The best cruise ships in the world: The Gold List 2026
For decades, the editors of Condé Nast Traveller have been compiling this annual compendium of hotels and cruises we’ve discovered or fallen in love with all over again. We highlight them not only for their beauty, comfort, or impeccable service, but also because we’ve developed deeply emotional relationships with them: These are the hotels and cruises we recommend to our friends, that we tell stories about later. Below are the best cruises in the world, according to our editors. View the entire 2026 Gold List here.
Atlas World Traveller
As a smaller luxury vessel, the ship can sail into less frequented ports like Trapani and Marsala in Sicily, appealing to those who are seeking crowd-free destinations. But the onboard culinary experience, often showcasing fresh ingredients the chef purchased in town, impresses as much as the itinerary does. Nibbling poolside flatbreads drizzled with garlic-infused olive oil and rosemary or a scoop from the all-day ice cream cart was my reward for walking nearly 20,000 steps each day, sometimes on a ship tour, other times wandering solo. My voyage was one of the line’s epicurean-themed sailings hosted by well-known chefs who lead culinary-focused excursions and teach cooking classes. It doesn’t get more local than learning to make traditional Marsala sauce or a creamy cannoli while in Sicily. Guests even participated in lively cooking competitions wherein they re-created (with varying levels of success) many of the dishes native to that region. On this ship the only thing you might want more of is an extra hole in your belt. Seven-night sailings from £2,965. Ramsey Qubein
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Explorer
When it launched a decade ago, Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer was the most expensive ship ever built, and the opulence shows up in ways that go beyond the extensive marble and granite surfaces and hundreds of chandeliers. I got a particular kick out of the canapés, caviar, and Champagne I could ask my butler to deliver to my room at tea time, and the generous infrared sauna in the extensive Serene Spa & Wellness area. (Shout out, too, to the croquet and miniature golf courses on the top deck!) But the greatest amenity I experienced on board the 746-passenger ship was the access to spectacularly beautiful places, including the Inside Passage between Vancouver Island and mainland Canada and Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier, a miles-wide, achingly blue thing the height of a 40-story apartment building. Seven-night sailings from £4,860. Jesse Ashlock
Silversea Silver Moon
By the light of this silvery Moon, the view is perfect. Exuding a more electric ambience than its tinier siblings, the 596-passenger Silver Moon combines the intimacy of Silversea’s smallest ships with the line’s more of-the-moment attributes. Silver Moon was Silversea’s first ship to offer the highly successful S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) programs, including small-group hands-on cooking classes, compelling shore excursions, and an onboard restaurant championing local ingredients and culturally-authentic plates. S.A.L.T chefs don’t compromise—I can swear personally to the hominess of the South American dishes. At sultry S.A.L.T. Bar, enthusiastic mixologists lean edgy for locally inspired cocktails. Arts Café, my favourite hangout, still rocks Deck 8’s aft for all-day ever-changing eats, brilliant barista brews, and cocktails. All of the crew, especially the black-tie-clad butlers, are astonishingly attentive, making ordering complimentary caviar and all the trimmings a snap. Don’t forget to laze in the generously sized pool, another noticeable Silver Moon attribute. Six-day sailings from £2,700. Janice Wald Henderson
Aurora Expeditions Greg Mortimer
The comforting rhythms of a cruise on this sleek expedition ship make one feel like an expert explorer on the first day out. On polar region sailings, Aurora provides boots and insulated jackets, which guests don to an energetic soundtrack before stepping into pink antiseptic to protect the sensitive polar environment. Zodiacs convey explorers to dry landings for hikes or extended coastal cruises guided by naturalist experts on flora, fauna, minerals, and local history. Once guests are back on board, it’s relaxation central, with hot broth, espresso drinks, and habit-forming coconut or cornflake cookies on offer in the lounge. Before venturing out again, you might duck into a transparent geodesic cube on deck to watch the scenery slip by, or perhaps you might prefer to warm up in a nearby Jacuzzi. Later you can step onto one of two drop-down viewing platforms to watch the distinctive, fuel-efficient X-bow nudge the ice floes out of the ship’s path. 11-day sailings from £8,600. Scott Laird
Seabourn Venture
I never could have imagined the vast stillness of Chile’s Atacama Desert, or how words fail when you’re on a teensy prop plane flying over southern Peru’s pre-Columbian Nazca Lines. Such exhilarating explorations come alive when you travel on the 264-passenger Seabourn Venture. This expedition vessel abounds in luxury, with all-suite accommodations, eight dining experiences (the Club’s sliced-to-order sashimi is exquisite), and deft spa therapists able to unknot any muscle. Complimentary caviar and Champagne, among other extravagances, flow freely too. (Props to the sexy nonalcoholic cocktails, like the Not So Cosmo.) Fortunately, Seabourn Venture takes adventure as seriously as onboard indulgence. A savvy 23-person expedition team leads outings and expertly handles custom-built submarines (abounding in bells and whistles), Zodiacs, and kayaks. Count on mind-blowing Antarctic penguin encounters, possible Arctic polar bear sightings, and, late day, bubbly alfresco while eyeing the kaleidoscopic sunsets and feeling present. Eight-day sailings from £4,110. Janice Wald Henderson
Celebrity Apex
Imagine a floating resort but without the crowds. Add in conversation-starting contemporary art and sculptures and a mostly adult clientele, and you have Celebrity Apex. Despite being able to accommodate almost 3,000 guests, it feels spacious. My cabin took exclusivity up a notch: Think private lounge, rooftop pool, sun deck, and open bar. Cruising to Mediterranean and Caribbean ports, and sometimes Norwegian fjords depending on the season, Celebrity Apex never lacks views. Plus, in Infinite Veranda cabins, windows lower electronically, instantly creating a balcony without sacrificing interior space. Don’t miss the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered lounge that glides along the side of the ship. My favourite space is the whimsical half-restaurant, half-bar, Eden, an interior garden-like oasis that is wrapped in curving, floor-to-ceiling windows, where you can truly feel lost at sea. Seven-night sailings from £540. Ramsey Qubein
Crystal Cruises Crystal Serenity
From the leather stools in Le Casino de Monte-Carlo to the smoky bao buns at one of just two Beefbar outposts at sea (the other is on her sister ship), Crystal Serenity is a bacchanalian banquet for the senses. Pregame in cream-and-aquamarine-accented Sapphire Veranda Suites while nibbling on butler-delivered canapés or handmade chocolate truffles replenished daily. After that, address your martini deficiency from the extensive list at the airy Crystal Cove lobby bar to the strains of a violinist, while debating whether to dine upon white linens on inventive, foam-topped dishes at Waterside or indulge in sublime sushi or crispy lobster tempura from Nobu’s Umi Uma—among several other dining options. Cap off evenings deep in a tufted leather sofa at the riotous piano bar Avenue Saloon—you don’t have to be up early, for this spacious ship has a pool lounger free at any time of day. You won’t need to keep an eye on the horizon to know when the sail away has begun: it’s always announced by Louis Armstrong, then Israel Kamakawiko‘ole in their respective versions of “What a Wonderful World.” Seven-night sailings from £4,110. Scott Laird
Sea Dream Yacht Club Sea Dream I
Private luxury is the watchword on this recently refurbished yacht. It’s not brimming with venues or entertainments (aside from the only Thai-certified spa at sea), but ever-present staff members offer a “whatever you want, whenever you want” service ethos: Perhaps it’s a cappuccino and a croissant as you lounge in the topside Balinese daybed, or a mai tai and canapés on the pool deck at sunset after the inflatable waterslide is pulled back on board. A highlight of Caribbean voyages is the picnic with Champagne and caviar served on a floating surfboard or on the beach. Personalisation is a hallmark for SeaDream—guests will find turndown amenities like monogrammed pyjamas early in the voyage, a perfect outfit should they opt to have one of the daybeds on the top deck made up for them to sleep under the stars. The yacht’s intimate size gives it access to much smaller Caribbean ports like St. Barts, Saba, and Bequia, making journeys ashore often just as intimate as time aboard. Seven-day sailings from £3,300. Scott Laird
Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady
The adults-only Valiant Lady is built for both partying like it’s your job and recharging until you’re ready for more. If you can tear yourself away from the handwoven red hammock on your Sea Terrace (nearly 86% of rooms have one), there are enough included-in-the-fare speciality restaurants to last a week—learn soju drinking games from your server at the Korean BBQ joint Gunbae, or discover a new favourite tequila to go with your guacamole at the Mexican spot Pink Agave. If late-night dining is more your thing, command a red leather barstool at the 24/7 American Diner in the Galley food hall. VIPs and suite guests have the exclusive Richard’s Rooftop and its nightly Champagne happy hours (relax in a daybed or hot tub while you sip) while evenings might bring a Diva show, i.e. a revue from the ship’s resident drag queen. There’s just one rule for evening activities, from the high-energy Scarlet Night to the weekly PJ party: All “sailors” are celebrated—exactly as they are. Five-night sailings from £1,100. Scott Laird
Windstar Cruises Star Breeze
The accommodations on this all-suite ship are enormous. Even standard ones come with massive sitting rooms, walk-in closets, and spacious baths, but with Star Breeze sailing year-round in French Polynesia and Technicolor lagoon views streaming in through the picture windows, they’re easy suites to leave. During the seven-night sailings from Papeete, there are two on-shore picnics: a sunny lunchtime beach barbecue on Motu Mahaea, near the vanilla-producing island of Taha’a, and a cocktail-splashed dinner and Ori Tahiti dance show on Bora Bora. On days without a beach picnic, there’s a marina platform for swimming or watersports right from the ship. For those who prefer to relax onboard, a favourite guest relaxation spot is the topside Star Grill for alfresco grill lunches with ocean views, or the central infinity-edge pool and jacuzzi. When it’s time to dine, the main restaurant, Amphora, turns out dishes from a parade of all-star chefs in cooperation with the James Beard Foundation, or head to the new Asian speciality restaurant, Basil + Bamboo. Seven-day sailings from £2,250 per person. Scott Laird
Cunard Queen Mary 2
Don’t call it a cruise ship. Queen Mary 2 is the world’s last—and only—ocean liner. Faster than a cruise ship, with a reinforced steel hull built to withstand the rigours of the North Atlantic crossing, Queen Mary 2 still plies the weeklong route of her predecessors between New York and Southampton, England. Contemporary amenities meet nostalgic tradition—diners still dress to feast on classics like beef Wellington in dining rooms apportioned by stateroom category (suites get the posh Grills Experience) and go ballroom-dancing late into the evening, but they might fill their days in the onboard planetarium, browsing the largest library at sea (with its impressive selection of books about ocean liners, among other things), or attending a lecture by a Royal Navy nuclear submarine captain. Touches of Britain abound, from the Cunard crest adorning accent pillows in staterooms and public areas to bath amenities from the London perfumer Penhaligon’s. Passengers flock to afternoon tea in the Queen’s Room to nosh on fluffy scones (with or without raisins) and debate whether cream or jam goes on first, or dig into ploughman’s lunches or fish and chips with mushy peas in the Golden Lion Pub. Seven-day sailings from £375. Scott Laird
Viking Osiris
Sailing the Nile on this 82-passenger ship, complete with infinity-edge pool, ticks many ancient-wonder boxes as it travels between Aswan and Luxor. It makes stops at UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, where Viking has often—though not always—arranged special access. Viking’s Egyptologist guides join the not-to-be-missed excursions, which brought my grade-school ancient-history classes to life. Dinner-table conversations are abuzz with the historic marvels you visit each day while you sample local specialities like shish tawook, kefte, and koshari. I opted out of an early-morning hot-air balloon ride one day in favour of sunrise coffee on the top deck to watch daily life unfurl below. The shore was the stage, and around every river bend was a new scene. As I viewed children playing, tall-masted feluccas gliding past, and market vendors unloading the day’s haul, I was tapping into the soul of this place, all from the comforts of this beautifully designed ship. 12-day sailings from £5,230. Ramsey Qubein
Oceania Marina
With a May 2024 glow-up, the 1,250-passenger Oceania Marina (a 2011 debut) now vibes as glam and polished as Oceania Cruises’ other culinary-driven vessels. Elegant, updated furnishings add extra sparkle to buzzy bars like Horizons and Martinis, the Grand Dining Room, the Polo Grill steakhouse, and the Library. Redone Penthouse Suites now exude warm grey and creamy hues in new custom furnishings, while splashy Italian-marble bathrooms emphasise oversized showers made for lingering. Marina’s big redo also introduced the wellness-inspired Aquamar Kitchen (superfood salad and immunity juice are musts); Pizzeria at Waves, where crispy Neapolitan pies with fresh burrata and truffle oil rule; and an expanded all-day ice cream parlour. Note the new Nikkei (Japanese Peruvian) dishes like chicken anticuchos—skewers with spicy and creamy huancaina sauce—at pan-Asian Red Ginger. With this revitalisation, consider Oceania Marina ready for its close-up on its 2026 total solar eclipse sailing in Iceland. Seven-day sailings from £1,870. Janice Wald Henderson
Ponant Le Commandant Charcot
While on one of the world’s most eco-friendly ships, French line Ponant’s one-of-a-kind icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot, I am obsessed with three things: the mesmerising sight of our ship cutting through winter ice on Quebec’s St. Lawrence River, copious complimentary pours from magnums of Henriot Champagne, and black truffles available on every menu. A heavenly indulgence, it turns out, is a bowl of truffle cheese fondue, served as a snack to warm you up after you peel off the provided bright orange parka you wore for a calorie-burning snowshoe trek in subzero temperatures. With its subtly elegant contemporary decor, cool art—including abstract video installations—and such features as a spa with an indoor pool and restaurants serving cuisine by renowned French chef Alain Ducasse, this polar ship shows off an appreciation for the finer things in life. Adventures that make you feel like an explorer, and the ship’s ability to run for short periods on battery power, make it a knockout. 15-day sailings from £19,350. Fran Golden