2024 Member Choice Awards: Best Cruise Lines and Ships for Onboard Experience

The onboard experience on a cruise encompasses everything from dining to service, activities/entertainment, and staterooms. One outstanding element in any of these areas or all aspects can create a lasting memory that guests will remember as the primary takeback from their whole cruise vacation. To see how the cruise lines and cruise ships stack up against one another in the past year, we’ve pulled together the top ratings from member reviews to create the 2024 Member Choice Awards for the Best Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships for Onboard Experience. 

Following are the cruise lines and ships that stood out among the rest in the past year for onboard experience. These ratings are from reviews submitted by our members for sailings that took place during the 2023 calendar year.

Cruise Line Awards

Dining on Celebrity Cruises - Photo by Celebrity Cruises

Best Cruise Line: Food and Dining

This category combines ratings for the best dining experience and food quality. The 2024 Member Choice Award Winners of Best Cruise Line for Food and Dining are:  

1. Celebrity Cruises - 4.211

2. Disney Cruise Line - 4.167

3. Viking Ocean Cruises - 4.156

4. Azamara Club Cruises - 4.152

5. American Cruise Line - 4.151

For a third year in a row, Celebrity Cruises retained its spot as number one for the best cruise line food and dining. Celebrity consistently scores high marks for creative food, its various restaurant options, and great service at eateries like Tuscan Grill, Murano, Main Dining, Cafe al Baccio, and more. 

Community member lhandel26 said the following about their dining experience from a cruise on Celebrity Beyond, “Everyone should try this experience. very luxurious and relaxing. Food was plentiful. The variety in the buffet was amazing. Four dining rooms had good service and variety.”

Disney Cruise Line moved up one spot in the rankings this year to number two, up from three last year. Members gave the line high marks for experience, service, and food quality at eateries like Animator’s Palace, Remy, Palo, and others. Also rising in the rankings this year is Viking Ocean Cruises at number three, up from four last year. 

New to this list is number four, Azamara Club Cruises. The premium cruise operator wowed reviewers who dined at locales like Aqualina, Prime C, and The Wine Cellar. Number five, American Cruise Line, dropped in this year’s rankings from two in the 2023 awards. This is not indicative of a slip in food quality/service, but in our opinion, more so that we had a larger variety of lines operating more ships globally. Additionally, there were more cruise line options for guests to choose from outside of cruises solely in North America, which is where American Cruise Line operates. 

Explore Disney Cruise Line Sailings

Best Cruise Line: Onboard Activities and Entertainment 

This award category recognizes the cruise lines that ‘wowed’ guests with the activities/entertainment options they experienced while on the ship. It acknowledges the lines receiving the highest ratings for everything from theater shows to onboard programming, high-energy (or relaxing) activity venues, and more. The 2024 Member Choice Award winners of Best Cruise Lines for Activities and Entertainment are: 

1. Royal Caribbean - 4.245

2. Celebrity Cruises - 4.150

3. Carnival Cruise Lines - 4.117

4. Disney Cruise Line - 4.019

5. Princess Cruises - 3.976

For a third year in a row, Royal Caribbean takes the number one spot in this category. Across the fleet, you will find activities for travelers of all ages and activity levels. It is little surprise to us that Royal Caribbean has once again taken this honor, as we consistently see reviews from members raving about the variety of options and experiences available on board, such as The Perfect Storm waterslides, surf simulators, and nightly Broadway-style shows. 

Member HelloParadise remarked the following about activities and entertainment on their 2023 cruise on Harmony of the Seas, “Had a wonderful experience with this cruise. Smooth sailing throughout my trip with clean facilities and attentive crew members. The shows on board were incredible, especially the Fine Line Aquashow and all the live music offered.”

At number two (also for the third year in a row) was Celebrity Cruises. This line consistently receives high ratings for onboard programming and its unique stage shows. Carnival Cruise Line came in at number three for a second year in a row, just a few hundredths of a point difference this year from Celebrity Cruises. Carnival bills itself as having the ‘FUN ships,’ and with this top ranking, we can see this name is well deserved. Also, for a second year in a row at the same ranking is, Disney Cruise Line at number four. Offerings like Disney-inspired musicals, character meet and greets, fireworks at sea, kid's clubs, and more consistently keep Disney Crusie Line at the top of travelers' favorite cruises. Princess Cruises once again returns to our awards in this category after dropping off the list last year. High member rankings for a variety of activities and entertainment across its fleet propelled Princess back to the top five. 

Explore All Royal Caribbean Cruises

Best Cruise Line: Service and Staff 

The award for best cruise line for service and staff award recognizes overall efforts made to create outstanding service that goes above and beyond guests' expectations. The 2024 Member Choice Award winners for the Best Cruise Lines for Service and Staff include:

1. Royal Caribbean - 4.651

2. Celebrity Cruises - 4.623

3. Holland America Line - 4.528

4. Carnival Cruise Lines - 4.484

5. Disney Cruise Line - 4.476

This is a highly competitive category; the top five all received rankings that were separated by mere tenths of a point. Royal Caribbean topped the list in this awards category for the second year in a row. Celebrity Cruises retained its number two ranking in this category. Holland America Line jumped up to number three for best line for service and staff this year. It had been absent in our 2022 and 2023 awards in this category but received this same ranking in the 2020 awards. Numbers four and five, Carnival Cruise Line (4) and Disney Cruise Line (5) dropped slightly compared to last year’s rankings in this category; however, minor points separated the rankings, making this very close competition.

“Celebrity Equinox has been the best cruise I have ever been to. The staff made my experience really enjoyable. Everywhere I go, I only received great customer service,” remarked community member kathcomeo13 on the service from their recent cruise on Celebrity Equinox.

Cruise line service ranking reflects passengers' experiences with the quality of service provided onboard, encompassing factors such as friendliness of staff, efficiency, responsiveness to passenger needs, and overall guest satisfaction. These rankings play a crucial role in informing travelers' decisions and shaping cruise lines' reputations within the industry.

Explore Holland America Line Cruises

Best Cruise Line: Staterooms

A cruiser's perception of their stateroom can influence the overall review of the sailing. The stateroom awards category encompasses the variety of accommodations offered, cabin design, elements that add to passenger comfort, how much space a room offers, and more. The 2024 Member Choice Award winners for the Best Cruise Lines for Staterooms include: 

1. Celebrity Cruises - 4.446

2. Royal Caribbean - 4.417

3. Holland America Line - 4.407

4. Disney Cruise Line - 4.398

5. Viking Ocean Cruises - 4.379

Celebrity Cruises has once again come in at number one for the best cruise line for staterooms. No matter the class of ship, Celebrity Cruises’ vessels have a unique variety of stateroom options, with great features to help guests feel at home while onboard the ship. Across the board, from interior rooms all the way up to the creme-de-la-creme of The Retreat suites, Celebrity ships bring the ‘wow’ factor when it comes to stateroom quality. 

Member katyah9696 shared this feedback of their stateroom from their 2023 cruise on Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge, “Very nice, bathroom, good size. Very nice shower. Cute window seat. A safe and a small fridge. Lots of space for all of our clothes - shelves, closet, and dresser. Lots of hangers.”

Mere thousandths of review points separated numbers two and three in this category. Royal Caribbean once again came in at number two, retaining its position from last year’s awards. It’s little surprise to us that the line with some of the world’s largest ships scores highly in this category. Royal’s ships have stateroom options for solo travelers up to large groups at various price points to fit every cruiser's budget. Holland America Line rose to number three for best staterooms this year (up from four in 2023), with nicely appointed stateroom options and amenities on its medium and larger-sized ships. 

The numbers four and five ranked lines were Disney Cruise Line and Viking Ocean Cruises, respectively. Disney ranks highly for its family-friendly stateroom options that can accommodate larger families with convertible bed and room configuration options. Viking Ocean Cruises’ small/medium-sized ocean vessels received high marks for upscale and comfortable stateroom offerings. 

See All Celebrity Cruises Sailings

Best Cruise Ship Awards

Best Cruise Ship: Food and Dining

This category recognizes the ships receiving the highest ratings for the overall dining experience. The 2024 Member Choice Awards for the Best Ships for Food and Dining are: 

1. Odyssey of the Seas - 4.347

2. Nieuw Statendam - 4.324

3. Independence of the Seas - 4.318

4. Oasis of the Seas - 4.305

5. Allure of the Seas - 4.297

Honorable Mention:

6.  Celebrity Beyond - 4.29

7. Disney Fantasy - 4.293

8. Celebrity Summit - 4.277

9. Disney Magic - 4.272

10. Celebrity Apex - 4.261

Number one best cruise ship for food and dining, Odyssey of the Seas is a newcomer to this category. It has dethroned Celebrity Edge, which has ranked number one in this category for the past two years. Odyssey of the Seas is one of the newer ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, having only launched with limited service in 2021. The Quantum Ultra Class vessel sails solely from the United States, offering year-round Caribbean cruises. After two years of fine-tuning its menus, food, and service, Odyssey of the Seas has made a memorable mark when it comes to dining quality. We consistently see this ship score highly with specialty eateries like Chop’s Grille, the Chef’s Table, Wonderland, Teppanyaki, El Loco Fresh, Izumi, and more. 

Member joshywoshy raved about The Cafe @Two70 onboard Odyssey of the Seas, “the best. had lunch here every day. service great, food great, 270 itself is great. recommend the kummelweck sandwich”

Separated by just two minuscule hundredths of a point is number two, Nieuw Statendam. This ship is also new to the best dining category. Last year, Holland America Line launched a global fresh fish program, a new initiative to bring fish from port to plate in less than 48 hours. Guests were able to experience this in Nieuw Statendam’s eateries, such as Rudi’s Sel de Mar, Pinnacle Grill, and Tamarind. 

Our numbers three and four in the best ships for dining were Independence of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, both of which returned from major refurbishments in 2023. New dining options and elevated service propelled these slightly older Royal Caribbean ships to the top of the rankings for this year. 

Enjoy the best in dining on Odyssey of the Seas. See All Cruises

Best Cruise Ship: Onboard Activities and Entertainment

This category recognizes the top ships for the best activity/entertainment offerings as rated by our members. To rank highly in this category, a ship must not only have a wide variety of things to do for guests of all ages but also provide a high-quality experience. The 2024 Member Choice Awards for Best Cruise Ships for Activities and Entertainment include: 

1. Allure of the Seas - 4.486

2. Symphony of the Seas - 4.461

3. Wonder of the Seas - 4.421

4. Independence of the Seas - 4.374

5. Odyssey of the Seas - 4.368

Honorable Mention:

6.  Harmony of the Seas - 4.350

7. Celebrity Beyond - 4.343

8. Liberty of the Seas - 4.313

9. Oasis of the Seas - 4.280

10. Carnival Panorama - 4.274

For the second year in a row, six Royal Caribbean ships are at the top of this awards category! The wide variety of high-quality activities and entertainment on its ships keeps Royal Caribbean consistently receiving great marks from our members. 

Also for a second year in a row, Allure of the Seas outscored all other ships for the best ship in activities and entertainment. The vessel has received its Amplified upgrades like surf simulators, the H2O Zone waterpark, extensive daily programming, and nightly world-class shows. Our members have spoken via their reviews, and they have clearly come out of their sailing on Allure of the Seas impressed with all they have taken part in onboard.  

Member kfdb1995 said the following on Allure of the Seas’ activities, “We used the fitness center, attended many of the shows, karaoke nights, the dances, and live music. We loved the fun activities on the boardwalk and just relaxing on deck 15!”

Oasis Class Symphony of the Seas rose this year from number five to two. Number three, Wonder of the Seas, is new to this category. This is of little surprise to us as this is the first full year of sailing reviews under this new Oasis Class ship’s ‘belt’. This mega-vessel is jam-packed with bells and whistles to entertain guests of all ages. 

Coming in at number four is Independence of the Seas, fresh off a refurbishment, with onboard activities like The Perfect Storm waterslides, Splashaway Bay, dance classes, Broadway at Sea, and more. Number five in this category, Odyssey of the Seas, keeps guests entertained with a skydiving simulator, and the largest SeaPlex at sea. 

Experience the best in entertainment and activities on the high seas - check out all Allure of the Seas cruises

Best Cruise Ship: Service and Staff

In today’s world of cruising, a ship’s crew is tasked with delivering a great guest experience and ensuring a safe and comfortable environment. These are the 2024 Member Choice Award winners of the Best Cruise Ship for Service and Staff:  

1. Oasis of the Seas - 4.737

2. Independence of the Seas - 4.716

3.  Odyssey of the Seas - 4.711

4. Vision of the Seas - 4.702

5. Radiance of the Seas - 4.700

Honorable Mention:

6.  Grandeur of the Seas - 4.696

7. Serenade of the Seas - 4.684

8. Celebrity Summit - 4.68

9.  Allure of the Seas - 4.674

10. Celebrity Solstice - 4.671

An overwhelming number of members who returned from cruises in 2023 had high marks and compliments for the excellent service received on their voyages. Eight Royal Caribbean ships, along with two Celebrity Cruises vessels, took top honors in this category. There was a lot of change in this category since last year’s awards, where we also had Disney Cruise Line and Carnival ships make the rankings. If you look at the scores this year as a whole, the rankings are incredibly close, with mere fractions of points separating each ship. 

The best ship of the year for service is Oasis of the Seas. It rose in the rankings from number three last year. Number ten, Celebrity Solstice, is the only other returning ship in this category. It has dropped from number three last year, but only by marginal points. Numbers seven (Serenade of the Seas) and eight (Celebrity Summit) made the list in this category in our 2022 awards.

Read: Oasis of the Seas Ship Guide

In our nine years of naming Member Choice Awards, we’ve found that the member ratings in the service and staff category differ in many ways and depend on the cruiser’s individual experience. We tip our hats to all ten of these ships' dedicated crew for a job well done! 

Enjoy Top-Notch Service on Oasis of the Seas. Explore All Cruises

Best Cruise Ship: Staterooms

The stateroom is a cruiser’s home away from home while onboard the ship. These cruise ships scored the highest by our members in the past year for onboard accommodations: 

1. Odyssey of the Seas - 4.637

2. Symphony of the Seas - 4.582

3. Harmony of the Seas - 4.559

4. Celebrity Millennium - 4.542

5. Celebrity Silhouette - 4.541

Honorable Mention:

6.  Discovery Princess - 4.537

7. Celebrity Beyond - 4.533

8.  Rotterdam - 4.524

9.  Allure of the Seas - 4.520

10. Wonder of the Seas - 4.519

The number one ship for best staterooms, Odyssey of the Seas, rose from number three in last year’s rankings for the category. This vessel offers a whopping 2,105 total cabins for guests to choose from, with 41 different categories. Odyssey offers a range of interior, ocean view, balcony, virtual balcony, and Royal Suite Class staterooms to choose from. As earlier mentioned, this is a newer ship in the Royal fleet, which is our rationale that more reviews and time on the high seas have propelled the vessel to the top of this list. The number two best ship for staterooms, Symphony of the Seas, retained its same spot as last year. This ship has an impressive 2,759 cabins and 189 suites divided across ten ship decks. 

Member pastorlmendoza raved about their cabin 11286 onboard Odyssey of the Seas, “Very clean, comfortable, cozy, that bed, omg, super comfortable. The balcony Very clean, was able to take amazing pictures.”

Our numbers three to ten in the best staterooms category are all new to this awards list. We have three Royal Caribean Oasis Class vessels with numerous stateroom options for guests to choose from (Harmony, Wonder, and Allure) and three Celebrity Cruises ships (Edge Class Celebrity Beyond, Solstice Class Celebrity Silhouette, and Millenium Class Celebrity Millennium). Seeing as Celebrity and Royal Caribbean made spots number one and two in the rankings this year for best cruise lines for staterooms, we are not surprised to see many of their ships here in the rankings of the best-in-ship category as well. 

Holland America Line’s Rotterdam once again ranked this year for best ship for staterooms, rising to number eight vs ten last year. Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princes is new to the category, coming in at number six. This is a newer ship for the Princess fleet, debuting in 2021. Discovery Princess offers 1,830 total staterooms with 35 cabin categories. 

Stay in the Best Ship for Staterooms! Explore Odyssey of the Seas Cruises

Congratulations to all the cruise lines and cruise ships who have made the top rankings for best in overall onboard experience in the 2024 Cruiseline.com Member Choice Awards! We salute your great performance and the hard work of all crew and staff members. 

Want to review the onboard experience from your favorite cruise line or ship? Write a Review!

More 2024 Member Choice Awards:

Best Cruise Lines and Cruise Ships Overall

Best Cruise Ports and Private Destinations

All Member Choice Awards