The Best Cruise Ships in the World: The Gold List 2022
There are three great lists annually in Condé Nast Traveler, all of which have changed due to the events of the last two years: the Readers’ Choice Awards, which you, our beloved audience, select; the Hot List, which compiles the new and notable of the previous year; and this one, which is ultimately about the places and experiences our editors carry in their hearts. This year, when we say our editors, we mean CNT’s entire global crew, working in locations from California to Beijing; we’ve also expanded the parameters of the list to include not just the hotels and cruises you’ve seen in years past, but also the destinations we treasure. The Gold List is made by humans for other humans—something we need more than ever in this day and age. Here, our favorite cruise ships in the world.
Read the complete set of Gold List winners here.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Paul NordmannRoyal Princess
Aboard Princess Cruises’ vessel, there is truly something for everyone: Broadway-level talent for theater buffs; pajama movie night at the outdoor cinema and Lego boat-building for the littles; a Roman-style heated detox chamber for those who went big the night before. But where the ship really shines is with its excursions. Just have a look at the 50 offerings at the Skagway, Alaska, port of call, which range from panning for gold to a walking tour of this historic Klondike town and a cooking class to learn how to smoke Alaskan salmon. Seven-day sailings from $569; princess.com
Luca LocatelliSilver Muse
This all-suite ship transformed Silversea from comfortable luxury line to a food-centric floating retreat that channels a stylish Milan hotel. There’s the edgy art, like the bronze hair-dryer sculpture by Deck 9’s stairwell, and the white-tailed butlers who drop off complimentary caviar at any hour. But the biggest impact of the design came via the eight onboard places to eat, which departed from humdrum industry standards. At Spaccanapoli, the hot pizzas are topped with bubbling fior di latte; at La Dame’s, the lobster bisque is packed with chunks of fresh seafood; and at Atlantide, the world’s finest beef, including Japanese Wagyu and American prime Angus, is cooked to order. Seven days from $4,080; silversea.com
CunardQueen Mary 2
Only Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 sails a bucket-list transatlantic crossing in regal style. When traversing the Atlantic between Southampton and New York, the seven straight sea days pass so quickly, some devotees stay onboard for an immediate return. Packed-with-activity days move from fencing lessons to planetarium shows, riveting lectures, and afternoon tea. Evenings are anticipated, for even those booked in inside cabins dress spiffy. Gala nights prompt black-tie and gowns. Visit the Art Deco–gilded Queens Room, the largest, most beautiful ballroom at sea; eyeing graceful couples, sashaying across the floor as if one being, mesmerizes. Princess and Queens Grill accommodations, the upper tier rooms with suites and dedicated cocktail bars, deliver many upgrades, including more space and amenities, fancy private restaurants and lounge, and stellar service. This ocean liner attracts all ages; Carinthia Lounge lures hipsters for cool jazz, and it’s always a party in buzzy Golden Lion English pub, where beer on tap flows, and fish and chips taste extra-crunchy. Seven-day sailings from $899 per person, based on double occupancy; cunard.com
Michel VerdureStar Legend
Last year, Windstar Cruises upped Star Legend’s razzle-dazzle, stretching the casually elegant yacht (don’t overpack) to add a larger pool, more deck space, a remodeled spa and fitness center, and two new restaurants (Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso presents delightful modern tapas like paella croquettes; barbecue guru Steven Raichlen’s Star Grill slow cooks drool-worthy Texan brisket). All-suite accommodations sport glam new granite baths. In a Star suite with queen beds positioned next to French balconies, expect staggering star sightings after dark. But with 312 passengers, securing cushioned loungers, crew attention, and all reservations prove easy-peasy. Let the chef know a day ahead if you’re craving chicken curry; he’ll satiate nearly any hankering come dinnertime. Star Legend easily maneuvers into teeny Med and Caribbean ports, avoiding big ships and their crowds. The watersports marina, stocked with toys like kayaks, paddleboards, and floating mats, and the open-air Deck 8 Star Bar are perpetual hangouts, and the spirited deck barbecue delivers a feast and a bash. Seven-day sailings from $2,199 per person; windstarcruises.com
Jonathan AtkinQuantum of the Seas
Skydive, crash bumper cars, solve mind-bending puzzles in an escape room—such heart-thumping activities are daily thrills onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas. Not wowed yet? Then order a single-malt Scotch from a robot on Deck 5’s Bionic Bar (tap your WOWband on a tablet), binge on Bulgari bling, or simply stand in awe in North Star, a Guinness World Record–holding observation capsule with a pivoting arm sporting 360-degree views some 300 feet above the sea. On such a dynamic ship, no surprise that high-energy shows, like Starwater, feature giant RoboScreens “moving” in sync with music as aerialists and other live artists perform. Among the many main restaurants, savor Silk, an Asian-inspired eatery; request a side booth to tuck into Vietnamese tacos or ramen. Deck 5’s specialty restaurant Wonderland evokes Alice’s trippy experiences, both in its dreamscape-like design, and menu, such as gazpacho with bread foam, and liquid lobster. Whether you’re sailing the South Pacific or Alaska, every onboard moment evokes glee. 4-night sailings from $293; royalcaribbean.com
Courtesy Oceania CruisesMarina
Oceania Cruises’ Marina keeps upping its game. New globally inspired menus emphasize more than 250 plant-based plates. Hands-on culinary classes mean mastering not only melting-pot British cuisine, but Patagonian too. Humphry Slocombe’s artisanal ice cream is made fresh daily; note the outrageous Pacific Northwest raw blackberry honey with house-made graham crackers. Balance indulgence at the Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center, where an acupuncturist awaits, as does a restorative Himalayan massage using salt stones bathed in personally selected aromatics. The spa also offers wellness discovery tours: Yoga, pranayama breathing, and meditation at a boutique Chilean winery, anyone? Back onboard, relish the refreshed decor, including the newly upholstered headboards and walnut paneling in staterooms, and the new Baristas on Deck 14, resplendent in black-and-white marble. Whether you order the foamiest cappuccino from the chichi Victoria Arduino espresso machine, or tequila neat, revel in vast sea views. Marina roams the globe, from South America and the Med, to Norway’s majestic fjords. Seven-day sailings from $1,199 per person; oceaniacruises.com
Courtesy Celebrity CruisesCelebrity Edge
Like its name implies, this three-year-old ship is a boundary pusher: from Captain Kate McCue, the only American woman ever to helm a major cruise ship, to the Magic Carpet, the first cantilevered venue space at sea, which hovers over the water and moves between decks to become a sky-high alfresco bar at Deck 14. As if that weren’t enough, there are enormous hot tubs shaped like martini glasses, an outdoor art gallery on the pool deck, a jogging path that winds around a sprawling rooftop garden, and six two-story Edge Villas, each with a private plunge pool and outdoor lounge. Seven-night sailings from $1,209; celebritycruises.com
Alastair MillerViking Star
Viking Star, Viking’s first ocean liner, captures cruisers’ hearts for forging a path of Scandinavian-style near-luxury, chock full of inclusives, like complimentary Wi-Fi, an excursion in each port, mealtime beer and wine, and specialty restaurant dining (Manfredi’s Italian dishes are delicious). Stateroom bathrooms receive uniform praise; the heated floor, oversized shower, and anti-fog mirror are rare at this—or any—price point. So many public venues possess luxury-minded amenities, such as the cozy animal throws in the two-story Explorers’ Lounge, the deft violinists playing classical music in the Living Room nightly, and the retractable roof over the heated pool—idyllic on an Icelandic rainy day. Above all, the Nordic wellness destination spa blows cruisers away. Admission to the Thermal Suite, which includes a cold plunge pool, dry sauna, snow grotto, thalassotherapy pool, and steam room, doesn’t cost extra. After a dunk under the cold water bucket, head to a heated tile lounger for the exhilarating sensation of feeling invigorated, and relaxed, at once. Eight-day sailings from $2,599 per person; viking.com
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Courtesy Seabourn Cruise LineEncore
Encore introduced Seabourn devotees to a swankier vessel, awash in Adam D. Tihany’s bespoke appointments, yet capturing the magical middle between a casually elegant yacht and posh country club. So much to admire: buttery leather chairs, marble-drenched baths, the nods to nautical in curvaceous lines and gleaming brass. Contentment comes easy when schmoozing in Seabourn Square or lounging in a cushy suite, while learning from a mindful living coach, a certified yoga and meditation practitioner, whisks well-being to new heights. Cruisers in the know frequent Deck 7’s one whirlpool all the way forward; soaking solo, nearly surrounded by ocean, prompts deep exhales. On a sea day, recharge in the top deck’s exclusive 15-cabana Retreat. Its concierge personalizes paradise; sip a vintage Cabernet stashed in your fridge, catch a football game on TV, order a custom cocktail—avocado daiquiri, perhaps?—from a mixologist. Definitely succumb to Evian-mist sprays and a deep tissue massage in the spa cabana. Plunge deeper into bliss in the Retreat whirlpool. Seven-day sailings from $4,999 per person; seabourn.com
Courtesy RegentSeven Seas Explorer
Regent Seven Seas Cruises debuted its largest ship and first new build in 10 years in 2016. Entry-level suites clock in at 307 square feet and have big balconies where guests can watch as the ship pulls into Istanbul and Venice. And then there’s the 2,500-piece, $7 million art collection, which lets passengers stand, martini in hand, inches from Picasso’s Le Taureau Noir; Sunday brunch at Compass Rose is for scoring no-one’s-counting caviar-topped blini. Come 2024, the ship will sail from Miami to the Med with stops to Jerusalem’s seventh-century Dome of the Rock, a highlight in Israel no matter how you get there. Seven days from $3,999; rssc.com