Luxury Cruise Lines: Compare the World’s Best Luxury & Ultra-Luxury Cruise Lines
Independent Luxury Cruise Line Guides
Choosing a luxury cruise line isn't simply about price. The ships, atmosphere, service, dining, inclusions, the onboard vibe and even the type of fellow passenger you'll meet can make the experience very different. We've sailed with many of these cruise lines ourselves, so we've created independent guides to help you understand what each one is really like.
We've sailed extensively with many of these cruise lines ourselves, including Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Crystal, Cunard and Riverside Luxury Cruises. Our independent guides cover the ships, the suites, the dining, what's actually included, real pricing, and what each line is like once you're on board.
Seabourn
All-inclusive luxury cruising with intimate, yacht-like ships. Part of the Carnival Corporation.
Silversea
Small ships, all-inclusive luxury and Silversea's acclaimed S.A.L.T. culinary programme.
Regent Seven Seas
One of the industry's most inclusive luxury cruise fares. Spacious suites and exceptional passenger-to-space ratios.
Cunard
British heritage, iconic transatlantic crossings, elegant ships and the famous Queens Grill and Princess Grill experience.
Explora Journeys
Contemporary, design-led luxury cruising with all-suite accommodation and an all-inclusive fare.
Oceania
Culinary-focused luxury cruising with destination-rich itineraries and intimate ships. Adults-only from 2026.
Riverside
Ultra-luxury river cruising in all-suite ships with butler service, spacious accommodation and exceptional dining.
HOW THEY COMPARE
Luxury Cruise Lines Compared
Pulled from our own in-depth line guides — tap a card above for the full picture.
Line
Ship size
Cruise Style
What's Included?
Best for
Seabourn
264–600 guests
Ultra-Luxury
Dining, drinks, Wi-Fi & gratuities; excursions extra
Intimate, yacht-like ultra-luxury
Silversea
100–728 guests
Ultra-Luxury
Dining, premium drinks, Wi-Fi & gratuities; excursions vary
All-inclusive luxury and S.A.L.T. culinary experiences
Regent Seven Seas
490–750 guests (822 on Prestige, Dec 2026)
Ultra-Luxury
Dining, drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities & shore excursions
The most fully inclusive fare in luxury cruising
Cunard
2,061–3,000 guests
Premium–Luxury
Dining & entertainment; drinks, Wi-Fi & service charges generally extra
Heritage, transatlantic crossings, the Grills
Explora Journeys
922 guests
Ultra-Luxury
All-Inclusive — dining, beverages, Wi-Fi & gratuities (excursions extra)
Contemporary, design-led all-inclusive newcomer
Oceania
684–1,250 guests
Upper-Premium
Mostly — specialty dining, gratuities and Wi-Fi included; choice of select drinks or shore-excursion credit
Culinary-focused luxury cruising with destination-rich itineraries and intimate ships. Adults-only for new bookings from January 2026
Riverside
110–162 guests
Ultra-Luxury (river)
Choice of 4 fare tiers, from fully inclusive to cruise-only
Flexible, all-suite river cruising
COMMON QUESTIONS
Luxury Cruising FAQ
What's the difference between luxury and ultra-luxury cruise lines?
Luxury lines like Oceania and Cunard offer upscale ships with a premium feel, but you'll still pay for drinks, gratuities, and excursions on some fares. Ultra-luxury lines — Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas — build most or all of that into the fare, run smaller ships, and generally offer a higher staff-to-guest ratio.
Which luxury cruise line is good for seniors?
There is no right answer to this question. It very much depends on the type of experience you are looking for and your budget. See our detailed article about The Best Luxury Cruises for Seniors
Which luxury cruise line is the most all-inclusive?
Regent Seven Seas is generally regarded as one of the most inclusive luxury cruise lines, with shore excursions, specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities included. Selected fares also include a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay and flights.
Which luxury cruise line is best for first-timers?
Oceania and Cunard are gentler entry points — larger ships, more familiar cruise structure, and lower fares than the ultra-luxury lines. If budget allows, Seabourn's smaller ships are also an easy, low-stress way to try ultra-luxury without the scale of a big-ship line. This article examines the Best Luxury Cruises for first time cruisers.
Are gratuities included on luxury cruise lines?
It varies by line and sometimes by fare type. Seabourn, Silversea, and Regent Seven Seas typically include gratuities as standard. Cunard and Oceania usually add a daily service charge unless you've booked a fare or promotion that waives it — always confirm at the point of booking.
How much does a luxury cruise cost?
Luxury cruise prices vary enormously by cruise line, ship, suite and itinerary. As a broad guide, premium-luxury lines such as Cunard and Oceania can offer lower entry prices, while ultra-luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea and Regent typically cost considerably more per person per night. Suite choice can make an enormous difference.
Which luxury cruise line has the smallest ships?
Seabourn and Silversea have some of the smallest ships in the luxury cruise market, with Silversea's smallest ship carrying just 100 guests. Seabourn's ships carry between 264 and 600 guests. Regent Seven Seas and Explora Journeys ships run somewhat larger, while Cunard and Oceania span a wider range from mid-size up to large ocean liners.
Which Luxury Cruise Line Is Right For You?
There is no single "best" luxury cruise line. Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Cunard, Explora Journeys, Oceania and Riverside each offer a distinctly different experience. The right choice depends on the size of ship you prefer, how important all-inclusive pricing is, your expectations for dining and service, and the type of fellow passengers you want to meet.
Not sure which is right for you? Try our 2-minute Luxury Cruise Line Quiz →
