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In the deep blue sea: Best cruises for first-timers, families and excursions
If you’re thinking about sailing the high seas for your big vacation this year, check out our detailed list of the best cruise experiences on offer.
Live your cruise fantasy this year by sailing with the top-rated brands — Disney, Viking and Celebrity cruise ships, as decided by the latest Cruisers’ Choice Awards, which collected ratings and reviews from cruisers around the world over the last 12 months.
In the seventh edition, a trio of cruise brands emerged the big winners along different categories, including large, mid-size, small-mid, and small ship class.
The Disney Dream cemented its reputation as the gold standard in cruising, taking the title of best overall large ship for the third year in a row.
The ship was also named best for cabins, service, public rooms and shore excursions.
The Disney Magic took the title of best overall ship in the mid-size category and was also named the best cruise ship for families.
Cruisers without small children and first-time cruisers, meanwhile, may want to check out the Viking Star, which was named the best ship for first-timers.
Unlike larger ships, the Viking Star is destination-focused, with port-intensive itineraries and longer than average calls that frequently drop anchor overnight, reads a staff review.
That also means fewer onboard amenities like casinos, organized activities and entertainment. The minimum age to sail is 16. A Nordic spa, however, is available and features a thalassotherapy pool, steam room, hot tub, sauna, and “snow grotto.”
The ship also won titles like best value, dining and cabins in the small-mid category.
The Celebrity Xpedition also won six awards in its class (small ship), including best overall, best value and shore excursions.
The awards are based on reviews submitted for cruises taken in 2016. Cruise Critic is the leading online cruise community with more than 160,000 reviews.
Here are some of the winners:
Best Cruise Overall
Disney Dream (Large) - Disney Cruise Line
Disney Magic (Mid-Size) - Disney Cruise Line
Viking Sea (Small-Mid) - Viking Ocean Cruises
Celebrity Xpedition (Small) - Celebrity Cruises
Best Cruise Ships for Dining
Celebrity Reflection (Large) - Celebrity Cruises
Marina (Mid-Size) - Oceania Cruises
Viking Star (Small-Mid) - Viking Ocean Cruises
Wind Surf (Small) - Windstar Cruises
Best Cruise Ships for Entertainment
Allure of the Seas (Large) - Royal Caribbean International
Celestyal Crystal (Mid-Size) - Celestyal Cruises
Viking Sea (Small-Mid) - Viking Ocean Cruises
Silver Shadow (Small) - Silversea Cruises
Best Cruise Ships for Service
Disney Dream (Large) - Disney Cruise Line
Marina (Mid-Size) - Oceania Cruises
Viking Sea (Small-Mid) - Viking Ocean Cruises
Paul Gauguin (Small) - Paul Gauguin Cruises
Best Cruise Ships for Shore Excursions
Disney Dream (Large) - Disney Cruise Line
Celestyal Crystal (Mid-Size) - Celestyal Cruises
Viking Sea (Small-Mid) - Viking Ocean Cruises
Celebrity Xpedition (Small) - Celebrity Cruises
Best Cruise Ships for Value
Norwegian Sky (Large) - Norwegian Cruise Line
Celestyal Crystal (Mid-Size) - Celestyal Cruises
Viking Star (Small Mid) - Viking Ocean Cruises
Celebrity Xpedition (Small) - Celebrity Cruises
Best Cruises for Families
Disney Magic - Disney Cruise Line
Best for First Timers
Viking Star -Viking Ocean Cruises
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