cruise line

{{short description|Company that operates cruise ships}}

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File:1990- Cruise ship passenger count - annually.svg

File:Nieuw Statendam approaching pier 26 in Port of Tallinn 12 June 2023.jpg, a cruise ship owned by Holland America Line]]

File:Mein Schiff 4 (IMO 9678408), Rostock.jpg]]

A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships that operate on ocean or rivers and which markets cruises to the public.{{cite web|title=Cruise line definition|url=http://www.travel-industry-dictionary.com/cruise-line.html|website=Travel industry dictionary|access-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424222035/http://www.travel-industry-dictionary.com/cruise-line.html|archive-date=24 April 2019|url-status=dead}} Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of passengers. Though cruise packages provided by cruise lines vary, there are some features most have in common, such as accommodation, all meals and entertainment. They may include alcohol and shore excursions, sometimes on additional payment.

Among cruise lines, some are direct descendants of the traditional passenger lines, while others were founded since the 1960s specifically for cruising. The business has been extremely volatile; the ships are massive capital expenditures with very high operating costs, and a slight dip in bookings can easily put a company out of business. Cruise lines frequently sell, renovate, or simply rename their ships to keep up with travel trends.

A wave of failures and consolidations in the 1990s has led to many companies being bought by much larger holding companies and to operate as "brands" within larger corporations. Brands exist partly because of repeat customer loyalty, and also to offer different levels of quality and service. For instance, Carnival Corporation & plc owns both Carnival Cruise Line, whose former image were vessels that had a reputation as "party ships" for younger travellers, but have become large, modern, yet still profitable, and Holland America Line, whose ships cultivate an image of classic elegance.

A common practice in the cruise industry in listing cruise ship transfers{{cite web|title=Ship sales and transfers|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/cruise-ship-sales.html|access-date=26 June 2016|website=Cruise industry news|date=22 November 2014|archive-date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822235738/http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/cruise-ship-sales.html|url-status=dead}} and orders{{cite web|title=Cruise ship orderbook|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/cruise-ship-orderbook.html|access-date=26 June 2016|website=Cruise Industry News|date=6 January 2011}} is to list the smaller operating company, not the larger holding corporation, as the recipient cruise line of the sale, transfer, or new order. For example, Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line are the cruise lines whereas Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Group are considered holding corporations. This industry practice of using the brand, not the larger holding corporation, as the cruise line is also followed in the member cruise lines in Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA){{cite web|title=Member Cruise Lines|url=http://www.cruising.org/cruise-vacationer/member-cruise-lines|access-date=26 June 2016|website=Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)|archive-date=25 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125083305/https://cruising.org/cruise-vacationer/member-cruise-lines|url-status=dead}} and the member-based reviews of cruise lines.{{cite web|title=Member reviews of cruise lines|url=http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/cruise-lines/|access-date=26 June 2016|website=Cruise Critic}}