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Cruise Critic, the world’s leading cruise review site and online cruise community, wants to make it easy to choose your ideal cruise. They announced the winners of their annual awards for best rated cruise lines and ships. The site’s international team of experienced cruisers and travel experts chose the award recipients. - Advertisement -
With all the options, destinations, and adventures available, choosing the right cruise line and itinerary can be difficult. The 14th Annual Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks award winners are divided into three categories and 40 different awards to help you narrow down your sailing search. - Advertisement -
“This is our first full set of Editors’ Picks Awards since before the pandemic, which is a huge milestone for the industry,” said Colleen McDaniel, Cruise Critic’s editor-in-chief. The growth of the expedition cruise market in recent years is evidenced by the addition of a dedicated expedition category to this year’s awards. It’s not surprising at all to see an explosion of once-in-a-lifetime trips, as 2022 is tipped to be the year of “bucket list” travel. - Advertisement -
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen an interest among travelers in more distant cruises,” says McDaniel. “And the industry has responded in a big way – from longtime industry leaders to new cruise lines, more ships sailing expeditions than ever to offer completely innovative experiences in these once-in-a-lifetime destinations There are trips.”
Related Post: How to Decide Which Cruise to Take
ocean prize
Norwegian Prima – the flagship in the Norwegian brand-new Prima ship class – was named Best New Ship of the Year, welcoming an entirely new generation of Norwegian ships. According to the editors of Cruise Critic: “Norwegian Prima continues what the line does best and makes the whole experience more upscale. Guests will appreciate Norwegian Prima’s high-end decor and modern cabins — all new adventures, fun Shows and are paired with scrumptious dining options. Virgin Voyages received this year’s award for Best Dining, recognized for its range of high-quality dining options for every taste – all included in the line’s fares. Carnival Cruise Line was named Best Value for Money for its selection of quality offerings at prices that don’t break the bank. Carnival is known for being an entry-level cruise line, perfect for first-time cruisers and cruisers on a budget. Vancouver was named this year’s Best North American Homeport, with 2022 marking the first time the port has welcomed cruisers to its city in two years. The picturesque city in western Canada offers great pre-cruise and post-cruise packages. Historic attractions and a vibrant dining scene are all located just steps from the Port of Vancouver. Here is the full list of Ocean Prize winners:
Best New Ship: Norwegian Prima Best Cabins: Celebrity Cruises Best Dining: Virgin Voyages Best Entertainment: Norwegian Cruise Line Best for Families: Disney Cruise Line Best Innovation/Tech: Princess Cruises Best for LGBTQ+ Travelers: Virgin Voyages Best Nightlife: Virgin Voyages Best Service: Holland America Line Best for Solo Travelers: Norwegian Cruise Line Best Spa: Holland America Line Best Specialty Dining: Celebrity Cruises Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International Best Suite Complex: MSC Cruises Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line Best App: Royal Caribbean International Best North American Homeport: Vancouver
Related Post: Things to Expect on Your First Cruise
luxury award
Silversea Cruises received the Best Luxury Cruise Line award for its full range of luxury offerings and continued innovation through in-suite wellness options and new programs such as the SALT excursion and dining program. According to Cruise Critic editors: “If it’s pampering you want, Silversea delivers. Beyond spacious and comfortable suites, to personalized butler service, Silversea offers an all-inclusive luxury experience even before you board . Emerald Cruises’ brand-new Emerald Azzurra was named Best New Luxury Ship, a 100-person vessel that editors say looks and feels like a luxury yacht. Oceania Cruises won the Best Itinerary award this year for its thoughtfully designed itineraries that go beyond the ordinary – even among others in the small ship category. Windstar Cruises is famous for its water sports platform, so it’s no surprise that the small ship cruise line won Best Shore Excursion. Windstar’s water sports platforms allow guests to enjoy water toys, water skiing, and more directly from the rear of the ship. Here is the full list of Luxury Award winners:
Best Luxury Cruise Line: Silversea Cruises Best New Luxury Ship: Emerald Azzurra Best Cabins: Regent Seven Seas Cruises Best Dining: Silversea Cruises Best Enrichment: Viking Ocean Cruises Best Itineraries: Oceania Cruises Best Service: Seabourn Cruise Line Best Shore Excursions: Windstar Cruises Best For solo travelers: Seabourn Cruise Line Best Spa: Viking Ocean Cruises Best Value for Money: SeaDream Yacht Club Expedition Awards
Viking Expeditions’ brand-new sister ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, were named Best New Expedition Ship for their ability to deliver the high-quality experiences the line is known for on its first expedition ships. According to Cruise Critic editors: “The ships offer the perfect balance of exploration, learning, and comfort, and Viking doesn’t miss a detail—even creating a one-of-a-kind special operations yacht.”
Quark Expeditions received the award for Best for Adventure, highlighting the once-in-a-lifetime experiences the line delivers guests in its off-the-beaten-path destinations. Their endless list of expedition adventures will appeal to even the most adventurous types, including arctic hot-air ballooning. Hurtigruten is synonymous with Arctic and Antarctica travel and was named Best Value for Money in the Expedition category, awarded for its competitive pricing, advanced expedition vessels and holistic offerings. Hurtigruten has been sailing in the Arctic for years and offers awesome science options for curious guests. Here is the full list of campaign award winners:
Best New Luxury Ship: Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris Best for Adventure: Quark Expeditions Best Cabins: Seabourn Cruise Line Best Dining: Scenic Light Expeditions: American Queen Voyages Best for Luxury: Silversea Expeditions Best Science Offerings: Viking Expeditions Best Service Best Value for Money: Hurtigruten Best in Alaska: Uncruise Adventures Best in Antarctica: Silversea Expeditions Best in the Arctic: Ponant Cruises Best in the Galapagos: Lindblad Expeditions The Best Rated Cruise Lines
Cruise Critic’s annual awards for the best cruise lines are highly respected and sought after by the cruising industry. This year, a total of 27 cruise lines were recognized with an award, ranging from massive ocean liners to intimate luxury yachts. The winners were chosen by the site’s international team of experienced cruisers and travel experts, so these awards truly represent the best that cruising has to offer. If you’re looking for some inspiration before your next cruise vacation, check out the full description of each category and Cruise Critic’s list of winners. related post:
Cassandra Karpiak is the founder of Caravan Adventure Family Travel and the mother of two adventurous, young boys. She is a family-focused, adventure travel advocate who grew up in Toronto with Danish roots. Cassandra has visited over 20 countries on three continents, often with her two boys!

Let’s Sail Away on the Best-Rated Cruise Lines of 2022 » Savoture

As hotels and resorts use Covid related challenges and health safety as reasons for cutting the services and amenities they offer guests, a high-end cruise line says it’s providing more luxuries than before the pandemic. It’s doing so, all while protecting its well-heeled customers by exceeding protocols found on land. Josh Leibowitz, the president of Seabourn Cruise Line , a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc, told reporters aboard MV Seabourn Ovation, docked in Miami, “We want you to feel at least as safe as Main Street and maybe even better. Our Covid rates in the (cruise) industry are lower and there’s more testing. Having testing and vaccines is a really good combination.”
Seabourn Cruise Line has returned two of its five luxury ships to service. While land-based ... [+] competitors are struggling to restore services and amenities to pre-Covid levels, the line's President Josh Leibowitz says its Net Promoter scores are at record levels. Seabourn Cruise Line
Seabourn requires all passengers and crew members to be vaccinated and tested prior to boarding. When crew members join, they quarantine for seven days with pay. They stay in suites normally occupied by guests and are provided with Internet and movies while they are insolation. After that, they are tested regularly. Add to that, Seabourn complies with the rules of the countries its ships visit. “There’s no such thing as Covid zero. If you are going to live your life now, you’re going to follow recommendations for vaccinations by CDC and other authorities…and take whatever precautions you can take, whether that’s masks or social distancing. If you compare this environment to any other in travel, it’s by far the most controlled environment,” according to the executive. He continued, “Having been in the past six months to a dozen luxury hotels, you don’t know who’s vaccinated and not. All our team members are vaccinated, and we’ve already started booster shots because we want them to be healthy, and they need to be healthy to work so they can provide for their families.”
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Seabourn Cruise Line
The line has added “enhanced sanitation and cleaning” as well as special filters and UV lights in parts of the ship that don’t have a 100% flow of outside air. Currently, Seabourn has two of its five vessels back in service, with the remaining trio expected to be hosting guests again by the middle of next year. However, the main story could be the line has added services and amenities at a time its land-based competitors are citing labor shortages and virus protocols for taking them away. “I got into Seattle and got in at eleven o’clock and was starving, and (the hotel) didn’t have room service. They cut it out. And in the morning, they took away the hot breakfast in the executive lounge. Our strategy is we’ve added things. For example, hundreds of new recipes, a new breakfast service option. We have not taken away, and people really appreciate it,” Leibowitz said. Seabourn Ovation, which was originally scheduled to sail on cruises from Australia, will now spend ... [+] the winter season sailing from Miami to the Western Caribbean and through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles. Seabourn Cruise Line
Unlike some resorts, staffing hasn’t been an issue in its restart. Of its shipboard team, 99% who responded to a survey (about two-thirds of the total) wanted to come back, with 80% saying they were ready right away and the remainder within six months. Since taking over as president in June 2020 - the McKinsey alum has been with the world’s biggest operator of cruise ships since 2013 – Leibowitz has been coaching innovation. For example, when he found out its cabin attendants, previously called stewardesses, were exclusively women from Europe, he opened the position to any gender from anywhere in the world and created a new junior attendant slot. By having the entry-level position, Seabourn now has a strong pipeline of newcomers training to move up. Suites aboard MV Seabourn Ovation start at 300 square feet. Pictured is an entry-level Veranda ... [+] Suite. All accommodations have balconies. Seabourn Cruise Line
While the line’s head of hotel operations started as a waiter, Leibowitz said, based on feedback, he has now implemented a program that makes it more transparent how to move into different and more senior roles. As some hotels are struggling to restock basic amenities like branded shampoos, Seabourn can “cannibalize” from the ships not yet back in service, Leibowitz said. While hotels have reduced or closed restaurants due to staffing issues, everything is operating as usual on Seabourn voyages, the same with housekeeping services. The line is maintaining its “nearly one-to-one” ratio with staff. While land-based resorts have cut dining options, Seabourn has introduced hundreds of new dishes and ... [+] added al fresco dining options since restarting cruises this summer. Seabourn Cruise Lines
That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. In terms of bringing the crew back, he says there is more documentation getting them from their home countries to the ships and then once aboard the quarantine procedures. Hiring qualified medical personnel has also been challenging, and the company had to increase compensation. For passengers, Leibowitz says Seabourn is not only offering all the services it did before cruises were halted, but added more. It extended dining options with hundreds of new recipes inspired by the trend towards healthy eating. That includes more vegan, vegetarian and plant-based dishes as well as classic options. A new al fresco dining venue has been added and a small bites menu at The Club now changes daily. A new app allows guests to order their cappuccinos in advance, make various reservations online or view the ship’s extensive wine list. There is a classical concert on deck during sail away events. Complimentary WiFi has become unlimited, and bandwidth was tripled. Despite higher costs for the products it buys, it continues to fly in fish from Japan for the sushi it serves. One difference is the ships are not sailing at 100% occupancy, a pre-Covid industry standard. That’s due in part to allocating suites for quarantine and isolation. Leibowitz attributes the remaining shortfall, not to lack of interest, but a shorter sales window. “We reveal schedules two years in advance and by 60 to 90 days (before departure) are sold-out.” In restarting Ovation, the line only had two quarters of selling time. “If we sold for a normal period, we would have been oversold,” he told the journalists. As travel restarts and luxury hotels hike rates, it’s also highlighting the value of cruising at the high-end. For its average daily price of $1,000 per day for a suite, guests get an inclusive experience. That includes fine dining at Thomas Keller’s onboard restaurants, premium liquors, craft cocktails, and even handmade gelato by chefs who are flown to Bologna, Italy, for training. “You go to Anguilla, and it’s $3,000 a night for the room,” he noted. The wide gap has meant Seabourn is no longer discounting before sailings. Contrary to traditional cruise sales practices, prices now go up before departure. That said, the line recently launched its first sale designed to boost bookings throughout 2022. It ends at the end of the month, and Leibowitz says prices will go up after that. Seabourn Ovation is currently sailing from Miami with a series of cruises to the Western Caribbean and through the Panama Canal, ending in Los Angeles. For the summer, it will move to the Baltic, featuring popular seven-day itineraries. Originally, it would have been cruising from Australia right now. That country remains closed for cruises. It also highlights the current challenges for lines and customers. Since ships visit multiple countries on a single voyage, both need to be flexible. This summer, in Greece, passengers could get off in ports and do their own thing. In Italy, they were required to stay in a bubble with other guests. The pandemic is also creating new guest booking patterns. A big trend is booking four or five cruises at once, and customers have booked cabins for the entire winter. Friends who join them for parts of their journey, in some cases, are first-time cruisers, and overall, the guest profile is becoming younger. Leibowitz describes Seabourn as “active luxury” and leads a tour to a lower deck where in good weather, there is a marina stocked with the same types of water toys you find on a superyacht. Still, on the main passenger decks, guests young and old will be impressed by the Adam Tihany designed interior, combining modern and classical elements, with high-quality materials and innovative lighting. It serves as a stage for Seabourn’s team to deliver their high-touch service. As an example of the excitement to be back and catering to the whims of its clientele, Leibowitz points to the entertainers. In some cases, they haven’t performed for live audiences since cruises were halted in the Spring of 2020. Leibowitz told of a voyage this summer where a honeymoon couple had booked after their wedding and initial plans had to be amended several times. They wanted to dance all night, so at 2 a.m., the pianist was still playing for them alone on the dance floor. The combination of not cutting back and an enthusiastic team is being reflected in Seabourn’s Net Promoter score. So far, five voyages have scored a perfect 100, meaning out of several hundred guests, all of the ratings were at least a nine or 10 out of 10. Follow me on  Twitter  or  LinkedIn . Check out my  website  or some of my other work  here .

Seabourn Returns To Safe Travel Without Sacrificing Service Or Luxuries

Customers are scrambling to book Seabourn's 2023 world cruise after the luxury cruise line debuted the 140-day trip earlier this month. Seabourn Cruise Line — owned by Carnival — first began accepting bookings for its "2023 World Cruise: Extraordinary Discoveries" on February 12. Since then, the cruise's penthouse spa and premium suites have sold out, a Seabourn spokesperson told Insider in an email statement. And now, the cruise line is seeing more demand for the 2023 world cruise than it saw for its 2020, 2021, and 2022 world cruises from the same selling cycle. This high demand for Seabourn's future cruise signals a potential wider trend in travel. World cruises could become more popular after the COVID-19 pandemic is over because of pent up demand for travel . Similarly, when Oceania Cruises debuted its 2023 world cruise starting at $41,600 per person  on January 27, the 180-day trip sold out within a day. "Despite the challenges the world faces today , travelers are clearly bullish on the future and are embracing these new opportunities to travel the world," Bob Binder, president and CEO of Oceania Cruises, said in a statement after its 2023 global cruise sold out. Keep scrolling to see Seabourn's 2023 sailing and some of its global destinations. Seabourn's global cruise aboard the Seabourn Sojourn will be setting sail from Miami, Florida on January 6, 2023. The Seabourn Sojourn.

Seabourn's luxury 140-day world cruise that costs at least $67,000 is selling fast - see what the 2023 trip will be like

Seabourn's luxury 140-day world cruise that costs at least $67,000 is selling fast — see what the 2023 trip will be like

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“Most of the guests were genuinely nice people, but there were a few who took the ‘being American’ thing a little too far,” a former Seabourn Cruise Line employee said. source
mariakraynova/Shutterstock
Like other employees in the hospitality industry,    cruise ship workers are tasked with making guests as happy as    possible. That means workers can’t always be honest with    passengers about their behavior or about the realities of    working on a cruise ship. Business Insider asked current and former cruise ship    workers what they wish they could tell passengers but    can’t. Like other employees in the hospitality industry, cruise ship  workers are tasked with making guests as happy as possible. That means workers can’t always be honest with passengers about  their behavior or about the realities of working on a cruise  ship, which can be a grueling experience . Business Insider asked current and former cruise ship workers  what they wish they could tell passengers but can’t. Seven  current and former employees responded with insights into their  jobs or advice for passengers who might not think about the  demands placed on workers. Each requested anonymity due to a fear  of reprisal from his or her current or former employer. These are eight things current and former cruise ship workers  wish they could tell passengers but can’t. Have you worked on a cruise ship? Do you have a story to  share? Email this reporter at mmatousek@businessinsider.com . Don’t ask annoying questions
A contractor who has worked for Norwegian Cruise Line said  questions like “Where do you live?” and “Are you always on the  ship?” are annoying. Don’t get too rowdy
source
mariakraynova/Shutterstock
“Most of the guests were  genuinely nice people, but there were a few who took the ‘being  American’ thing a little too far,” a former Seabourn Cruise Line  employee said. “They were raucous and got way to drunk each  night, so it would have been nice to slap the privilege out of  them, but unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to strike the  guests.”
Be kind
Loic Venance/Getty Images
It’s important to have a good attitude toward cruise ship  workers, a former Carnival Cruise Line bar waitress said. “You never know how physically,  emotionally, and mentally tired a crewmember can be,” she  said. Tips are important
The former Carnival bar waitress said tips, on top of automatic  gratuities included in drink purchases, made up a large  percentage of her overall pay. “Extra tips pretty much were my  strongest source of income,” she said. Talk less, listen more
Crew members know the best places to go at ports
source
Royal Caribbean
“Get to know a crew member and find out where the truly good  places are to go when the ship pulls into port,” a Royal  Caribbean employee said. Workers can’t control everything
During situations that frustrate some passengers but are out of  workers’ control, like a delayed arrival at a port due to traffic  or inclement weather that forces passengers to remain on the  ship, it would have been nice to be honest with passengers rather  than having to coddle them, said a former cruise director for  Holland America Line. “You have to kind of bite your  tongue,” he said. “I wish you could be more honest with some of  them.”
Driving a ship isn’t as hard as it looks
source
Lucas Oleniuk/Toronto Star via Getty Images
“Driving the ships isn’t that  hard,” a first officer for Royal Caribbean said. “On cruise ships mostly we have  two officers on the bridge all the time but it is not really  necessary.”
The bridge is the area where the  captain and officers control the ship’s speed and  direction. TAGS

8 things cruise ship workers want to tell passengers, but can’t

UNESCO furthers education, social and natural science, culture, and communication as a means to build peace in the minds of people.

UNESCO

We saw the opportunity to bring Seabourn back earlier than anticipated in these destinations rich in culture , history , and renowned cuisine , and with our partnership with UNESCO , to help guests discover something special all along the way , '' said Josh Leibowitz , president of Seabourn .

Seabourn : Encore Now Returning In February 2022 With Canary Islands And Mediterranean Voyages, Open For Booking October 5, 2021

Some Journeys include visits to iconic UNESCO through Seabourn 's official partnership with UNESCO .

Seabourn Introduces Three New Seabourn Journeys to Exceptional Destinations for 2021 | Press Release | Seabourn.
SEABOURN UNVEILS THREE NEW “SEABOURN JOURNEYS” IN GREECE, PORTUGAL & ISRAEL FOR PRE- AND POST-CRUISE TRIP EXTENSIONS IN 2021.

Helly Hansen provides high quality, protective technical gear for work survival and sport. The company works closely with people who work and/or play outdoors to continuously optimize the technology and design of products. The company sells a range of apparel used in sailing, skiing, mountaineering and hiking.

Helly Hansen

SEATTLE , Dec. 16 , 2019 / PRNewswire / -- Seabourn , the world 's finest ultra-luxury travel experience , has signed an agreement with outdoor apparel company Helly Hansen , who will become the `` Official Apparel Partner '' for the cruise brand as it continues to grow and expand its offering in the expedition travel market through its forthcoming ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships and Ventures by Seabourn optional shore excursion program .

Seabourn Names Helly Hansen As Official Apparel Partner

Seabourn Cruise Line currently operates a fleet of five modern ultra-luxury ships and is a member of World's Leading Cruise Lines.

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