Dreamlines

Hamburg, Germany Travel & Hospitality Private

Dreamlines is a Hamburg-based online travel agency that specializes exclusively in cruise holidays, often described as the Booking.com or Expedia of cruises. Founded in 2012 by Felix Schneider, Nils Regge and Ottokar Rosenberger and backed by Rocket Internet's Global Founders Capital among other investors, Dreamlines operates an online platform that aggregates more than 30,000 cruise itineraries from major operators such as MSC, TUI, Costa, Royal Caribbean and Hapag-Lloyd. Through its acquisitions of CruiseAway (Australia, 2014) and Cruise1st (UK, 2018), the Dreamlines-Cruise1st Group expanded into the United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands, claiming market leadership in Germany and Australia and becoming the largest cruise OTA outside the United States. The company's legal entity in Germany is Dreamlines GmbH (formerly Netvacation GmbH).

Overview

Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.

Founded

2012

Employees

250–500

Total Funding

$111.7M

6 rounds

Latest Valuation

$0.22B

May 8, 2018

Funding

Total raised $111.7M across 6 rounds

Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.

Last updated 06-25-2026

Latest Round

Type

Series E

Date

May 8, 2018

Amount

$55M

Valuation

Lead Investors

Not disclosed
DateRoundAmount RaisedValuationLead Investors
May 8, 2018 Series E $55M Not disclosed
2017 Series D top-up $19.7M Not disclosed
August 2016 Series D Not disclosed Not disclosed

Leadership

  • Felix Schneider

    Co-Founder & CEO

  • Nils Regge

    Co-Founder

  • Ottokar Rosenberger

    Co-Founder

  • Thomas Taherkhani

    CFO

  • Arjan van der Meer

    CTO

Competitors

Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.

  • CruiseDirect

    US-based online travel agency focused exclusively on cruise bookings across major lines worldwide, with over 20 years of operating history.

  • iCruise.com

    US cruise-only OTA with a Cruise Finder app spanning 40+ cruise lines and 450+ ships, a direct online competitor to Dreamlines in English-speaking markets.

  • Cruise.com

    Long-established US cruise specialist OTA marketing discounted cruise inventory online, frequently cited alongside CruiseDirect as a peer to Dreamlines.

  • Expedia Group

    Global online travel platform whose cruise vertical (Expedia Cruises) competes broadly with Dreamlines for cruise bookings, especially outside Germany.

  • Booking Holdings

    Owner of Booking.com and Priceline; offers cruise content through partner integrations and competes with cruise-specialist OTAs like Dreamlines for travel demand.

  • e-hoi (REWE Group)

    German online cruise portal owned by DER Touristik / REWE Group; a direct German-market competitor to Dreamlines.de for cruise bookings.

Dreamlines Investment FAQ

Public status and buying access

No. Dreamlines is a private company and does not have a public stock ticker or trade on a public stock exchange. Its shares are generally held by founders, employees, investors, and other private shareholders. Buyers and sellers may be able to transact in Dreamlines shares through private secondary transactions, but any transaction depends on share availability, buyer and seller agreement, transfer restrictions, company approval rights, and any applicable right of first refusal. There is no guarantee that Dreamlines will complete an IPO or other liquidity event.

Yes, it is sometimes possible to buy Dreamlines shares pre-IPO through private secondary transactions. This depends on finding a willing seller, company approval, and satisfying any transfer restrictions or rights of first refusal.

Buyers interested in buying Dreamlines shares on the secondary market typically do so through SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, subject to eligibility requirements, share availability, transfer restrictions, and issuer approval. Buyers may need to satisfy sophistication, accreditation, institutional, platform, regulatory, or other eligibility requirements before participating. Once eligible, buyers may be able to view listings, make bids, and work with a licensed broker through the transaction process. Buyers should ensure they have appropriate legal and financial advisors guiding them before completing any transaction.

The company's latest round valuation was approximately $221M as of May 8, 2018. The latest round valuation is often used as one reference point in secondary-market pricing, but secondary prices may be above or below that valuation at any given time. Secondary pricing can shift significantly based on post-round conditions, such as changes in company performance, supply-demand dynamics, share class, transaction size, transfer restrictions, or broader market shifts. Any implied valuation from a past round should be confirmed with a broker or through live market listings before relying on it.

Valuation and funding

Dreamlines was most recently valued at approximately $221M as of May 8, 2018. This is a private valuation and may differ from secondary pricing. Secondary shares may trade above or below this mark based on various factors. SetterVC and Setter Capital does not verify the accuracy of these valuations. Buyers and sellers should always confirm current valuations before completing any transaction.

Dreamlines's latest disclosed funding round was a Series E round in May 8, 2018. The round raised approximately $55M. Primary funding rounds are different from secondary transactions: in a primary round, capital goes to the company, while in a secondary transaction, investors buy existing shares from current shareholders. Funding-round data reflects publicly reported or collected information and may be incomplete.

Dreamlines has raised approximately $111.7M in disclosed funding across 6 rounds. These figures reflect primary capital raised by the company and do not include every possible secondary transaction, undisclosed round, debt facility, or private transfer. Reported funding totals can change as new rounds are announced or older round details are corrected. Eligible users can use SetterVC to track Dreamlines's funding history alongside private-market activity where available.

Market context

Dreamlines's most-cited competitors include CruiseDirect, iCruise.com, Cruise.com, Expedia Group, Booking Holdings and e-hoi (REWE Group). Investors often compare these companies by sector, product focus, valuation, funding raised, growth signals, investor base, and private-market activity.

Secondary-market demand for Dreamlines shares can be affected by company performance, revenue growth, profitability, funding history, valuation, investor interest, sector momentum, public-market conditions, expected timing of a liquidity event, and the availability of shares for sale. Demand can also be affected by transfer restrictions, company approval rights, right of first refusal processes, limited information, and the price expectations of buyers and sellers. Strong demand does not guarantee strong pricing, liquidity, or investment returns. Weak demand does not necessarily reflect the company's long-term prospects. Demand signals should not be treated as a recommendation or prediction of investment performance. Buyers and sellers should treat demand signals as informational and conduct their own diligence before transacting.

Selling and transaction mechanics

Sellers often rely on intermediaries and platforms, such as SetterVC and other secondary-market platforms, to identify potential buyers. The exact process varies by company and transaction, but sellers often begin by confirming their ownership, desired price, transferability, and any company approval or notice requirements. If the seller agrees with a buyer on acceptable price and terms, the company may need to be notified through a share transfer notice or similar process. If a right of first refusal, company approval right, or other transfer restriction applies, the seller may need to wait until that process is completed. The parties may then execute a purchase and sale agreement, complete required transfer documentation, and close if all required conditions are satisfied. Sellers should always seek proper legal and financial advice before completing the transaction.

Yes, current and former Dreamlines employees, early investors, and other existing shareholders may be able to sell vested shares before an IPO through a private secondary sale. This is not automatic; it depends on whether the shareholder has transferable shares, whether there is buyer demand, and whether the company's governing documents permit the transfer. Many companies require prior notice, company approval, or a right of first refusal before shares can be sold. Sellers should also seek proper legal and financial advice before proceeding.

A Dreamlines secondary transaction usually involves an existing shareholder selling shares to a buyer before a public listing. The buyer and seller typically agree on price, number of shares, share class, and closing conditions. The seller may then need to notify Dreamlines through a share transfer notice or similar process. If Dreamlines or existing investors have approval rights, transfer restrictions, or a right of first refusal, those steps may need to be completed before the transfer can close. The parties typically enter into a purchase and sale agreement, complete any required transfer documentation, and close only if the necessary conditions are satisfied. Timing and certainty can vary by company and transaction.

In most private secondary transactions, parties commonly use a purchase and sale agreement that outlines price, terms, and conditions. They may also use share transfer documentation, often a stock transfer notice, share transfer notice, transfer instruction, or similar document, along with any required company approval or right of first refusal materials. Proof of ownership, such as a cap table entry, share certificate, brokerage statement, issuer confirmation, or administrator confirmation, may also be important. Buyers often request recent company financials, but private companies may limit disclosure. Since every deal varies, buyers and sellers should consult legal and financial advisors to understand which documents are needed.

Risk, diligence, and investor caution

Buying Dreamlines shares pre-IPO is risky. Shares are illiquid, no IPO or liquidity event is guaranteed, valuations can change, transfers may require company approval, and private companies may provide limited financial disclosure. Be prepared for total loss. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, verify information, and seek independent legal and investment advice before proceeding.

Private secondary shares are typically illiquid. Unlike public stocks, there is no active public market, so selling them can be difficult and time-consuming. Sales depend on finding a willing buyer and often require company approval. Investors should be prepared to hold the shares for an extended period, with no guarantee of a future sale. Always assess your need for liquidity before investing.

SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide due diligence, legal, tax, accounting, valuation, or investment advice. Buyers must conduct their own due diligence, including verifying ownership, transferability, legal structure, company approval, and assessing the company's prospects. SetterVC and Setter Capital do not provide advice on whether an investment is good, what price to pay, or what the best bid or ask is. SetterVC and Setter Capital may share documents in some circumstances, but it does not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

Before buying Dreamlines shares, a buyer should try to review the share class, price per share, implied valuation, transfer restrictions, ROFR process, company approval rights, seller ownership evidence, recent financing or tender-offer information, available financial information, information rights, resale restrictions, tax considerations, and expected liquidity paths. Not all information may be available for a private company. Buyers should confirm available diligence, process details, and information needs with their own legal, tax, and investment advisers.

SPVs carry risks. Examples include the need to confirm the company allows SPV-based transfers, verify that the SPV truly owns the shares or interests it claims to own, and ensure it has not sold more interests than it holds. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

Forward contracts carry risks. Examples include the seller refusing to transfer the shares at the future date, even if the seller owns them, the seller going bankrupt with creditors claiming the shares, or the seller committing the same shares to multiple parties. Due diligence is essential. Seek legal and investment advice as needed.

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