Aussies reveal their favourite cruise line in Escape's 2025 Readers’ Choice Cruise Awards
The votes have been cast and numbers crunched. As we reveal the results of the inaugural Escape Readers’ Choice Cruise Awards and the lowdown on what Australian cruisers truly love.
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It can be hard to pinpoint the best hits in the ever-expanding cruise holiday world.
Some standout moments of my cruising life so far include spotting a polar bear with her cubs off the coast of Greenland on Ponant’s icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, feasting on the best Mexican food at sea on Virgin Voyages, snorkelling at Kealakekua Bay in Hawaii on a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines, sipping riesling while spotting castles along the Rhine with Viking, and sampling the Otium in-suite bathing experience on Silversea’s Silver Nova.
Ask me again in a year and these may change, from homegrown luxury operators such as Scenic and APT to new players including Explora Journeys and the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, cruise lines are continually adding to and improving experiences.
We Aussies are keen cruisers, with well over a million of us stepping aboard a vessel within the next year. With that in mind, Escape wanted to know what you love about cruising, so we asked our 3.3 million readers which cruise lines they think are the best in the inaugural Escape Readers’ Choice Cruise Awards. Escape’s editorial director Kerrie McCallum says it’s the perfect time to introduce the awards. “Cruising is such a popular topic with our audience and Escape is the authority on travel in Australia – we’ve got an enormous, curious, well-travelled and vocal audience,” she says.
Here’s the lowdown on what Aussie cruisers love.
Best expedition cruise line: Viking
Expedition cruising is the fastest-growing sector of cruise tourism according to Cruise Lines International Association. “Expedition cruises bring a sense of adventure, allowing you to explore remote, untouched regions with expert-led excursions,” says My Cruises’ Michael Middleton. Escape readers picked Viking as their preferred line for these experiences, whether it be the polar regions or warm water expeditions, and Escape’s print editor Susan Bugg agrees. “Viking takes expeditioners to remote parts of the world without compromising on comfort. Its Aula lecture theatres and watercraft storage areas called the Hangar are superb,” she says.
Best suite and design: Royal Caribbean
When it comes to suites and cabins and overall interior design, Escape readers voted Royal Caribbean best in both categories. One reason could be the incredible choice on offer, from spacious interior staterooms to Ultimate Family Suites and Royal Suite Class. In the latter passengers can choose from three tiers of accommodation. As for overall design, on Royal Caribbean – particularly on the new Icon Class ships – each neighbourhood has an interior to match its purpose. Surfside, for example, has bright pops of colour and imagery that complete the adventure family aesthetic. Add to this the beautiful art installations and lush greenery in Central Park.
Escape ed's pick: “The design of Silversea’s Silver Nova blew me away. Giant windows and uncluttered alfresco spaces shift the focus towards the sea to provide unimpeded vistas. Also, it’s a floating art gallery with a curated 1800-piece art collection," says cruise writer Andrea Black.
Best for on-board experiences: Princess
Readers voted on the best for on-board activities, best entertainment, best for pool and sun time and best in health and wellness and the winner was unanimous: Princess. The “Love Boat” line outshines the rest on sea days. Escape’s digital director John Hannan recently sailed with Princess and concurs. “Princess strikes the perfect balance between comfort, service, and seamless technology,” he says. “With stylish ships, well-crafted itineraries, and entertainment that actually impresses, they make holidays feel effortless – exactly how they should be.”
Escape’s deals editor Mercedes Maguire sailed with Princess this year and particularly enjoyed the spa experience. “My favourite part of the Lotus Spa was The Enclave,” she says. “It has a large hydrotherapy pool, sensory showers, steam rooms, hot-tile beds and, the best bit, heated waterbeds. I loved these so much I had to ask my daughter to check on me in case I fell asleep.”
Escape ed's pick: “Royal Caribbean was my first cruise experience and has always been the favourite for keeping me entertained 24/7, then along came Icon of the Seas’ wild new offerings to elevate it further. The ethereal Starburst: Elemental Beauty ice show, adrenaline-pumping Walk the Plank and Category 6 water park, plus excellent bars and restaurants, and on and on, have all raised the bar sky-high for cruising,” says content director Jana Frawley.
Best in food and drinks: Royal Caribbean
The award for best in food and restaurants went to Royal Caribbean, and this could be down to the mind-boggling variety on board. Offerings on locally based Royal Caribbean ships Ovation and Quantum of the Seas range from surprise flavour combinations at Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine to sustainably sourced seafood at Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. Readers’ pick for the best buffet, however, went to World Fresh Marketplace on Princess, and it’s easy to see why. Diverse food stations range from tapas and Mongolian barbecue to panini stations.
For overall best bars, Princess was the winner as well. In the 2025-26 season Discovery Princess, Crown Princess and Grand Princess will be sailing in Australian waters offering bars such as Good Spirits at Sea where fresh local ingredients are used in craft cocktails, and the Salty Dog Gastropub for lovers of tap beer. Plus, all bar charges for Princess Cruises’ Australian home-ported ships are in Australian dollars.
Escape ed's pick: “The best bar for me would go to Celebrity Edge’s Martini Bar. Obviously they make a great Martini (plus they stock Australian brand Four Pillars) but it’s such an energetic and fun place that is the heart of the ship. And if you’re dancing at a silent disco there, combined with the theatrics of the bartenders, it makes for a great time,” says editorial director Kerrie McCallum.
Best for families: Disney
It’s not a huge surprise that Disney took out the honours for best family cruise in the Escape Readers’ Choice Awards. For the past two Australian cruising seasons guests have raved about their experience on-board where the whole family can interact with a host of well-loved Disney characters, see incredible stage shows and enjoy deck parties and fun dining. Who needs a Disney park in Australia when you can hop on-board and experience all the magic from a local port. Escape’s managing editor Kelli Armstrong loved the experience with her daughter so much they have sailed with Disney twice. “From stage-show entertainment to character meet-and-greets, three-course meals at Disney-themed restaurants and outdoor water parks, kids and adults are continuously captivated. There are also age-specific kids’ clubs and adults-only bars and spas,” says Armstrong.
Best cruise line for staff, service and accessibility: Princess
The winner for the two categories of best staff and service and best for accessibility was Princess. The exemplary service begins before you even board. For example, there’s an accessibility lane at check-in if you have mobility or other accessibility needs and you can request the All-In-One-Kit, which includes a TTY Telephone (Text Telephone), an under-pillow shaker and light flashing signal, which notifies you if your phone is ringing or if someone is knocking on your door. The kit also includes a visual smoke detector. And all guests can take advantage of the revolutionary Medallion Class technology allowing for everything from touchless check-in and keyless stateroom access to on-demand food and drinks delivery.
This technology won over Escape’s deals editor Mercedes Maguire. “I recently cruised on Royal Princess to New Zealand and as someone who can get lost in a lift, I absolutely loved the Medallion. It’s a wearable device the size of a watch face which not only unlocks your cabin door as you approach, but allows people in your group to locate you anywhere on the ship. Even better, you can order a cocktail, coffee or meal through the Princess app to be brought to you wherever you are on the ship – genius.”
Escape ed's pick: “Silversea’s service is so seamless, you’d swear the crew has a sixth sense. The butlers don’t just unpack your bags, they orchestrate your entire stay, from drawing the perfect bath to making sure your Martini arrives just as you start craving one. And the caviar? It’s on demand, anywhere, any time, – because sometimes, you just need a little midnight caviar in your pyjamas,” says digital director John Hannan.
Best shore excursions: Princess
Princess was the Escape readers’ winner for offering the best shore excursions. Anyone who has been on one of the line’s Local Connections tours, from the chance to join the Mandingalbay Yidinji Indigenous Culture Hands On Country river cruise in Cairns and connect with traditional owners to exploring artisan food, craft brews and spirits in Dunedin, New Zealand, will know these are exceptional experiences.
Escape’s deals editor Mercedes Maguire agrees. “My favourite thing about a recent Royal Princess cruise was the shore excursions. With Natures Wonders on the Otago Peninsula we could peek at penguins nesting in boxes attached to the covered timber walkway without disturbing them. I have never seen a look of pure fascination on my 15-year-old daughter’s face like I did this day – priceless memories,” she says.
Best luxury ocean line: Viking
Viking was the winner for best luxury ocean line. One reason this line resonates so well with Aussies is that Viking are clear leaders in understated elegance. We’re not talking chandeliers, butlers and fuss. Viking’s 930-passenger ocean ships are all identical, with sleek Scandi design. Think pale birch woods, natural light and cosy spaces such as the two-level Explorers’ Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and comfy sofas among a well-curated library. Add to this, great service and an army of experts sharing their knowledge and it makes for a very enjoyable and satisfying holiday.
Best popular cruise line: Carnival
“Ocean cruising provides a seamless travel experience, where you can enjoy world-class dining, entertainment, and service while effortlessly exploring multiple destinations”, says My Cruises’ Michael Middleton, and the popular cruise line that Aussies think has that balance right is Carnival. Carnival has just added two former P&O ships to its fleet, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, while Carnival Splendor has recently undergone a glow-up. The ship, which is homeported in Sydney has new on-board upgrades, including a revamped waterpark and stateroom refurbishments. All the more reason to set sail on one of their short cruises.
Best river cruise line: Scenic
“River cruises offer an intimate way to explore destinations,often taking you right into the heart of historic cities and charming villages, where you can immerse yourself in the culture with ease,” says Middleton. Among tough competition,the standout brand for Escape readers was Australian company, Scenic. Whether it’s in the waterways of Europe or Southeast Asia, guests know they will be travelling in supreme comfort.Already featuring state-of-the-art design, 2026 will see a significant interior design upgrade across Scenic’s Space-Ships.Think ultra-modern furnishings, and innovative day-to-night transformations in the lounge and specialty dining areas. These interior enhancements are part of a multi-year investment in Scenic’s river fleet.
Overall winner: Princess
Drum roll, please. When combining all the categories Princess came out as the grand winner in the inaugural Escape Readers’ Choice Cruise Awards. The line also took out the best premium cruise line category “Princess is a legacy cruise line, pioneering the first ever world cruise from Sydney to Sydney, the cruise line has been present within the Australian cruise market for years,” says Middleton.
“With ships based in Australia all year round and its stellar reputation for outstanding customer service, numerous on-board activities, immersive shore excursions and incredible itineraries, Princess has forged a loyal returning customer base.” Middleton says that Princess has curated the perfect balance of keeping some cruises local and accessible to the everyday cruise consumer, as well as those sailing internationally into Europe, the Americas and more. “While the itineraries and length of cruise may vary, customers are guaranteed quality and service. A very deserved first place winner, well done Princess.”
The ultimate prize winner
The grand prize for entering the inaugural Escape Readers’ Choice Awards courtesy of Escape and My Cruises is a 10-night Northern Lights Arctic cruise holiday for two worth $29,260. My Cruises Michael Middleton says Escape and My Cruises wanted to give one lucky passionate cruise lover the chance to embark on an extraordinary journey with world-class service, comfort, and front-row seats to nature’s most dazzling light show.
“There’s no better way to experience the Northern Lights than from the comfort of a balcony suite on board Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Star, where guests can enjoy unparalleled views and give themselves the best chance to spot these celestial hues. This one-of-a-kind itinerary also includes late night stays in Alta and Tromsø for premium viewing opportunities,” he says. Winner Yvonne Ingle was delighted to receive a call from Escape. “I am very much looking forward to seeing the spectacular Arctic Circle and the Northern Lights and I think a cruise would be the perfect way to do it. Thank you Escape and My Cruises. I am incredibly grateful.”
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