Travel + Leisure readers ranked Disney Cruise Line as the 3rd best large-ship ocean cruise line as part of the magazine’s annual World’s Best Awards 2023. In 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 ships; the results were combined to generate scores for cruise lines in different categories based on number of cabins, with large-ship ocean cruise lines falling between 800 to 1,499 cabins. Some cruise lines may appear in multiple categories depending on the makeup of their fleet.
For each characteristic listed below, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.
- Cabins/facilities
- Food
- Service
- Itineraries/destinations
- Excursions/activities
- Value
The Top 5 Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines
- Cunard
- Holland America Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Celebrity Cruise
- Princess Cruises
This year’s rankings delivered a few surprises. No. 2 Holland America Line moved up two spots from its 2022 ranking. The brand is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2023, but readers had other things in mind when giving “HAL” the nod: “The tone of our ship was just what we were looking for, calm and relaxing,” said one voter of a voyage aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. Others praised the company’s rock-solid musical entertainment and rewarding itineraries that go to Alaska, yes, but also many ports in Europe and South America. “We really, really enjoyed our Alaskan cruise,” one fan said. “The ship was nice, the food was great, the service was excellent, and the surroundings were absolutely beautiful!”
Slotting in at No. 3 this year was Disney Cruise Line, which garnered plenty of praise for its family-friendly programs and onboard atmosphere, despite falling from No. 1 last year. With a fleet of five ships, the line is celebrating an anniversary of its own this year, its 25th, with specialty music and entertainment on board this summer. “The ship was absolutely beautiful and there was amazing detail to everything,” said one passenger who traveled with extended family on Disney Wish. “Our granddaughter absolutely loves anything Frozen, so she certainly enjoyed the dinner show!”
This year’s voting also crowned a new No. 1: Cunard, yet another brand with plenty of history. Read on to learn why it topped the list as the best large-ship ocean cruise line.
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 21st.