This Popular Cruise Line Was Just Ranked The Best In The World
In 2023, cruising the high seas continues to be an increasingly popular way for travelers to see and experience new destinations across the globe. According to a recent State of the Cruise Industry report by the Cruise Lines International Association, passenger numbers globally are forecasted to reach up to 33 million cruisers by the end of the year. While those who are booking a cruise have many options when it comes to cruise lines to choose from, a recent traveler survey collected over the course of two months shows one cruise line currently ranks above the rest.
Among the Mega Ships that carry more than 4,000 passengers at a time, Norwegian Cruise Line surpassed Royal Caribbean International, Carnival Cruise Line, and MSC Cruises to earn the top spot on the list. Survey participants, who ultimately crowned Norwegian Cruise Line the current global industry leader, were asked to evaluate cruise lines across a variety of specific categories. These included sustainability and onboard food options as well as the quality of service they received and the accommodations they enjoyed.
A 100-point scale was used to determine the final survey scores for the Mega Ship cruise lines evaluated by travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line came in with a total of 86.72 points followed by Royal Caribbean International at 86.69 points. Carnival Cruise Line earned 85.35 points out of the 100 possible, while MSC Cruises sailed into a fourth-place ranking with 83.42 points total.
A cruise line that stands out from the competition
The survey ranking shows that Norwegian Cruise Line is doing something right in the eyes of global travelers. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. currently hosts a fleet totaling 31 ships across its owned brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The company serves approximately 700 global cruise vacation destinations and has six more ships scheduled to be added to the fleet by 2028.
The team over at Cruise Market Watch saw Norwegian Cruise Line already nearing the 9% control mark over the greater global cruise market as of their 2021 report. Another factor that sets this cruise line apart from the competition is that the company owns not one, but two Caribbean islands for guests to enjoy including Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest Caye. Norwegian Cruise Line has upward of 40,000 employees on its roster worldwide and was the first of the major cruise lines to return their entire fleet to service starting in May of 2022.
Norwegian Cruise Line clearly states their mission is to "provide exceptional vacation experiences, delivered by passionate team members committed to world-class hospitality and innovation." It's a mission that's undeniably working as travelers continue to book places on their Mega Ships in droves. The cruise line recently released its third-quarter financial report which speaks to continued success across the board. $2.5 billion was generated in total revenue by Norwegian Cruise Line at the end of September 2023, which is an increase of 33% from the same timeframe in 2019.