A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the ship's captain, and a hospitality staff headed by the equivalent of a hotel manager. The term company may refer to a separate legal entity, as in English law, or may simply refer to a business, as is the common use in the United States. ... Pacific Sky sails under Sydney Harbour Bridge A cruise ship or a cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ships amenities are considered an essential part of the experience. ... A hotel manager is a person who handles the everyday function and management of a hotel. ...

Among cruise lines, some are direct descendants of the traditional passenger shipping lines, while others were founded from the 1960s on specifically for cruising. The business is extremely volatile; the ships are massive capital expenditures with ruinous operating costs, and a slight dip in bookings can easily put a company out of business. Cruise lines frequently sell, renovate, or simply rename their ships just to keep up with travel trends. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ...

A wave of failures and consolidation in the 1990s has led to many lines existing only as "brands" within larger corporations, much as a single automobile company produces several makes of cars. Brands exist partly because of repeat customer loyalty, and also to offer different levels of quality and service. For instance, Carnival Corporation owns both Carnival Cruise Lines, whose former image were vessels that had a reputation as "party ships" for younger travellers, but have become large, modern, and extremely elegant, yet still profitable, and Holland America Line, whose ships cultivate an image of classic elegance. For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Carnival Corporation & PLC (NYSE: CCL) is the worlds largest cruise operator, comprising 13 cruise brands, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line in North America; P & O Cruises, Cunard Line, Ocean Village and Swan Hellenic in the United Kingdom; AIDA and... Carnival Cruise Lines is a cruise line operating a large number of cruise ships. ... HAL logo Holland America Line, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is a cruise ship line, originally an operator of passenger and cargo ships. ...

Currently the three largest cruise operators in the world are (a full list of cruise lines is provided here): This is a list of cruise lines, companies that operate cruise ships. ...

• Carnival Corporation & PLC operates 82 ships and is a British-American corporation with headquarters in Miami, U.S.A. and London, England.
• Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has 34 ships in service and is based in Miami, U.S.A.
• Star Cruises has a combined fleet of 18 ships and the corporate headquarters is located in Hong Kong.