How to Buy a Cruise Ship: A Broker's Step-by-Step Guide

Buying a cruise ship is a commercial ship purchase, not a holiday booking. Almost every cruise ship that changes hands is second-hand: a vessel retired from a major fleet, released by a smaller operator, or laid up and waiting for a new owner. The steps below are how a purchase normally runs when QPS Marine Ships acts as broker, whether you are buying a 2,000-passenger ocean ship, a small expedition vessel or a river cruise ship.

1. Define the ship you need

Start with the trade, not the ship. Where will she operate, and under which rules? Ships on international voyages must meet SOLAS, while domestic operations follow national rules, such as U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter H or K in the United States. Decide how many passengers you need, whether they sleep on board or only cruise for the day, which flag and classification society you want, and what you can spend in total, including any reactivation, dry-docking and refit after the purchase.

2. Shortlist ships on the market

Our cruise ship inventory list shows every cruise ship we currently offer, with specifications and an estimated price, and our guide to cruise ships for sale, small cruise ships and charter explains the main size groups. Listings are identified by a QPS stock number rather than by name, because owners rarely want their ship's availability advertised. We release the identity of a vessel to a qualified buyer after a signed non-disclosure agreement. Many ships are also available off-market, so tell us what you need even if nothing listed fits.

3. Confirm your funding

Owners will want to know that a buyer can complete before they open their ship and records for inspection, so expect to provide proof of funds or a letter from your lender at an early stage. QPS Marine Ships is a broker, not a lender, and owners only occasionally offer seller financing. Our article Can the shipowner or broker finance my ship purchase? explains where cruise ship finance usually comes from.

4. Inspect the ship and her records

Before committing, a buyer normally sends a technical superintendent or marine surveyor to inspect the ship, and reviews her classification records, statutory certificates, survey history and dry-dock reports. For a ship that has been laid up, the inspection should also cover the condition of machinery, hotel systems and safety equipment, and the cost of bringing her back into service.

5. Make an offer and agree the Memorandum of Agreement

Offers are usually made subject to inspection and to agreement of terms. Once the price is agreed, buyer and seller sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), commonly based on the Norwegian Saleform. The MOA sets out the price, the deposit (often 10 percent, held in escrow or a joint account), the delivery place and date, and the condition in which the ship is to be delivered. We coordinate the negotiation between buyer, seller and their brokers through to signing.

6. Delivery and closing

At delivery the balance of the price is paid and the seller hands over the bill of sale, a certificate of deletion from the previous registry and the ship's documents. The buyer registers the ship under the new flag, arranges class, insurance and crew, and takes physical delivery of the vessel under a signed protocol of delivery and acceptance.

What does a cruise ship cost?

Prices depend on size, age, condition and class status. From our current listings, a 1988-built 78 m small cruise ship is offered at an estimated US$1.3 million, a 2000-built 180.7 m ship for 832 to 927 passengers at about US$23 million, and a 1992-built ship with 1,177 cabins at about US$35 million. The purchase price is only part of the budget: dry-docking, class renewal, refit and reactivation can be significant, especially for a ship that has been laid up.

Buying a small or river cruise ship

Small, expedition and river cruise ships are in short supply and often sell quickly. For rivers, lakes and sheltered waters we currently offer a 1995-built 70 m river cruise ship certified for 930 persons, converted in 2023 and 2024 for dining and day cruising. For the wider market of ferries, expedition ships and accommodation vessels, see our passenger ships for sale.

Talk to a broker

QPS Marine Ships is a licensed and bonded ship brokerage and a member of the International Yacht Brokers Association. If you are planning to buy a cruise ship, contact us with your requirements and we will send a shortlist of suitable vessels, on the market and off it.