See the 2025 winners for the best cruise ships of 2025.
What are the best cruise ships of 2024 according to Cruise Critic users and editors? Here are the results of the 2024 winners. Each year, Cruise Critic publishes its “ Best in Cruise Awards” as a result of Cruise Critic’s global team of editors reviewing the comments and ratings made by their members and based on their own appreciation of their travel experience.
This year, the awards are given according to the cruise categories: ocean, luxury, river and expedition.
Best Cruise Ships 2024
This year’s list of winners is more diverse. New categories have also been added.
Royal Caribbean International is doing very well by winning several categories in the ocean category: Best Cruise Line 2024, Best New Ship of 2024 with the Icon of the Seas, Best Private Island with Perfect Day at CocoCay, Best Entertainment, Best Nightlife as well as the best app.
Newcomers such as the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection and Explora Journeys also appear in the ranking. For expedition cruises, National Geographic-Lindblad and Ponant won several categories.
Here’s the full list of the best cruise ships of 2024:
Best New Ship
Ocean : Icon of the Seas - Royal Caribbean
Luxury : Ilma - Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
River : Viking Hathor et Viking Sobek
Best Cruise Line
Ocean : Royal Caribbean
Luxury : Explora Journeys
River : AmaWaterways
Expedition : National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Cruisers’ Choice from Cruise Critic members
Ocean:
- Margaritaville at Sea
- Virgin Voyages
- Celebrity Cruises
Luxury :
- Crystal
- Explora Journeys
- Viking
River :
- Avalon Waterways
- Emerald River Cruises
- Viking
Expedition :
- Viking
- Quark Expeditions
- National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Best Cabins
Ocean : Celebrity Cruises
Luxury : Silversea Cruises
River : Avalon Waterways
Expedition : Seabourn
Best Suites : Royal Caribbean
Meilleur Suites Complex : MSC Yacht Club
Best Dining
Ocean : Virgin Voyages
Luxury : Explora Journeys
River : Riverside Luxury Cruises
Expedition : Scenic
Best Specialty Dining : Celebrity Cruises
Best for Service
Ocean : Holland America Line
Luxury : Crystal
River : Tauck River Cruising
Expedition : Silversea Expeditions
Best Value for Money
Ocean : Carnival Cruise Line
Luxury : Seabourn Cruise Line
River : Gate 1 Travel
Expedition : Atlas Ocean Voyages
Best for Families
Ocean : Disney Cruise Line
Luxury : Explora Journeys
River : Adventures by Disney
Best for Solo Travelers
Ocean : Norwegian Cruise Line
Luxury : Regent Seven Seas Cruises
River : American Cruise Lines
Best for LGBTQ+
Virgin Voyages
Best for Romance
Ocean : Princess Cruises
Luxury : Emerald Yacht Cruises
River : Uniworld
Best for Adventure
Quark Expeditions
Best for Active Cruisers
AmaWaterways
Best for First Timers
Emerald River Cruises
Best Light Expedition
Viking
Best for Luxury
River : Uniworld
Expedition : Silversea Cruises
Best Entertainment
Ocean : Royal Caribbean International
River : Scenic
Best Nightlife
Royal Caribbean International
Best Spa
Ocean : Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
Luxury : Viking
Expedition : Viking
Best Enrichment
Ocean : Viking
River : Viking
Best Science Offerings
HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)
Best App
Royal Caribbean International
Best Itineraries
Luxury : Windstar Cruises
Expedition : Ponant
Best Private Destination
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Best Shore Excursions
Oceania Cruises
Best North American Homeport
Port de Long Beach
Best Cruise lines for destinations
Alaska : UnCruise Adventures
Antarctica : National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
Arctic : Ponant
Galapagos : National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
