It’s our 100th edition — Vote now in the Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 – make history and WIN a $500 wine voucher

• We’re publishing our 100th edition this year – and we’ll also be running our Readers’ Choice awards 2025
• So this is your chance to make history – by voting for your favourite crew, ship and line.
• Vote today for your favourites and get their names in lights.

For over a decade, Cruise Passenger’s Readers’ Choice Awards has been the place where real Australian cruisers choose the best lines, ships, destinations and experiences.

And this year’s awards are special – as we celebrate the publication of our 100th edition, we’re inviting you to cast your vote for a place in history.

There’s never been more to choose from: Australia’s 2025/26 season will see 63 ships visiting our shores, spanning big-ship favourites, luxe small ships and expedition vessels — a blockbuster season that makes your verdict more important than ever.

And across the world, new ships have been launched, including the biggest ever from Royal Caribbean and the most luxurious from lines like Oceaniam Viking, Ritz Carlton, Celebrity and more.

These awards matter because you decide them. They’re not handed out by industry panels or marketing departments — they’re the biggest, most credible consumer verdict in our region precisely because they reflect the choices of Australian and New Zealand cruisers.

And the scope of what you can recognise has grown with the industry.

In recent years, we’ve added categories that reflect what cruisers now care about — from Sustainability (introduced as a major theme alongside new categories in 2019) to Most Innovative Ship (added in 2022 to spotlight the wave of new-builds).

So whether you’re passionate about food, family fun, wellness, shore excursions or next‑gen ship design, your vote will be counted where it counts.

How to vote: Hit the “Vote” button on this story and tell us the lines, ships and ports that deserve a trophy in 2025. It only takes a few minutes — and your picks help fellow cruisers plan smarter journeys and give the crews who make magic at sea the recognition they deserve. Last year, thousands of readers took part; this year, with more choice than ever, we’re expecting an even bigger response.

Vote now!

Five stories of achievement from a decade of your votes

1) The Princess era: a four‑peat at the top
Your votes crowned Princess Cruises Best Cruise Line Overall three years running by 2018 — and then four straight by 2019 — underscoring Australians’ long‑standing affection for the brand’s service, shows and value. In 2019 readers also noted Princess’s strength across multiple categories, including premium cruising. A remarkable run — and a reminder of how sustained excellence gets rewarded when cruisers are the judges.

2) Culinary supremacy: Oceania’s foodie three‑peat
If you’ve ever sailed for the “finest cuisine at sea,” you weren’t alone. By 2019, your ballots had delivered Oceania Cruises a third consecutive win for Best for Food, recognising everything from Jacques Pépin’s influence to the line’s destination‑driven dining culture. Even in later voting rounds, competitors were nipping at Oceania’s heels — a testament to how fiercely the food category is contested.

3) Innovation and thrills: from activity streaks to a game‑changing ship
Readers consistently rewarded Royal Caribbean for sheer energy — in 2020 you named the line Best for Activities for the fifth year running. Fast‑forward and that appetite for innovation was recognised again when Icon of the Seas took Most Innovative Ship in 2024, reflecting how design, tech and entertainment keep redefining the big‑ship experience.

4) Port pride: Sydney’s sustained reign
Harbour City, harbour trophies. In 2013, Sydney was your Best Cruise Port. A decade on, readers again put the city on top — winner for the third consecutive year in 2024 — saluting the joy of sailing past the Bridge and Opera House and the ease of docking right in the heart of the action at Circular Quay. Passenger

5) The power of participation: record turnouts and nail‑biting finishes
These awards have always been powered by passionate cruisers. In 2018, a record 10,700 people voted; in 2019, 11,451 readers cast an extraordinary 286,275 category votes — a clear signal that Australia’s cruise community takes its judging duties seriously.

And when races get tight, you turn up: in 2023, a new category was separated by just 0.21% mid‑poll, proving that a single vote can swing a trophy.

Ready to help write the next chapter?

We’ll unveil the winners in our 100th‑edition coverage — but first, we need your votes.

With 63 ships in our region this season and over 300 around the world, fresh categories to reflect what matters, and a track record of results that genuinely influence traveller choices and line priorities, this is the moment to back your favourites.

Cast your vote today, share the link with your cruise mates, and let’s celebrate the people, ships and places that make ocean life unforgettable.

And to prompt you, you can win a wine voucher worth $500!

P.S. If you need inspiration before you vote, take a look at last year’s highlights — from Regent Seven Seas taking Best Cruise Line to Silversea for Service, Uniworld for Accommodation and Icon of the Seas for Innovation — and imagine who deserves your vote in 2025.

Now it’s over to you — vote now and make your favourites a winner

Vote now!