2015 U.S. Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards (Ocean)

[qsuzi]

Best New Ship: Viking Star (Viking Ocean Cruises)

 

Best Ship Refurbishment: Star Breeze (Windstar Cruises)

 

Best for Luxury: Crystal Cruises

 

Best for Families: Royal Caribbean International

 

Best Itineraries: Azamara Club Cruises

 

Best for Adventure: Un-Cruise Adventures

 

Best Value-for-Money: Carnival Cruise Line

 

Best Dining: Celebrity Cruises

 

Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

 

Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International

 

Best Inside Cabins: Disney Cruise Line

 

Best Standard Cabins: MSC Cruises

 

Best Shore Excursions: Azamara Club Cruises

 

Best for Romance: Windstar Cruises

 

Best Nightlife: Norwegian Cruise Line

 

Best North American Homeport: Port Canaveral

[voyageur9]

Best New Ship: Viking Star (Viking Ocean Cruises)

 

Best Ship Refurbishment: Star Breeze (Windstar Cruises)

 

Best for Luxury: Crystal Cruises

 

Best for Families: Royal Caribbean International

 

Best Itineraries: Azamara Club Cruises

 

Best for Adventure: Un-Cruise Adventures

 

Best Value-for-Money: Carnival Cruise Line

 

Best Dining: Celebrity Cruises

 

Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

 

Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International

 

Best Inside Cabins: Disney Cruise Line

 

Best Standard Cabins: MSC Cruises

 

Best Shore Excursions: Azamara Club Cruises

 

Best for Romance: Windstar Cruises

 

Best Nightlife: Norwegian Cruise Line

 

Best North American Homeport: Port Canaveral

 

Best for evoking a bygone elegance at competitive pricing while appealing to older-than-average but still cruise-savvy clients: HAL

[MOcruiserman]

Best for evoking a bygone elegance at competitive pricing while appealing to older-than-average but still cruise-savvy clients: HAL

 

Yes, I agree. I'm taking my first non-HAL cruise soon. It will be interesting to compare the experience with HAL.

[Roz]

How is Pt. Canaveral the best North American homeport? :confused: There's nothing around it, and unless you drive, you have to fly into Orlando and then take a long shuttle road to and fro. Any insights here? What am I missing? Seattle, San Diego, and Ft. Lauderdale have so much more to offer, and getting to and from the port is easy.

 

Roz

[sail7seas]

How is Pt. Canaveral the best North American homeport? :confused: There's nothing around it, and unless you drive, you have to fly into Orlando and then take a long shuttle road to and fro. Any insights here? What am I missing? Seattle, San Diego, and Ft. Lauderdale have so much more to offer, and getting to and from the port is easy.

 

Roz

 

] Nothing against Port Canaveral but I don't see it as a 'best'. It is highly inconvenient for many travelers. There are airports that are far closer to ports, more convenient flights to many major (and not so major) cities. Not so much in comparison to other ports as to what is nearby and of general interest.

 

[qsuzi]

The Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards are chosen by Cruise Critic's international team of editors, based on the lines and ships they feel best represent excellence in each of the designated categories. Awards announced October 2015.

 

I didn't see anything in the article that stated what criteria they used.

Edited October 17, 2015 by qsuzi

[sail7seas]

Where di you see this article. Qsuzi?

[qsuzi]

Hi Sail. I saw it posted on Facebook but just found it here on Cruise Critic under "Reviews" "Editor's Pick Awards". A general description and review is given for each category. See link below.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/editors-picks/

Edited October 17, 2015 by qsuzi

[sail7seas]

Thank you, qsuzi. :)

 

Disappointing the poor showing re: HAL.

[qsuzi]

Thank you, qsuzi. :)

 

Disappointing the poor showing re: HAL.

 

I would have liked to see the criteria they used. IMHO the review has limited value. One would hope most or all of those picking have had sufficient experience and knowledge of all the categories they rated.

Edited October 17, 2015 by qsuzi

[Roz]

I'm taking my first river cruise next month and it's on Uniworld, so it was encouraging that they received 3 awards. Don't really understand the poor showing by HAL.

 

Roz

[qsuzi]

I'm taking my first river cruise next month and it's on Uniworld, so it was encouraging that they received 3 awards. Don't really understand the poor showing by HAL.

 

Roz

 

We've been thinking about taking our first river cruise but have just started our research. Ugh I'll check out Uniworld :) We have specific criteria such as them listing a price with and without airfare and with and without excursions.

Edited October 17, 2015 by qsuzi

[Lizzie68]

We've been thinking about taking our first river cruise but have just started our research. Ugh I'll check out Uniworld :) We have specific criteria such as them listing a price with and without airfare and with and without excursions.

 

Check out Tauck. They are excellent. And if the boat cannot get under the bridges due to high water (happens fairly often) they will put you into a 5* hotel.

[mountainmare]

If you look at the categories would you say HAL is the best in any of the categories listed?

People like HAL for a certain ambiance that doesn't fit anywhere on this list.

[Vict0riann]

I'm taking my first river cruise next month and it's on Uniworld, so it was encouraging that they received 3 awards. Don't really understand the poor showing by HAL.

 

Roz

 

We really enjoyed Uniworld.:)

 

But it's not on an ocean!

Edited October 17, 2015 by Vict0riann

[Copper10-8]

How is Pt. Canaveral the best North American homeport? :confused: There's nothing around it, and unless you drive, you have to fly into Orlando and then take a long shuttle road to and fro. Any insights here? What am I missing? Seattle, San Diego, and Ft. Lauderdale have so much more to offer, and getting to and from the port is easy.

 

Roz

 

Great point! How 'bout Vancouver, Tampa, Boston, Quebec City....................Pt Canaveral is in the middle of nowhere

[qsuzi]

Check out Tauck. They are excellent. And if the boat cannot get under the bridges due to high water (happens fairly often) they will put you into a 5* hotel.

 

I'll check Tauck out for sure. Thanks Lizzie

[qsuzi]

Great point! How 'bout Vancouver, Tampa, Boston, Quebec City....................Pt Canaveral is in the middle of nowhere

 

Maybe YOU should be one of the "Editors' Experts"? Bet you've been to most of the ports and on many different cruise lines.

[Copper10-8]

Maybe YOU should be one of the "Editors' Experts"? Bet you've been to most of the ports and on many different cruise lines.

 

Don't know about that, but I have been to Port Canaveral and there's nothing around there until you get to the beach cities or Orlando in central Fla

[qsuzi]

Don't know about that, but I have been to Port Canaveral and there's nothing around there until you get to the beach cities or Orlando in central Fla

 

Just noticed your list of cruise lines :o Is HAL your personal cruise line of choice? Do you generally get to pick which cruise line you will be working on?

Edited October 17, 2015 by qsuzi

[serendipity1499]

Just noticed your list of cruise lines :o Is HAL your personal cruise line of choice? Do you generally get to pick which cruise line you will be working on?

 

It was my understanding that Copper 10-8 is employed by HAL only..:confused: If I'm mistaken I'm sure someone will correct me..

 

Happy cruising & thanks qsuzi for posting that info.. Agree with others that unless you are a family with kids cruising on RCCL or Carnival you would not want to go to Port Canaveral .. However, the Space Center is very close to it even though Disney is 45 miles away.. Also Dixie Crossroads one of my favorite restaurants is close by, but be prepared to wait for a table..

Edited October 17, 2015 by serendipity1499

[Hlitner]

Far be it for me to disagree with the CC Editors but we find much to disagree with in their selections. Having been to just about every cruise port in North America we would rate Port Canaveral far from the best home port. The biggest problem is its location 45 miles from the nearest half decent airport! And the situation is much worse for many international travelers who must often fly into Miami (to get the best airfares) and then have to trek over 200 miles north to this port.

 

As to the cruise line selections we do agree with leaving HAL out of the picture since this once excellent line has been victimized by a management team that seems to have made "cut backs" the basis of much decision making. But we do think that HAL actually has better itineraries than Azamara. And some would argue that Oceania also has better itineraries then Azamara (an excellent line). We found it interesting that Crystal made the list as this line seems to often be forgotten when folks talk about ultra-luxury lines. Our own experience on Crystal was excellent.

 

Hank

[qsuzi]

Far be it for me to disagree with the CC Editors but we find much to disagree with in their selections. Having been to just about every cruise port in North America we would rate Port Canaveral far from the best home port. The biggest problem is its location 45 miles from the nearest half decent airport! And the situation is much worse for many international travelers who must often fly into Miami (to get the best airfares) and then have to trek over 200 miles north to this port.

 

As to the cruise line selections we do agree with leaving HAL out of the picture since this once excellent line has been victimized by a management team that seems to have made "cut backs" the basis of much decision making. But we do think that HAL actually has better itineraries than Azamara. And some would argue that Oceania also has better itineraries then Azamara (an excellent line). We found it interesting that Crystal made the list as this line seems to often be forgotten when folks talk about ultra-luxury lines. Our own experience on Crystal was excellent.

 

Hank

I have not been to Port Canaveral so am not in a position to make a judgment but many on this thread agree with you. Based on your posts I was aware of your extensive cruising and experience with various cruise lines. I find your comparisons informational. I was loyal to Princess up until about 5 years ago, started sailing them again last year and now mostly sail Princess and HAL with RCL once recently. I am eager to compare our recent Westerdam cruise when we sail the Crown Princess in December.

Edited October 17, 2015 by qsuzi

[POA1]

Port Canaveral is a head scratcher. The nearest big airport, MCO is far away. On the other hand, you can connect to space easier than most airports. :D

[qsuzi]

It was my understanding that Copper 10-8 is employed by HAL only..:confused: If I'm mistaken I'm sure someone will correct me..

 

Happy cruising & thanks qsuzi for posting that info.. Agree with others that unless you are a family with kids cruising on RCCL or Carnival you would not want to go to Port Canaveral .. However, the Space Center is very close to it even though Disney is 45 miles away.. Also Dixie Crossroads one of my favorite restaurants is close by, but be prepared to wait for a table..

 

Thanks Serendipity. :)