Expert travel advisors reveal the best cruise lines on the high seas with categories covering on-board cuisine, entertainment and more
Cruising for the crown.A slew of travel advisors have cast their votes for the best cruise lines of 2026, awarding brands across 140 categories, including luxury voyages, adventure expeditions, family getaways, onboard dining, and live entertainment.
Thousands of votes determined the Gold and Silver winners, revealed last week at the 2026 Travvy Awards in Fort Lauderdale, an annual event that recognizes the best of the best in the travel industry.Royal Caribbean dominated several major categories, earning recognition in the trifecta of Best Caribbean Cruise Line, Best Large Cruise Line, and Best Contemporary Cruise Line.
Beyond these accolades, Royal took the gold for onboard entertainment and best private island/destination for its Perfect Day at CocoCay.Not to be outdone, Disney Cruise Line was given the Gold for Best Family Cruise Line and took Silver for Best Cruise Entertainment.Princess Cruises was also among the top contenders, taking home the Gold for Best Alaskan and Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific Cruise Line.
Princess was also awarded a Silver ranking for Best Premium Cruise Line and Best Hawaiian Cruise.Earlier this year, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards gave Princess top honors as Best Megaship; voters praised Princess for top-tier itineraries and comfort.On the higher end of the high seas, Viking won Gold for Best Luxury Cruise Line in the most recent ranking, while Regent Seven Seas Cruises took Gold for Best Ultra Luxury Cruise Line.Regent is typically described as a “country club at sea,” with an emphasis on ultra-luxury and comfort care.
Proving that bigger is not always better, Silversea, an ultra-luxury, all-suite cruise line owned by the Royal Caribbean Group, earned Gold for Best Small Cruise Line (under 500 Cabins).Meanwhile, Azamara Cruises, another smaller line that promises “experiences that bring you closer to local life,” earned gold for immersive destination itineraries.In a similar vein, National Geogr...