Virgin Voyages, Viking Ocean Cruises and Disney Cruise Line took the top spots across 10 categories in the 12th annual U.S. News & World Report Best Cruise Lines rankings.
The publication looked at 19 cruise lines and ranked them as the best for the money, best luxury, best for families, for couples, for solo travelers, for wellness, best in the Caribbean, in the Mediterranean and best for dining, separated into luxury and mainstream.
Virgin Voyages was recognized as the best cruise line for the money, followed by Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Virgin was also recognized as having the best dining for a mainstream line.
Disney once again took the top spot for family and also for best in the Caribbean.
Viking Ocean Cruises took the top spot for best line for couples, best luxury dining, best line in the Mediterranean, and best luxury line.
Factors taken into account include ship quality, traveler ratings, health assessment results and the type of traveler. Ships receive a score based on an expert rating that carries 30% weight, a traveler rating with 50% weight and a health rating with 20% weight.
Here are the top 3 for each category, with full rankings available at travel.usnews.com/cruises.
Best Cruise Lines for the Money1. Virgin Voyages2. Celebrity Cruises3. MSC Cruises
Best Luxury Cruise Lines1. Viking Ocean Cruises2. Explora Journeys3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best Cruise Lines for Families1. Disney Cruise Line2. Royal Caribbean International3. Norwegian Cruise Lines
Best Cruise Lines for Couples1. Viking Ocean Cruises2. Explora Journeys3. Seabourn Cruise Line
Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean1. Disney Cruise Line2. Virgin Voyages3. Explora Journeys
Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean1. Viking Ocean Cruises2. Explora Journeys3. Silversea Cruises
Best Cruise Lines for Dining – Luxury1. Viking Ocean Cruises2. Explora Journeys3. Oceania Cruises
Best Cruise Lines for Dining – Mainstream1. Virgin Voyages2. Celebrity Cruises3. Disney Cruise Line
Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers1. Crystal2. Norwegian Cruise Line3. Oceania Cruises
Best Cruise Lines for Wellness1. Celebrity Cruises2. Explora Journeys3. Virgin Voyages
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