Cruise Critic Reveals Winners of 2019 Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards

(4 a.m. EDT) -- The quaint, intimate and chic vibe of Avignon earns it the top spot in Cruise Critic's fourth annual Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards. Found on Rhone River cruise itineraries, Avignon, located in France's Provence region, has scooped the title of Most Popular Cruise Destination in 2019; it's also the top-rated Europe river cruise destination this year.

Based entirely on ratings provided by cruise travelers who have written reviews on Cruise Critic, the awards highlight the best ports across 18 regions worldwide. The awards also highlight the best cruise lines sailing in each region.

Other standout destination winners include Glacier Bay, which receives the award for most popular Alaska destination for the fourth year; Bermuda's King's Wharf, which takes the prize for highest-rated destination in Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean; and Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private island in the Bahamas, which is the Best Cruise Line Private Island for the fourth consecutive year.

See the full list of winners on the Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards page.

"For most travelers, the decision of where to cruise is made before they think about all the other pieces of the cruise planning process," explains Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. "And for those looking for incredible cruise destinations, there's no better way to narrow your options than by seeing which destinations are rated most highly by cruisers who have already been there.

"While the Caribbean continues to be the most visited cruise destination each year, there are a ton more off-the-beaten-path cruise destinations worthy of consideration -- everywhere from Avignon in France and Hobart in Australia to Panama's Fuerte Amador and Huatulco in Mexico -- all given top marks from cruisers themselves."

Among the top-rated cruise lines is Princess Cruises, which was named Best Cruise Line (in the big-ship cruise line category) in three of the 18 regions, including Australia/New Zealand, Canada/New England and the Baltic. Viking Ocean Cruises took the cake in the small-ship cruise line category, winning two awards -- one each for the Baltic and the British Isles/Western Europe.

"By awarding top destinations and the best lines that visit them, we're even better able to connect travelers with standout experiences available in the incredible places they’re looking to explore," said McDaniel.

Still itching to get away this year? Here are nine tips for getting a deal on last-minute cruises.