Cruise Industry Ownership and Dominance
Ownership of Cruise Lines
Carnival Corporation & plc owns most cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Cunard Line.
Key Players in Cruise Industry
- The Oasis-class Wonder of the Seas, owned by Royal Caribbean International, is the world’s biggest cruise ship.
- Norwegian Cruise Line is the number 1 mega-ship cruise line.
Highest-Paying Jobs
- Officers, department heads, and those working on commission generally have the highest-paying jobs on cruise ships.
Cruise Industry Overview
Market Leaders
- Carnival, with 24 ships, is the largest cruise line company.
- Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship currently.
Cruise Company Relationships
- Princess Cruises is under Holland America Group within Carnival Corporation & plc.
- Oceania Cruises is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., which also owns Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Industry Insights
- There are 278 ocean cruise ships operating across 55 companies currently.
- By 2025, passenger capacity is expected to increase by one-third.
Workforce and Economic Impact
- In 2019, the U.S. cruise industry generated a $55.5 billion economic impact.
- The suspension of cruise activities has caused over 245,000 job losses and about $32 billion in losses.
Global Market and Travel Decisions
- Knowing who owns a particular cruise line can help travelers make informed decisions when selecting their next seafaring adventure.