK
• Crystal Cruises
  2 ships · Abercrombie & Kent / A&K Travel Group · HQ United States · 4-6 month contracts · very-high pay tier
  Routes: Luxury — world cruises, Mediterranean
• Saga Cruises
  2 ships · Saga plc · HQ United Kingdom · 4-6 month contracts · mid-high pay tier
  Routes: British market 50+ adult-only — world cruises, Mediterranean