The best cruise ships in the world have been announced by Cruisecritic.co.uk in their annual UK Cruisers’ Choice Awards. Ships were evaluated in 12 categories and according to their size: large (2,000+ passengers), mid-size (1,200-1,999 passengers) and small (fewer than 1,999 passengers). Here are the winners that received the highest cruiser rating in each category.

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Voted the best large cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas impressed with the variety of activities, food, drink and entertainment available as well as the comfortable cabins and fantastic service. One cruiser said: “The ship was immaculate, the service was consistently good. The entertainment was first class. This was a trip of a lifetime for us, we enjoyed every minute of it.”

The award for the best mid-sized ship went to Marella Spirit. She has a loyal following of repeat passengers that have praised the ship’s good-sized cabins, spacious public areas and large reading and games room.

Voted the best small ship, Spitsbergen sails in the Arctic and the North Sea. Passengers said they particularly enjoyed how comfortable the ship is, and they praised the excellent offshore excursions and friendly staff.

Rated best for cabins in the large ships category, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is notable for her Art Deco-inspired interiors. Most cruisers noted the comfortable size of the cabins as well as the abundance of storage space available, and the fact that 71% of the outside cabins have balconies.

Voted best among the mid-sized ships, Queen Victoria is another Cunard cruise ship. She’s more traditional and formal than most ships and cruisers particularly praised the comfy beds and pillows as well as the ten wheelchair-accessible cabins available across a variety of room categories.

In the small ships category, the Spitsbergen was voted best for cabins. Sailing primarily in the Arctic and the North Sea, Spitsbergen’s passengers were most impressed with how well the ship and the cabins have been adapted to sail in polar waters.

In the large ships category, Mediterranean-based Norwegian Spirit was voted best for dining due to her generous restaurant offering. With two main dining rooms, a steakhouse, a sushi bar and a French restaurant among the choices available, one of the cruisers even said the food “was some of the best we’ve ever had on a cruise”.

Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas was voted best in the mid-sized ships category. Food lovers on board this ship enjoyed the Chef’s Table five-course dinner as well as an assortment of restaurants on offer.

In the small ships category, Viking Sea received top marks for the variety of food available on board. All meals on board are included in the cruise package, even including speciality restaurants. One cruiser said: “The dining was excellent. While the meals in the specialty restaurants were great, Viking didn't skimp in the main dining room, as several other lines do.”

Best-rated in the large ships category for entertainment was Oasis of the Seas. It has an ice skating rink, daily comedy shows, three arcades and the Aqua Theatre – the most popular entertainment on the ship that features divers, gymnasts and synchronised swimmers.

Voted best among the mid-sized ships, Balmoral always has excellent entertainment on offer. There are talks, lectures and classes during the day and live performances, including cabaret and stand-up comedy, in the evening.

In the small ships category, Fred. Olsen’s Boudicca was voted the best. The ship’s passengers have mostly enjoyed the variety of entertainment available, from comedy and magic acts to daytime activities like watercolour painting and carpet bowls.

In the large ships category, Norwegian Spirit’s reasonable prices won the cruisers’ appreciation. With cruises starting at £668, there’s excellent food on board, plenty of entertainment for parents and kids alike and the service is excellent.

The best-value mid-sized ship according to cruisers is Marella Spirit. She offers spacious public areas, good-sized cabins and round-the-clock dining options. One cruiser said the service “exceeds your expectations”, while another praised the variety of itineraries on offer.

Voted best among the small ships, Spitsbergen’s passengers were most impressed by the helpful and friendly staff as well as the variety of food on offer. Cruisers also noted the opportunity to see the northern lights on some itineraries as its most appealing feature.

Voted best among the large ships, Oasis of the Seas offers plenty of activities at every port of call. Depending on the itinerary, shore excursions and activities can include diving and snorkelling excursions to visiting museums and meeting local chefs on food tours.

In the mid-sized ships category, cruisers have voted for Marella Spirit as the best for shore excursions. One cruiser said: “The destination desk does an amazing job with lots of great excursions and plenty of help planning your outings.”

Voted best in the small ships category, Spitsbergen’s polar cruise experience is complemented by a variety of shore excursions, from fossil hunting at a glacier to a visit to Longyearbyen – the world’s northernmost town.

In the mid-sized ships category, Brilliance of the Seas was rated best for service. Cruisers said the service was “very attentive”, “extremely friendly” and “brilliant”. Some cruisers particularly praised the exceptional waiting staff in the dining room.

Among the small ships, Marella Spirit was awarded best for service due to the exceptional staff on board that, according to cruisers, go above and beyond to ensure a fabulous cruising experience. One cruiser said: “The staff were brilliant and made us feel like royalty.”

In the small ships category, Spitsbergen’s excellent staff and crew have been voted the best. “The service, in every respect was exceptional. They were friendly, courteous and helpful,” one passenger said.

Voted best among the large ships, Celebrity Silhouette’s most notable feature is The Lawn Club – a half-an-acre-large real grass park. There are around 20 shops on board and plenty of recreational areas, as well as the two-deck Hideaway lounge, which is perfect for reading, playing cards or simply relaxing.

In the mid-sized ships category the best rated ship was Queen Victoria. Notable for her extravagant interiors, passengers commented on the beautiful mahogany walls and the calming earth tone colours. “The public areas on board were exquisite,” said one cruiser.

Winner in the small ships category, Viking Sea has been praised for her modern, Scandinavian-style interiors and personal touches. Cruisers have noted that the ship rarely feels crowded and the atrium is particularly great to “listen to music and have a drink before dinner”.

In the large ships category, it was Freedom of the Seas that won the award for best recreation. With three pools and a water park, a rock park and a surf park there’s plenty to enjoy on board.

The Queen Victoria came out as the best among the mid-sized ships for recreational activities. One cruiser said: “Each day I went to the Total Body conditioning at 6pm, really well run with exercises to challenge and alternatives for the not so fit.”

Voted best among small ships, Viking Sea has plenty of recreational activities on offer for a smaller ship. One of the passengers praised the excellent gym, workout room and sauna.

In the large ships category, Celebrity Reflection was rated best for embarkation. Cruisers mostly noted how smooth it was and that there was no waiting.

Among the mid-sized ships, Marella Discovery was also praised by cruisers for the excellent embarkation and disembarkation.

Voted the best among small ships, Viking Sea impressed passengers with the smooth embarkation and disembarkation. One cruiser also noted that there was no waiting time and everything was well organised.

Voted the best cruise ship for families, Celebrity Reflection is brilliant for any family holiday. Cruisers loved the variety of activities available to keep the kids busy while on board.

Voted best for first-timers, Oasis of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. There are nearly two dozen places to eat on board and an abundance of entertainment and activities. She’s been called “the ultimate cruising experience” by some passengers while one cruisier said: “This was my first cruise. I’m afraid that now I’m a convert!”