Travel + Leisure readers ranked Disney Cruise Line as the top large-ship ocean cruise line as part of the magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards 2022. For the 2022 World’s Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure adjusted the cruise categories to reflect changes in the industry and travelers’ experiences. Ship categories are now based on the number of cabins, and the large-ship category now covers ships with 800 to 1,499 cabins.
Readers were asked to rate individual cruise ships on their cabins and facilities, food, service, itineraries and destinations, excursions and activities, and value. Those assessments were combined to generate results for the cruise lines in six categories, including river cruising.
The Top 5 Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines
- Disney Cruise Line
- Cunard
- Celebrity Cruise
- Holland America Line
- Royal Caribbean International
There’s nothing like watching a child’s eyes light up when they meet Mickey and Minnie, or Elsa from Frozen, or Spider-Man. But the amusement-park-level attractions, carefully orchestrated kids’ programming, entertainment, and family dining on Disney ships are also big wows. Perhaps most noteworthy, though, is that these ships manage to cater to both families with kids and adults sans kids. Grown-ups get separate hangout spots such as an adults-only nightlife area, pool, and specialty dining venues. “Excellent for families and for singles,” one T+L reader said. “Best memories,” said another. The line’s four ships are back in service, but that’s not all fans have to look forward to as the line’s much-anticipated fifth ship, Disney Wish, debuted in early July.
Travel + Leisure – The Top 5 Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines
Travel + Leisure‘s methodology for the annual awards for the cruise category begin by asking respondents to rate individual ships; the results were combined to generate scores for cruise lines in different categories. The categories are: mega-ship ocean cruise lines (capacity of 1,500 cabins or more), large-ship ocean cruise lines (800 to 1,499 cabins), midsize-ship ocean cruise lines (300 to 799 cabins), small-ship ocean cruise lines (150 to 299 cabins), intimate-ship ocean cruise lines (150 or fewer cabins) and river cruise lines. Some cruise lines may appear in multiple categories depending on the makeup of their fleet.
You can read more online, as well as the August issue of Travel + Leisure, which will be on newsstands July 22
This should come as no surprise.