Best cruises and cruise ships for 2023 including P&O, Marella and Ambassador

09 December 2023 , 05:39

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Cruise fans love a sea day (Image: Getty Images)

P&O, Marella, Virgin Voyages, Ambassador and Belfast’s port are floating the boat for British ocean cruise holidaymakers.

The fab five took some of the top honours in the awards for Best Cruise Lines of 2023 for UK Travellers, as voted for by the Cruise Critic website’s editors. Best New Ship went to P&O’s Arvia – nicknamed the Sunshine Ship – for her “seamless combination of the line’s popular spaces with new and exciting attractions onboard”.

They added: "Arvia has all the P&O Cruises’ favourites like The Epicurean, Sindhu and Keel & Cow – plus new venues including Tidal Rum Bar (with distillery), the stunning Dome and a top deck high ropes course and swim-up bar – firsts for P&O Cruises.”

Marella Voyager took Best Ship Refurbishment, with experts at the world’s leading cruise reviews site praising her “impressive array of new-to-the-line venues, from the speakeasy-style Exchange, to Silver Fork, one of the 17 dining venues on board”.

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P&O Cruises' Arvia (DAILY MIRROR)

The 15th annual awards covered Ocean, River, Luxury and Expedition sailings and Belfast was named the Best UK & British Isles Port of Call.

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Cruise Critic said: “Belfast’s outstanding cruise terminal, next to the Titanic Quarter, welcomed its two-millionth cruise ship visitor this summer after a record 165 calls in 2023.”

Meanwhile ‘premium value’ line Ambassador lived up to its name, scooping Best Value for Money and praised for its competitive fares and special offers.

“This UK-based, no-fly cruise line is a solid choice for cruisers seeking maximum value for money on one of its two ships,” said the editors.

“Its ‘buy one get one half-price’ savings, last-minute deals and reductions combined with affordable lead-in fares, make Ambassador Cruise Line a clear winner in the Best Value category.”

Best cruises and cruise ships for 2023 including P&O, Marella and Ambassador

Ambassador Cruise Line's Ambition (Ambassador Cruise Line)

Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages sailed away with accolades for Best Entertainment, Best Dining and Best for LGBTQ+ Travellers. On the rivers, TUI scored Brit wins for Best for First-Timers and Best Value for Money, with Viking landing best overall.

MSC Cruises grabbed two awards, for Best Nightlife and Best Suite Complex, while Royal Caribbean International's techies landed Best App and Dover was voted the Best UK Departure Port.

Cruise Critic UK Executive Editor Adam Coulter said: “This was a phenomenal year for the cruise industry. Between record-breaking sales and capacity numbers exceeding 100%, we saw travellers flock to the seas for high-value holidays.

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"And for UK-based travellers, the introduction of ground-breaking new ships helped to drive interest in cruising even more.”

He added: “Wherever you’re looking to travel – whether a more far-flung destination like Antarctica or Alaska, or a warm getaway like the Canaries or Caribbean – the options are endless by sea. And this year, we’ve named the absolute best of the best across all four cruise types – from mainstream ocean and luxury, to river and expedition.”