A brand new set of cruise rankings are out, and it is clear Royal Caribbean is doing one thing proper.
This yr’s Cruise Critic Greatest in Cruise Awards have been introduced, and Royal Caribbean got here away with a couple of vital wins.
That is the sixteenth annual awards, and it is a reflection of rankings based mostly on Cruise Critic’s editors and best-reviewed cruise strains of the previous yr “from actual cruisers”.
Whereas there are totally different publications that put out awards, Cruise Critic specializes and dedicates extra employees than anybody else to cruises solely.
There are 9 main classes, and a variety of sub classes to provide awards out to, and Royal Caribbean took dwelling wins in a couple of vital areas.
Greatest cruise line and ship
The highest award is for Greatest Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean was the winner.
Cruise Critic selected among the many strains based mostly on, “variety of awards, innovation, consistency throughout fleet, client suggestions and inclusivity.”
Between its new ships and highly-rated locations, Royal Caribbean is known as, “a frontrunner within the trade.”
Furthermore, the editors see a vibrant future with the launch of recent seashore golf equipment and personal locations across the Caribbean.
One other key win for Royal Caribbean was the naming of Icon of the Seas because the Greatest New Ship of 2024.
Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024 and instantly turned a world sensation for evolving the mega ship expertise additional, and setting a brand new normal.
Cruise Critic mentioned of the primary Icon Class ship, “The world’s largest cruise ship takes Royal Caribbean’s uber-popular, family-friendly holidays to dizzying new heights.”
Whereas Royal Caribbean additionally launched Utopia of the Seas this yr, it is clear the brand new class and improvements on Icon set it aside.
Learn extra: Icon vs Utopia of the Seas
Icon appeals to a variety of cruisers, with a rising give attention to the household cruise market. It was constructed to supply extra for everybody than some other ship has earlier than.
Extra wins for Royal Caribbean
Cruise Critic gave Royal Caribbean high honors in a couple of different classes as nicely.
Greatest Suites was a win, based mostly on high quality and vary of selection in these cabins.
Their editors felt the suites on Royal Caribbean’s newer ships particularly stood out as being, “particularly spectacular.” Particularly they actually appreciated the brand-new Solarium Suites discovered aboard Utopia of the Seas.
They in contrast the Solarium Suites to only about any luxurious vessel providing.
Royal Caribbean was additionally the winner for the Greatest Leisure class.
“Royal Caribbean continues to persistently push the boundaries of onboard cruise ship leisure,” the editors mentioned of their overview.
Piggy-backing on Icon of the Seas’ win, the Aquatheater present on the brand new ship stood out particularly.
Cruise Critic additionally mentioned Royal Caribbean had the Greatest Nightlife of any line.
“There’s merely all the time one thing to do,” they mentioned in reference to how a lot is occurring after darkish.
A part of this win is attributed to Utopia of the Seas being designed to supply the most important celebration vibe of any ship since.
One other vital win was Royal Caribbean being named as having the Greatest App.
“You may e-book shore excursions and dinner reservations nicely earlier than your sail date, in addition to peruse the day by day planner and create your individual schedule of actions. We love the chat characteristic that permits you to textual content fellow cruisers whereas on the ship’s Wi-Fi, with out having to buy a Wi-Fi package deal.”
To not be neglected, Excellent Day at CocoCay was named Greatest Personal Vacation spot.
The award notes, “Excellent Day at CocoCay has set the bar for what a cruise line non-public vacation spot needs to be,” and it is clear based mostly on how different strains are clearly basing their non-public island adjustments on what CocoCay has developed.
Award snubs
It wasn’t a full sweep for Royal Caribbean, as the road misplaced out in a couple of classes to different strains:
Cruisers’ Selection Greatest Ocean Cruise Line
- Margaritaville at Sea
- Virgin Voyages
- Celeb Cruises
- Greatest Cabins: Celeb Cruises
- Greatest Eating: Virgin Voyages
- Greatest Specialty Eating: Celeb Cruises
- Greatest for Service: Holland America Line
- Greatest Worth for Cash: Carnival Cruise Line
- Greatest for Households: Disney Cruise Line
- Greatest for Solo Vacationers: Norwegian Cruise Line
- Greatest for LGBTQ+: Virgin Voyages
- Greatest for Romance: Princess Cruises
- Greatest Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
Awards are supposed to be debated amongst cruise followers and cruise strains alike, so there’s sure to be differing opinions.