The votes are in – and the best cruise ships in the world have been announced by Cruisecritic.com, in their ninth annual Cruisers’ Choice Awards in the USA. Ships were evaluated according to their size: large (2,000+ passengers), mid-size (1,200-1,999 passengers) and small-mid size (400-1,199 passengers) and small (fewer than 400 guests). Everything from dining to shore excursions, cabins to fitness facilities has been put under the microscope, with rankings compiled from 350,000 reviews of 700 ships around the globe. Read on to discover the crème de la crème of cruise…

Royal Caribbean International (RCI) scooped three awards in the large ship category, including best for onboard accommodation. Harmony of the Seas offers spacious, well-appointed cabin options for all types of passenger, from solo cruisers to families, who can take up residence in two-level loft-style apartments.

The luxurious Oceania Marina won best cabins in the mid-size ship category. From inside staterooms to the Owner’s Suite, all accommodation is spacious and features designer toiletries from high-end beauty brand Bulgari, specially designed beds with 1,000 thread-count linens and robes and slippers.

Stylish and contemporary, Viking Sky’s all-veranda staterooms were praised in the small-mid size category as among the best at sea. Features include a king-size bed with luxury linens and pillows, premium toiletries and a large bathroom with a spacious, glass enclosed shower and a heated floor.

Purpose-built to sail itineraries in the South Pacific, The Gauguin, owned by Paul Gauguin Cruises, scooped best cabins in the small ship category. Nearly 70% of suites and staterooms have private balconies, and all feature queen-size beds, bathrooms with a full-size bathtub and shower, robes and slippers, and a fridge stocked with soft drinks. 

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One of four awards for Celebrity Equinox in the large ship category, the ship received the same accolade in the UK Cruise Critic awards too. There are restaurants onboard to cater for all tastes and needs; one passenger highlighted the fact there was an impressive range of options in both the dining room and Oceanview Café to meet her dietary requirements. 

Oceania Cruises' are highly regarded for their food, with Riviera awarded best dining in the mid-size ship category. With top chef Jacques Pépin as the culinary director, a dedicated restaurant for wine connoisseurs, an onboard Culinary Center offering cooking classes and culinary destination tours when you get to port, there’s lots for foodies to indulge in.  

 

Securing best for dining in the small-mid ship category, passengers on Viking Sky thought the food offering was outstanding, thanks to meals inspired by the ship's destinations. Plus, Viking Sky offers more alfresco dining than any other ship at sea on the expansive Aquavit Terrace.

Independent, small ship operator Windstar have cultivated their reputation for restaurant-quality food – a move which has seen the four-masted Wind Spirit scoop the top spot for dining in the small ship category. Seasonal and sustainable ingredients are sourced from each port along the cruise, while nightly menus are crafted to highlight the best in regional cuisine.

Joining your cruise shouldn't be a hassle and it's good to know that many cruise lines are getting this part of the experience spot on. Despite being a big ship with capacity for 3,560 passengers, Regal Princess won the award for best embarkation. Helped, no doubt, by the efficient Princess staff and an easy-to-use system that sees passengers filling out pre-boarding forms well in advance of travel.

Holland America Line’s Oosterdam scooped best for embarkation in the mid-size ship category. Passengers are prompted to check-in online beforehand which helps to prevent delays. There's also an early embarkation option where you can enjoy lunch onboard and live music before heading to your stateroom.

Another Princess ship, Pacific Princess, was voted best for its embarkation process in the small-mid size ship category. According to passengers, the process is smooth and swift with no queues, once again making the most of Princess Cruises' intuitive online check-in system.

Another vote for Paul Gauguin Cruises' vessel The Gauguin which scooped best for embarkation in the small ship category. The crew welcome passengers, take their hand-luggage and replace it with a glass of something sparkling. Passengers also praise the fact that luggage is delivered to rooms very speedily.

With everything from piano singalongs to ice skating shows, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas was voted best for entertainment in the large ship category in both the US and the UK Cruise Critic awards. One passenger had this to say: “The entertainment was very good. Hairspray was amazing! Lots to choose from and plenty of daytime activities.”

MSC likes to push the boundaries when it comes to live performances. Passengers especially loved the Cirque du Soleil shows which are unique to the cruise line.

The cultural entertainment on Viking Cruises is a hit with passengers, with the offering on Viking Sun specifically voted best in the small-mid size ship category. The programme includes themed shows, movies, live performances and TED talks.

This small ship certainly packs a punch and is once again voted the best in its category. The Gauguin’s varied and unique programme includes the Les Gauguins & Les Gauguines Tahitian hosts and entertainers, local performers, a crew show, and theatre performances.

Cruise ships aren't all about sunbathing on deck and big banquet-style dinners. Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas was named number one for fitness and recreation in the large ship category. Passengers loved the fitness centre with its array of classes, the spa, the sports deck and activities including a climbing wall, zip line and FlowRider surf simulator.

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Carrying just under 2,000 passengers, Coral Princess was voted best for fitness and recreation in the mid-size ship category. There’s a state-of-the-art fitness room with the latest equipment, exercise classes and personal training programmes, a sports court and two types of golf: mini and computerised.

Viking Ocean Cruises place great emphasis on wellness so it’s no surprise that the Viking Orion scooped this accolade. There’s an infinity pool with a hot tub located near the stern, plus a main pool with a retractable roof, and a Nordic-inspired spa that would rival most hotels, with a snow grotto room, thermal suite and fitness centre.

On Wind Surf passengers have unlimited use of the fitness centre, use of all water sports equipment, nightly port talks and destination briefings and two whirlpools. Coming in late 2019 will be a fully redesigned spa too.

Celebrity Equinox also took the award for best public rooms in the large ships category. Guests love the many places to relax, including the two-storey library looking out to the central atrium, and the serene The Lawn Club with real grass. The ship is currently undergoing a facelift to upgrade facilities even further.

Cunard’s elegant and extravagant Queen Victoria soared away in this category with the ship also scooping the same accolade in the UK Cruise Critic awards. “The public areas were beautiful, with a lot of dark wood,” remarked one enamoured cruiser. This is your perfect ship if you want a nod to the glamorous historic vessels of yesteryear but with all the mod-cons. 

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Featuring understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design features, Viking Sky was the standout winner. The ship has been thoughtfully created by experienced nautical architects and designers to ensure there are plenty of nooks and corners, so passengers won't feel crowded.

Silversea’s luxurious 100-guest Silver Galapagos won the small ship category for its well-appointed public spaces. Last refurbished in 2017, facilities include a hot tub, library, spa, beauty salon, fitness centre and piano bar.

This upscale ship was voted best for service in the large ship category, also scooping the same title in the UK Cruise Critic awards. “We were warmly welcomed by the crew, who were outstanding from start to finish. Blu restaurant is beyond fabulous – terrific food and service every night,” confirmed one passenger.

In the mid-size ships category, the best rated was Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. Staff are always easily reached 24/7 at the Guest Services desk and crew members are trained rigorously in Royal Caribbean's ‘Gold Anchor’ standards of passenger care. It means that whether you've booked an inside cabin or a lavish suite, you can expect consistent service across the vessel.

Winning the small-mid size ships category, Viking Sky’s attentive staff are Swiss-trained, English-speaking and devoted to making your stay onboard as memorable as possible. Around 90% of employees return year after year, so if you're a regular guest, you might even bump into the same team.

Guests on The Gauguin say it’s often the exceptional service and attention to detail they remember most about their cruise – the crew-to-guest ratio is 1 to 1.5, one of the highest at sea. Staff know your name the minute you step onboard.

Scooping the prize in the large ship category, Carnival Valor’s 2,974 passengers can take advantage of the best local excursions at every port of call, plus the Best Price Guarantee – find a better price for an excursion and they will refund 110% of the price difference.

On Coral Princess there are plenty of ways passengers can maximise their time in port, from small group tours with 25 or fewer guests, to foodie shore excursions and tours in private vehicles. There’s also a best price guarantee if you find the same excursion for less elsewhere.

Voted best in the mid-small ships category, Viking passengers receive an included excursion in almost every port. They're also offered exclusive entry to cultural treasures around the world, and after-hours access to world-class museums.

In the small ships category, Silver Galapagos came out top. Silversea wants guests to ‘travel deeper’ and passengers love the fact that the ship’s smaller size enables it to dock in most ports without having to get tenders to shore. Along with shore excursions, there is an option to take mid-voyage land adventures to break up sea days, leaving from one port and rejoining the ship at another.

In the large ships category, the 2,850-passenger Celebrity Equinox scooped yet another award for its modern offering – it also won this category in the UK Cruise Critic awards. While the initial cost of fares may be higher, lots of features, including access to the upscale restaurants and room service, are usually included.

MSC Sinfonia's offering includes first-class entertainment, lots of innovative facilities and activities and a good choice of restaurants and cafés. But its facilities for children meant it garnered the family vote, thanks to the excellent kids' club and teen lounge. 

Voted top in the small-mid ship category, passengers clearly love Viking’s all-inclusive prices, which includes return flights, 24-hour room service, no speciality restaurant surcharges, free Wi-Fi, an included shore excursion, free spa access and tea and coffee anytime.

Yet another vote for the small ship Silver Galapagos and its luxury, all-inclusive offering. All passengers experience complimentary exploration activities including Zodiac tours, snorkelling, kayaking and nature hikes. Plus, after your first cruise you become an automatic member of the Venetian Society loyalty programme, which gives you further privileges including discounts and party invites.

The second ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, Disney Magic was named best for families. The ship hosts events such as the "Marvel Day at Sea" featuring characters including Captain America, Spider-Man and Iron Man as well as a restaurant themed around the movie Tangled, an upgraded teen club complete with a DJ, movie making and a smoothie bar. Plus there's a new, adults-only café. 

For the fourth consecutive year, Viking Ocean Cruises was named best for cruise newbies and this year the award went to Viking Sky. Built in 2017, features such as Viking’s signature speciality restaurants, beer and wine at lunch and dinner, select shore excursions and Wi-Fi – all of which are included in the cruise package – make it the perfect all-rounder if you've never cruised before. 

It's not just ocean cruises where Viking excels. One of the new generation of Viking longships floating along Europe's key rivers, Viking Vidar was crowned the inaugural winner in this new category, included to reflect the growing popularity of river cruising. This ship sails the Rhine and Danube rivers, offering stops in cities including Amsterdam, Budapest and Vienna. 

Hurtling ahead with five first-place wins in the large ship category, Caribbean-based Celebrity Equinox also received the best overall accolade both in the US awards and at the Cruise Critic UK equivalent. Passengers raved, “The Equinox is a beautiful ship, and the service onboard was five-star.”

Best overall ship in the mid-size ship category went to Oceania's flagship vessel, the 1,250-passenger Oceania Riviera, which features a Lalique staircase and other designer touches throughout. Renowned for its culinary offerings, it’s clearly getting things right in other departments, too.

The adults-only Viking Sky bagged the best overall accolade in the small-mid size ship category. Designed in understated Scandi-style, the 930-passenger, all-veranda ship sails all over the globe to destinations including Iceland, the Mediterranean and Russia.

Silversea’s intimate Silver Galapagos was named the top ship in a total of four small ship categories, including best overall. The 100-passenger ship offers guests a luxury, all-inclusive experience including all shore excursions and personal butlers assigned to every suite. It's certainly a luxurious way to take in the Galápagos islands.

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