2024 Member Choice Awards: Best Cruise Lines and Ships

The 2024 Member Choice Awards for Best Cruise Lines and Ships saw some new entrants and some familiar names from past award years. One thing is certain: our community members are passionate about cruising and love to share their cruise experiences. While all cruise lines have their league of loyal followers, some lines clearly stand out from the pack. Sometimes, choosing your favorite cruise line is like trying to pick your favorite child or sibling - you love them all for different reasons. That certainly holds true for the 2024 Member Choice Awards for Best Cruise Lines and Ships. Our community of cruisers loves them all, but a few stand out for the overall experience they deliver. 

As the cruise industry continues to expand and diversify, travelers seek guidance on the best cruise lines and ships that offer unparalleled experiences at sea. Our annual Member Choice Awards serve as a testament to the exceptional quality, service, and innovation within the cruising industry. With many options available to travelers, these awards provide invaluable insights, reflecting the collective voice of passengers who have embarked on unforgettable journeys. From luxurious amenities to immersive itineraries, the recognition bestowed upon these cruise lines and ships highlights their commitment to exceeding expectations and creating lasting memories for every guest who steps on board.

In looking at Best Cruise Lines Overall, we break down the top honors across the type of cruise experience: Mainstream, Premium, Luxury, and River. The respective lines are broken out in these same categories on our site. 

Best Cruise Lines Overall:

Best Mainstream Cruise Line     

1. Royal Caribbean - 4.339

2. Celebrity Cruises - 4.295

3. Carnival Cruise Lines - 4.245

4. Holland America Line - 4.227

5. Disney Cruise Line - 4.216

If seeing Royal Caribbean in the first position seems familiar, you have a great memory! They have taken top honors for the last several years in a row. Based on community members' reviews, Royal Caribbean's distinction as the best cruise line underscores its commitment to exceptional service and experiences. The recognition reflects the collective satisfaction and positive experiences of passengers who have sailed with Royal Caribbean. This accolade further solidifies Royal Caribbean's position as a leader in the cruise industry, known for its innovation, quality, and customer-centric approach.

While positions two through five change a bit each year, Celebrity and Carnival are always among the top-ranked lines by our community members. Celebrity Cruises, Carnival, Holland America Line, and Disney securing positions second to fifth from community members' reviews highlights travelers' diverse array of cruise experiences. Each company's ranking underscores its dedication to providing memorable voyages tailored to different tastes and preferences. The recognition reaffirms their commitment to delivering outstanding service, entertainment, and amenities, contributing to the vibrant landscape of the cruising industry.

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Best Premium Cruise Line

1. Windstar Cruises - 4.387

2. Azamara Club Cruises - 4.370

3. Viking Ocean Cruises - 4.334

4. Cunard - 4.304

5. Oceania Cruises - 4.161

The premium cruise line categories encompass lines that offer a higher level of service and attention to detail versus mainstream cruise lines. The lines in this category typically offer smaller ships and more inclusions. We see the same lines in the top 5 compared to last year, but they shifted their order for this year. Like last year, the overall scores were very close, with just hundreds of points separating positions one through four. 

Windstar Cruises' top ranking in community members' reviews reflects its dedication to delivering unparalleled luxury and personalized experiences on the high seas. The recognition underscores Windstar's commitment to providing intimate, yacht-style voyages that prioritize guest satisfaction and comfort. This accolade solidifies Windstar's reputation as a premier choice for discerning travelers seeking premium and unique cruising experiences.

The entire category was a tight race with scores within hundredths of a point. Each premium cruise line delivers exceptional experiences with a blend of luxury and value. These rankings underscore the service standards, amenities, and itineraries offered by each cruise line, catering to the preferences of seasoned travelers. The recognition solidifies their standing within the premium cruise market and reflects passengers' appreciation for the enriching journeys they provide.

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Best Luxury Cruise Line

1. Seabourn - 4.108

2. Regent Seven Seas Cruises - 4.010

3. Silversea Cruises - 3.907

4. Compagnie Du Ponant Yacht Cruises - 3.745

5. Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection  - 3.537

Luxury cruising is becoming increasingly popular, with several new luxury ships debuting in the past few years. These luxury brands offer unparalleled service, fine dining, and spacious cabins, many with butler service and amenities to rival land-based hotels and resorts. The top three cruise lines retained their positions from last year, clearly delivering a remarkable experience. A new luxury brand, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, debuted in the rankings this year, and we expect to see them continue this trend for years to come. 

Seabourn Cruises' recognition as the best luxury line by community members' reviews underscores its unwavering commitment to excellence. The accolade reflects the exceptional level of service, elegance, and attention to detail that Seabourn consistently delivers to its discerning passengers. This esteemed ranking reaffirms Seabourn's status as a leader in luxury cruising, offering unforgettable journeys for the most discerning travelers.

Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Ponant, and Ritz Carlton securing positions second to fifth as the best luxury cruise lines by community members' reviews highlights the competitive landscape of high-end cruising. Each company's ranking underscores its dedication to providing all-inclusive experiences, personalized service, and attention to detail for their discerning guests. This recognition reaffirms their esteemed positions within the luxury cruise industry, reflecting the collective satisfaction and admiration of travelers who have embarked on their luxurious voyages.

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Best River Cruise Line

1. Viking River Cruises - 4.160

2. American Cruise Line - 3.663

3. AmaWaterways - 3.140

4. Avalon Waterways - 2.398

5. Uniworld River Cruises - 2.364

Cruising the European waterways is quickly becoming a cruiser favorite to visit the interior cities inaccessible from ocean liners. From quaint towns and villages to larger cities, river cruises offer a unique experience, personalized service, and intimate ships. In comparing 2023 with 2024 winners, all the cruise line names remained the same, but the first and second positions swapped places, with Viking River Cruises taking home top honors this year over American Cruise Line. It’s great to see the overall review scores higher than last year, and this quickly growing segment is certainly becoming a cruiser favorite. 

For each of these river cruise lines, recognition as the best of the best highlights their dedication to providing exceptional journeys along some of the world's most scenic waterways. Each company's ranking underscores its commitment to delivering immersive cultural experiences, outstanding dining and service, and spacious accommodations. All of these river cruise lines offer a unique blend of intimate exploration, cultural immersion, and scenic beauty, making them an invaluable way to experience the heart of destinations along picturesque waterways.

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Best Cruise Ships Overall:

With so many ships sailing the oceans worldwide, picking just a few favorites is hard. Couple that with ship scores being so close, separated by tenths or hundredths of a point, and it’s easy to see that just five places isn’t enough. Again this year, we share the top five ships overall based on cumulative review scores and include an additional five places as honorable. mentions. 

Best Cruise Ship Overall

1. Allure of the Seas - 4.317

2. Mardi Gras - 4.261

3. Independence of the Seas - 4.249

4. Wonder of the Seas - 4.238

5. Oasis of the Seas - 4.235

Honorable Mention:

6. Celebrity Summit - 4.199

7. Odyssey of the Seas - 4.198

8. Symphony of the Seas - 4.190

9. Harmony of the Sea - 4.176

10. Carnival Celebration - 4.16

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, seems to have the secret sauce of amenities, design, and overall guest experience exceeds expectations as it’s the third year in a row the ship has taken first place as Best Cruise Ship Overall. Clearly, from the list of winners, Royal Caribbean ships have a lot to offer, which is reflected in their consistently high ratings and so many of their ships making the top 10 year after year.

Member mckaylapc recently sailed onboard Allure of the Seas - “Had an excellent time on this ship. Food and drinks were great, service was fantastic, and the ship was beautiful.”

Read More Allure of the Seas Reviews

It should be noted that Carnival Mardi Gras jumped from 6th position last year to second place this year, a nice year-over-year increase. Wonder of the Seas, which took home Best New Ship in 2023, lands in an enviable fourth position this year. The Carnival Celebration debuted last year as the 5th Best New Cruise Ship lands in the Top 10 Best Ships Overall this year. 

From first to tenth place, the overall scores were very close, making any of these ships a top choice for families, couples, and solo travelers. Determining the best cruise ships to sail largely depends on individual preferences, but all of these ships consistently receive high praise for their innovative amenities and exceptional dining and service. These ships offer a diverse range of experiences, including adrenaline-pumping activities and Broadway-style entertainment, making them top choices for travelers seeking an unforgettable vacation.

Best New Cruise Ship of 2024

1. Resilient Lady - 4.597

2. Celebrity Ascent - 4.510

3. Norwegian Viva - 4.441

4. Viking Saturn - 4.378

5. Vista - 4.366

2024 Honorable mentions:

6. MSC Euribia - 4.339

7. Seven Seas Grandeur - 4.318

Nothing beats being among the first guests to experience a brand-new ship. While last year and this year both had some tough competition, cruise line newcomer Virgin Voyages' newest ship, Resilient Lady, lands in the number one spot for this year. Second place, Celebrity Ascent is the fourth of the Edge class ships from Celebrity Cruises. One of our personal favorites, Vista from Oceania Cruises, rounds out the top five list of Best New Ships.

Oceania Vista Professional Review

Resilient Lady review from member KRP2773 “The best cruise we have been on (our 3rd together). Virgin brings new ships and a new vision to what cruising should be. The way they approach satisfying their sailors is awesome. The entertainment, the food, the rooms and the staff are all top notch. My wife and I had the best time and are planning to return to take another voyage already.”

Read More Resilient Lady Reviews

It’s important to remember that new luxury ships such as Seven Seas Grandeur, which only holds 750 guests, make it hard to compete against larger ships welcoming thousands of guests as the opportunity for reviews is significantly less. Additionally, the later in the year a ship enters service, the fewer sailings for guests to review. Time in the market is critical to amassing reviews and breaking into the top rankings. All of the new ships from 2024 ranked very closely in scores with tenths or hundredths of a point separation. While many of these ships offer very different onboard experiences, one thing stands out: cruisers love one of the first onboard. 

Sailing aboard a new cruise ship promises an exciting experience filled with anticipation and discovery as you explore state-of-the-art amenities and innovative design. From the moment you step on board, you'll be among the first to enjoy the ship's cutting-edge features, from world-class dining options to immersive entertainment and relaxation spaces, creating unforgettable memories. Sailing on a new cruise ship offers a sense of adventure and exclusivity, making each moment aboard a journey of exploration and delight. Sailing on a new cruise ship provides guests with the excitement of being among the first to explore and enjoy its offerings, creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

If you want to be among the first onboard a new ship, now is the time to plan your vacation for the ships entering service in 2024. Looking even further ahead, there are many new ships debuting in 2025 as well.

Closing Thoughts:

All of the cruise lines and ships receiving accolades have exceeded expectations, some for many years running. From large mega-ships to small luxury ships and everything in between, offer guests a variety of ways to enjoy their vacation time at sea and while exploring destinations worldwide. The accolades bestowed upon the best cruise lines and ships offer invaluable guidance to travelers seeking unforgettable experiences. These awards reflect exceptional service and a commitment to innovation, safety, and guest satisfaction. While each cruise line and ship brings its own unique charm and offerings, recognition from guests writing reviews and sharing their experiences underscores their dedication to delivering remarkable journeys across the world's oceans. 

Want to review your favorite cruise line or ship? Write a Review!

More 2024 Member Choice Awards:

Best Cruise Lines and Ships: Experience and Onboard Activities

Best Cruise Ports and Private Destinations

All Member Choice Awards

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