When planning a cruise, there are a huge range of ships to choose from – but not all are created equal. They run the gamut from mammoth vessels dripping in luxury to boutique liners offering a more intimate experience. Using a blend of traveller reviews and expert opinion to create a Quality Score, CruiseWatch has ranked the best of the bunch for American travellers. These are the 25 cruise ships that came out top. 

This Regent Seven Seas offering oozes luxury. There are 350 plush suites (upgraded in a recent refurbishment), each fronted with a roomy balcony. The most lavish of all comes with a personal butler and a complimentary bottle of Veuve Clicquot on arrival. There’s also an elegant casino and several chic lounges with evening entertainment. Routes are varied, covering swathes of Asia, the Mediterranean and the South Pacific this year and next.

The Silver Explorer was built for adventure. It reaches some of “the world’s most remote destinations”, heading to Chilean Easter Island, Alaska and Antarctica through 2018 and 2019. On board, you’ll be suitably pampered – there’s a spa, an ultra-modern fitness centre and a beauty salon, plus a wide range of suites to match varying budgets. The Panorama Lounge is a great spot: listen to the on-board pianist as you drink in near 360-degree sea views.

“Boutique luxury” is what’s on offer here. The state rooms are the most sumptuous, with fresh-cut flowers and a complimentary fruit basket. Your evenings will be livened up by Broadway-style shows, and there are two brilliant restaurants: feast on Italian-inspired dishes at Aqualina and steak and seafood at Prime C Restaurant. Voyages include Baltic breaks towards the end of this year, and tours to Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean at the beginning of 2019.

Celebrity Silhouette includes a celebrated spa and a clutch of speciality restaurants. The Lawn Club is a real draw – on the top deck is a slip of lush grass where you can enjoy a picnic or even a game of boules. Later this year, the ship will explore Iceland, the Norwegian Fjords and the Western Mediterranean. In 2019, passengers can wind their way around the southern Caribbean.

There’s only room for 212 guests on this ship, but it packs a whole lot into its relatively small expanse. Rooms range from the opulent Owner’s Suites, with separate dining and living areas and vast balconies, to the more compact Ocean View Suites. All guests have unlimited access to the swish fitness centre and the world cuisine of AmphorA Restaurant. Late 2018 outings include the Spanish Serenade: an eight-day loop around Spain's coastline, up to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital.

The newest ship in the Celebrity Cruises portfolio, Reflection had its maiden voyage in 2012. It has capacity for more than 3,000 guests and all the fine dining, drinking and leisure facilities of its sisters. The World Class Bar, so named for its expert mixologists, is the best place to while away an evening. The ship is geared up for a Mardi Gras and Caribbean Cruise, taking in Florida, Louisiana and the Cayman Islands, in early 2019.

Family-friendly entertainment and themed restaurants come together on this whimsical cruise liner. A Star Wars-themed area and the hi-tech Disney Infinity game room are the latest additions. Older passengers aren’t forgotten, either. The District is an on-board “neighbourhood” filled with adult-only bars and lounges – the pick of the bunch is Evolution, a pulsing venue with live music and shows. Upcoming routes include several expeditions to the Bahamas, docking at private island Castaway Cay.

Another win for Celebrity Cruises, Eclipse ebbs into the top 20. It was the first Celebrity ship to trial the “iLounge”, an on-board internet lounge that offers technology courses. Beyond this, there are all the usual luxurious amenities: an expansive spa, spacious lounges and suites, plus a “fun factory” for little passengers. In late 2018, journeys include a British Isles Cruise, and an Italy and Greek Isles Cruise, both lasting 12 nights.

Up to 690 guests can fit onto this liner, described by Azamara as a “sturdy, mid-sized beauty”. The staterooms steal the show, with their smart furnishings and first-rate amenities, and the sun-drenched top deck is worth a peek, too. The Adriatic Wonders voyage will leave in September 2018, pushing off from Venice, Italy and visiting Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia en route. 

A second entry from Windstar Cruises, this intimate offering also holds just over 200 passengers. It is touted as having “one of the highest crew-to-passenger ratios at sea”, so you can rest assured you’ll be looked after during your trip. The serene WindSpa has been newly expanded, too. Expeditions include a North Atlantic Odyssey between Reykjavík and New York City (leaving August 2018) and a Caribbean adventure for its first outing of 2019.

This is one of Silversea’s Millennium Class liners, so you can expect exalted facilities and a host of fine-dining experiences. Don’t jump ship without eating at La Dame by Relais & Châteaux: it offers an indulgent tasting menu with thoughtful wine pairings. Towards the end of 2018, excursions include a trip around East Asia (from Hong Kong to Tokyo) and a southeast Asian course from Manila to Bangkok. 

The top-ranking Celebrity ship, Equinox is in the “Solstice Class”, a modern and luxurious fleet. Innovative restaurant Qsine is an on-board highlight, serving such novel dishes as “sushi lollipops”. The ship will finish 2018 with a seven-night cruise around the eastern Caribbean.

“Fantasy becomes reality” is the marketing line of this Disney-themed liner. The entertainment ranges from pirate-themed deck parties to musical performances (Aladdin is the current show of choice). Kids will love AquaDuck, the dizzying on-board water ride, while adults can find some refuge in the Quiet Cove Pool or the Senses Spa and Salon. The ship makes regular journeys around the Caribbean, and introduced Star Wars Day at Sea on some routes this year.

This ship offers complimentary in-room dining throughout – but those who can plump for the penthouse suites will have a personal butler thrown in too. The Crystal Visions Enrichment Program offers expert lectures on a range of topics, and you can relax after a few hours' swotting in glittering cocktail bars or the celebrated spa. The ship will tour Europe, Asia and parts of the Middle East through 2018 and 2019.

In service since 1995, Crystal Symphony offers a masterclass in luxury. On top of the regular restaurants in the Crystal profile, it boasts two speciality venues: Umi Uma is from famed Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa, while Prego serves comforting Venetian dishes. The rooms are lavish, including two penthouse suites and hundreds of deluxe “state rooms”. The Provincial Pastimes Voyage will leave in September, travelling from Montréal to New York along the USA’s east coast. 

On top of the usual ritzy lounges, the Arts Café is a unique addition to this Silversea ship. By day it’s a café-cum-gallery displaying works from global talent; by night it’s a stylish cocktail bar. Silver Spirit’s late 2018 routes will focus on North America, docking in such cities as New York, Portland, Maine and Montreal. Its first outing of 2019 will start and finish in Florida, taking in the Caribbean isles of Saint Barthélemy and Dominica on the way. 

Elegant Silver Whisper is the favourite from the Silversea portfolio. Like its sister (Silver Shadow) it has capacity for 382 guests, and hosts a sizeable library, a tranquil spa and a handful of sophisticated bars. The Owner’s Suites are by far the most extravagant lodgings – the Vista Suites are cosier but equally comfortable, boasting huge windows for those ocean panoramas. Upcoming excursions include European voyages from Monte Carlo to Venice, and from Venice to Athens.

Built in 2012 (and enjoying a thorough refurbishment in 2015), this liner boasts a handsome main dining room and smart suites decked out in Ralph Lauren furnishings. An evening at La Reserve by Wine Spectator is one well spent: it offers seminars and tastings, as well as an epicurean food menu. Many routes leave from Miami, heading out to such regions as the Caribbean (Caribbean Crossroads) and Central America (Reef & Ruins).

If you’re after a sense of exclusivity, this mega yacht (and its sister SeaDream I) delivers. There’s room for just 112 guests on this “intimate boutique ship”, which has a sleek pool bar, a casino and a golf simulator on board. This year the yacht will reach parts of Europe and the Caribbean: tours include an Atlantic pilgrimage from Málaga (via Tenerife) to San Juan, and a jaunt around the Cuban coast.

The spit of its sister, Riviera, Marina is an exercise in luxury, too. The Culinary Center is worth a visit: Oceania claims it’s the only cooking school at sea, and it offers hand-on classes led by expert chefs. There’s a large choice of routes, focusing on Europe and the Americas. The Scandinavian Treasures voyage takes the long way from Stockholm to Copenhagen (taking in Helsinki, St Petersburg and Riga, Latvia along the way) and will leave in September 2018. 

There’s very little between yachts SeaDream I and II – they’re intended to be twins after all. Like its sister, SeaDream I offers fine dining options and elevated lodgings. You can also embark on wine voyages through this year and next: there's a delicious 2018 tour from Barcelona to Nice, and trips from Lisbon to Bordeaux in 2019. If you’re feeling truly flush, both yachts are available for private charter.

At more than 11,000 square feet, Sojourn’s spa is the largest on any luxury ship, according to Seabourn. Once suitably recharged, head to the Observation Bar for some fresh air and ocean views, or make for The Club if you’re in the mood for dancing. Itineraries include a taste of the USA’s west coast (beginning in Vancouver, Canada and weaving down to California). The ship will kick off 2019 with a (48-day) tour of the African isles and cape, including a stop in the Seychelles and Tanzania.

Another grand Seabourn design, this ship is worthy of its spot in the top three. The liner’s Wintergarden suites are the fanciest, with floor-to-ceiling windows and whirlpool bathtubs. More affordable are the Ocean View suites, still with a generous living area and walk-in wardrobes. In December the ship will make its way to South America, beating a mammoth path from Buenos Aires, down to Antarctica and back up to Santiago, Chile.

This magnificent cruise ship comes runner up as America’s favourite. “Virtually identical” to the lavish Seabourn Sojourn and Quest, Seabourn Odyssey was the first iteration in this first-rate trio. The open-plan dining area (simply called The Restaurant) is a decadent affair with cushioned chairs and dazzling chandeliers. The ship regularly departs from Bridgetown, Barbados, making its way around the Caribbean with stops in such sun-drenched destinations as St Lucia and Antigua.

With space for just over 900 guests, the Viking Star was awarded best in show. The Viking Living Room, with its sleek wooden furnishings and well-stocked bar, is the centre of life on board. If just for the sheer novelty, pay a visit to The Snow Grotto: a room filled with crisp man-made snow, ready for you to dive into after a stint in the sauna. Future circuits include an Italian Sojourn from Rome to Venice and a Viking Homelands tour from Stockholm to Bergen.