TravelAwaits
Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.
It’s hard to rank cruise companies on basic metrics because each delivers a different experience.
How does a family-friendly Disney cruise stack up against an adults-only Virgin Voyages five-day route? It’s like comparing apples and oranges. They’re meant to be different in order to attract the perfect passenger for their itinerary and amenities.
Still, the great minds at U.S. News & World Report have done a bang-up job of ranking and categorizing the most popular cruise companies serving Americans.
Want a look at the short list for the best cruises in 2026 based on your particular cruising needs? Take a load off with the list from U.S. News & World Report, divided into eight categories based on traveler interests.
If you want to dive into the rankings, explore the complete lists for each category. You can also head to the bottom of the page if you want more information on a few extra categories, such as the best cruise lines for dining and the best cruises in the Adriatic, for example.
Here’s a snapshot of the good stuff with the top three picks ranked in order of selection:
Tay Belgeri is a writer and traveler from the Heartland who now lives in the Mediterranean. She has almost two decades of international travel, learning, and immigration experience under her belt. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Studies—yes, it’s a thing. With Travel Awaits, Tay is demystifying the act of travel for fellow Americans by covering her favorite adventures, latest bucket-list experiences, and lessons she learned the hard way. She focuses on the little details that make trips easier to plan and more magical to experience. During her career, Tay has been published on AP News, Ranker, MSN, and other major publications. But don’t think of her as a travel writer—she’s a traveler and a writer. Travel is her nature; writing is her trade.
