Travelers rank the best cruise vacations of the year — including one fan-favorite with a dubious reputation

These ships are cruising to a victory.

Cruise reviews site Cruise Critic has released its 17th annual Best in Cruise Awards, finding that Virgin Voyages led the flotilla when it came to pleasure boating on the high seas.

Embarking on a maritime getaway has never been more popular. “The growth of the cruise industry is astounding — with nearly 40 million travelers expected to cruise in 2026,” declared Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. “And as demand for cruise travel continues to grow, so does the array of options available.”

To round up the cream of the cruise line crop, the cruise line reviewer enlisted their team of expert reviewers, who have “spent hundreds of nights at sea on dozens of cruise lines” and boast a boatload of “industry knowledge,” per the site. Meanwhile, the Cruisers’ Choice awards were crowd-sourced from a selection of best-reviewed cruise lines of the past year from real cruisers.

Best Cruiseline

Virgin Voyages was ranked the overall best cruiseline, earning praise for its “exceptional onboard experiences,” come-as-you-are policy and all-inclusive fares — a perk that’s earned them heaps of praise in an industry known for upselling passengers.

“Virgin doesn’t nickel-and-dime — there’s no gratuities and all specialty dining is included,” gushed one reviewer on Reddit. “They don’t have a drink package and there are some options in their dining that costs extra […] but 98% of all the food is included.”

Helping them cruise to an easy victory was the addition of Brilliant Lady, an 110,000-gross-ton cruiseliner that embarked on its maiden voyage over the summer.

All told, “Virgin consistently brings high-wattage fun, boundary-pushing food, dazzling entertainment and cool vibes to the high seas,” Cruise Critic raved. Best of all, the line is adults-only, preventing the vessel from feeling like being trapped in a jungle gym on the high seas.

Cruiser’s Choice

Snagging the people’s choice award in this luxury regatta was Margaritaville at Sea. According to Cruise Critic, they exemplified their name with a “laid-back vibe” and welcoming ‘island time” atmosphere.

Notable amenities included lively entertainment such as live music and comedy, trivia, and deck parties. The site also lauded the company’s “attentive crew” from cabin stewards to waitstaff at the ships’ restaurants, as well as the comfortable cabins — each of which features tropical decor.

Coincidentally, the Margaritaville at Sea hasn’t received glowing reviews from everyone. In 2024, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise initially failed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program review, with random inspections of cruise ship common spaces such as pools and activity centers, buffet hand-washing stations, food storage and cooking equipment.

The vessel initially scored just 82 out of 100 (85 and under is considered a “failure,” per the CDC) during an inspection in May — but a later examination on July 2 earned the cruise ship a passing score of 92.

Best New Ship

Meanwhile, the Best New Ship Award went to the Celebrity Xcel, Celebrity Cruises’ 3,260-passenger floating palace, which debuted last month in Florida.

Cruise Critic wrote that the Edge-class vessel — the largest in the fleet — delivered a “transformative experience in the destination-driven Bazaar and levels up its dining game, with new specialty venues like Bora and Mosaic, which complement an already-impressive lineup of restaurants.”

“Fun also is turned up a notch, with a secret speakeasy and fun retro adult-forward arcade, called The Attic,” they wrote. “Upgraded entertainment in the tech-forward theater and hip Club continues to inspire awe.”

This is a major boon for a cruise firm that’s hit some choppy waters of late. In August, one of Xcel’s predecessors, the Celebrity Constellation, was left temporarily powerless after a significant electrical failure — causing it to drift off a southern Italian coast for three hours before regaining propulsion and righting its course.

Best Value For Money

Carnival Cruise Line was at the tip of the prow for pleasure boating on a budget, offering lower base fares than most of the competition without skimping on inclusions or leaving customers feeling “nickel-and-dimed,” per the site.

“Carnival offers one of the most inclusive cruise experiences around, with many of its restaurants included, and those that aren’t come with a reasonable fee,” Cruise Critic wrote. “The wide variety of staterooms on each ship makes finding the right size at the right price easy, and Carnival’s signature fun, from comedy clubs to piano bars, is all included, ensuring your cruise will feel like a splurge without killing your wallet.”

Of course, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing aboard the maritime getaway monger. Recently, two Carnival Cruise Line voyage passengers sued the company on the grounds that they awoke covered in more than 30 bed bug bites during their trip last February.