P&O Cruises' Arvia named 'Best New Ship',
Silversea Cruises awarded 'Best Luxury Cruise Line', Scenic Eclipse
II receives 'Best New Expedition Ship' and Viking Cruises named
'Best River Cruise Line'
LONDON, 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 for UK travellers, as chosen by the site's
international team of cruise experts.
"This was a phenomenal year for the cruise industry", explains
Adam Coulter, Executive Editor of
Cruise Critic UK & AU. "Between record-breaking sales and
capacity numbers exceeding 100 percent, we saw travellers flock to
the seas for high-value holidays. And for UK-based travellers, the
introduction of ground-breaking new ships helped to drive interest
in cruising even more."
This year's awards are the most comprehensive to-date, naming
winners across four key areas – Ocean, River, Luxury and
Expedition.
"Wherever you're looking to travel – whether a more far-flung
destination like Antarctica or
Alaska, or a warm getaway like the
Canaries or Caribbean – the
options are endless by sea", shares Coulter. "And this year, we've
named the absolute best of the best across all four cruise types –
from mainstream ocean and luxury, to river and expedition."
2023 Award Highlights
Ocean Awards
- P&O's Arvia – the line's new megaship – was named Best
New Ship of the Year, for its seamless combination of the
line's popular spaces with new and exciting attractions
onboard.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "Arvia
has all the P&O Cruises' favourites like The Epicurean, Sindhu
and Keel & Cow – plus new venues including Tidal Rum Bar (with
distillery), the stunning Dome and a top deck high ropes course and
swim-up bar – firsts for P&O Cruises."
- Marella Voyager was named Best Ship Refurbishment, after
a 36-day bow-to-stern makeover that not only updated public spaces
but also cabins and suites – as well as introduced new-to-the-line
venues.
According to Cruise Critic Editors: "We love
that cabins and suites were included in the refurbishment, making
them feel almost new, with public spaces and dining venues also
given a complete makeover. Marella Voyager boasts an impressive
array of new-to-the-line venues, from the speakeasy-style Exchange,
to Silver Fork, one of the 17 dining venues onboard."
- Ambassador Cruise Line was named Best Value for Money,
praised for its competitive fares and special offers.
According to Cruise Critic's Editors: "This
UK-based, no-fly cruise line is a solid choice for cruisers seeking
maximum value for money on one of its two ships.
Buy-one-get-one-half-price savings, last-minute deals and
reductions, combined with affordable lead-in fares, make Ambassador
Cruise Line a clear winner in the Best Value category."
- Belfast was named the Best
UK & British Isles Port of Call for its overall experience
provided to cruise visitors.
According to Cruise Critic Editors:
"Belfast's outstanding cruise
terminal, located next to the vibrant Titanic Quarter, welcomed its
2-millionth cruise ship visitor this summer following a record 165
calls in 2023. The Titanic Belfast unveiled four new themed
galleries following a £4.7-million investment, and the cruise
terminal is also close to all the city's other main
attractions."
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 Cruises – 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."
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."
- Swan Hellenic 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: "Pair
thoughtful inclusions like alcoholic drinks (not just at meals) and
Wi-Fi, to gratuities and return regional flights and pre-cruise
accommodations, with five-star luxury vessels complete with
outstanding expedition guides and top-notch food from
internationally acclaimed chefs – all for less than £10,000 to the
Antarctic – Swan Hellenic is tough to beat when it comes to value
for money."
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."
- Viva Cruises' Viva Two received the honor for Best New River
Cruise Ship, for its standout offerings in the river cruise
category.
According to Cruise Critic Editors:
"Viva Two is decidedly different
from other riverboats and showcases an innovative split-level
layout – plus an extensive use of glass, allowing light to flood
in. The ship also stands out for having three distinct restaurants
– all free – and include an extra-special dinner with
wine pairings."
2023 Cruise Critic UK Editors' Picks Awards
Ocean Category
Best New Ship: P&O Cruises' Arvia
Best Ship Refurbishment: Marella Voyager
Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
Best Entertainment: Virgin Voyages
Best for Families: Royal Caribbean International
Best Innovation/Tech: Princess Cruises
Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
Best Service: Celestyal Cruises
Best for Solo Travelers: Cunard Line
Best Spa: Celebrity Cruises
Best Specialty Dining: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises
Best Value for Money: Ambassador Cruise Line
Best App: Royal Caribbean International
Best UK Departure Port: Dover
Best UK & British Isles Port of Call: Belfast
Luxury Category
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea
Cruises
Best New Luxury Ship: Silversea Cruises' Silver
Nova
Best Cabins: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best Dining: Oceania Cruises
Best Enrichment: Silversea Cruises
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: Viking
Expedition Category
Best New Luxury Ship: Scenic Eclipse
II
Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions
Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Dining: Scenic
Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions
Best Service: Silversea Expeditions
Best Spa: Viking
Best Value for Money: Swan Hellenic
Best in Alaska: UnCruise Adventures
Best in Antarctica:
Scenic
Best in the Arctic: Hurtigruten
Best in the Galapagos: Lindblad Expeditions
River Category
Best River Cruise
Line: Viking
Best New River Cruise Ship: Viva Cruises' Viva Two
Best for Active Cruisers: Emerald River Cruises
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best Dining: Riverside Luxury Cruises
Best Enrichment: AmaWaterways
Best for Families: A-ROSA
Best for First-Timers: TUI River Cruises
Best for Luxury: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Best Service: Viking
Best for Solo Travelers: Riviera River Cruises
Best Value for Money: TUI 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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Media Contact:
Aubrey Manzo
Dunn
aubrey@cruisecritic.com
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