All aboard the finest luxury liners

Royal Caribbean took the top spot for value. (Getty Images)

U.S. News & World Report has released its annual list of the world’s best cruises.

The report evaluated 176 ships in 17 of the top cruise lines to determine the rankings in six categories, including best cruise lines for the money and best luxury cruise lines.

The findings factored in evaluations from cruise industry experts, health assessments conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, price classes, itinerary offerings, and reputation among travelers.

The final rankings reflect offerings across the entire fleet of each line rather than information on individual ships within each fleet and the varying services each might include.

Royal Caribbean came in at number one in the Best Cruise Line for the Money category, while Viking Ocean Cruises earned the top spot in both the Best Luxury Cruise Line and Best Cruise Line for Couples categories, thanks to its high-end amenities, adult-focused ambiance, and romantic touches like private verandas in each stateroom and fireplaces in common areas.

No surprise, Disney Cruise Line maintained its hold on the top spot for Best Cruise Lines for Families yet again. It has earned this distinction in every one of U.S. News’ annual rankings.

This year, Disney also won Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean for the seventh consecutive year.

Rounding out the roster of winners, Seabourn Cruise Line remained the number one Best Cruise Line in the Mediterranean for 2020.

Among the new and notable trends in the cruise industry this year are intensifying eco-conscious initiatives with major investments in liquefied natural gas-powered ships, the elimination in onboard single-use plastics, and the addition of more offbeat destinations such as the Galapagos Islands and Antarctica in response to the cruising public’s growing appetite for adventure. (Forbes)