In a massive display of traveler preference, nearly 800,000 votes have determined the absolute best cruise lines for 2026, with Princess Cruises clinching the top spot among ‘megaships’—vessels carrying over 4,000 passengers—thanks to its new ultra-large vessels, Sun Princess and Star Princess, which can accommodate up to 4,300 guests each. This prestigious recognition comes from Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, where Princess Cruises achieved a commanding score of 92.35 in the highly competitive megaship category. Following closely behind, Royal Caribbean International secured second place with a score of 86.45, despite operating the world’s nine largest cruise ships capable of holding up to 7,600 passengers and boasting extensive onboard attractions. MSC Cruises ranked third, with Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line rounding out the top five megaship contenders, each offering unique amenities like roller coasters, water parks, go-kart racing, and virtual reality gaming. In a separate category for ‘large ships’ (2,500 to 3,999 passengers), Virgin Voyages emerged as the winner with a score of 91, followed by Disney Cruise Line and Holland America Line, with Celebrity Cruises and Princess Cruises also making the top five, highlighting Princess’s strong performance across multiple ship size categories.
Adapted from: Travel News Today on Fox News
