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Porthole Cruise and Travel, December 2023
THE 2023 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
You, Porthole readers, have spoken … and your choices are here!
Every year, you let the world know what stands out in the world of cruise: the best ships, the best experiences on board, and the best places they go, from Angkor Wat (via the mighty Mekong) to sunny Cozumel. You’re some of the world’s savviest travelers, and when you speak, the world listens. So let’s put the guesses to rest and see who’s really the best!
Every year, one voter is selected at random from the thousands who pick their favorites in the Readers’ Choice Awards balloting. This year’s lucky winner won’t even have to leave home to enjoy a $2,500 virtual shopping spree at Infinity Jewelry, selecting their favorite items with the help of a personal shopper.
ONE LUCKY WINNER!
Congratulations to Fran Laue of Bandera, Texas! "Cruising is a great way for me to take a break from 'normal' life and experience a carefree way to see new places and meet new people," she says. "It's the only way to visit a variety of places without the hassle of dealing with luggage at every stop." We hope there's lots of variety and carefree experiences in your future, Fran. Enjoy the spree!
THE BEST CRUISE LINES
We had a tight race this year for ocean-going lines, with longtime cruise favorites Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line facing a strong challenge from relative newcomer Viking Ocean. New ships like Carnival's Mardi Gras and Royal Caribbean's upcoming Icon of the Seas grabbed the most attention (although the enormous Oasis and Allure of the Seas still attracted a megaship’s number of fans).
Luxury was also a theme in voting, with Oceania getting picked for Best Luxury Line — classic ship Regatta receiving the highest praise, surprisingly — and the luxury-expedition provider Silversea edging out more traditional expedition lines like Lindblad, Quark, and Hurtigruten to earn the title of Best Expedition Line.
Best Ocean Line Royal Caribbean International
Best Luxury Line Oceania Cruises
Best River Line AmaWaterways
Best Cruise Line for the Money Carnival Cruise Line
Best Cruise Line for Families Disney Cruise Line
Best Cruise Line for Teens Royal Caribbean International
Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers Norwegian Cruise Line
Most Romantic Cruise Line Windstar Cruises
Most Eco-Friendly Cruise Line MSC Cruises
Best Expedition Cruise Line Silversea Expeditions
Best Shore Excursions MSC Cruises
Best Cruise Line Private Island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
Best Multi-Generational Cruise Line Holland America Line
Best Antarctic Cruise Ponant
Best World Cruise Cunard
THE BEST ONBOARD EXPERIENCES
Cheers to Viking Cruises, whose Espresso Martini impressed more readers than any other specialty cocktail on offer (although their mocktail menu selection Abstinence on the Beach has to deserve some kind of honorable mention for best name). Princess Cruises, creators of the Ocean Medallion service, still wows readers in the Best Technology category, while Disney Cruise Line did something they haven’t done since 2016 — beat all contenders for Best Theme Cruises.
MSC Cruises, in addition to being recognized for ecological awareness and shore excursions, earned a Best Cruise Ship Entertainment award. Perhaps the policies around shows at their Broadway Theater (insisting on reserving tickets, no food in the theater, one of each show per guest per cruise) make them feel more like the shows at that other Broadway over in New York.
Best Onboard Activities Royal Caribbean International
Best Onboard Enrichment Cunard
Best Main Dining Room Cuisine Oceania Cruises
Best Specialty Restaurant Rudi's Sel de Mer Holland America Line
Best Accommodations Seabourn
Best Casino Norwegian Cruise Line
Best Wellness Facilities Seabourn
Best Spa Facilities Princess Cruises
Best Fitness Facilities Celebrity Cruises
Best Onboard Shopping Carnival Cruise Line
Best Facilities for Guests with Disabilities Holland America Line
Best Children’s Programs Disney Cruise Line
Best Cruise Ship Entertainment MSC Cruises
Best Service Celebrity Cruises
Best Theme Cruises Disney Cruise Line
Best Signature Cocktail Espresso Martini, Viking
Best Cruise Director Lee Mason, Carnival Cruise Line
Best Nightlife Royal Caribbean International
Best Onboard Technology Princess Cruises
Best Ship Application Virgin Voyages
THE BEST DESTINATIONS
There’s a poignancy to Porthole readers’ pick for favorite Hawaiian destination this year — Lahaina, Maui. Anyone who’s been there has a favorite memory of the place before this year’s wildfires, and our readers are united with the world of travel in rooting for a quick, meaningful recovery.
European rivers as a whole received more votes than any other single cruise region this year, with the Caribbean and the Med practically tying for second. Amsterdam narrowly edged out Budapest as a favorite European river destination, while in the Med, Istanbul came out ahead. In the Caribbean, St. Maarten attracted shoppers, Grand Cayman delighted beachgoers, and the US Virgin Islands were the popular favorite overall.
Next year, we’ll have a lot more to look forward to. Until then, happy cruising!
Best American River/Great Lakes Itinerary Lower Mississippi (St. Louis to New Orleans)
Best Asian River Destination Siem Reap/Angkor Wat Mekong
Best Caribbean Cruise Destination USVI
Best Caribbean Shopping Port St. Maarten
Best Caribbean Beach Port Grand Cayman
Best Alaska Cruise Destination Juneau
Best Canada/New England Cruise Destination Quebec City
Best Hawaii Cruise Destination Maui (Lahaina)
Best Mexico Cruise Destination Cozumel
Best Central America Cruise Destination Guatemala
Best South America Cruise Destination Galapagos
Best Northern Europe Cruise Destination Reykjavik, Iceland
Best Mediterranean Cruise Destination Istanbul, Turkey
Best Asia/Pacific Rim Cruise Destination Singapore
Best South Pacific Cruise Destination Bora Bora, Tahiti
Best Middle East & Indian Ocean Cruise Destination Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Best Africa Cruise Destination Cape Town, South Africa
Best Australia/New Zealand Cruise Destination Auckland, NZ
Best European River Cruise Destination Amsterdam, Rhine
