EWING, N.J., Dec. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise
Critic®, the world's leading cruise reviews site and
online cruise community, has named the winners of its
11th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards,
recognizing the best cruise lines of the year across dozens of
categories, as chosen by the site's international team of
editors.
"As the cruise industry continues to evolve, travelers are
rewarded with extraordinary options and experiences," explains
Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive
Editor of Cruise Critic. "Cruising already is one of the most
groundbreaking travel industries, and cruise lines continue to
raise the bar when it comes to guest experience – both onboard and
in port. This year's list of winners includes cruise lines that
visit every continent, offer technologies that provide an even more
personalized travel experience and boast features like a high-tech
planetarium, cabins with infinite verandahs and even an onboard
silent disco. These are the absolute best experiences at sea, and
what's most exciting is that there's even more to look forward to
in 2019."
Award Highlights
Ocean Awards
- Celebrity's brand new ship – Celebrity Edge – scooped this
year's award for Best New Ship. Named "one of the most
innovative ships we've seen in years" by Cruise Critic's editors,
Celebrity Edge has revolutionized spaces onboard – from a roving
deck to infinite verandahs – and features like the Rooftop Garden,
nearly a dozen complimentary restaurants and a state-of-the-art
theater make it a ship with plenty to offer travelers. Celebrity
also won this year's award for Best Dining.
- Disney Cruise Line was named Best for Families for the
third year in a row, praised for its ability to entertain travelers
of all ages, plus its special programs and features, including
Marvel Day at Sea and Rapunzel's
Royal Table.
- Princess Cruises was named Best Itineraries for the
second year in a row, bringing guests everywhere from the
Caribbean and Mexico, to Alaska and Asia. The line also received awards for
Best Shore Excursions and Best Cabins.
- Holland America received the Best Value for Money award,
lauded for the wide variety of inclusions and programs onboard –
including dining options guided by an award-winning Culinary
Council, Lincoln Center Stage, BBC Earth and the new Rolling Stone
Rock Room.
- San Juan, Puerto Rico was
named Best North American Homeport after a record-breaking
year for the island's cruise traffic. San
Juan serves as Puerto
Rico's main cruise port, offering cruisers plenty to do in
its bustling city center and tons of history to explore.
River Awards
- Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection was named the Best
River Cruise Line, for its
stellar overall experience – from impressive dining options and
wellness programs, to active shore excursions and
multi-generational options. The line also received an award for
Best Ship Refurbishment for its ship S.S. Beatrice – the
first ship in its fleet to receive Uniworld's massive "Super Ship"
renovation.
- Brand-new river cruise line, U by Uniworld, received the award
for Best New River Ship for its ship The A, which launched
earlier in 2018 and sails along the Rhine and Danube – with stops
in cities like Amsterdam,
Budapest and Vienna. Designed for a millennial audience,
the ship provides a fresh alternative to traditional river cruising
through its casual onboard atmosphere and offbeat shore
excursions.
- For the second year, Viking River Cruises was named Best for
First-Timers for its wide-range of sailings and smart
inclusions like beer and wine at meals, select shore excursions and
Wi-Fi. The line also received an award for Best Itineraries,
with ships that sail everywhere from Vietnam and China to Russia and most European rivers.
Luxury Awards
- Seabourn was named Best Luxury Cruise Line, with editors
saying it "embraces everything a luxury cruiser is looking for,"
including fine dining and a Thomas
Keller partnership, all-inclusive fares and some of the most
personal service at sea. Seabourn also won the line award for
Best Service and received a nod as Best for Solo
Travelers.
- Viking Ocean Cruises' new ship, Viking Orion, was named Best
New Luxury Ship – awarded for innovative new features like an
onboard planetarium, beautiful cabins and thoughtful details
ship-wide. The line also won Best Value for Money and
Best Spa – both for the third year in a row.
2018 Cruise Critic Editor's Picks Awards
Ocean Category
Best New Ship: Celebrity Edge
Best Ship Refurbishment: Mariner of the Seas – Royal
Caribbean International
Best for Adventure: Lindblad Expeditions
Best Cabins: Princess Cruises
Best Dining: Celebrity Cruises
Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International
Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
Best Itineraries: Princess Cruises
Best Nightlife: Carnival Cruise Line
Best Service: Carnival Cruise Line
Best Shore Excursions: Princess Cruises
Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Value for Money: Holland America Line
Best North American Homeport: San
Juan, Puerto Rico
River Category
Best River Cruise Line:
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Best New River Cruise Ship: The A – U by Uniworld
Best Ship Refurbishment: S.S. Beatrice – Uniworld Boutique
River Cruise Collection
Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best Dining: Crystal River Cruises
Best Enrichment: American Queen Steamboat Company
Best for Families: Adventures by Disney
Best for First-Timers: Viking River Cruises
Best Itineraries: Viking River Cruises
Best for Luxury: Crystal River Cruises
Best Service: Tauck River Cruising
Best Shore Excursions: Scenic
Best for Solo Travelers: American Cruise Lines
Best Value for Money: Emerald Waterways
Luxury Category
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best New Luxury Ship: Viking Orion
Best Ship Refurbishment: Silver Spirit – Silversea
Cruises
Best for Adventure: Silversea Cruises
Best Cabins: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best Dining: Oceania Cruises
Best Enrichment: Crystal Cruises
Best Itineraries: Ponant
Best for Romance: Windstar Cruises
Best Service: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Shore Excursions: Azamara Club Cruises
Best for Solo Travelers: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Spa: Viking Ocean Cruises
Best Value for Money: Viking Ocean Cruises
To view the full details in each category, visit the 2018 Cruise
Critic Editors' Picks Awards. For photos of this year's winners,
click here.
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 350,000 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
TripAdvisor, the world's largest
travel site*, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of
every trip. With over 702 million reviews and opinions covering the
world's largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering
approximately 8 million accommodations, airlines, experiences, and
restaurants -- TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of
the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to
do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more
than 200 hotel booking sites so travelers can find the lowest price
on the hotel that's right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are
available in 49 markets, and are home to the world's largest travel
community of 490 million average monthly unique visitors**, all
looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know
better. Book better. Go better.
The subsidiaries and affiliates of TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:
TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites and businesses,
including more than 20 travel media brands:
www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bokun.io, www.bookingbuddy.com,
www.citymaps.com, www.cruisecritic.com,
www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com
(including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and
www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk,
www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com,
www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com,
www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com
and www.viator.com.
* Source: Jumpshot for TripAdvisor Sites,
worldwide, September 2018
** Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique
visitors, Q3 2018
Media Contact:
Aubrey Manzo
Dunn
aubrey@cruisecritic.com
609-583-0054
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SOURCE Cruise Critic