Compare Cruise Lines

Here is a brief and personal summary of the main cruise lines. Contact us for more details about the cruise companies and their individual ships.

Regent Seven Seas 6*

Accommodation in suites and an all-inclusive arrangement for drinks. Smart, sophisticated yet casual luxury.

Silversea 6*

Smaller ships, luxurious yet intimate with an up-market European feel. All–inclusive accommodation in suites.

Cunard 5*+

Traditional British ships echoing their past as the transatlantic transport of choice. Standard accommodation offers good value while those looking for a more exclusive experience can book suites in the Princess or Queens Grills which have their own on-board areas. Transatlantic passengers can take cats and dogs in the special kennels area that has its own kennel manager.

Azamara 5*

Part of Royal Caribbean Group, Azamara operates mid-sized ships that focus on ports of call and allows guests time to get to know them.

Holland America 4*

A well-known brand offering guests high quality accommodation, food and space with a good staff-to-passenger ratio.

Celebrity 4*

Stylish, modern and innovative. Newer ships boast real grass on the top deck, an Apple dealership, Qsine - a novel and exciting eating experience, and an adults-only spa and pool area. Also part of the Royal Caribbean Group.

Royal Caribbean 3*+

Great for couples and families with lots to do on board. Many ships have an ice rink, rock climbing wall and a flow rider, so you can surf without moving as well as kids clubs and a teens-only area. A great brand for first-time cruisers and one ship is based permanently in Southampton for no-fly cruises. Also have the two largest cruise ships in the world, based in the US.

NCL 3*

A cruise line that is not afraid to break the mould. Famous for having no set dining times, its latest ship, Epic, offers 114 studio cabins for singles with their own exclusive bar and lounge areas where you can be assured your fellow guests are also all single. Epic also has no outside cabins, only insides, balconies and suites.

Carnival 3*

Focussed primarily on the US market and with a strong US feel, they are known as the Fun Ships. Unsophisticated but good value.

P&O 3* So British it doesn’t appeal to other nationalities. Cruises are mostly from the UK, the on-board currency is the pound, no service charges on drinks and no set gratuities. A little old-fashioned in atmosphere but ships have a comfortable home-from-home appeal.

MSC 3*

A typically Italian cruise line that is primarily focussed on its domestic market. It is now experimenting with all-inclusive packages, and kids sail free, paying only port taxes. There are occasional great, low-cost re-positioning cruises to or from unusual places such as south America and South Africa

Costa 3*

Another typical Italian cruise line with a range of mostly larger vessels. Like MSC it has a strong Italian feel and focus.

Cruise & Maritime 2*+

Operating two older but well-maintained ships based in the UK, Marco Polo and Ocean Countess, this cruise line offers both traditional and unusual cruise itineraries at realistic prices. Cruises from Tilbury, Liverpool, Falmouth and Greenock. Good value and no need to fly.