Cruise Industry Tiers

Contemporary

Large resort-style ships (usually 2,000+ guests) with lots of onboard activities and a broad, family-friendly audience; many cruises are 7 nights or fewer. The fare covers the cabin, main dining and basic drinks; gratuities, alcohol, specialty dining and Wi-Fi usually cost extra. Lowest per-night fares.

Lines in this tier (7)

• Carnival Cruise Line(CCL)
• Celestyal Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Margaritaville at Sea(MAS)
• MSC Cruises(MSC)
• Norwegian Cruise Line(NCL)
• Royal Caribbean International(RCI)

Premium

Large or mid-size ships with a step up in food, service and design, and more varied itineraries (often 7-14 nights). Most extras (drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities) still cost more, though bundled fares are common. Priced above contemporary.

Lines in this tier (7)

• Celebrity Cruises(CEL)
• Disney Cruise Line(DCL)
• Havila Voyages
• Holland America Line(HAL)
• Hurtigruten
• Princess Cruises(PCL)
• Virgin Voyages(VV)

Upper-premium

Small to mid-size ships (roughly under 1,400 guests) focused on destinations and food. More is included than on premium lines (for example specialty dining, some drinks, Wi-Fi or gratuities), but not everything. Several of these lines market themselves as luxury.

Lines in this tier (12)

• Atlas Ocean Voyages
• Azamara
• Cunard
• Emerald Yacht Cruises
• Four Seasons Yachts
• Oceania Cruises
• Ponant
• SeaDream Yacht Club
• Star Clippers
• Tauck Small Ship Cruising
• Viking Ocean Cruises
• Windstar Cruises

Cunard: Cunard describes itself as luxury. We list it as upper-premium: its ships carry 2,000-2,700 guests, and drinks and Wi-Fi cost extra outside the Grills suites.

Luxury

Small ships (usually under about 1,000 guests), all or mostly suites, with lots of space and crew per guest. The fare includes gratuities, drinks including premium spirits, and Wi-Fi, and often more (excursions, air). Highest per-night fares and few onboard extras.

Lines in this tier (10)

• Crystal
• Explora Journeys
• Hapag-Lloyd CruisesExpedition ships
• Orient Express Sailing Yachts
• Paul Gauguin Cruises(PGC)
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises(RSSC)
• Scenic Eclipse (Scenic Luxury Ocean Cruises)Expedition ships
• SeabournExpedition ships
• SilverseaExpedition ships
• The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection(RCYC)

Expedition

Small ice-class or purpose-built ships with an expedition team, Zodiacs or landing craft, going to remote places with little infrastructure. Landings and lectures are part of the trip.

Lines in this tier (12)

• Aqua Expeditions
• Aurora Expeditions
• Coral Expeditions
• Heritage Expeditions
• HX Expeditions(HX)
• Lindblad Expeditions(LEX)
• Oceanwide Expeditions
• Polar Latitudes Expeditions
• Quark Expeditions
• Swan Hellenic
• UnCruise Adventures
• Viking Expeditions

River

River ships (usually 100-190 guests) that dock in town centers. Most fares include meals, beer and wine with meals, Wi-Fi and an excursion in most ports.

Lines in this tier (13)

• AmaWaterways
• American Cruise Lines(ACL)All-inclusive
• APT (River)(APT)
• Avalon Waterways
• Celebrity River Cruises
• CroisiEurope
• Emerald Cruises (River)
• Riviera Travel
• Scenic (River)All-inclusive
• Tauck River CruisingAll-inclusive
• Travelmarvel
• Uniworld Boutique River CruisesAll-inclusive
• Viking River Cruises

Tags

Some lines carry a tag for a fact that the tier alone doesn't tell you.

Expedition ships

A luxury line that also sails purpose-built expedition ships.Lines: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Scenic Eclipse (Scenic Luxury Ocean Cruises), Seabourn, Silversea

All-inclusive

A river line whose fare also includes gratuities and premium drinks.Lines: American Cruise Lines, Scenic (River), Tauck River Cruising, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises