Cruise Critic’s annual rankings recognise standout cruise lines, ships and destinations while reflecting the growing range of experiences available to travellers.
Cruise Critic has named the winners of its 17th annual Best in Cruise Awards, spanning ocean, river, luxury and expedition travel. Virgin Voyages received the top ocean cruise line honour, while Explora Journeys, Avalon Waterways and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions led their respective categories. The awards combine the views of Cruise Critic’s international editorial team with ratings, reviews and opinions from its community of more than two million cruisers.
The 2025 list reflects a cruise market increasingly divided by the type of experience travellers seek rather than by ship size alone. Alongside broad honours for cruise lines, the awards identify winners for couples, families, solo travellers, LGBTQ+ travellers and remote workers. They also recognise specific elements of a voyage, including cabins, dining, entertainment, service, spas, itineraries and digital experience.
Several ship awards highlight the range of vessels entering or strengthening different parts of the market. Celebrity Xcel was named Best New Ship in the ocean category, AmaMagdalena took Best New River Ship, and Oceania Allura won Best New Luxury Ship. The expedition category focused on destination-led travel, naming Quark Expeditions best for adventure, Ponant best for itineraries and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions best in the Galapagos.
The rankings also give visibility to value and access, not only premium positioning. Carnival Cruise Line was selected for Best Value for Money in the ocean category, Gate 1 Travel received the equivalent river honour, Windstar Cruises won in luxury, and Swan Hellenic Cruises topped the expedition value category. Port Canaveral, Florida, was named Best North American Homeport, while Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay received the private-destination award.
Cruise Critic’s results place editorial expertise alongside traveller feedback as a way to organise a crowded holiday market. Its editors said they had sailed on hundreds of cruise ships, from mega-ships to expedition vessels, while the site’s community contributes a large base of ratings and personal experience. With the organisation citing an expectation of nearly 40 million cruise travellers in 2026, the awards position detailed category guidance as an increasingly important part of how cruise choices are evaluated.
