PHOTO: The Disney Fantasy was named best large ship for the second consecutive year by Cruise Critic reviews. (Courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)
Disney Cruise Line is the big winner in its 2014 Cruisers' Choice Awards announced by Cruise Critic, the consumer cruise review website. The Seabourn Quest was named best overall small ship. The awards are based on ratings shared in member reviews posted to the Cruise Critic website.
Disney Cruise Line won 13 first-place awards, including best large ship for the 4,000-passenger, 130,000-ton Disney Fantasy (for the second year in a row) and best mid-size ship for the 83,000-ton Disney Wonder.
Cruise Critic said the three categories are based on passenger capacity. Large ships are considered those of more than 2,000 passengers, mid-size is 1,200 to 1,999 passengers and small is 1,199 or fewer passengers.
The Disney Wonder was slotted into the mid-size category, although Disney Cruise Line lists its capacity at 2,700 passengers. However, the ship has 877 staterooms and on a double-occupancy basis its total capacity would be 1,754. The ship probably rarely sails with just two people in a statement, since many families with children fill the extra berths in rooms. But Cruise Critic bases its size categories on a double-occupancy basis to compare apples to apples.
Disney Fantasy won nine first-place awards, including best cabins, best dining and best for families. The ship has "Magical Portholes" that offer real-time sea views in inside cabins, extensive kids' club facilities and varied dining options such as the interactive Animator's Palate.
In addition to best small ship, the Seabourn Quest was cited for best public rooms and best value-for-money in the small ship rankings.
Here are the first-place winners.
Large-Ship Category
Best Overall Ship: Disney Fantasy
Best Cabins: Disney Fantasy
Best Dining: Disney Fantasy
Best Embarkation: Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
Best Entertainment: Disney Fantasy
Best for Fitness: Oasis of the Seas
Best Public Rooms: Disney Fantasy
Best Service: Disney Fantasy
Best Shore Excursions: Carnival Freedom
Best Value for Money: Carnival Liberty
Mid-Size Category
Best Overall Ship: Disney Wonder
Best Cabins: Oceania Cruises' Riviera
Best Dining: Riviera
Best Embarkation: Princess Cruises' Coral Princess
Best Entertainment: Disney Wonder
Best for Fitness: Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun
Best Public Rooms: Riviera
Best Service: Disney Wonder
Best Shore Excursions: Thomson's Island Escape
Best Value for Money: Norwegian Sun
Small-Ship Category
Best Overall Ship: Seabourn Quest
Best Cabins: Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Navigator
Best Dining: Crystal Serenity
Best Embarkation: Pacific Princess
Best Entertainment: Crystal Symphony
Best for Fitness: Crystal Serenity
Best Public Rooms: Seabourn Quest
Best Service: Crystal Symphony
Best Shore Excursions: Celebrity Xpedition
Best Value for Money: Seabourn Quest
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
