Iglu Cruise
Iglu Cruise is a UK-based online travel agency that sells cruise holidays directly to consumers via iglucruise.com and phone sales, acting as an authorized reseller for over 35 cruise lines with ABTA/ATOL financial protection.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersWimbledon, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Iglu Cruise does
Iglu Cruise is a UK-based, direct-to-consumer online travel agency specializing in the sale of cruise holidays. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Wimbledon, the company operates iglucruise.com — an e-commerce platform where UK consumers can browse, compare, and book ocean and river cruises across more than 35 cruise lines, including major operators such as Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises, Marella Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea Cruises, Seabourn, Hurtigruten, and Emerald Cruises. The platform supports booking from a wide range of UK departure ports (Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tilbury, Greenock, Dover, Scotland) as well as fly-cruise options, and offers extended-hours phone-based sales support.
The business is a pure intermediary: Iglu Cruise does not operate cruise ships, hold a proprietary booking engine with disclosed technical components, or run its own technology stack beyond standard e-commerce and a customer portal. Its primary assets are its reseller agreements with cruise lines, ABTA/ATOL/IATA compliance, a price match guarantee, and brand recognition as the "UK's leading cruise experts" with British Travel Awards recognition. The company also operates a sibling sub-brand, Iglu Ski, extending into ski holiday retail.
Revenue is generated through commissions on cruise bookings (transaction-fee model) — Iglu acts as an authorized reseller receiving commissions from cruise lines on each booking it facilitates. With a cumulative base of over 1.5 million customers served and 501–1,000 employees, the company positions itself as one of the larger specialist cruise retailers in the UK market. The site carries booking inventory visible as far out as 2030, signalling an active, ongoing retail operation rather than a winding-down business.
Iglu Cruise firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Iglu Cruise
- Legal name
- Iglu Cruise
- Website
- https://www.iglucruise.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Iglu Cruise is a UK-based online travel agency that sells cruise holidays directly to consumers via iglucruise.com and phone sales, acting as an authorized reseller for over 35 cruise lines with ABTA/ATOL financial protection.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Iglu Cruise industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Cruise Travel Agency
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cruise Aggregators & Online Cruise Agencies (THAKAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Retail Cruise-Only Travel Agencies (Leisure) (THAKAKAA), Ocean Cruise Specialists (Mainstream/Contemporary) (THAKAKAG)
Keywords
Where Iglu Cruise is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wimbledon
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Iglu Cruise business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Travel Agency Commissions: Iglu Cruise operates as a cruise travel agent/broker earning commissions from cruise lines on booked holidays. The company acts as an intermediary between customers and cruise operators including Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and numerous other cruise lines.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dynamic cruise pricing based on cruise line, ship, date, and cabin category |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Iglu Cruise product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Iglu Cruise is a UK-based online cruise travel agency that brokers cruise holidays on behalf of travellers, acting as an intermediary between consumers and more than 35 cruise operators. Inventory spans ocean cruises, river cruises, fly-cruises, luxury cruises, family cruises, solo travel, adult-only cruises, all-inclusive options, short breaks, mini cruises, last-minute deals, repositioning cruises, and cruise-and-stay packages, with sailings bookable from UK ports such as Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tilbury, Greenock and Dover as well as fly-cruise departures from international gateways. The company earns commissions on the bookings it generates and provides ABTA- and ATOL-protected transactions backed by phone-based cruise-expert support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Iglu Ski: A related ski holiday brand operated by the same company, mentioned alongside cruise services in the footer.
Products and services
- Ocean Cruises Bookable ocean cruises across more than 25 ocean cruise lines (Royal Caribbean, P&O Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages, Marella Cruises and others), with itineraries spanning the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, Canary Islands, Fjords & Norway and worldwide global voyages; available 2026 through 2030 sailings.
- River Cruises Bookable river cruises on European rivers and waterways, sourced through partner river-cruise operators including Riviera Travel, TUI River Cruises, Emerald Waterways and Scenic. Customers can browse by river/destination and book river-cruise itineraries through the website.
- Fly Cruises Combined cruise-and-flight packages where the booking includes air travel from the UK to the cruise ship's international departure port, followed by the cruise sailing and return flight, offered for customers who prefer not to sail from UK ports.
- Cruise & Stay Combined cruise + hotel packages where the customer purchases a multi-night hotel stay at the destination together with the cruise sailing as a single bundled booking, offering a land-and-sea holiday.
- Cruises from UK (No-Fly Cruises) Cruises departing directly from UK ports — Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tilbury, Greenock, Dover and Scotland — allowing customers to sail without flying. Includes a dedicated no-fly-curated set of sailings.
- Last Minute Cruises Discounted cruises departing in the near term, with reduced pricing offered for imminent sailings across multiple cruise lines.
- Short Breaks & Mini Cruises Short-duration cruise holidays of up to 5 nights, including dedicated mini cruises, for customers seeking a brief cruise experience rather than a full one- or two-week sailing.
- All-Inclusive Cruises Cruise sailings where the booking price bundles onboard dining, drinks, gratuities or other inclusions as part of an all-inclusive package.
- Luxury Cruises Premium and luxury cruise offerings with luxury operators including Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Crystal, Explora Journeys, Oceania Cruises, Azamara and Scenic Discovery Yachts, featuring included shore excursions, fine dining and higher-end accommodations.
- Family Cruises Cruises curated for families with children, drawing on family-friendly operators such as Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Marella Cruises and Norwegian, plus onboard kids' clubs, waterparks and family entertainment.
- Solo Cruises Cruises selected or designed for single travellers, including sailings with no single supplement or dedicated single-occupancy cabins, plus a single-cruise-from-Southampton dedicated page.
- Adult Only Cruises Cruises on adult-only cruise lines such as Virgin Voyages (Scarlet Lady, Resilient Lady, Valiant Lady, Brilliant Lady) and other operators with 18+ policies.
- Repositioning Cruises One-way / transatlantic or inter-region repositioning sailings where cruise ships relocate between seasonal operating regions, typically at discounted pricing.
Companies that use Iglu Cruise
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Iglu Cruise technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Iglu Cruise partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Celebrity CruisescoreIglu Cruise is an authorized reseller of Celebrity Cruises cruises, offering customers access to Celebrity's Edge-class ships and global itineraries including Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Alaska sailings.
- CunardcoreAuthorized reseller for Cunard cruise line, offering access to Queen Mary 2 transatlantic crossings, world voyages, and luxury British-style cruising.
- Marella CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for TUI-owned Marella Cruises, featuring all-inclusive cruise holidays primarily in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.
- MSC CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for MSC Cruises, offering access to MSC's modern fleet including MSC World Asia, MSC Virtuosa, and MSC Yacht Club luxury experience.
- P&O CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for P&O Cruises, offering British-themed cruise holidays from UK ports including Southampton on ships like Arvia and Iona.
- Princess CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for Princess Cruises, offering access to MedallionClass cruising and destinations worldwide including Scandinavia and Mediterranean.
- Royal CaribbeancoreAuthorized reseller for Royal Caribbean, offering Icon Class ships (Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Hero of the Seas), Wonder of the Seas, and Perfect Day CocoCay private island itineraries.
- Norwegian Cruise LinecoreAuthorized reseller for Norwegian Cruise Line, offering Freestyle Cruising with ships like Norwegian Viva and Encore to Caribbean and other destinations.
- Virgin VoyagescoreAuthorized reseller for Virgin Voyages adult-only cruising with ships including Scarlet Lady, Resilient Lady, Valiant Lady, and Brilliant Lady.
- Disney Cruise LinecoreAuthorized reseller for Disney Cruise Line, offering family-friendly Disney magic at sea with ships including Disney Destiny and Disney Wish.
- Holland America LinecoreAuthorized reseller for Holland America Line, offering classic cruising to Alaska, Canada, and worldwide destinations.
- Oceania CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for Oceania Cruises luxury cruising with ships like Oceania Aurelia and Regatta, featuring 'The Finest Cuisine at Sea' and open-seating dining.
- Crystal CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for Crystal Cruises, offering ultra-luxury experiences aboard Crystal Grace featuring Nobu and Michelin-starred dining.
- Explora JourneyscoreAuthorized reseller for Explora Journeys luxury cruise line, offering relaxed luxury ocean voyages on Explora I, II, III and future vessels.
- Regent Seven SeascoreAuthorized reseller for Regent Seven Seas, offering all-inclusive luxury cruising with complimentary shore excursions and fine dining.
- SeabourncoreAuthorized reseller for Seabourn ultra-luxury expedition and yacht-style cruising with intimate ships and all-suite accommodations.
- Silversea CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for Silversea Cruises luxury expedition and destination cruising to polar regions and exotic locales.
- Azamara CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for Azamara Cruises destination immersion cruising with late-night stays in ports.
- Fred. OlsencoreAuthorized reseller for Fred. Olsen cruise line offering traditional British cruising with smaller ships visiting lesser-known ports.
- HurtigrutencoreAuthorized reseller for Hurtigruten expedition cruising along the Norwegian coast and to polar regions.
- Emerald CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for Emerald Yacht Cruises and Emerald Waterways river cruises offering contemporary river and yacht experiences.
- Scenic Discovery YachtscoreAuthorized reseller for Scenic's ultra-luxury discovery yachts offering all-inclusive expedition experiences.
- Riviera TravelcoreAuthorized reseller for Riviera Travel river cruises on European rivers including Rhine, Danube, and Seine.
- TUI River CruisescoreAuthorized reseller for TUI River Cruises offering contemporary river cruise experiences on European waterways.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Iglu Cruise competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cruise.co.uk: UK online cruise retail agency selling ocean and river cruises from multiple major lines. Direct competitor targeting the same UK cruise shopper.
- Bolsover Cruise Club: UK cruise-only travel agency focused on multi-line retail, with both online and offline sales. Closest like-for-like peer to Iglu Cruise on product breadth and customer base.
- Cruise118: UK-based online cruise travel agency selling ocean, river, and fly-cruises from multiple cruise lines. Direct competitor to Iglu in the cruise-aggregator niche.
- Cruise Nation: UK specialist cruise agent focused on online sales of deals across ocean and river cruise lines. Competes head-to-head with Iglu for UK cruise shoppers.
- Imagine Cruising: UK cruise-and-stay and fly-cruise package specialist combining cruises with flights and hotel stays. Direct overlap with Iglu's bundled cruise offerings.
- Broadway Travel: UK travel retailer with a strong cruise franchise selling multiple cruise lines alongside broader holiday packages. Comparable multi-channel retail agency model to Iglu.
Broad incumbents
- Hays Travel: Largest UK retail travel agency chain with both high-street and online cruise and holiday sales. Larger and broader than Iglu but overlaps on cruise retail customers.
- TUI UK: UK arm of TUI Group, sells package holidays including its owned Marella Cruises. Significantly larger and vertically integrated, but a comparable channel for UK cruise demand.
- Virgin Holidays / Virgin Voyages UK: UK holiday retailer selling Virgin Voyages cruises alongside other holidays. Larger incumbent with overlap on UK adult-only cruise demand.
- Trailfinders: Major UK long-haul and specialist travel agency with cruise offerings and consultative phone sales. Broader scope but comparable high-touch UK travel retail model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Iglu Cruise social profiles
Digital presenceIglu Cruise financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Iglu Cruise leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Iglu Cruise funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Iglu Cruise M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Iglu Cruise
What does Iglu Cruise do?
Iglu Cruise is a UK-based online cruise travel agency that brokers cruise holidays on behalf of travellers, acting as an intermediary between consumers and more than 35 cruise operators. Inventory spans ocean cruises, river cruises, fly-cruises, luxury cruises, family cruises, solo travel, adult-only cruises, all-inclusive options, short breaks, mini cruises, last-minute deals, repositioning cruises, and cruise-and-stay packages, with sailings bookable from UK ports such as Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tilbury, Greenock and Dover as well as fly-cruise departures from international gateways. The company earns commissions on the bookings it generates and provides ABTA- and ATOL-protected transactions backed by phone-based cruise-expert support.
Is Iglu Cruise a public or private company?
Iglu Cruise is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Iglu Cruise founded?
Iglu Cruise was founded in 1998. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Iglu Cruise based?
Iglu Cruise is headquartered in Wimbledon, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Iglu Cruise make money?
One revenue line is on record: travel Agency Commissions.
Who are Iglu Cruise's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cruise.co.uk, Bolsover Cruise Club, Cruise118, Cruise Nation, Imagine Cruising and Broadway Travel. Broad incumbents are Hays Travel, TUI UK, Virgin Holidays / Virgin Voyages UK and Trailfinders.
Does Iglu Cruise have an API?
No public API is recorded for Iglu Cruise.
What industry is Iglu Cruise in?
Iglu Cruise's product category is Online Cruise Travel Agency. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAAAK, Cruise Aggregators & Online Cruise Agencies, with a secondary code of THAKAKAA, Retail Cruise-Only Travel Agencies (Leisure). Its NAICS code is 561520.