The 2026 Cruise Passenger Readers' Choice Awards are underway, and the early numbers suggest plenty of last year's champions have reason to be nervous. Voting stays open until 31 October 2026, so cruisers who want their favourite line recognised still have time to weigh in.
In the first count, based on responses received by late September, Princess Cruises is ahead in two big categories: Best Ocean Cruise Line Overall, where it sits just in front of reigning champion Oceania Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean, and Best Premium Cruise Line, the title it claimed in 2025, with Celebrity close behind.
The family category is the closest contest so far. Carnival Cruise Line leads Best Cruise Line for Families by only 14 votes, with Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean — last year's winner — both running hard. If your kids are still raving about a ship months after sailing, this is the category where a single vote could shift things.
Royal Caribbean is doing well elsewhere, leading Best Contemporary Cruise Line (though Norwegian Cruise Line is pushing it) and the onboard activities award. Over in luxury, Cunard is currently out in front ahead of Scenic Cruises and Silversea, with 2025 winner Regent Seven Seas still in the mix.
River and expedition cruising could see some upsets. AmaWaterways took Best River Cruise Line in 2025, but APT is the early favourite this time, followed by Scenic and Viking River Cruises. Ponant, the reigning Best Adventure Line, leads the expedition category ahead of Scenic and Viking Expedition, while Scenic also tops the yacht category as it tries to hold onto its 2025 crown.
None of this is final — the snapshot simply reflects votes cast so far, and organisers are keen to get as many first-hand cruiser perspectives in as possible. Voters are asked to think about which line delivered standout service, which ship surprised them and which crews made the trip.
There's a small sweetener too: everyone who completes the survey goes into a draw for a $500 wine voucher. The real point, though, is helping fellow Australian cruisers decide where to book next.
For anyone planning a cruise, the interim standings double as a handy pulse check on what travellers are actually enjoying right now — and if your preferred line is trailing in a category, a late surge of votes is entirely possible before the 31 October cut-off.
