Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Award Winners 2024 – Mainstream Cruise Lines

In December 2024, Cruise Critic U.K. revealed its 2024 Best in Cruise Awards winners.

They highlighted the best in cruising as selected by Cruise Critic’s international editorial team.

Cruise Critic Combines Editors’ Picks and Cruisers’ Choice Awards

Cruise Critic has been running its awards for 16 years, naming winners across four key areas – Mainstream, River, Luxury and Expedition.

It this article, we look at the mainstream cruiseline awards.

This is the first year they have combined the “Editors’ Picks” and “Cruisers’ Choice” into the “Best in Cruise” Awards.

The popular British Cruiseline, P&O Cruises, took the top award of Best Cruise Line. This is first time this award has been given. The line also won the award for “Best for Families”.

I took a cruise with my family on P&O’s newest ship, Arvia. Find out what we thought of it here:

Cunard’s Queen Anne won the Best New Ship award. Explora Journeys won the Best Luxury Line, and Ritz-Carlton’s Ilma took home Best New Luxury Ship award.

Our team of editors and writers has cruised to just about every corner of the globe this year.
From the Arctic to the Galapagos, the Caribbean or Alaska, on cruises with family, to couples’ getaways and solo adventures, one thing that we can say with absolute confidence is that there’s never been a better time to find a cruise ship to suit your needs – and this year’s awards highlight just that.

Adam Coulter, Executive Editor of Cruise Critic U.K.

Double Award Winners In The Mainstream Cruises Category Include:

• Celebrity Cruises for Best Cabins and Best Speciality Dining
• Virgin Voyages for Best Dining and Best for LGBTQ+ travellers
• Royal Caribbean for Best Entertainment and Best Suites
• MSC Cruises for Best for Nightlife and Best App

Find out what I thought of my cruise on Celebrity Edge below. She is a beautiful ship, but I wasn’t keen on the cabin I chose:

Other Single Award Winners:

• Princess for Best for Romance 
• Fred. Olsen won Best for Solo Travellers
• Holland America Line won Best for Service.

Cruisers’ Choice Awards:

Based on the reviews and ratings submitted by travellers over the past year, the Cruisers’ Choice Awards recognise the top-performing lines throughout the year.

• Margaritaville at Sea won the Top-Rated Mainstream Cruise Line.

Margaritaville at Sea came out on top in the cruisers’ choice category, for consistently providing a fun, laid-back atmosphere aboard its ships.

Virgin Voyages and Celebrity Cruises were also highly rated among cruisers who voted.

Mainstream Cruise Line Award Winners At A Glance:

• Best Mainstream Cruise Line: P&O Cruises
• Best New Ship: Cunard’s Queen Anne
• Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises
• Best Dining: Virgin Voyages
• Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International
• Best for Families: P&O Cruises
• Best for Romance: Princess Cruises
• Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages
• Best Nightlife: MSC Cruises
• Best Service: Holland America Line
• Best for Solo Travelers: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
• Best Spa: Norwegian Cruise Line
• Best Specialty Dining: Celebrity Cruises
• Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International
• Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises’ MSC Yacht Club
• Best Value for Money: Marella
• Best App: MSC Cruises
• Best U.K. Departure Port: Southampton
• Best U.K. Port of Call: Liverpool

I took a cruise on the “best new ship”, Cunard’s Queen Anne. I booked the cheapest guaranteed cabin to save money. Find out what I thought of that inside cabin here:

Interested in the expedition or river cruise line results? Check those out the Cruise Critic website here.

Before You Go

Find out about the top deck plan hacks that only regular cruisers know about here:

11 Cruise Deck Plan Hacks Only Regular Cruisers Know

Will from TrekTrendy spent $30,000 on a three day luxury trip onboard Celebrity Apex. Find out whether he thought it was worth the money here:

Inside Celebrity Apex: Will’s $30,000 Luxury Cruise Adventure