Award Winning Cruise Ships, Feature by Feature
Which ship won for dining, shows, activities, suites and size — and how to use it.
Quote an Award-Winning CruiseAward winning cruise ships are easiest to use when you know what each one won for. Here are recent ship-level winners grouped by feature, so you can go straight to the thing you care about.
Ship Winners by Feature
| Feature | Ship | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | Sun Princess | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Dining, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Technology | Sun Princess | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Technology, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Entertainment | Utopia of the Seas | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Entertainment, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Activities | Icon of the Seas | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Activities, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Casino | Icon of the Seas | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Gambling, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Families | Disney Wish | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Families, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Romance | Celebrity Apex | World’s Best Cruise Ship for Romance, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Suite | Regent Suite, Regent Seven Seas Cruises | World’s Best Cruise Ship Suite, World Cruise Awards 2026 |
| Suite complex | MSC Yacht Club | Best Suite Complex, Cruise Critic UK Best in Cruise 2025 (per MSC) |
Winners by Ship Size
The World Cruise Awards also name a best ship in three size bands. For 2026 they went to Icon of the Seas (large), Celebrity Millennium (midsize) and Royal Clipper (small). The three could hardly be more different: a resort-scale ship with waterparks, a classic mid-size ship with a calmer pace, and a five-masted sailing ship.
Size is one of the first decisions in choosing a cruise. Large ships offer the most to do and the widest range of cabins; mid-size ships are easier to navigate and reach some ports big ships cannot; small ships trade facilities for intimacy and unusual harbors.
New Ships With Early Honors
Cruise Critic’s editors named Celebrity Xcel Best New Ship and Oceania Allura Best New Luxury Ship in their December 2025 awards. New-ship categories reward design and fresh ideas; service and itineraries can take a season or two to settle. If you are deciding between a brand-new ship and an established sister, the older ship may offer more sailings to choose from.
Turning a Ship Award Into a Booking
- Confirm the award-winning ship sails your region and dates; many big ships switch between the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska by season.
- Check whether the winning feature is included — specialty restaurants, shows that need reservations and some activities can carry a charge.
- Choose the cabin with the deck plan in front of you; Cruise Ship Deck Plans shows what to look for.
- Ask our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise to compare the winner with its sister ships on price.
Award Winning Cruise Ships: FAQ
Which award winning cruise ships won the most categories in 2026?
In the 2026 World Cruise Awards, Icon of the Seas won three ship categories (large ship, activities and gambling) and Sun Princess won two (dining and technology).
Do sister ships share an award?
Officially no — the award names one ship. In practice, sister ships of the same class usually share much of what impressed the judges, so ask about the sister if the winner does not sail your dates.
Quote an Award-Winning Ship
Name the ship and the feature you care about; our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise find the sailing and cabin.
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