Virgin Voyages snags its second 'Best New
Ship' award, Silversea Cruises named the 'Best Luxury Cruise Line,'
Scenic Eclipse II receives 'Best New Expedition Ship' and Viking
Cruises named 'Best River Cruise Line'
NEEDHAM,
Mass., Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cruise
Critic®, the world's leading cruise reviews site and
online cruise community, has named the winners of its
15th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards – the
industry's most comprehensive awards – recognizing the best cruise
lines of the year, as chosen by the site's international team of
cruise experts.
"This was a banner year for the cruise industry," explains
Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of
Cruise Critic. "On Cruise Critic, we saw demand for cruises surpass
pre-pandemic times, and a number of lines reported ships sailing at
over 100% capacity. Cruising has always been a high-value vacation,
but with costs of land- and air-based travel through the roof, the
true value of a cruise really hit home this year."
Cruise Critic has been releasing its highly-anticipated Editors'
Picks Awards for 15 years. This year's awards are the most thorough
to-date, naming winners across four key areas – Ocean, River,
Luxury and Expedition.
"The value of a cruise doesn't stop with mainstream sailings.
From the fare inclusions on river and luxury sailings, to those on
expedition sailings to further-flung destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos, you'd be
hard-pressed to find a land-based vacation that delivers the
experience and value that a cruise offers," McDaniel says. "But
beyond the overall value, the growing interest in cruises is also
driven by the incredible range of destinations you're able to visit
by water – from the poles of the earth, to inside riverways, and
every trending destination in between. If you're looking to explore
the world, there's often no better way than by cruise – and these
are the best of the best."
2023 Award Highlights
Ocean Awards
- Resilient Lady – the third ship in Virgin Voyages'
award-winning fleet – rated a perfect five stars by
Cruise Critic's editors – was named Best New Ship of the
Year.
According to Cruise Critic Editors:
"Resilient Lady isn't first in class, but it might be the best.
Virgin perfected onboard entertainment in 2023, and the ship's
detox-retox atmosphere carries over to ports like Santorini and
Mykonos – thanks to exceptionally generous shore time."
- Carnival's Carnival Venezia – formerly part of the Costa
Cruises fleet – was named Best Ship Refurbishment, with
editors praising its delivery of "Carnival Fun, Italian
Style."
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "Carnival
has somehow achieved the impossible: taken a ship originally built
for the Chinese market, with a strong Italian theme throughout, and
successfully rebranded it for the U.S. market."
- Disney Cruise Line was named Best for Families,
lauded by Cruise Critic's editors for its dedication to crafting
exceptional experiences for kids and adults alike.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "With its
endless dedication to kids, Disney Cruise Line breezes to the top
of the pack when it comes to the family cruise experience. But
Disney doesn't forget that adults are footing the bill, and it
crafts a memorable experience for them, too."
- Carnival Cruise Line was named Best Value for
Money, praised for its inclusive fares and limited
upcharges:
According to Cruise Critic's Editors: "With
each new ship, Carnival packs more and more into its fares – with
fewer upcharges than most lines. On Carnival, you know you're never
going to be nickel and dimed. Whether you're with friends, a
significant other or your family, you're bound to have a good time,
with minimum damage to your wallet."
Luxury Awards
- Silversea Cruises received the award for Best Luxury Cruise
Line for a second year in a row, as well as Best New Luxury
Ship for the line's newest ship, Silver Nova.
According to Cruise Critic Editors:
"Silversea's constant innovation and a desire to set the luxury bar
ever higher sets it apart from all others. Sure, the line has
suites, butlers, Champagne and caviar across the fleet, but it's
more than that – Silversea's restaurants rival Michelin-starred
establishments, its S.A.L.T. enrichment program is outstanding, and
its art and décor are reminiscent of a five-star hotel. And Silver
Nova is a giant step forward for a cruise line that has never been
content with the status quo."
- Crystal – recently relaunched by new owner, Abercrombie
& Kent Travel Group – received this year's award for Best
Service in the Luxury Category.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "Crystal
has built a reputation on exceptional service, and it comes down to
the crew onboard, who are empowered to keep guests happy and
satisfied, no matter the issue. Sailing on a Crystal ship feels
like a vacation with family. No ask is too small – or too big – and
service always comes with a sincere smile."
- Emerald Yacht Cruises – a line well-known on the rivers that
debuted its first luxury ocean-going vessel in 2022 – was named
this year's Best Value for Money in the Luxury
Category.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "Sailing
on an Emerald cruise ship feels a lot like seeing the world on your
personal yacht – yet prices for cruises generally are less than
what you'd pay on other luxury lines."
Expedition Awards
- Scenic Eclipse II was named this year's Best New
Expedition Ship, for the ship's seamless combination of
five-star luxury and destination immersion.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "Whether
you're traveling to Antarctica,
the Arctic and Greenland or
Australia's wild Kimberley, the
ship allows you to get the most of your destination, by Zodiac,
kayak, helicopter and submersible – and return to the best in
creature comforts."
- Atlas Ocean Voyages was named the Best Value for
Money in the Expedition Category, praised by editors for its
thoughtful inclusions and pricing.
According to Cruise Critic Editors:
"Affordable and Antarctica?
Believe it. With its fleet of small upscale expedition ships, Atlas
has shaken up the pricing for adventure trips, offering a nice
level of inclusions at the farthest reaches of the earth. As a
result, the line is drawing younger passengers – many who are on
their very first cruises."
River Awards
- Viking received the award for Best River Cruise Line of the Year, for its
consistency, breadth of offerings and fare inclusions.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "Viking
has earned its reputation as the leader on Europe's rivers, where it sails with an
enormous fleet designed in serene Scandinavian style. Ships are
consistent and instantly feel like home; staterooms are
thoughtfully designed; and cruises are inclusive of things like
excursions and drinks at mealtimes."
- American Cruise Lines' American Serenade received the honor
for Best New River Cruise Ship, becoming the first
American vessel to receive the award from Cruise Critic.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "With
extra-large staterooms and suites, trendy interior décor and one of
the most gorgeous sundecks we've seen on a river-going ship,
American Serenade sets the bar for domestic U.S. river cruising
high."
2023 Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards
Ocean Category
Best New Ship: Virgin Voyages'
Resilient Lady
Best Ship Refurbishment: Carnival Venezia
Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
Best Entertainment: Virgin Voyages
Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line
Best Innovation/Tech: Princess Cruises
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
Best Service: Holland America
Line
Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Specialty Dining: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises
Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line
Best App: Royal Caribbean International
Best North American Homeport: Miami
Luxury Category
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea
Cruises
Best New Luxury Ship: Silversea Cruises' Silver
Nova
Best Cabins: Viking
Best Dining: Oceania Cruises
Best Enrichment: Windstar Cruises
Best for Families: Explora Journeys
Best Itineraries: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best Service: Crystal
Best Shore Excursions: Oceania Cruises
Best for Solo Travelers: Crystal
Best Spa: Viking
Best Value for Money: Emerald Yacht Cruises
Expedition Category
Best New Luxury Ship: Scenic Eclipse
II
Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions
Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Dining: Scenic
Best for Light Expedition: Viking
Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions
Best Science Offerings: Hurtigruten
Best Service: Silversea Expeditions
Best Spa: Viking
Best Value for Money: Atlas
Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures
Best in Antarctica:
Scenic
Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises
Best in the Galapagos: Lindblad Expeditions
River Category
Best River Cruise
Line: Viking
Best New River Cruise Ship: American Cruise Lines' American
Serenade
Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best Dining: Riverside Luxury Cruises
Best Enrichment: Tauck River Cruising
Best for Families: Adventures by
Disney/AmaWaterways
Best for First-Timers: Viking
Best for Luxury: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Best Service: Viking
Best for Solo Travelers: Avalon Waterways
Best Value for Money: Emerald River Cruises
To view the full details of each category, visit the 2023 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
travellers, 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 travellers 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.
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SOURCE Cruise Critic