Here are 14 international cruise companies whose headquarters and ownership are outside the United States.
The three major well-known groups in the cruise industry are Royal Caribbean Group (Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Silversea, 50% of Tui Cruises-Hapag Lloyd), Norwegian Cruise Line Holding (Norwegian, Oceania, Regent), and Carnival Corporation (Aida (Germany), Carnival, Costa (Italy), Cunard (US and UK), Holland America, P&O (UK), Princess, Seabourn). These are publicly traded companies headquartered in the United States, with main ownership concentrated in the hands of American investment funds. Some of their subsidiaries have headquarters outside the United States (as indicated in parentheses).
The headquarters of Celestyal Cruises, a company specializing in cruises in Greece, is located in Cyprus, but it is owned by a primarily American fund.
Thus, here are 14 companies whose headquarters and ownership are outside of the United States:
Viking Cruises Viking Cruises is a family-owned company headquartered in Switzerland. The company is now publicly traded, but the majority of ownership remains in the hands of the Hagen family. The Canada Pension Plan also has significant stakes in it. Viking dominates the river cruise market and has many ocean ships as well as two expedition ships. Viking offers adults-only cruises, in a sober and elegant atmosphere, with rich cultural content.
Emerald Cruises A subsidiary of the Scenic group, headquartered in Australia, Emerald offers river cruises in Europe and minimalist-style yacht cruises. Their package is all-inclusive. The Australian clientele is strongly represented on board given the company’s origins.
Scenic Cruises An Australian group known for its luxury river cruises and 6★ expedition yachts, Scenic is synonymous with elegance and understated refinement.
Explora Journeys Luxury brand of the MSC Cruises group, headquartered in Switzerland and owned by the Aponte family from Italy, Explora stands out for its contemporary design, personalized service, and an all-inclusive yacht lifestyle concept.
MSC Cruises The headquarters is in Switzerland and MSC is owned by the Aponte family from Italy. MSC attracts an international clientele and offers service in multiple languages.
Hurtigruten A pioneer of Norwegian coastal cruises, Hurtigruten is based in Oslo and is owned by European investment funds. It offers exploration cruises in the fjords up to the Arctic Circle and highlights local heritage with a sustainable approach. Many French and German people are part of the Signature voyages, which means that presentations in French and German often take place on its ships.
HX Expeditions HX is a company that was part of the Hurtigruten group but has been acquired by a group of European investors. Its headquarters is in London. HX offers expedition cruises in the Arctic to Svalbard and in various regions of the world such as Antarctica and the Galápagos. Certain departures provide services in other languages (German, French) when the number of passengers is sufficiently high.
Riverside Luxury Cruises Based in Germany, this young company has revitalized the former ships of Crystal River Cruises, featuring a premium river cruising experience with a strong emphasis on personalized service.
Star Clippers Based in Monaco, Star Clippers offers a unique experience aboard large sailing ships, featuring itineraries focused on authentic sailing and active relaxation.
Swan Hellenic Revived by a group of investors from Cyprus, this British-origin brand offers high-end expedition cruises with a strong cultural and scientific dimension, presented in a sleek and Nordic style.
Paul Gauguin Cruises Specializing in the islands of the South Pacific, this luxury company belongs to the Ponant group (France).
Ponant Based in Marseille, Ponant Explorations Group is owned by Artémis, a holding company of the Pinault family, and is a French luxury expedition cruise company. It stands out for its modern small ships, ecological commitment, and French elegance.
Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) This French-speaking cruise company is now owned by an investment fund from the United Kingdom. It has 1 ship designed for French-speaking clients that offers cruises departing from France and overseas territories in the Caribbean.
CroisiEurope Its headquarters is in Strasbourg. This French family-owned company is one of the European leaders in river and coastal cruising, with routes on the Rhine, Rhône, Danube, and more. The company has more than 50 ships.
