- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings operates three brands: Norwegian, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania.
- The companies target different guests, from families with young children to wealthy older travelers.
- Here's how the three cruise lines compare and how to pick the best one for your vacation.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is best known for its eponymous brand's exciting, family-friendly ships.
However, 40% of the cruise giant's vessels — specifically those of its premium Oceania and ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas cruise lines — are devoid of waterslides and virtual reality arcades.
Instead, the two high-end brands offer caviar-topped meals, calm pool decks, and upscale afternoon tea.
With such a diverse fleet, it's no wonder the cruise giant is having a banner year. The company recently broke its third-quarter revenue record amid strong demand across all brands, generating $2.8 billion — an 11% increase from the same period in 2023.
Thinking about joining the Norwegian party but unsure which brand to pick? Whether you're a wealthy retiree or a young family, this guide will help you decide.
Norwegian Cruise Line: Family-friendly affordability
Norwegian's recognizably large amusement park-like ships are popular among cruising families.
The company's 18 vessels accommodate between 1,880 to 4,220 travelers. Its next ship — the 3,750-guest Norwegian Aqua — is scheduled to launch in 2025 with exciting amenities like a hybrid roller coaster waterslide, a high-tech sports court, and a 10-story dry slide.
No need to wait for the upcoming 56,300 gross-ton vessel to experience these at-sea thrills. The brand's newer ships — like the two-year-old Norwegian Prima — already have go-kart courses, virtual reality arcades, and waterslides.
Like many other mass-market cruise lines, some of these desirable amenities are upcharged.
On Prima, the interactive mini-golf course costs $10 per person, while the VR arcade runs $29 for one hour.
Similarly, eight of the ship's 14 dining venues cost extra. Head to the complimentary food hall if you don't want to spend big — its diverse options are sure to satisfy most travelers.
For grown-ups, Norwegian Prima has 18 bars and lounges, including an adult-only outdoor retreat and another for solo travelers.
As for entertainment, expect nightly song-and-dance shows.
The cruise line is also partly beloved for its "More at Sea" — formerly known as "Free at Sea" — promotion.
The specific benefits depend on the duration of the journey. At a minimum, it includes complimentary alcoholic beverages, one specialty dinner for two guests, and 75 minutes of WiFi. (These updated advantages start in 2025 and apply to voyages of at least three days.)
Norwegian's cheapest seven-day 2025 itinerary starts at $632 per person for a voyage from Whittier, Alaska, to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Oceania Cruises: A premium contender
You won't find Norwegian's go-karts on Oceania's seven ships. Instead, the premium cruise line focuses on food, diverse itineraries, and a small-ship feel. Its vessels accommodate 684 to 1,250 guests, much smaller than Norwegian's newest 3,195-guest vessel.
Norwegian sails to 450 destinations — Oceania says it hits more than 600.
Instead of a Starbucks, Oceania offers afternoon tea and an in-house coffee bar.
The one-year-old Oceania Vista offers nine dining options, including a steakhouse and an Italian restaurant. The private dining room costs extra, but the other options are already plenty luxurious.
Dine on a lunchtime poke bowl at the wellness eatery. For dinner, try the modern American venue's porcini-seasoned ribeye steak with a foie gras-truffle sauce.
Like most premium cruise ships, Oceania Vista doesn't have flashy, kid-friendly activities. Instead, travelers can pass their time in the library, at cooking or art classes, or playing pickleball and mini-golf.
Or, they can grab a drink and catch live music at the eight bars, lounges, and entertainment venues.
Beverage options include a bourbon and rye-focused cocktail lounge and a build-your-own bloody mary cart.
The cruise line's cheapest weeklong 2025 itinerary starts at $1,900 per person for a roundtrip New York sailing to Rhode Island and Bermuda.
Gratuities, WiFi, laundry, group workout classes, and non-alcoholic beverages like sodas and espresso are complimentary.
Like Norwegian, most of Oceania's ships have interior staterooms. Oceania Vista and the upcoming Oceania Allura are the exceptions. All their cabins have balconies.
The former's accommodations also include Bulgari toiletries, nightly chocolates, and a mini-bar with soft drinks.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: The priciest ultra-luxury option
Regent Seven Seas is Oceania's bougier sibling.
Its six ships are plush and all-inclusive, accommodating 490 to 746 guests each.
Size matters. Its newest vessel, the 55,254-gross-ton Seven Seas Grandeur, is one of its largest. Yet, it's still smaller than all of Norwegian's and some of Oceania's ships.
Seven Seas Grandeur's high-end aesthetic also distinguishes it from its sibling brands. Just look at the steakhouse, which has three original Pablo Picasso pieces.
The ship is embellished with conventionally luxurious and modern decor, more than 500 chandeliers, and more than $6 million worth of art, including a custom Fabergé egg.
Speaking of eggs, caviar — along with fine foods like truffles and lobster — can be found throughout the ship's seven eateries, from the steak tartare with white sturgeon caviar in the French restaurant to the chicken foie gras gyoza in the pan-Asian eatery.
Grandeur's guests can spend their sea days sipping on afternoon tea at one of the four bars, at an upcharged cooking class, playing bocce, and enjoying nighttime song-and-dance shows.
And you can kiss the windowless staterooms goodbye — all of its cabins have windows, most with balconies.
On Grandeur, every accommodation has walk-in closets and L'Occitane toiletries.
The high-end cruise line isn't scheduled to operate less than seven-night sailings in 2025.
The cheapest option, a Caribbean cruise roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico, starts at $3,700 per person — a more than $420-per-day difference from Norwegian Cruise Line's least expensive itinerary.
Excursions, alcohol, spa facilities, and WiFi are included. Travelers can also pay extra for an all-inclusive upgrade, including flights, transfers, and chauffeur credit.