September 22, 2025, 2:00 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
This year, the “Cruise Guide Awards” 2025 were presented in Hamburg as part of the Cruise Days. An expert jury of 18 cruise specialists selected the winners based on eight different categories. TRAVELBOOK introduces the individual winners.
The cruise industry continues to boom—even though most ships still run on environmentally harmful heavy fuel oil and forgo the use of exhaust technology. The “Cruise Guide Awards” ranking does place an emphasis on sustainability and also crowns a winner in this category. Some cruise ships are now using alternative propulsion, and the cruise industry is making slow progress in climate protection.
Overview
The Best Cruise Ships at a Glance
Winner Info and Entertainment
The “Norwegian Aqua” takes first place in the Entertainment category, scoring with onboard musicians, a show ensemble, and exciting new features like the first hybrid roller coaster with a water slide, the “Aqua Slidecoaster.” Also nominated were the “Disney Wish,” “Star of the Seas,” and “MSC World America.”
Winner Sport and Wellness
The “Mein Schiff Relax” is the first of a new series from TUI Cruises. According to the “Hamburger Abendblatt,” the jury praises the “excellently equipped sports and spa areas” and a “unique combination of tranquility, relaxation, and activity for the ship’s size.” Other nominated ships included the “Celebrity Ascent,” “AIDAcosma,” and “Silver Nova.”
Winner Gastronomy
In the Gastronomy category, the competition was fierce: The “Explora 2” from the cruise line Explora Journeys prevailed due to its high-quality ingredients. Not only the quality of the restaurants but also the buffet concept impressed the jury—dishes are even prepared à la minute here. The offering is a “refreshing Italian-European counterpoint to the previous U.S. dominance in the ultra-luxury cruise segment.” Other nominees were the “Europa 2,” “Seven Seas Grandeur,” and “Allura.”
Winner Family Friendliness
The cruise line AIDA Cruises is known for its family friendliness, and the “AIDAnova” made it to the top of the podium in this category this year. The ship impresses with entertaining programs for children and teenagers of all ages and offers a reasonable price-performance ratio. Most of the AIDA crew also speaks German. The “Disney Treasure,” “MSC World Europa,” and “Costa Smeralda” were also nominated in this category.
Winner Service and Comfort
The “Seabourn Pursuit” is a luxurious expedition ship and wins in the Service and Comfort category. The Seabourn Cruise Line is known for luxury and has successfully transferred this claim to expeditions with its new ships—much to the delight of travelers and the jury. Also nominated were the “Explora I,” “Silver Ray,” and “Evrima.”
Winner Routing
The best adventure cruises are offered by the “Hanseatic Inspiration” from Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, which sails on routes where hardly any other ship ventures. The jury praises: “Northwest Passage, Antarctica, Polynesia, and Japan—these are among the most exciting cruise destinations worldwide.” Other nominees included the “Scenic Eclipse,” “Amadea,” and “Silver Cloud.”
Winner Sustainability
The topic of sustainability is becoming increasingly important for cruise ships. Critics repeatedly point out that many cruise lines are still doing too little for environmental protection. However, there are pioneers who demonstrate the potential of modern technology, such as “Havila Voyages” from Norway. According to the jury, the decisive factor was the combination of climate-neutral biogas and powerful battery systems—an example of what is already technically feasible and economically viable today. TRAVELBOOK reported on the ship as part of the longest climate-neutral cruise in the world, which is set to start in November. Also nominated in this category were the “Sea Cloud 2,” “Star Flyer,” and “Nordlys.”
Winner River Ship of the Year
A cruise ship from Viva Cruises lives up to its title from last year—winning again in the River Ship of the Year category. This year, the brand-new “Viva Enjoy” wins due to its successful combination of upscale hospitality, modern flair, and an attractive price-performance ratio. According to the jury, the culinary offerings are also at a high level. Other nominees were the “A-Rosa Alva,” “Riverside Mozart,” and the “Excellence Crown.”