Cruise companies can vary as widely as fashion styles these days with more and more new ships plying the high seas and new river cruise vessels entering the world’s iconic waterways. Offering the bird’s eye view on the best cruise lines for 2015, Cruise Critic came out with its annual top picks across 25 different categories of ship builds and experiences.
“New ship launches, itineraries and onboard offerings bring more choice than before, but can make it even harder to choose the right cruise,” explained Cruise Critic UK editor, Adam Coulter regarding the best cruise line survey. “We aim to identify the lines we feel are at the top of their game, and highlight the latest innovations in the industry to help people when planning a cruise.”
Among this year’s UK winners: P&O Cruises’ Britannia, was awarded ‘Best New Ship’. Britannia, which debuted in March this year was praised for its sophisticated decor and design, and outstanding dining. In addition, P&O Cruises retained the overall award for ‘Best Dining’ for the second year consecutively for its restaurants – with an eye to Epicurean, Britannia’s fine dining molecular gastronomy eatery.
AmaWaterways this year took three awards including ‘Best River Cruise Line’, lauded for its game-changing partnerships with Adventures by Disney and Backroads Tours to attract new, younger passengers and families. The line also won ‘Best for Active Cruisers’, and ‘Best Dining’.
Other ocean cruise line winners include Royal Caribbean, which took three awards for ‘Best for Families’, ‘Best Entertainment’ and ‘Best Suites’. For the third consecutive year Azamara won ‘Best Shore Excursions’, while Celebrity Cruises’ Eclipse was awarded ‘Best Refurbishment’.
River cruise winners include CroisiEurope, taking ‘Best New River Ship’ for Loire Princesse, and ‘Best for Itineraries’, while Emerald Waterways was named ‘Best for Value’.
The picks for this year from Cruise Critic’s UK Editors:
Best New Ship: P&O Cruises’ Britannia
Best Refurbishment: Celebrity Eclipse
Best for Luxury: Crystal Cruises
Best for Families: Royal Caribbean International
Best Itineraries: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Best for Adventure: Hurtigruten
Best Value: Thomson Cruises
Best Dining: P&O Cruises
Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Cabins: Holland America Line
Best Shore Excursions: Azamara Club Cruises
Best for Romance: Star Clippers
Best for Nightlife: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best UK Port of Call: Guernsey
Best UK Departure Port: Southampton
2015 Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Awards (River):
Best River Cruise Line: AmaWaterways
Best New River Ship: CroisiEurope’s Loire Princesse
Best Dining: AmaWaterways
Best Cabins: Sanctuary Retreats
Best Enrichment: Tauck
Best Shore Excursions: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
Best for Itineraries: CroisiEurope
Best for Value: Emerald Waterways
Picks this year from Cruise Critic’s U.S. editors:
Viking Star was named Best New Ship of 2015 in the ocean category. As the first ship in the Viking Oceans fleet, the 930-passenger Viking Star offers an entirely new product for cruisers. Beyond the ship’s overall design – which editors compared to a boutique hotel – Viking also carried over its more inclusive price structure from its river offerings, with inclusions like complimentary Wi-Fi, alcoholic beverages at lunch and dinner and a free shore excursion in every port.
Carnival Cruise Line was named Best Value-for-Money for the second year in a row for its range of affordable fares and well-rounded offerings onboard. In the river category this award went to Emerald Waterways for its variety of inclusions and onboard amenities.
Azamara Club Cruises was awarded Best Shore Excursions for the second consecutive year, a nod to the line’s range of tour options – from small-group cultural experiences during the day, to tours and outings in the evening. Azamara also received Best Itineraries for its ability to visit less frequented ports, and its commitment to destination immersion.
In the river category, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection received awards for Best River Cruise Line, Best New River Ship – for the new S.S. Maria Theresa – and Best Shore Excursions. Editors praised the line’s lavish onboard offerings and amenities, new itineraries and innovative excursion offerings.
Best Ocean Cruise Lines 2015, according to U.S. editors:
Best New Ship: Viking Star (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Best Ship Refurbishment: Star Breeze (Windstar Cruises)
Best for Luxury: Crystal Cruises
Best for Families: Royal Caribbean International
Best Itineraries: Azamara Club Cruises
Best for Adventure: Un-Cruise Adventures
Best Value-for-Money: Carnival Cruise Line
Best Dining: Celebrity Cruises
Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International
Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
Best Inside Cabins: Disney Cruise Line
Best Standard Cabins: MSC Cruises
Best Shore Excursions: Azamara Club Cruises
Best for Romance: Windstar Cruises
Best Nightlife: Norwegian Cruise Line
Best North American Homeport: Port Canaveral
Best River Cruise Lines 2015 according to U.S. editors:
Best River Cruise Line: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Best New River Ship: S.S. Maria Theresa (Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection)
Best Dining: AmaWaterways
Best Cabins: Avalon Waterways
Best Enrichment: Grand Circle Cruise Line
Best Shore Excursions: Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Best for Active Cruisers: AmaWaterways
Best Itineraries: Viking River Cruises
Best Value-for-Money: Emerald Waterway
More survey details: winners of its 8th annual Editors’ Picks Awards
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