Cruising is among the most popular ways to see the world. Unpack once and take in the sights of the world’s rivers and seas from your floating hotel. More than a dozen new vessels are introduced each year, making the sheer variety of cruises overwhelming.
To help narrow it down, we asked a panel of cruise industry experts to nominate their favorite cruise lines and ships across 10 categories. Help us name the best by voting for your favorites each day until voting closes on Monday, July 11th at noon ET. The winners will be announced on 10Best on Friday, July 22nd.
Click on each category below to vote:
Best Adventure Cruise Line
These 20 adventure cruise lines are not for those looking to chill out — Photo courtesy of goinyk // Getty Images
Onboard these ships, cruising is about so much more than sunbathing on the deck, drink in hand. These 20 cruise lines, nominated as the best in the industry by our panel of experts, turn cruising into an adventure for active travelers. Outings include kayaking through remote fjords, getting up close and personal with icebergs aboard a Zodiac, and walking atop glaciers.
Vote: Best Adventure Cruise Line »
Best Boutique Cruise Line
Boutique cruise lines take your vacation to the next level — Photo courtesy of Maridav // Getty Images
Boutique cruise lines take your vacation to the next level with luxurious perks like small ships, enticing passenger-to-staff ratios, unique onboard activities and excursions you won’t find on bigger ships. Do you have a favorite boutique cruise line?
Vote: Best Boutique Cruise Line »
Best Large Ship
These 20 cruise ships represent some of the biggest and newest at sea — Photo courtesy of Steve Mason // Getty Images
If you believe the journey is more important than the destination, these ships are the perfect getaway for you. These 20 cruise ships represent some of the biggest and newest at sea. With such size comes loads of onboard activities, entertainment options and dining venues.
Vote: Best Large Ship »
Best Mid-Sized Ship
These 20 mid-sized ships strike a balance between small ship service and big ship amenities — Photo courtesy of Steve Mason // Getty Images
Some cruise ships are like floating horizontal skyscrapers with all the bells and whistles, others feel more like a private yacht. These 20 ships with a capacity between 1,000 and 3,000 passengers, chosen by a panel of experts as the best in the industry, strike a balance between big ship amenities and small ship service.
Vote: Best Mid-Sized Ship »
Best Ocean Cruise Line
Ocean cruise lines offer a variety of amenities — Photo courtesy of designprojects // Getty Images
Thankfully, cruise lines are not one size fits all. Some offer long days at sea, while others provide ample time in diverse ports of call. Some offer mega-ships packed with entertainment, and others are more intimate yachts. Whatever your preference, there’s a cruise line out there for you. What’s your favorite ocean cruise line?
Vote: Best Ocean Cruise Line »
Best River Cruise Line
River cruises offer incredible scenery and a laid-back way to explore the world — Photo courtesy of MelanieMaya // Getty Images
River cruising has been exploding in popularity in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. You check in, unpack your bag and let your floating hotel take you on a journey of discovery down some of the world’s great waterways, with experiential guided excursions along the way. What’s your favorite river cruise line?
Vote: Best River Cruise Line »
Best River Ship
River ships offer a less stressful experience while touring multiple destinations — Photo courtesy of stockphoto52 // Getty Images
From the Seine to the Danube, the Mekong to the Chobe, the world’s great rivers have become hot spots for cruising over the last decade. Riverboats serve as floating hotels, allowing passengers to unpack once and explore an entire region.
Vote: Best River Ship »
Best Ship for Dining
Skip the buffet and explore the many culinary options among these cruise ships — Photo courtesy of ngirish // Getty Images
Cruise ships have come a long way from only offering fixed seating in a single dining room. These days, the best cruises offer guests their choice of restaurants, dining halls and creative menus inspired by the world’s top chefs. Some even offer cooking classes! Our panel of experts nominated these 20 cruise ships as the best cruise ships for food-lovers, and now we need your help choosing a winner.
Vote: Best Ship for Dining »
Best Ship for Families
Which ship offers the best experience for your family? — Photo courtesy of Rawpixel // Getty Images
Cruising is becoming a top choice for family vacations, due to the abundance of activities, excellent travel value and ease of planning. These 20 ships, chosen as the best in the industry by our panel of experts, were designed with families in mind and offer plenty of family-friendly at-sea experiences, family cabins and kid-approved dining options. Which family-friendly ship gets your vote?
Vote: Best Ship for Families »
Best Small Ship
Smaller cruise ships offer a more intimate and personalized experience for passengers — Photo courtesy of Star Clippers
These small cruise ships prove bigger isn’t always better. These 20 cruise ships and yachts, each with a passenger capacity of under 1,000, can get to smaller ports inaccessible to larger ships and offer a more social atmosphere where it’s easier to get to know your fellow guests.
Vote: Best Small Ship »
Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, July 22.