The best cruise lines for families, couples and more, per U.S. News & World Report

Nathan Diller, USA TODAY

19 November 2024 at 4:06 pm·1-min read

Travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to cruise lines, but the number of options can be overwhelming.

U.S. News & World Report may be able to help narrow it down. The media company released its 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings on Tuesday, showcasing operators that excel in activity-packed family vacations, romantic getaways and more.

"With so many cruise lines to choose from, it may be hard to know where to start when it comes to finding the perfect cruise vacation," Nicola Wood, senior travel editor at U.S. News, said in a news release. "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."

The company assessed 18 popular cruise lines in six categories. The results are based on expert ratings from U.S. News editors, traveler ratings under license by Cruiseline.com and health ratings from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program inspection scores (with additional criteria and cutoff points for the ships and lines evaluated).

These are the top three lines in each category:

Best cruise lines for families

Best cruise lines for couples

Calling all passengers: Sign up for USA TODAY's Travel newsletter for more tips and analysis.

Best cruise lines for the money

Celebrity Cruises
Virgin Voyages
MSC Cruises

Are cruises all-inclusive?: Here's what to know before sailing.

Best luxury cruise lines

Viking Ocean Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best cruise lines in the Caribbean

Disney Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Virgin Voyages

Best cruise lines in the Mediterranean

Viking Ocean Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cruise line rankings: The best brands, according to a new report

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The best cruise lines for families, couples and more, per U.S. News & World Report

Best cruise lines for families

Best cruise lines for couples

Best cruise lines for the money

Best luxury cruise lines

Best cruise lines in the Caribbean

Best cruise lines in the Mediterranean

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