Turismo
Cruise Critic Names the World's Most Popular Cruise Destinations Based on Consumer Reviews
The Eastern Mediterranean port of Kotor, in Montenegro , came out as the number one destination hotspot for UK cruisers. The Baltic Sea port of Talinn, capital city of Estonia , secured second place in popularity, and the Aegean island of Santorini proved third favourite overall, for UK cruise travellers.
Adam Coulter , UK Managing Editor, Cruise Critic said "Our data analysis shows that destination continues to be a top consideration for holiday makers looking to cruise, regardless of whether they are new to cruise or seasoned cruise travellers. We are delighted that Edinburgh has pipped so many other wonderful Western European ports to the post to be crowned the best destination in the British Isles & Western Europe . Not only does this highlight the rise in popularity of destinations more known for their immersive, educational and experiential offerings, rather than just their temperate climate or great beaches, but also shows just how attractive Scotland is proving to travellers across the globe.
"This year, we've also included awards for the best lines that visit these top-rated destinations, to enable holidaymakers to connect quickly to standout experiences available in the incredible places they're looking to explore."
Highlighted Awards:
in Alaska was named the Most Popular Cruise Destination in 2018 – receiving the highest ratings among cruise destinations across the globe. Glacier Bay was also the top-rated destination in Alaska for the third year in a row. It's one of the best Inside Passage locations for glacier and wildlife viewing, with its Margerie Glacier considered one of the most photogenic glaciers.
secured the top destination award in the British Isles & Western Europe category – for the very first time - beating Barcelona , Rome and Venice , among many others. The beautiful capital city of Scotland sprawls over an extinct volcano, known as Arthur's Seat, and is dominated by the impressive Medieval Edinburgh Castle. In 2017, Edinburgh welcomed almost 2.2 million visitors and its attractions continue to remain the most popular overall, throughout Scotland.
was named the Best Cruise Destination in the Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya for the first time. While international cruise lines have long visited Cuba , U.S. travelers were only able to begin visiting the island once regulations were eased in 2016. Today, 17 cruise lines visit Cuba , and cruise travel is considered one of the best – and easiest – ways to visit the island as U.S. regulations continue to evolve.
has been named the Top-Rated Eastern Mediterranean Destination for the past two years, and has done it again this year to score a hat trick. This beautiful, walled Croatian medieval city – a key filming location for Game of Thrones - remains a mainstay on Eastern Mediterranean cruise itineraries. Overlooking the sparkling, clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, the city boasts centuries-old monasteries, churches, synagogues, and even one of the oldest operating pharmacies in Europe .
was a big cruise line winner, receiving awards in nine of the 18 regional categories – including Best Cruise Line in Alaska , Australia & New Zealand and all three Caribbean regions.
stood out among the small cruise lines, receiving four awards, including Best Cruise Line in the Baltic & Scandinavia, Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya, British Isles & Western Europe , and Western Mediterranean.
The full list of first-place winners includes:
Glacier Bay
Singapore
Sydney
St. Petersburg
King's Wharf
Curacao
Havana
Edinburgh
Dubrovnik
Arles
Villefranche
Kauai
Huatulco
Puerto Quetzal
Buenos Aires
Mystery Island
Quebec City
Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay
For full details on this year's winners, visit the 2018 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards.
Cruise Critic boasts the world's largest online cruise community, with more than 350,000 cruise reviews, covering approximately 500 cruise ships and over 300 worldwide ports. Awards are based on reviews submitted for cruises taken over the past year.
Full list of winners for each category, and consumer comments, available here.
Photos of all top destinations for media use, available here.
Highlights of winners and consumer reviews, available here.
Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 350,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world's largest online cruise community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.
TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. With over 600 million reviews and opinions covering the world's largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering approximately 7.5 million accommodations, airlines, attractions, and restaurants -- TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more than 200 hotel booking sites so travelers can find the lowest price on the hotel that's right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are available in 49 markets, and are home to the world's largest travel community of 455 million average monthly unique visitors**, all looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.
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* Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide,
October 2017
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Laurena McKenna , Cruise Critic
lmckenna@cruisecritic.com
M: 07775 620 232