World's best cruise ships named.

Date: 27 February 2013

World's best cruise ships named.

PENNINGTON, N.J. - The results 2013 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards have been announced today.

Disney Cruise Line's newest ship, Disney Fantasy, swept the boards in the large ship class, taking five top places including best in class. Disney Fantasy, which debuted in March 2012, was named Best Large Ship, and took first place in five other categories: Best Cabins, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms, and Best Service. Its sister ship, Disney Dream, won Best Shore Excursions.

Holland America's Noordam ship was named Best Mid-Sized Ship, and Azamara Quest won Best Small Ship -- along with Best for Fitness and Best Service in the Small Ship category.

The Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards are based on reviews submitted by cruisers for cruises taken during 2012. They are awarded in three ship classes, according to passenger capacity – small (1,199 passengers or fewer), mid-sized (1,200 to 1,999) and large (2,000+). The top 10 ships in each class are named in the following categories: Overall, Cabins, Dining, Embarkation, Entertainment, Fitness, Public Rooms, Service, Shore Excursions and Value for Money. Awards are also given to the top-ranked ships in popular cruise regions; Alaska, Bahamas, Caribbean and the Mediterranean. This year's winners include:

Best Large Ships

Disney Fantasy: Best Overall Large Ship, Best Cabins, Best Entertainment, Best Public Rooms, Best Service

Disney Dream: Best Shore Excursions

Celebrity Reflection: Best Dining

Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean): Best for Fitness, Best for Embarkation

Celebrity Eclipse: Best Value for Money

Best Mid-Sized Ships

Noordam (Holland America): Best Overall Mid-Sized Ship

Marina (Oceania): Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Public Rooms

Thomson Dream: Best Entertainment, Best Service

Westerdam (Holland America): Best for Fitness, Best Shore Excursions

Norwegian Spirit: Best Value for Money

Celebrity Summit: Best for Embarkation

Best Small Ships

Azamara Quest: Best Overall Small Ship, Best for Fitness, Best for Service

Azamara Journey: Best Value for Money

Crystal Serenity: Best Dining, Best Entertainment

Crystal Symphony: Best Public Rooms

Seabourn Odyssey: Best Cabins

Seven Seas Navigator (Regent): Best Shore Excursions

Wind Surf (Windstar): Best for Embarkation

Best for Families (all ship sizes) - Disney Fantasy

Best Destination Cruises

Best Cruise to Alaska: Volendam (Holland America)

Best Cruise to the Bahamas: Disney Dream

Best Cruise to the Caribbean: Disney Fantasy

Best Cruise to the Mediterranean: Riviera (Oceania)

Best from Florida: Disney Fantasy

Best from the Northeast: Norwegian Star

Best from the West Coast Westerdam (Holland America)

"These awards are based entirely on reviews submitted by cruisers, so offer a terrific insight into what consumers think of the ships they have sailed on," explained Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. "It's interesting to note that eight out of 10 awards in the Large Ship category went to ships launched within the past two years, so it seems that cruisers are enthusiastic about many of the emerging trends in dining, entertainment and onboard experiences."

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