Cruise industry

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’.

 

P&O cruises

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

 

Viking Cruises

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

 

Related Stories:

Could this Cruise Vacation Have Been Saved?

When in France: Wining and Dining with Viking Cruises

 

 

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