Good news for anyone thinking of a cruise: U.S. News & World Report has released its 2026 “Best Cruise Lines” awards. Among the rankings are winning candidates for an assortment of categories that serve location, clientele, and economics.
The ranking is mostly weighted by expert opinions (30%), visitor testimonies (50%). The various cruise line ships’ health and hygiene scores account for the remaining weighting.
This winning cohort presides over categories based on oceanic escapades in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Also included are the most suitable cruises for couples, families, and those looking for the most value or luxury.
Spoiler alert: Viking Cruises is going to have a great year.
For the Family: Disney Cruise Lines
The greatest thing about taking the family on a Disney Cruise is how immersive the whole experience is. Cruise Critic’s editor-in-chief, Colleen McDaniel, outlines just why Disney might deserve this year’s accolade. Among other reasons, she reveals how every crew member is a Disney fan and is called a “cast member.” Naturally, they will each share their passion with young (and older) passengers.
Moreover, on Disney Cruises, parents can unwind in the knowledge that their kids will be engaged all day, while still enjoying the cruise’s superior entertainment. Think firework shows, Broadway-level musicals, and even first-run Disney screenings for some lucky passengers.
For Luxury: Viking Cruises
Next up, we have Viking Cruises, winner of 450 awards and storied champion of the world’s waterways. Cruise line blogger Helene In Between agrees. She called the Viking Sea “elegant and refined but also comfortable and livable.”
Moreover, guaranteed private balconies and endless restaurant possibilities are the norm on all Viking Cruises. This Norwegian company oozes class, mirroring its host country’s high living standards and relaxed hospitality.
For the Money: Virgin Voyages
Richard Branson’s Virgin fleet of four ships is for adults only, which may explain why it offers great value for money. Those with no offspring attached are hot property in this buyer’s market, and Virgin Voyages recognizes this.
It is a small fleet, and the party atmosphere may not lend itself to voyagers wanting a quiet nook to read their novel. However, the company’s “All Included” ethos means add-ons that come at a cost on other cruiseliners come for free. Did someone say, “Free drinks?”
For the Mediterranean: Viking Cruises
Making the top table for Mediterranean adventures is European operator Viking Cruises. What sets Viking apart from the rest is how it ventures where others won’t dare. Viking has routes down some of the continent’s most historical rivers to match its exhaustive oceanic choices.
Mediterranean route map. Fittingly, Viking follows part of the route Norway’s ancestors once navigated in their long boats. Its “Romantic Danube” journey takes lovers and friends between Hungary and Austria from March through November.
For the Caribbean: Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruises makes the captain’s table again. The world-famous company is synonymous with entertainment and recreation-packed cruise schedules. Disney ships leave from ports located across the Gulf of Mexico, linking mostly American tourists with The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Western Caribbean.
Of course, children will be part of this experience. Nonetheless, anybody can indulge their child-at-heart sensibilities as they meander among some of the most gorgeous islands and historical cities in the region.
For Solo Passengers: Crystal Cruises
Solo travel is on the rise, and for anyone wanting to see a corner of the world from an oceanic perspective, Crystal is the first choice. Ironically, Crystal ships have a ratio of almost one crew member per guest on each journey. It means you may be going solo, but you’ll never feel left alone.
“As well as enjoying exceptional experiences, service, dining, and entertainment, we pay careful attention to the wishes and needs of our solo guests,” says Crystal Cruises. Who says being alone means you need to feel lonely?
For Wellness: Celebrity Cruises
Cruises are synonymous with relaxation. The wellness industry and the high seas were always an inevitable partnership, while Celebrity Cruises caters to this crowd better than any other cruise line right now.
Whether it’s the high-end boutiques, the varied, exquisite dining clubs, or the onboard spas, Celebrity Cruises has cornered the maritime wellness market. As a bonus, in 2026, it will debut the new Celebrity Xcel vessel, announced as a new “Happy Place” for its guests.
For Couples: Viking Cruises
Of course, many cruise lines are child-free experiences now, but guess who is the most couple-friendly of all? Viking strikes again with its excellent couple-based ocean and river tours.
It helps that each room onboard has a private veranda, the ideal spot to enjoy romantic sunsets and cocktails. It doesn’t end there: each cruise comes with free shore excursions for couples to make even more memories. If a “Venice Walking Tour,” a “Santorini Summits & Countryside,” or a “Panoramic Athens” tour appeals to you, Viking Cruises is the right pick.
Alexandrea Sumuel Groves is a Travel Journalist, Yahoo! Creator, MSN Partner, Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association member, and the founder of Wander Worthy. She covers vacation destinations, travel news, and tourism trends.
Ben is a lifestyle, travel, news, and features writer with bylines for dozens of publications, and he has bylines across many online platforms.
Raised in England and with a career background in international education, he now lives in Southern Spain with his wife and son. Ben has lived on four continents, including Africa, Asia, and North America, and he has worked diverse jobs, ranging from traveling film projectionist to landscape gardener.
He offers a unique, well-traveled perspective on life, with several specialties related to his travels, namely, international living and culture. Ben loves writing about travel, food, news, and trending cultural topics, among many others.
When he isn't writing, you will find him hiking with his family or on the nearest golf course looking for his golf ball.
