Best in Cruise Awards

When it comes to being able to explore some of the best ports in the world, size matters. With a fleet of six ships that will expand to eight in the next few years, Windstar Cruises goes out of its way to find new destinations that will surprise and delight its guests. We like the variety of itinerary lengths that the line puts forth, from weeklong to more in-depth Star Collector itineraries. Each cruise also comes with a special complimentary Windstar cultural event, such as dinner at the ruins of Ephesus.

Even in the expedition world, itineraries can start to look the same. Once world travelers have crossed off some of the biggies, the question remains, where do you go next? The French line Ponant is always devising new routes that will make you grab a map. From cruises that traverse the North Pole to sailings that dive deep into Indonesia, Ponant keeps developing new routes, with a fleet that includes sailing ships, small expedition ships and one of the industry’s most powerful icebreakers.

Perfect Day at CocoCay has set the bar for what a cruise line private destination should be – and it keeps getting better. In 2024, Royal Caribbean opened the adults-only Hideaway Beach; the combination of pool and beach with an always-on DJ brings the party and allows the other major pool at CocoCay, the Oasis Lagoon, to be more family friendly. But while Perfect Day boasts plenty of extras, such as the Thrill Waterpark and Coco Beach Club, there are plenty of free beaches for guests of all ages to swim, snorkel or just chill out.

Oceania doesn’t just offer more ports than many luxury cruise lines, it offers different ways to explore them. Options go beyond the norm, with categories that focus on tours such as Beyond Blueprints (architecture), Go Green (sustainable businesses) and Wellness Discovery (focus on health and wellness). Oceania also has Go Local tours that bring you into residents’ homes for better cultural understanding. Finally, Oceania has a wealth of culinary tours where you might explore a local market, then bring ingredients back to the ship for a cooking class.

When you’re southern California dreaming, chances are your cruise ship is leaving from Long Beach. That’s a good thing. Long Beach has upped its game when it comes to hotels, restaurants and things to do, whether you stay downtown or on the peninsula next to the cruise port. Families coming in early will want to check out the Aquarium of the Pacific, while foodies in the know will scope out Long Beach’s excellent tacos and Mexican food. The workers at the Long Beach terminal are consistently the friendliest we’ve met, even on hectic turnaround days.

For those looking to hike Alaska’s old-growth forests and kayak to the edge of a glacier, UnCruise is the undisputed leader in the region. Adhering loosely to itineraries that allow the captains to deviate to watch humpback whales feed or brown bears prowl, ships visit spots that you won’t see cruising with anyone else. Expedition guides know and love Alaska, imparting knowledge with humor and enthusiasm that is contagious. Ships are small, and guests quickly become friendly, bonding over shared experiences.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions basically invented the expedition cruise in the 1960s, so the line has plenty of experience and knowledge. Plus, its vessels are rugged and advanced enough to make this once-challenging journey seem effortless. Guests will learn about nature, photography and even weather, thanks to the line’s hands-on approach. Look out for the line’s longer, more in-depth itineraries that can travel into the heart of Antarctica for a truly memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

With one of the industry’s most powerful ice-breaking vessels, Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant has opened more regions in the Arctic to cruisers than ever before. The ship has transarctic itineraries that traverse the North Pole, sailing from Svalbard to Nome, Alaska, as well as ones that go to the far north coasts of Greenland. In 2025, the line will be taking the ship through the icy St. Lawrence to explore the boreal winter. Guests onboard learn from expedition guides and often observe scientific research projects that take place in the ship’s specialized laboratory.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has a ship for every style and budget sailing in the Galapagos, allowing it to shine here in the same way it does in other remote areas of the world. Lindblad has some of the best expedition leaders in cruising, and all are dedicated to education, conservation and ensuring guests come away with a new appreciation and understanding of all they have seen. With Lindbad’s new ships, including two recently purchased from Celebrity Cruises, it can now offer an unmatched experience in the Galapagos Islands.