The history of pleasure cruising can be traced back to the early 19th century, when shiploads of passengers first crossed the Atlantic Ocean on grand vessels. Some of the earliest cruise pioneers are still operational today, joined by slightly more modern lines whose charm and legacy have also stood the test of time. Here, we take a look at the world’s oldest cruise lines remaining afloat, and the trailblazing ships, itineraries and experiences that have helped them endure.
Read on to discover which of the world's cruise lines have been operating the longest. To enjoy these images FULL SCREEN, click the icon in the top right...
Founded over 35 years ago by a collective of high-end hospitality and cruise boffins, Seabourn’s aim was to recreate the laid-back elegance of the private yachting experience at a more accessible level.
The company’s first ship, the Seabourn Pride (pictured here in Ålesund, Norway) was launched in 1988 and could carry 208 passengers. One of its most impressive features was a fold-out platform at the stern that became a watersports marina, turning the ship into a 'private beach resort'.
Fast-forward to the present day and Seabourn now has an exclusive fleet of six vessels to its name, with each cabin a lavish oceanfront suite. Seabourn Ovation, seen here leaving port in Barcelona, was the operator’s second 600-passenger ship, entering service in 2018.
Since 2022, as well as the relaxed ocean cruises that helped build the brand, Seabourn has offered expedition cruises to destinations including Australia’s Kimberley region, the Amazon and the Northwest Passage. An established leader in the ultra-luxury voyaging sector, the operator is renowned for its personalised service and the intimate feel of its ships.
Also taking inspiration from the private-yachting industry, Windstar Cruises started out with a single vessel. The operator’s USP was its fleet of four-masted sailing yachts, making it the only cruise line at the time to offer that kind of experience.
The Wind Star, which still sails for the line, was one of three original sailing yachts offering Windstar’s immersive tours. Another was Wind Song, launched in 1987. Photographed here in 1995 entering Cook’s Bay in French Polynesia, Wind Song was eventually scuttled after its engine room caught fire in 2002, causing irreparable damage but thankfully not claiming any lives.
Today, Windstar Cruises visits over 60 countries, whisking discerning travellers to both popular and lesser-seen ports on five continents. Its modern fleet comprises three all-suite motor yachts (‘Star Plus Class’) and three classic sailing yachts (‘Wind Class’).
Five-masted schooner Wind Surf (pictured) is the brand’s flagship and one of the world’s largest sailing vessels, capable of holding 342 guests. As part of a multi-year restoration of the operator’s Wind Class ships, Wind Surf is currently undergoing a comprehensive refresh set to complete in 2026.
Everything about this small-ship cruise line is proudly American through and through. Founded by an American shipbuilder in 1972, American Cruise Lines sails solely on American waterways and is staffed by an all-American crew. In fact, it is the world’s only entirely American-owned and operated cruise line, with all its ships designed, manufactured and flagged in the US.
This image shows the American Star, built in 2007, traversing the Intracoastal Waterway between Beaufort and Charleston in South Carolina. The boat now serves on the operator’s New England Islands Cruise, calling at Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island and more.
American Cruise Lines currently organises over 400 shore excursions in 35 different states on 21 vessels, ranging from riverboats and nostalgic paddlewheelers to larger ships that explore the US coast.
The boat shown docked here is the American Pride, which regularly conducts the operator’s Columbia and Snake River itineraries. The classic paddlewheeler’s interior features Western and Indigenous themes, as well as references to the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition that helped map the region.
Carnival started small, initially as part of a subsidiary of a Boston-based travel service provider. Established by Israeli entrepreneur Ted Arison, sailings began with a single repurposed transatlantic ocean liner, renamed the Mardi Gras. This photo shows the original Mardi Gras moored at Montréal in August 1979.
Come the 1980s, Carnival was breaking new ground in the cruise sector by unveiling its first new-build vessel, the Tropicale. This sparked a global shipbuilding boom and secured even greater opportunities for the line. In 1984, it became the first cruise line to ever advertise on network television.
Fast-forward to present day and Carnival Cruise Line is the flagship brand of the Carnival Corporation, which also includes Princess Cruises, Cunard and others. It has been dubbed the world’s most popular cruise line, running 27 ships on itineraries ranging from two to 29 days.
Though best known for its Caribbean voyages, the operator also sails to destinations around Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US, Asia and beyond. In 2024, Carnival Cruise Line announced plans to add three new mega-ships to its fleet by 2033. Pictured here is the contemporary Mardi Gras, which boasts far more bells and whistles than its predecessor.
Originally styled Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International started life in 1968, when a trio of Norwegian ship owners sought to crack the burgeoning US cruise market. The first vessel the cadre bought was Song of Norway, which debuted in 1970, swiftly followed by Nordic Prince and Sun Viking in 1971 and 1972 respectively.
These were all much smaller than the mega-ships that the brand has since become synonymous with – it wasn’t until the 1980s that Royal Caribbean launched its earliest larger cruisers. Pictured here is the oldest vessel in the line’s current fleet, Grandeur of the Seas, inaugurated in 1996.
Since the 1990s, Royal Caribbean has gone from strength to strength. It introduced its first purpose-built ship for international cruising in 1995, sparking the inception of the line’s ‘Vision Class’ vessels. The company made history in 1999 when it unveiled Voyager of the Seas, which at the time was the biggest and most innovative cruise ship ever created.
Royal Caribbean has continued to top that achievement over and over again, culminating with Icon of the Seas (pictured) in 2024, the largest cruise ship in the world. The line even has its own private destination for the exclusive use of its customers – Labadee, on Haiti’s north coast.
Formed through a partnership between Norwegian shipping magnate Knut Kloster and Carnival Cruise Line founder Ted Arison, the company initially launched as Norwegian Caribbean Line in 1966. Its earliest vessel, the MS Sunward, was repositioned from Europe to the Port of Miami, from where it led voyages to the Caribbean.
After a period of slow and steady growth, the 1990s saw Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vastly expand its fleet with a combination of repurposed vessels and new-builds. One of these was Norwegian Sky, seen here leaving the Bremerhaven shipyard in Germany for its first test drive in 1999.
NCL had another growth spurt in the 2000s after it was acquired by Genting Hong Kong (then known as Star Cruises), the largest Asia-based cruise operator. This is also when the line debuted its then-outlandish concept of ‘Freestyle Cruising’, which did away with fixed dining times and stuffy dress codes in favour of a more casual approach.
Following further investment, Norwegian began to dabble in the construction of mega-ships in the 2010s – now its largest vessels are known as the Prima Class, like Norwegian Viva photographed here. It was built in 2023 and features an infinity pool, a go-kart track and a mini-golf course.
In this photo taken on 19 November 1984, the Helsinki-built Royal Princess rolls away from Southampton on her maiden voyage for Princess Cruises. It was the line’s first new-build and the first ship to introduce the acronym AOC – all outside cabins – to the world of cruising, meaning all of its staterooms had ocean views. The vessel still sails today, under the name Artania for Phoenix Reisen.
As for Princess Cruises, its inception came in 1965 when company founder Stanley B. McDonald chartered the Princess Patricia for a winter cruising season around Mexico and the Caribbean.
Princess Cruises was bought by its parent company P&O Cruises in 1974, which subsequently merged with industry juggernaut Carnival Corporation in 2003. The years in between saw the operator star in TV comedy series The Love Boat and welcome the original Sun Princess to its fleet – a newer version of this iconic ship is now one of 17 active vessels sailing under the Princess Cruises banner.
The Emerald Princess, pictured here on the docks of Willemstad in Curaçao, has nearly 900 staterooms with balconies and explores the waters of the Inside Passage, the Sea of Cortez, the Mediterranean and more.
Though MSC Cruises as we’d recognise it today is a relatively young brand, its heritage can be traced back further than you might think. MSC’s mother company Lauro Lines started out in 1960 with just two ships – former ocean liners MS Angelina Lauro and MS Achille Lauro (pictured).
Both vessels were handed disastrous fates, with the Angelina Lauro catching fire while visiting the US Virgin Islands in 1979 and the Achille Lauro being hijacked by the Palestinian Liberation Front in 1985. Unsurprisingly, these events devastated Lauro Lines’ bookings and the operator ultimately filed for bankruptcy.
MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), one of the largest shipping lines in the world, bought ailing Lauro Lines in 1989, renaming it StarLauro Cruises. After the sinking of the Achille Lauro in 1994, the brand was restructured and renamed MSC Cruises in 1995. Today, MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise line.
The company operates 26 ships, including the MSC Divina (pictured), which sails to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, its exclusive destination in the Bahamas. MSC Cruises also operates the largest cruise terminal in North America, located in Miami. It can handle up to 36,000 passengers per day and three vessels simultaneously.
AIDA Cruises evolved from the East German merchant shipping company VEB Deutsche Seereederei, founded in the town of Rostock in 1952. It had its first foray into cruising in 1960 with a vessel named Völkerfreundschaft, meaning ‘friendship between people’.
After being constructed on the slipways of Stockholm, Völkerfreundschaft became the first passenger ship in the German Democratic Republic and found fame as the GDR’s ‘dream ship’. It’s pictured here at the harbour in Piraeus, Greece the year it was launched. In 1996, a ship called Aida entered service for Deutsche Seereederei, paving the way for AIDA Cruises.
Today, Carnival Corporation-owned AIDA represents the company’s German stronghold – a crucial asset as Germany’s cruise market has the largest customer base in Europe. Its modern fleet of 11 ships has come a long way from the brand’s austere socialist origins, sporting brightly coloured livery and enough bars, restaurants, lounges and leisure activities to sustain long-term cruise buffs in their thousands.
The AIDAdiva, seen here sailing Portugal’s Tagus River, was commissioned in 2007 and will be one of three AIDA vessels to receive a comprehensive refit in 2025, making it as good as new (maybe even better).
The journey of this culture-focused cruise line began in the 1950s, when British travel agent Swan’s Tours led an ancient Greece-themed trip for members of the Hellenic Society, accompanied by scholars. The idea of an expedition cruise enhanced by expert knowledge of a place and its history proved so successful that the company soon developed more tours attended by guest lecturers.
Swan Hellenic further distinguished itself from the competition by never repeating the same itinerary twice and venturing to lesser-known ports of call, all while curating experiences rich in both elegance and education. Photographed here is the brand’s original vessel, MV Minerva.
Over 70 years later, Swan Hellenic’s winning formula remains unchanged, though the destinations it serves and the means of which it reaches them have only become more sophisticated. The SH Diana, seen here, is the newest addition to the line’s fleet, named after the Roman goddess of the moon and the hunt.
It can support 192 passengers and comes equipped with a stargazing deck, library, games room and a sauna with views out to the ocean. While Greece is an enduring favourite stop, Swan Hellenic’s fascinating cruises also serve the likes of Costa Rica, Morocco, Argentina and Namibia.
Norway’s largest cruise and shipping company has been navigating the North Sea since 1893, though this photo of Hurtigruten’s Harald Jarl vessel at Kirkenes was taken a little later in 1962. The line was originally founded by government contract in order to improve communications along the country’s extensive and irregular coastline – notoriously one of the longest in the world.
According to Hurtigruten, even just sending a letter from Trondheim to Hammerfest in the late 19th century could take up to three months during winter, so a more permanent solution was needed to bind Norwegians together.
This is where cruise ships, trains, planes and cars go to die
Enter Captain Richard With, who devised the original ‘hurtig ruten’ ('fast route'), which saw letters reach Hammerfest from Trondheim in just three days. His vision for a more connected Norway also birthed the iconic Coastal Express route, which traversed the 1,250-nautical-mile-long stretch of coastline between Bergen and Kirkenes, once believed too perilous to negotiate by ship.
Passengers can still enjoy this beautiful heritage journey today, calling at 34 unique ports marked by deep fjords and snowy peaks. Hurtigruten is still making waves in other areas too, by pledging to launch its first ship with zero-emission propulsion (pictured) on The Coastal Express by 2030.
Founded in 1873, what was then the Netherlands-America Steamship Company made a name for itself transporting people and cargo between Europe and the New World. It actually completed its first journey ahead of its official founding as a company, with a vessel called the Rotterdam (pictured) departing the Netherlands for its 15-day maiden voyage to New York on 15 October 1872.
Later renamed the Holland America Line (HAL), it primarily carried immigrants to new lives in the United States until after the turn of the century, though it ran its first leisure cruise in 1895.
Since selling its cargo division in 1973, HAL has exclusively served the holiday and expedition market and is one of several sister companies under Carnival Corporation’s wing. While glimmers of the historic line’s past are still felt onboard, there is nothing dated about its contemporary offering – think sushi restaurants, pickleball courts and live music lounges.
Holland America Line’s 11-strong fleet fulfils more than 500 sailings a year to every corner and continent of the globe. This image shows the Zuiderdam off South Queensferry in Scotland. The 1,964-guest ship is currently hosting HAL’s 124-day Grand World Voyage, visiting 46 ports in 32 countries.
It launched its first passenger service in 1948, to meet the demand created by mass post-war emigration between Europe and the Americas. But the company that bloomed into Costa Cruises started out in 1854 as a humble Italian shipping company trading in olive oil and textiles.
The cruise line, then called Linea C, expanded beyond transatlantic crossings in the mid-20th century, peddling pleasure voyages to the Med and the Caribbean. It took delivery of its first purpose-built ship in 1964 and four years later introduced a forward-thinking ‘fly and cruise’ package since adopted across the industry. Here, the brand’s Costa Playa vessel docks at Havana, Cuba in 1995.
A Carnival Corporation company since 2000, Costa Cruises made waves that year when it debuted 2,114-passenger Costa Atlantica, the largest ship to have been built by a European cruise line at the time. But the operator’s recent history hasn’t all been smooth sailing. In 2012, the Costa Concordia tragically foundered after running aground off the Italian coast, killing 32 people onboard.
The brand’s modern fleet comprises nine ships sailing on a vast variety of itineraries, including those covering the Middle East, the Canary Islands, South America and more. Pictured here is Costa Deliziosa paused at the island of Zakynthos in Greece.
This operator keeps it in the family – for five generations and counting. The first ‘Fred’ of Fred. Olsen, Fredrik Christian Olsen, kicked off the company with the acquisition of two small brigs that sailed Norway’s Oslofjord. His fleet quickly expanded to incorporate three-masted barks that predominantly facilitated the trade of timber and ice with Britain, and grew further as more members of the Olsen family came aboard the company.
After more than 50 years exclusively dealing in cargo, Fred. Olsen made its first decisive venture into the passenger business in 1901, though this 1975 image of the cruise ship Blenheim is a little more recent.
Sadly, 23 of Olsen’s 44 vessels were lost during World War I, but the line soon bounced back. It was one of the first cruise lines to harness diesel to power its ships, giving rise to a new generation of passenger services. It has become a time-honoured tradition of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines that its ships bear names beginning with the letter ‘B’ – its current flotilla consists of the Balmoral, the Borealis and the Bolette (pictured).
Modern passengers can travel with Fred. Olsen across Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as to much warmer climes like Cape Verde, the Azores and the Adriatic coast.
A strong contender for the title of the world’s oldest cruise line is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, which evolved from the Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (HAPAG), or Hamburg-America Line, founded in 1847. Prior to shipping tycoon Albert Ballin coming aboard as general director in the late 19th century, the Hamburg-America Line transported cargo across the Atlantic.
But Ballin, being somewhat ahead of the curve, envisioned a future of recreational maritime travel and wanted a slice of the pie. So he commissioned what’s widely touted as the world’s first ever purpose-built cruise ship, the Prinzessin Victoria Luise, pictured here around 1901.
For decades, Hamburg-America battled against the likes of Cunard and the White Star Line for the coveted Blue Riband, awarded to cruise lines with the fastest transatlantic crossings. The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises of today was founded in 1970 as the result of a merger between the Hamburg-America Line and Norddeutscher Lloyd, another heritage company dating back to the mid-19th century.
It is Germany’s most revered small-ship luxury cruise operator, whose fleet of five includes both cruising and expedition vessels. Bilingual tours in English and German are offered on two of them, EUROPA 2 and HANSEATIC inspiration.
Cunard has seen it all in its 180-plus years – from welcoming Hollywood greats, immigrants and even pampered pooches to transporting troops and horses to war. It was founded in 1840 by Canadian timber merchant Samuel Cunard, whose steam-powered ferries were the first to serve his Nova Scotia stomping ground.
In its early years, the company’s transatlantic crossings attracted literary luminaries like Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, the latter of whom waxed lyrical about the skill of the captains. With a history of pioneering cutting-edge technology on its vessels, Cunard introduced the first flushing toilets at sea in 1870 and later launched the first steel ship with electrical lighting, the SS Servia (pictured).
By the early 20th century, Cunard was marketing ships known as ‘floating palaces’, such as the Lusitania (subsequently lost in World War I) and the Mauretania. But these superliners didn’t just look good, they did good – Cunard’s Carpathia famously rescued survivors of the Titanic disaster in 1912, while former British prime minister Winston Churchill said the involvement of Cunard’s Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth shortened World War II by a year.
Today, the cruise line is part of Carnival Corporation and launched its newest vessel, the Queen Anne (pictured), in 2024. Cunard’s historic transatlantic crossings from Southampton to New York remain a popular route.
As we know, many of today’s world-renowned cruise lines cut their teeth shipping goods and services. P&O Cruises was no different, starting out as the Britain-based Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company in 1837. It was established when its founder Brodhie McGhie Wilcox won a government contract to deliver mail from the UK to the Iberian peninsula, a milestone moment that paved the way for commercial ocean travel.
P&O subsequently launched the world’s first leisure cruise, which departed grey London for the sunny Mediterranean in 1844. Pictured here at Southampton is the P&O passenger liner SS Deccan, taken a little later in 1870.
In 1995, P&O unveiled Oriana, the first new ship the line had ever commissioned and the first built specifically for the British cruise market. Though the company has been owned by US-based Carnival Corporation for over 20 years, it still counts its home port as Southampton and many of its holidays depart from there today.
P&O passengers can sail to more than 70 destinations worldwide on a choice of seven ships, including two which are strictly adults-only. Its flagship is the family-friendly Britannia, which frequents the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Norwegian fjords.
Now discover the world's most historic airlines still flying