Experts, cruisers share which cruise lines are the best

In a bit of a surprise, one of the major categories for U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Cruise Line rankings has seen a shakeup.

In the feature's 11th year, the rankings highlight 18 of the most popular cruise lines in six categories catering to various travelers, including couples, families, and those in search of luxury or a scenic Mediterranean adventure.

There's a new No. 1 in the Best Cruise Lines for the Money ranking this year: Celebrity Cruises takes the lead as the best value among ranked cruise lines.

Disney Cruise Line continues to dominate the competition in the Best Cruise Lines for Families ranking, while also claiming the No. 1 spot in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean.

In addition, Viking Ocean Cruises continues its reign as No. 1 in three categories: Best Luxury Cruise Lines, Best Cruise Lines for Couples and Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean.

"The 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings not only recognize the top cruise lines but also provide a way for travelers to compare features, amenities and offerings to find the right cruise for an exciting experience at sea," U.S. News Senior Editor Nicola Wood said.

The rankings are based on a comprehensive and transparent methodology that takes into account expert evaluations of ship quality, traveler ratings, health assessment results and other factors.

Celebrity claimed the top spot when it comes to value.
Image source&colon; Celebrity Cruises

These are the top-ranking cruise lines

This is how U.S. News and World Report tabulates its rankings:

The Overall Rating is composed of three elements:

Expert Rating (30% weight): Our editors assign each ship an Expert Rating between 3 and 5 based on the ship's level of luxury, with 5 being the highest score. This score represents our editors' analysis of a ship's atmosphere, facilities, activities, cabins, cuisine and service.
Traveler Rating (50% weight): A ship's traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com. Reviewers assign a rating between 1 and 5 based on their level of satisfaction with their cruise experience.
Health Rating (20% weight): A ship's health rating is based on sanitation inspection scores published by the Vessel Sanitation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These are the 2025 top-ranked cruise lines:

Best Cruise Lines for the Money