Who owns Norwegian Cruise Line? Here’s who owns NCL

Norwegian Cruise Line

Originally founded as Norwegian Caribbean Lines in 1966, Norwegian Cruise Line was officially born in 1987, four years after Norwegian Caribbean Lines purchased and merged with Royal Viking Line.

As a forerunner among cruise lines, NCL was the first to sail weekly cruises from Florida to the Caribbean and the first cruise line to have a private island destination. It pioneered the concept of Freestyle Cruising, which has no formal dress codes and no set dining times or tablemates — a departure from the classic cruise style of the early days.

In its most modern iterations, the line features astounding technology that ranges from a giant virtual-reality arcade and laser tag to nearly full-scale Broadway productions.

In 2013, the line went public under Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. One year later, NCLH acquired Prestige Cruises International, Inc. — the former parent company of Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises — from a private equity firm and rolled all three brands under the NCLH umbrella.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Oceania Cruises

Created in 2002 by Frank Del Rio, longtime president and CEO of NCLH, Oceania Cruises is a luxury line that’s a bit more affordable than some of the other luxury brands because it doesn’t have as many amenities included in its fares.

It has seven (soon to be eight) elegant midsize ships, carrying from 670 to 1,250 passengers each. One of the line’s main focuses is food. Oceania’s culinary offerings are second to none in the industry, but that’s expected with an executive culinary director as prestigious as French chef Jacques Pepin.

Oceania joined NCLH when Norwegian acquired Prestige Cruises International, Inc., in 2014.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

In 1992, two brands — Seven Seas Cruises and Radisson Cruises — combined to form Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. In 2006, its name was changed to Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which is what it remains today.

When the line changed hands in 2008, Prestige Cruises International, Inc. was created as an umbrella company for Regent and Oceania. Prestige was eventually purchased by NCLH in 2014, which brought Regent into the Norwegian family of cruise lines.

Regent operates as an ultra-luxury, nearly all-inclusive brand — perhaps the most lavish and expensive of any cruise line. It features fine linens, fantastic food, cooking classes, extensive onboard art collections and marble bathrooms. Its fares include things like gratuities, alcohol, Wi-Fi and even some shore excursions.

The fleet’s six vessels are on the smaller side, with the largest carrying just 750 passengers. That makes for more intimate experiences and fewer onboard crowds.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings FAQ

Who is the sister company of Norwegian Cruise Line?

NCL has two sister companies, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Is Royal Caribbean owned by Norwegian?