Cruises
Cruises: 12 types, 147 lines, 28 destinations
Every way to cruise, compared — then pick the line, ship and sailing that fits.
Quick answer
There are 12 main types of cruise: mainstream, premium and luxury ocean cruises, expedition voyages, European, Nile, Asian, Indian and American river cruises, Galápagos, canal barges and coastal/sailing ships. Price, ship size and what is included vary most between types, so choose the type first.
Cruise types compared
| Type | Nights | Price pp/night | Ship size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstream ocean cruises | 3–14 | ≈ US$80–≈ US$220 | 2,000–7,000 guests | Families, first-timers, groups of friends and anyone who wants a lot to do on board. |
| Premium ocean cruises | 7–21 | ≈ US$150–≈ US$400 | 600–4,300 guests | Couples, culture-focused travellers, multi-generation families and returning cruisers. |
| Luxury & ultra-luxury cruises | 7–30 | ≈ US$500–≈ US$1,500 | 100–1,000 guests | Honeymooners, HNI and luxury travellers, milestone celebrations and anyone who values space and service. |
| Expedition & polar cruises | 8–24 | ≈ US$700–≈ US$2,500 | 100–500 guests | Wildlife lovers, photographers and once-in-a-lifetime travellers who are reasonably mobile. |
| European river cruises | 7–15 | ≈ US$250–≈ US$750 | 90–190 guests | Couples, culture lovers, seniors and first-time Europe visitors who don't want to change hotels. |
| Nile cruises | 3–12 | ≈ US$120–≈ US$900 | 8–160 guests | History lovers, families with older children and anyone combining Egypt's monuments with a slow river journey. |
| Asian river cruises | 3–14 | ≈ US$150–≈ US$900 | 20–700 guests | Culture travellers, photographers and repeat Asia visitors. |
| India river cruises | 2–51 | ≈ US$250–≈ US$900 | 20–80 guests | Overseas visitors seeking a different India, Indian travellers wanting a slow luxury holiday, and wildlife lovers. |
| Americas river & coastal cruises | 3–15 | ≈ US$250–≈ US$900 | 40–400 guests | Travellers who prefer small ships, domestic US itineraries and nature-first trips. |
| Galápagos cruises | 4–15 | ≈ US$500–≈ US$1,500 | 16–100 guests (park limit) | Wildlife lovers, families with older children and bucket-list travellers. |
| Canal & hotel barge cruises | 3–7 | ≈ US$150–≈ US$1,200 | 2–20 guests | Couples, private groups chartering a whole barge, food and wine lovers. |
| Coastal, sailing & small-ship cruises | 3–14 | ≈ US$150–≈ US$900 | 20–600 guests | Independent travellers, couples, active cruisers and anyone who dislikes crowds. |
Mainstream ocean cruises
Big resort ships with water parks, Broadway-style shows, dozens of restaurants and fares that make cruising…
Premium ocean cruises
Mid-size ships with better food, calmer public spaces and longer, port-rich itineraries — the sweet spot…
Luxury & ultra-luxury cruises
Small, all-suite ships and yacht-style vessels where drinks, gratuities and often excursions are included and…
Expedition & polar cruises
Ice-class ships with Zodiacs, naturalist teams and kayaks, sailing to Antarctica, the Arctic, Greenland, the…
European river cruises
Slim river ships that dock in the centre of Vienna, Budapest, Amsterdam, Paris and Porto — unpack once and…
Nile cruises
Floating hotels and wooden dahabiyas between Luxor and Aswan, stopping at Karnak, the Valley of the Kings,…
Asian river cruises
The Mekong through Cambodia and Vietnam, the Yangtze's Three Gorges, and Myanmar's Irrawaddy — village life…
India river cruises
The Ganga from Varanasi to Kolkata, the Brahmaputra through Assam and the Sundarbans mangroves — India's…
Americas river & coastal cruises
The Mississippi and Columbia rivers, New England and Alaska's Inside Passage on small US ships, the Amazon,…
Galápagos cruises
Small, licensed ships with naturalist guides on fixed national-park itineraries — the only practical way to…
Canal & hotel barge cruises
Hotel barges with a chef through Burgundy and the Canal du Midi — or a self-drive boat you skipper yourself,…
Coastal, sailing & small-ship cruises
Norway's coastal voyages, tall ships under sail, Croatian island-hopping on small ships, Fiji and the…
Plan by destination
Mediterranean
Best: May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Northern Europe & the Baltic
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
Norway, Iceland & the fjords
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
British Isles & Ireland
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
Caribbean & Bahamas
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec
Alaska
Best: Jun, Jul, Aug
Canada & New England
Best: Sep, Oct
Hawaii, Mexico & the Pacific coast
Best: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec