These are the world’s most popular cruise destinations
Cruise Critic has revealed the winners of its third annual Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards!
The awards celebrate the world’s most popular cruise destinations based entirely on consumer ratings submitted with reviews on Cruise Critic.
“Our data regularly shows that whether you’re a first-time cruiser or you’ve sailed dozens of times, destination is a top consideration when shopping for a cruise,” Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor of Cruise Critic said.
“While tropical destinations will always be popular among cruisers, what’s really exciting to see is the rise in esteem of destinations more known for their immersive and experiential offerings – places like Havana, Edinburgh and Arles.
“By awarding top destinations and now the best lines that visit them, we’re even better able to connect travellers with standout experiences available in the incredible places they’re looking to explore.”
Highlighted Awards:
Glacier Bay in Alaska was named the Most Popular Cruise Destination in 2018 – receiving the highest ratings among cruise destinations across the globe. Glacier Bay was also the top-rated destination in Alaska for the third year in a row. It’s one of the best Inside Passage locations for glacier and wildlife viewing, with its Margerie Glacier considered one of the most photogenic glaciers.
Edinburgh secured the top destination award in the British Isles & Western Europe category – for the very first time – beating Barcelona, Rome and Venice, among many others.
The beautiful capital city of Scotland sprawls over an extinct volcano, known as Arthur’s Seat, and is dominated by the impressive Medieval Edinburgh Castle.
In 2017, Edinburgh welcomed almost 2.2 million visitors and its attractions continue to remain the most popular overall, throughout Scotland.
Cuba’s capital city of Havana was named the Best Cruise Destination in the Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya for the first time.
While international cruise lines have long visited Cuba, U.S. travelers were only able to begin visiting the island once regulations were eased in 2016.
Today, 17 cruise lines visit Cuba, and cruise travel is considered one of the best – and easiest – ways to visit the island as U.S. regulations continue to evolve.
Dubrovnik has been named the Top-Rated Eastern Mediterranean Destination for the past two years, and has done it again this year to score a hat trick. This beautiful, walled Croatian medieval city – a key filming location for Game of Thrones – remains a mainstay on Eastern Mediterranean cruise itineraries.
Overlooking the sparkling, clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, the city boasts centuries-old monasteries, churches, synagogues, and even one of the oldest operating pharmacies in Europe.
Celebrity Cruises was a big cruise line winner, receiving awards in nine of the 18 regional categories – including Best Cruise Line in Alaska, Australia & New Zealand and all three Caribbean regions.
Viking Ocean Cruises stood out among the small cruise lines, receiving four awards, including Best Cruise Line in the Baltic & Scandinavia, Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya, British Isles & Western Europe, and Western Mediterranean.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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