Its fair to say that even if you have never cruised before, there are some cruise lines that you will be able to name including the likes of MSC, Royal Caribbean, NCL and for those based in North America, the Carnival Cruise Line.

If you have taken even just a few cruisers others such as P&O, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America and Cunard will instantly come to mind, but away from the more mainstream lines owned by the cruising giants of the Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group and the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, there are plenty of lines that even the most experienced of cruiser may not have heard of.

There are plenty of reasons for many of the lines on this list not been known, from only been a regional line to offering a very specialised type of product, but no matter what the reason, after reading this list you will know all about these lines.

Our Top 10 Cruise Lines You May Not Have Heard Of

Quark Expeditions offer a unique mix of cruise ships to visit some of the most remote destinations on earth, with a large focus on the polar regions.

There fleet include 2 icebreakers that can take passengers places any other type of ships just cannot but they also offer a range of more traditional expedition ships, including modern ones that offer a distinctive black hull and large yellow Q design.

UnCruise Adventures offer a range of small ships that whilst do sometimes head to the sunny seas of Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands, there true expertise in sailing in Alaska.

The line offers a laid-back style of cruising and try to take you to places that many others cannot, hence the name of the line.

From paddle boarding in the Inside Passage to kayaking through icebergs, this is a line for those looking for an adventure.

Aurora Expeditions is a small Australian based line that offer expedition cruising onboard their fleet of 2 ships.

Both ships are designed for cruising in polar regions, are 104 metres in length and can cater for just 132 passengers to offer a more intimate experience for those wanting to head out on expeditions

Celestyal cruises are a Greek based cruise line that offers 2 ships operating out of the port of Piraeus near Athens.

From there they offer short trips around the beautiful Greek Islands but what makes them stand out over other lines is their incredible port intensive itineraries.

If you hate sea days and want to explore as much as possible, they could be the line for you to try as not only do they usually not have sea days, but you often spend the morning on 1 island before heading to another for the afternoon.

Phoenix Reisen is a German based cruise line that are owned by a travel agency, who ventured out into operating their own ocean going ships way back in 1988.

After starting with one ship, they now operate a fleet of 4 ships ranging from 29,000GT to 45,000GT and operate all around the world, although there is still a strong focus on the German port of Hamburg.

If you have ever dreamed of exploring the world on a tall ship or are fascinated by the stories of sea exploration from yesteryear, this is a line you should maybe check out.

Not only do you get to sail to some of the world’s most popular destination in style, but you also get to participate is the running of the ship.

There still plenty of food and drink onboard and lots of entertainment but you get the chance to really get to know your fellow passengers and enjoy an easy going, informal getaway.

Simply known as Scenic and part of the Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours company headquartered in Manchester, England, the company made their name as a cruise line by offering river cruises.

In 2018, they took the step up to offering ocean cruises with the launch of their Scenic Eclipse ship that offers luxury cruising in regions such as the British Isles, the Norwegian Fjords, the Arctic and the Antarctic.

In 2023, the line launched there second ship, named the Scenic Eclipse II that is a replica of their first ship and allows them to offer more varied itineraries visiting some of the most remote ports out there.

SeaDream have a motto of “yachting, not cruising” and that just highlights their style of cruise holidays as they target those who perhaps wouldn’t usually cruise but who are attracted to the luxury of sailing onboard a yacht.

They offer luxury holidays onboard their 2 ships, the SeaDream 1 and the SeaDream 2 that both offer a range of water sports from a rear marina.

Compagnie du Ponant, better known simply as Ponant, is a French cruise line that operate a fleet of small cruise ships and expeditions ships that all offer French flair and luxury throughout.

With their largest ship been only 30,000 gross tonnes in weight and most of their ships been just 10,000, a cruise with the line is just like been on your own luxury yacht.

Ponant offer an almost 1:1 passenger to staff ratio and the chance to visit the type of cruise ports that larger, mainstream ships just cannot visit.

This is one of the most luxurious cruise lines in the world, with a choice of 2 ships that sail around the world offering the chance to visit some of the most popular tourist hot spots and some out of the way places.

Both ships offer a wide range of food, from fine dining to comfort food and top quality entertainment but it is their luxurious suites, attentive staff and elegant furnishings that really stand out for the line.