Quick answer
Big resort ships with water parks, Broadway-style shows, dozens of restaurants and fares that make cruising the best-value holiday at sea. Typical trips are 3–14 nights from about US$80–220 per person per night. Families, first-timers, groups of friends and anyone who wants a lot to do on board.
- Typical length
- 3–14 nights
- Price guide
- ≈ US$80–≈ US$220 pp/night
- Ship size
- 2,000–7,000 guests
- Who it suits
- Families, first-timers, groups of friends and anyone who wants a lot to do on board.
- Dress code
- Casual by day; one or two optional 'elegant' or 'chic' evenings a week.
- Usually included
- Cabin, main restaurants and buffet, most entertainment, pools and kids' clubs. Drinks packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, gratuities and excursions usually cost extra.
- Lines on our list
- 21
21 mainstream ocean cruise lines
AIDA Cruises
Germany's most popular cruise brand, with relaxed 'club ship' style, buffet-led dining and German as the on-board…
AROYA Cruises
Saudi Arabia's first home-grown cruise brand, designed around Arabian hospitality and sailing the Red Sea from…
Adora Cruises
China's home-grown cruise brand; Adora Magic City was the first large cruise ship built in China. Sails from Shanghai to Japan and South…
Ambassador Cruise Line
British line with mid-size ships sailing ex-UK ports, aimed at grown-up cruisers who want traditional cruising at a fair…
Blue Dream Cruises
Chinese domestic cruise brand serving the mainland market with short sailings to Japan and…
Carnival Cruise Line
The world's biggest cruise brand by guests carried, known for 'Fun Ships' with water slides, comedy clubs and some of the lowest per-night fares at…
Celestyal
Greek line specialising in the Aegean islands and Turkey, with drinks included and long hours in port. Also sails the Gulf in…
Cordelia Cruises
India's own cruise line, sailing short trips from Mumbai, Goa, Kochi and Chennai to Lakshadweep, Sri Lanka and along the coast. Vegetarian and Jain…
Costa Cruises
Italy's cruise line, with Italian food, a lively Mediterranean atmosphere and announcements in several languages. Costa has previously based a ship…
Disney Cruise Line
Family cruising with Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters, theatre-quality shows and rotational dining. Disney Adventure is based in…
MSC Cruises
Europe's largest cruise line and a family-owned Swiss brand with a European, multilingual feel. Big presence in the Mediterranean all year, the Gulf…
Marella Cruises
UK brand with all-inclusive drinks and tips in every fare, usually sold with flights from UK…
Margaritaville at Sea
Party-style short cruises from Florida to the Bahamas themed on Jimmy Buffett's island lifestyle…
Norwegian Cruise Line
Pioneer of 'Freestyle Cruising': no fixed dining times, no formal nights and a big choice of restaurants. Also runs the only year-round inter-island…
P&O Cruises
Britain's best-known cruise line, sailing mostly round-trip from Southampton. Aurora and Arcadia are adults-only; Iona and Arvia are the newest…
Peace Boat
Japanese NGO running around-the-world voyages with an educational and peace-building programme on…
Resorts World Cruises
Asian cruise brand sailing short trips from Singapore and Hong Kong to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, with Asian and Indian menus popular with…
Royal Caribbean International
Operator of the world's largest cruise ships, packed with surf simulators, zip lines, ice rinks and full Broadway productions. Sails worldwide,…
StarDream Cruises
The 2026 successor brand to the Genting Hong Kong cruise business, operating Genting Dream on short Asian…
TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff)
German premium-inclusive brand: most drinks and many restaurants are included in the fare, with a focus on wellness and spacious…
Virgin Voyages
Adults-only (18+) ships with no buffet, more than 20 eateries included, Wi-Fi and tips included, and a nightlife-led, design-forward…
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Frequently asked questions
What is a mainstream ocean cruise?
Big resort ships with water parks, Broadway-style shows, dozens of restaurants and fares that make cruising the best-value holiday at sea.
How much does a mainstream ocean cruise cost?
Roughly US$80–220 per person per night, depending on line, ship, cabin and season.
Which mainstream ocean cruise lines are best?
It depends on who is travelling. Popular choices include AIDA Cruises, AROYA Cruises, Adora Cruises, Ambassador Cruise Line, Blue Dream Cruises. Use Cruise Match to rank them for you.
What is included?
Cabin, main restaurants and buffet, most entertainment, pools and kids' clubs. Drinks packages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining, gratuities and excursions usually cost extra.