The Best Cruise Lines of the Year Named by Cruise Critic

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 11^th 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.

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* Source: Jumpshot for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, September 2018

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Media Contact:

Aubrey Manzo Dunn

aubrey@cruisecritic.com

609-583-0054

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SOURCE Cruise Critic