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Mainstream cruise lines generally operate mid- to mega-size cruise ships offering an array of amenities and cabin grades. They are marketed to middle-class passengers and offer a variety of cruise schedules and itineraries that are great for family cruises. Many Mediterranean cruises, Caribbean cruises, and Alaska cruises fall into this cruise class. Some of the most popular cruise lines include Royal Caribbean, Carnival, P & O, Costa, Ibero, and NCL.

	AIDA Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 10 Newest AIDA Cruises Ship: AIDAstella
	This German cruise line offers quality accommodations on a variety of European itineraries. Ships generally sail out of German ports.
	AIDA Cruises Schedule \| AIDA Cruises Ships

	Carnival Cruise Lines
	Ships Cruising: 24 Newest Carnival Cruise Lines Ship: Carnival Breeze
	Carnival is famous for pioneering the Fun Ship concept and opening the cruise industry to middle-class passengers. Although the line began with a shaky start in 1972, it now boasts more than 20 ships carrying primarily North American passengers on Caribbean, Mexican and Alaskan itineraries (although Mediterranean offerings are growing in number).
	Carnival Cruise Lines Schedule \| Carnival Cruise Lines Ships

	Celebration Cruise Line
	Ships Cruising: 1 Newest Celebration Cruise Line Ship: Bahamas Celebration
	This cruise line evolved out of Imperial Majesty Cruise Line which has operated the 1953-built Regal Empress for many years. When that ship was retired in early 2009, a replacement arrived to begin cruises to Nassau in March 2009.
	Celebration Cruise Line Schedule \| Celebration Cruise Line Ships

	Costa Cruise Lines
	Ships Cruising: 14 Newest Costa Cruise Lines Ship: Costa Fascinosa
	Europe's largest cruise line, Costa Cruises offers more than a dozen ships in a variety of sizes and themes. Décor ranges from traditional and sleek on the older vessels while the newer megaships sport colorful and glitzy interiors designed by Carnival's Joe Farcus. The line is popular among middle-class Europeans and Italian newlyweds.
	Costa Cruise Lines Schedule \| Costa Cruise Lines Ships

	Disney Cruise Line
	Ships Cruising: 4 Newest Disney Cruise Line Ship: Disney Fantasy
	Built specifically to cater to families, Disney's ships offer an incredible array of amenities and activities. The ships are largely divided between areas for children and adults, allowing kids to have all the fun they want under the watch of well-trained staff, while parents can relax in adult-only bars, lounges, restaurants and swimming pools.
	Disney Cruise Line Schedule \| Disney Cruise Line Ships

	Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
	Ships Cruising: 4 Newest Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ship: Braemar
	Catering almost exclusively to the middle-class British market, this Norwegian family-owned line dates back to 1848 and has four ships that all feel like a floating piece of England. Itineraries are generally to Northern Europe or the Mediterranean with a few trans-Atlantic voyages to the Caribbean thrown into the mix.
	Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Schedule \| Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Ships

	Ibero Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 2 Newest Ibero Cruises Ship: Grand Celebration
	Ibero Cruises is a largely Carnival-owned venture, catering to the middle-class Spanish-speaking market. The line has three ships carrying between 800 and 1,400 passengers on itineraries in Europe and the Caribbean.
	Ibero Cruises Schedule \| Ibero Cruises Ships

	Louis Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 2 Newest Louis Cruises Ship: Louis Olympia
	Currently the largest operator of Greek cruise ships, Louis Cruises is based in Cypriot and offers a fleet of midsize second-hand vessels that vary significantly in design, layout and quality. They generally offer port-intensive itineraries at reasonable rates, but without all the high-tech amenities of North American cruise ships.
	Louis Cruises Schedule \| Louis Cruises Ships

	MSC Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 12 Newest MSC Cruises Ship: MSC Preziosa
	Mediterranean Shipping Cruises (MSC) is a fast-growing, European-based outfit whose fleet currently boasts a dozen ships. The ships and itineraries cater to the European mass-market, with the vessels bearing Italian interiors and itineraries split between the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
	MSC Cruises Schedule \| MSC Cruises Ships

	Norwegian Cruise Line
	Ships Cruising: 13 Newest Norwegian Cruise Line Ship: Norwegian Getaway
	Originally debuting as the Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) got its new name (and several new ships) in the late 1990s and now competes with Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean. The line operates more ships from U.S. ports than any other, and is known for its Freestyle Cruising concept where guests are allowed to eat...
	Norwegian Cruise Line Schedule \| Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

	P & O Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 8 Newest P & O Cruises Ship: Azura
	The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O) was founded in 1837 as a mail and passenger carrier for the then sprawling British empire. The line caters primarily to mass-market Britons and a few North Americans (being an Anglophile helps), offering plenty of activities but not much enrichment. Fred. Olsen is their main competitor.
	P & O Cruises Schedule \| P & O Cruises Ships

	P & O Cruises (Australia)
	Ships Cruising: 3 Newest P & O Cruises (Australia) Ship: Pacific Dawn
	P&O Cruises Australia operates several second-hand ships, all designed to cater to British taste with reasonable prices and a homey atmosphere.
	P & O Cruises (Australia) Schedule \| P & O Cruises (Australia) Ships

	Peter Deilmann Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 1 Newest Peter Deilmann Cruises Ship: Deutschland
	A family-owned line based in Neustadt, Germany, Peter Deilmann Cruises operated nine river cruising vessels that have been taken out of service because of financial difficulties. The line still operates a single, 513-passenger deep-sea vessel that caters to the German market offering itineraries all over the world, but concentrating on Northern Eur...
	Peter Deilmann Cruises Schedule \| Peter Deilmann Cruises Ships

	Princess Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 18 Newest Princess Cruises Ship: Regal Princess
	Part of Carnival Corp. since 2003, Princess Cruises operates 17 vessels based around the world in North and South America, Europe, the western Pacific and Australia. Despite its strong international presence and past reputation as a premium line, the Princess now caters primarily to middle-market American cruisers looking for a dependable and affor...
	Princess Cruises Schedule \| Princess Cruises Ships

	Pullmantur Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 3 Newest Pullmantur Cruises Ship: Zenith
	Owned by Royal Caribbean, Pullmantur Cruises currently operates a fleet of cruise ships ranging in size from 1,400 to 2,800 passengers. Catering primarily to the Spanish market, the line offers a variety of one-week itineraries of the western Mediterranean and Canary Islands. Their main competitor is Ibero Cruises.
	Pullmantur Cruises Schedule \| Pullmantur Cruises Ships

	Royal Caribbean International
	Ships Cruising: 24 Newest Royal Caribbean International Ship: Anthem of the Seas
	Royal Caribbean Cruise Line boasts a fleet of the world's largest ships, with eight of them weighing 135,000 tons or more. Royal Caribbean ships are basically cities at sea, arguably offering the best variety of bells and whistles out of all the mainstream cruise lines. Main competitors are Carnival and NCL.
	Royal Caribbean International Schedule \| Royal Caribbean International Ships

	Saga Holidays, Ltd
	Ships Cruising: 3 Newest Saga Holidays, Ltd Ship: Saga Sapphire
	Saga Holidays operates three vessels, the Saga Ruby, Saga Sapphire and the Quest for Adventure, which feature classic ocean-liner exteriors and cater exclusively to older travelers. Itineraries are usually longer than a week (as most passengers are retired), extending up to world cruises that can last 100 days or more. Passengers are mostly elderly...
	Saga Holidays, Ltd Schedule \| Saga Holidays, Ltd Ships

	Star Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 4 Newest Star Cruises Ship: SuperStar Virgo
	Parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line, Star Cruises is a Malaysian-based company. They operate vessels that vary widely in size and cater primarily to Asian cruisers seeking mass-market prices and off-shore gambling.
	Star Cruises Schedule \| Star Cruises Ships

	Thomson Holidays
	Ships Cruising: 4 Newest Thomson Holidays Ship: Thomson Majesty
	Thomson Cruises charters ships from Louis Cruise Lines, Holland America and Costa, to sell travel packages catered to the mainstream British market. The ships have a casual atmosphere and a generally older crowd. Primary competitors are P&O and Fred. Olsen.
	Thomson Holidays Schedule \| Thomson Holidays Ships

	TUI Cruises
	Ships Cruising: 2 Newest TUI Cruises Ship: Mein Schiff 2
	TUI Cruises is a joint venture between German tour operator TUI AG and Royal Caribbean. Started in 2009, the new line is currently offering sailings on two ships, the Mein Schiff 1 and Mein Schiff 2.
	TUI Cruises Schedule \| TUI Cruises Ships