Cruise Ship Charter, Small and Used Cruise Ships

QPS Marine Ships brokers the sale and charter of passenger cruise ships worldwide. Our current inventory runs from small boutique vessels with a few dozen berths to ocean-going ships carrying more than 2,800 passengers, and includes ships available for outright purchase, for long-term charter, and for short-term charter for events, accommodation or seasonal deployment. A sortable table of every cruise ship currently available is on our cruise ship inventory list. To compare every type of passenger vessel we broker, browse all our cruise ships for sale.

Every listing is identified by a QPS stock number rather than by name. Owners generally prefer that a ship's availability is not advertised to their passengers, crews and competitors, so we publish the specifications, an estimated price, the last known location and photographs, and release the vessel's identity to qualified buyers after a signed non-disclosure agreement. The estimated prices shown are our own assessment based on direct discussions with the owner, and may be negotiable.

Small and boutique cruise ships

Vessels under about 300 passengers suit coastal, river-mouth and island itineraries, private charter and yacht-style expedition cruising. Current examples include a 1990-built 44-passenger ship with 21 guest cabins (S2763), a 1955-built expedition yacht fully refitted in 2022 sleeping 12 to 16 guests (S2764), a 100-passenger luxury cruise ship/mega yacht (S2423), a 130-passenger ship located in Fiji (S2471), a 2005-built 250-passenger ship (S2760) and a 300-passenger, 190-cabin boutique ship classed by RINA (S2406).

River cruise ships

For rivers, lakes and sheltered waters, we currently offer a 1995-built 70 m (230 ft) river cruise ship, converted in 2023 and 2024 for dining and day cruising and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard for 930 persons (S2834).

Mid-size cruise ships

Ships of roughly 400 to 1,300 lower berths are the most flexible tonnage for start-up lines, regional operators and charterers. Among those currently offered are a 420-passenger ship rebuilt in 2020 and classed by Lloyd's (S2271), a 1990-built 650-passenger ship of 174 m (S2144), a 2000-built 832/927-passenger ship of 180.7 m (S2136), a 623-passenger ship that has been completely reconstructed and is available for charter (S2399), and an 836 to 1,275-berth ship offered for sale or charter (S2696).

Large ocean cruise ships

For operators seeking scale, we are marketing several ships built between 1992 and 2002 with 1,500 to 2,800 passenger berths, including a 1996-built ship of 219 m with 675 cabins (S2163), a 1992-built ship with 1,177 cabins (S2149), two 294 m ships built in 2001 and 2002 (S2348 and S2349), a 2002-built 262 m ship with 1,008 cabins (S2624), and a 294 m ship with 1,170 cabins and 2,808 berths (S2517).

Expedition and ice-classed ships

Ice-classed expedition ships remain in short supply. We currently list a 1991-built Ice Class 1D ship carrying 114 passengers in 54 cabins, classed by DNV (S2040), a 1975-built ship refurbished in 2017 with Ice Class 1B, 70 cabins and 160 passengers (S2712), and a 1982-built expedition ship with capacity up to 577 passengers (S2398).

Used, retired and decommissioned cruise ships

Most of the ships we sell are second-hand cruise liners retired from major fleets or released by smaller operators. A used or decommissioned cruise ship can often be bought well below replacement cost, but reactivation, dry-docking and class renewal must be budgeted. Each listing shows whether the ship is trading, in class or laid up. For typical prices, see how much a cruise ship costs.

Casino and specialist conversions

Some ships suit conversion to casino, accommodation or event use. A 1980-built ship rebuilt in 1986 and previously operated as a casino cruise ship is currently for sale (S2402).

Full ship charters

Several ships in inventory are available for short-term charter, including a 220 m ship with 648 cabins and up to 1,680 passengers (S2359) and an 808 to 1,076-passenger ship (S2115). Charter is often the practical route for a sporting event, a floating hotel requirement, a seasonal route trial or a refit period on an existing ship.

How we work

QPS Marine Ships is a licensed and bonded brokerage and a member of the International Yacht Brokers Association, with offices in Florida and the Mediterranean and associates worldwide. We act for buyers, sellers and charterers, handle the discussions with owners and their brokers, and coordinate inspections, class records, surveys and the memorandum of agreement through to delivery. If the ship you need is not listed, tell us your requirements; many vessels are available off-market.