Cruise Critic Releases the 2025 'Best in Cruise Awards,' Naming the Best Cruises of the Year
Virgin Voyages named the 'Best Cruise Line of the Year' in the Ocean Category; Explora Journeys, Avalon Waterways and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions also named top cruise lines
NEEDHAM, Mass., Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise Critic ®, the world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has announced the winners of its 17 th annual Best in Cruise Awards, naming the best cruise lines and destinations of the year, based on expert insight and traveler ratings.
"The growth of the cruise industry is astounding – with nearly 40 million travelers expected to cruise in 2026," 1 shares Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. "And as demand for cruise travel continues to grow, so do the array of options available."
"What makes Cruise Critic's awards stand out among a sea of 'best of' lists is the expertise behind the selections," explains Mark Patscher, General Manager of Cruise Critic. "Our team of editors has sailed on hundreds of cruise ships – from the largest mega-ships, to the smallest expedition vessels. We comb every corner of the globe to gather first-hand insights into a wide range of cruise offerings available to travelers. That, combined with the ratings, reviews and opinions from our community of more than two million cruisers, ensures these awards are a true gauge of which cruise lines stand out as the absolute best of the best this year."
2025 Award Highlights
Selected by Cruise Critic's international team of cruise experts
Ocean Awards
River Awards
Luxury Awards
Expedition Awards
2025 Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards
Ocean Category
Best Ocean Cruise Line: Virgin Voyages
Best New Ship: Celebrity Xcel
Best Cabins: Disney Cruise Line
Best for Couples: Princess Cruises
Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
Best Entertainment: Virgin Voyages
Best Enrichment: Cunard Line
Best for Families: MSC Cruises
Best Itineraries: Holland America Line
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
Best Nightlife: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best for Remote Workers: Royal Caribbean International
Best Service: Holland America Line
Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Specialty Dining: Celebrity Cruises
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises' MSC Yacht Club
Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
Best Digital Experience: Princess Cruises
Best North American Homeport: Port Canaveral, Florida
Best Cruise Line Private Destination: Royal Caribbean's Perfect Day at CocoCay
River Category
Best River Cruise Line: Avalon Waterways
Best New River Ship: AmaMagdalena
Best for Active Cruisers: Avalon Waterways
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best for Couples: VIVA Cruises
Best Dining: Riverside Luxury Cruises
Best for Entertainment: Scenic
Best Enrichment: AmaWaterways
Best for Families: Adventures by Disney
Best for First-Timers: Viking
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Best for Luxury: Riverside Luxury Cruises
Best for Remote Workers: Viking
Best Service: Scenic
Best for Solo Travelers: American Cruise Lines
Best Value for Money: Gate 1 Travel
Luxury Category
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Explora Journeys
Best New Luxury Ship: Oceania Allura
Best Cabins: Explora Journeys
Best for Couples: SeaDream Yacht Club
Best Dining: Explora Journeys
Best Enrichment: Viking
Best for Families: Explora Journeys
Best Itineraries: Crystal Cruises
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Azamara
Best for Remote Workers: Viking
Best Service: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Best Shore Excursions: Oceania Cruises
Best for Solo Travelers: Oceania Cruises
Best Spa: Viking
Best Value for Money: Windstar Cruises
Expedition Category
Best Expedition Cruise Line: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions
Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Dining: Scenic
Best for Education and Enrichment: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Best Itineraries: Ponant
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Quasar
Best for Light Expedition: Viking
Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions
Best Service: Aqua Expeditions
Best Spa: Viking
Best Value for Money: Swan Hellenic Cruises
Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures
Best in Antarctica: Quark Expeditions
Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises
Best in the Galapagos: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Cruisers' Choice Category
Top-Rated Ocean Cruise Lines
Top-Rated River Cruise Lines
Top-Rated Luxury Cruise Lines
Top-Rated Expedition Cruise Lines
To view the full details of each category, visit the 2025 Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards.
12026 forecast numbers based on data from the Cruise Lines International Association
About Cruise Critic
Cruise Critic ® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 650,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.
About Tripadvisor, Inc.
The Tripadvisor Group connects people to experiences worth sharing, and aims to be the world's most trusted source for travel and experiences. We leverage our brands, technology, and capabilities to connect our global audience with partners through rich content, travel guidance, and two-sided marketplaces for experiences, restaurants, and other travel categories such as hotels. The subsidiaries of Tripadvisor, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRIP), include a portfolio of travel brands and businesses, including Tripadvisor, Viator, and TheFork.
Media Contact:
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SOURCE Cruise Critic