Nearly 800,000 travelers just voted to name the absolute best cruise lines of 2026
Princess Cruises captured the top spot in the megaship category for Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, securing a score of 92.35. Nearly 800,000 travelers cast votes in the annual survey, which ranked cruise lines across multiple vessel sizes. Royal Caribbean International finished second with a score of 86.45, followed by MSC Cruises in third place and Carnival in the megaships category. Separately, Virgin Voyages claimed the lead in the large-ship category with a score of 91.
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- ✓ Nearly 800,000 travelers voted in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.
- ✓ Princess Cruises topped the megaships category with a score of 92.35.
- ✓ Princess entered the megaship category with Sun Princess and Star Princess, which launched in 2024 and 2025 and carry up to 4,300 passengers each.
- ✓ Royal Caribbean International placed second in the megaship rankings with a score of 86.45.
What changed
Nearly 800,000 travelers selected the top cruise lines of 2026 through Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards.
Live updates
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Princess Cruises Wins Top Megaship in 2026
Princess Cruises captured the top spot in the megaship category for Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, securing a score of 92.35. Nearly 800,000 travelers cast votes in the annual survey, which ranked cruise lines across multiple vessel sizes. Royal Caribbean International finished second with a score of 86.45, followed by MSC Cruises in third place and Carnival in the megaships category. Separately, Virgin Voyages claimed the lead in the large-ship category with a score of 91.
Why it matters
The annual Readers' Choice Awards capture consumer sentiment across the travel industry by evaluating cruise fleets ranging from massive floating resorts to smaller vessels. Megaship rankings focus heavily on scale and onboard offerings, reflecting passenger demand for massive floating resorts featuring extensive entertainment and recreational facilities. The strong voter turnout highlights intense competition among major cruise operators vying for vacationers in an expanding market.
What is confirmed
- Nearly 800,000 travelers voted in Condé Nast Traveler's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.
- Princess Cruises topped the megaships category with a score of 92.35.
- Princess entered the megaship category with Sun Princess and Star Princess, which launched in 2024 and 2025 and carry up to 4,300 passengers each.
- Royal Caribbean International placed second in the megaship rankings with a score of 86.45.
- MSC Cruises ranked third among megaships, followed by Carnival.
- Virgin Voyages led the large-ship category with a score of 91.
What to watch next
- Additional category winners announced by Condé Nast Traveler
- Future adjustments to cruise package pricing and onboard fees
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (17)
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