United Kingdom
USAThe best cruise lines in the world have been revealed, whether you are after the top ocean cruise lines or want to know who is leading the way in river cruises.
The best cruise lines in the world have been revealed, whether you are after the top ocean cruise lines or want to know who is leading the way in river cruises.
Each year, major cruise lines strive to break new records and set dizzyingly high new bars. This year saw the delivery of Icon of the Seas from Royal Caribbean, the largest ship in the world, while 2025 brings the arrival of MSC World America, the soon-to-be largest ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet, and the second largest in the whole world. But, size isn’t everything, and when it comes to who’s got the best all-round experience this year among the big players, it’s Italian-owned MSC Cruises.
1. MSC Cruises
2. Norwegian Cruise Line
3. Carnival Cruise Line
4. Royal Caribbean
For the second year running, Richard Branson’s adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages clinches the top spot as it continues to think outside the box and push boundaries on the high seas.
The launch of a new state-of-the-art ship in 2024 for Cunard plus a selection of awesome partnerships and onboard experiences (hello, Michelle Roux pop-ups!) puts this traditional cruise line among the top, alongside the ever-popular Disney Cruise Line.
1. Virgin Voyages
2. Cunard
3. Disney Cruise Line
4. Holland America Line
5. Celebrity Cruises
6. Princess Cruises
7. MSC Cruises
8. Royal Caribbean International
After a difficult few years during and post covid in which Crystal Cruises had to shut down, the luxury cruise in is back and better than ever. So much so, it came out on top in this year’s results, having not even made the list in 2023! The only Nobu at sea and regular celebrity guest appearances are just some of the reasons this cruise line is so beloved.
Fellow luxury cruise lines Explora Jounreys and Seabourn were not far behind, and iconic Norwegian specialists Hurtigruten took the bronze. It seems far-flung itineraries and glamorous luxury are the order of the day for 2024, as medium ship stalwarts like P&O Cruises or Fred Olsen were nowhere to be seen.
1. Crystal Cruises
2. Seabourn
3. Hurtigruten
4. Explora Journeys
5. Silversea
6. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
7. Viking
8. Oceania Cruises
9. Disney Cruise Line
10. Holland America Line
Though this category of ships may lack the titan-like size and volume of amenities that its larger peers do, often less is more. Ponant, for example is home to an under-water lounge (quite literally) where a multi-sensory experience is backed by real-life views of the world beneath the waves, while Silversea ships are home to Roman-inspired spas with everything from salt baths to medical treatment rooms.
1. Seabourn
2. Ponant
3. Silversea
4. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
5. SeaDream Yacht Club
6. Windstar Cruises
The eccentric world of this year’s best river cruise line, Uniworld, is something everyone should experience at least once. Exquisitely themed interiors are based on the region in which the ship sails, so someone cruising through the rivers and waterways of Venice will have an entirely different experience to somebody over in the Rhine, though just as much fun. Other best cruise lines in the river cruises category offer unforgettable voyages through off-the-beaten track destinations around the world.
1. UniWorld Boutique River Cruises
2. Tauck
3. Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
4. Pandaw
5. Viking
There’s no question that the expedition cruise industry is booming, as the thirst for bucket-list travel in far-reaching destinations goes from strength to strength. While runners-up, HX, take a more paired-back approach to expeditions, placing a focus on learning and raw experiences out in nature, it was Seabourn’s added luxuries (in addition to world-class expedition leaders) that secured first place.
1. Seabourn
2. HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)
3. Silversea
4. Viking
5. Ponant
