Condé Nast Readers’ Cruise Poll Rates Cruise Lines

Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Poll for best cruise ships came out last month, as did their poll for best spas, which came out in March.

Not surprisingly, Crystal Cruise Lines took the cake, and the frosting, for best cruise ship spa as well as best medium-size cruise ship.

Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity took the #1 and #2 place, respectively, in the poll, with average ratings of 94.5 and 94 points respectively, and a few points higher than the next highest ratings, which went to Regent Seven Seas Cruises‘ Voyager and Mariner, while

Oceania Cruises had three ships in the top ten for this category, the Marina, Nautica and Regatta. Also in the top ten were both Azamara cruise ships, the Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey.

While Crystal’s staterooms are not the largest on average, as compared to Regent’s, we continue to find they are tops in service and cuisine, and strong in on-board entertainment and shore excursion programs.

In the recent poll of top spas at sea, Crystal also captured the #2 and #3 spot. The Disney Wonder captured the top spot.

In the small ship category, we were pleased to see Lindblad Expeditions captured the #2 and #3 spot, while Seabourn Cruise Line‘s elegant new four ships all made in the top 12 spots, and Silversea had three of its ships in the top-12 category.

The top 12 here also included two other favorites of ours, the Paul Gauguin cruise ship, and Celebrity’s small ship in the Galapagos, Celebrity Xpeditions.

Finally, in the large cruise ship category, it was a sweep for Disney Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises (one of our favorites in the premium-level category). In the top-ten list Disney had four ships, while Celebrity had three of its Solstice-class ships.

Our cruise agents have cruised on all these brands, and we’re certainly fans of them all, and are pleased to offer exclusive amenities on many of these cruises. There are many great cruise products from which to choose, and we can help you make a wise choice based on what may appeal to your tastes and interests.