Cruising is among the most popular ways to see the world. Unpack once and take in the sights of the world’s rivers and seas from your floating hotel, all while enjoying top-notch entertainment, dining and amenities. More than a dozen new vessels are introduced each year, making the sheer variety of cruises overwhelming.
To help narrow it down, we asked a panel of cruise industry experts to nominate their favorite cruise lines and ships across 12 categories. Help us name the best by voting for your favorites each day until voting closes on Monday, March 13 at noon ET. The winners will be announced on 10Best on Friday, March 24.
Click on each category below to vote:
Best Adventure Cruise Line
Go on adventure with these 20 cruise lines — Photo courtesy of goinyk // Getty Images
Aboard these ships, cruising is about so much more than sunbathing on the deck, drink in hand. These 20 cruise lines, nominated as the best in the industry by our panel of experts, turn cruising into an adventure for active travelers. Outings include kayaking through remote fjords, getting up-close and personal with icebergs aboard a Zodiac and walking atop glaciers. Help us find the 10 best adventure cruise lines by casting your vote.
Vote: Best Adventure Cruise Line »
Best Boutique Cruise Line
Boutique cruise lines upgrade your experience — Photo courtesy of Maridav // Getty Images
Boutique cruise lines take your vacation to the next level with luxurious perks like small ships, enticing passenger-to-staff ratios, unique onboard activities, and excursions you won’t find on bigger ships. Do you have a favorite boutique cruise line?
Vote: Best Boutique Cruise Line »
Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers
These 20 cruise lines are great for solo travelers — Photo courtesy of iStock / baona
Solo cruising is an excellent way for travelers to experience the world, meet new friends and indulge in a vacation on their own terms. These 20 cruise lines, nominated by a panel of cruising industry experts, cater to solo travelers with perks like single-passenger staterooms, waived solo traveler surcharges, exclusive social spaces and singles-friendly activities. Which cruise line do you turn to when you’re traveling solo?
Vote: Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers »
Best Cruise Ship for Dining
Skip the buffet at these cruise options with amazing dining options — Photo courtesy of ngirish // Getty Images
Cruise ships have come a long way from only offering fixed seating in a single dining room. These days, the best cruises offer guests their choice of restaurants, dining halls and creative menus inspired by the world’s top chefs. Some even offer cooking classes! Our panel of experts nominated these 20 cruise ships as the best for food lovers, and now we need your help choosing a winner.
Vote: Best Cruise Ship for Dining »
Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment
You’ll long for sea days on these ships packed with plenty of entertainment — Photo courtesy of iStock / southtownboy
Book a trip on one of these 20 cruise ships, nominated by our panel of cruising experts, and you’ll be wishing for more long days at sea to explore all the myriad entertainment options on offer, from bowling or skydiving at sea to Broadway-style shows and stand-up comedy. Which cruise ship gets your vote?
Vote: Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment »
Best Family Cruise
These 20 ships offer a family-friendly experience — Photo courtesy of Rawpixel // Getty Images
Thanks to their excellent travel value, more and more families are turning to cruises when planning their vacations. These 20 cruise lines, chosen as the best in the industry by our panel of cruising experts, cater to young passengers in many ways, including family-friendly at-sea experiences (bumper cars, bowling and water parks, to name a few), family cabins and kid-approved dining options. Help us find the best family cruise by voting for your favorite.
Vote: Best Family Cruise »
Best Large Cruise Ship
These 20 ships are some of the largest at sea — Photo courtesy of Steve Mason // Getty Images
If you believe the journey is more important than the destination, these ships are the perfect getaway. These 20 cruise ships represent some of the biggest and newest at sea. With such size comes loads of onboard activities, entertainment options and dining venues. Vote now for the best large cruise ship.
Vote: Best Large Cruise Ship »
Best Mid-Sized Cruise Ship
Enjoy big ship amenities and small ship service on these mid-sized ships — Photo courtesy of Steve Mason // Getty Images
Some cruise ships are like floating horizontal skyscrapers with all the bells and whistles, while others feel more like private yachts. These 19 ships, with a capacity between 1,000 and 3,000 passengers, chosen by a panel of experts as the best in the industry, strike a balance between big ship amenities and small ship service. Which mid-sized cruise ship gets your vote?
Vote: Best Mid-Sized Cruise Ship »
Best Ocean Cruise Line
Sail the world with these ocean cruise lines — Photo courtesy of designprojects // Getty Images
Thankfully, cruise lines are not one size fits all. Some offer long days at sea, while others provide ample time in diverse ports of call. Some offer mega-ships packed with entertainment, and others are more intimate yachts. Whatever your preference, there’s a cruise line out there for you. What’s your favorite ocean cruise line?
Vote: Best Ocean Cruise Line »
Best River Cruise Line
River cruise lines make it easy to hop from port to port, seeing more on your journey — Photo courtesy of MelanieMaya // Getty Images
River cruising has been exploding in popularity in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. You check in, unpack your bag and let your floating hotel take you on a journey of discovery down some of the world’s great waterways, with experiential guided excursions along the way. What’s your favorite river cruise line?
Vote: Best River Cruise Line »
Best River Cruise Ship
Enjoy seeing more in a comfy setting on these river cruise ships — Photo courtesy of stockphoto52 // Getty Images
From the Seine to the Danube, the Mekong to the Chobe, the world’s great rivers have become a hot spot for cruising over the last decade. Riverboats serve as floating hotels, allowing passengers to unpack once and explore an entire region. Vote for your favorite river cruise ship once per day until voting ends.
Vote: Best River Cruise Ship »
Best Small Cruise Ship
Smaller cruise ships offer a more intimate and personalized experience for passengers — Photo courtesy of iStock / Dmitrii Guldin
While large ships come with certain advantages (rock climbing at sea, anyone?), some cruisers prefer the intimacy, personalized service and destination-focused itineraries of a smaller vessel. These 20 cruise ships and yachts, each with a passenger capacity of under 1,000, can get to smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships and offer a more social atmosphere where it’s easier to get to know your fellow guests. Vote now for your favorite small cruise ship.
Vote: Best Small Cruise Ship »
Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, March 24.
