On November 12, 2009, Zagat released the results of its first cruise line survey. The survey covers twenty-two major cruise lines as voted on by 2,379 regular cruise-goers who had taken taken a total of 22,700 separate cruises (average of over nine each). The cruise lines were categorized by size: large (1,500+ passengers), mid-size (200 to 1,500) and small (less than 200). Each line was then rated on Zagat's 30-point scale cabins, service, dining, facilities, and shipboard activities.
The top cruise lines, based on overall scores: Cunard Line (large), Regent Seven Seas (mid-size) and SeaDream Yacht Club (small). Lines with mid-size ships tended to get the highest overall ratings. Following Regent were Crystal, Seabourn and Silversea all with a score of 26 out of a possible 30. Following with overall rating of 25 are Cunard and Disney.
Category: Large, Mid-Size, Small
Top Rooms: Cunard, Regent, SeaDream
Top Service: Cunard, Seabourn, SeaDream
Top Dining: Cunard, Seabourn, SeaDream
Top Facilities: Cunard, Crystal, SeaDream
Top Activities: Disney, Crystal, Lindblad
Top Overall: Cunard, Regent, SeaDream
Personal Favorites: Royal Caribbean, Crystal Cruises, Windstar Cruises
Top Fitness Centers
- Celebrity Cruises
- Cunard Line
- Royal Caribbean
Top Live Entertainment
- Disney Cruise Line
- Cunard Line
- Royal Caribbean
Top Nightlife
- Disney Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Cunard Line
Top Spa Services
- Cunard Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Celebrity Cruises
Top Onboard Shopping
- Cunard Line
- Disney Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
Top Excursions
- Princess Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Cunard Line
Best for Singles
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Royal Caribbean
- Norwegian Cruise Line
Top Itinerary Choices
- Cunard Line
- Holland America Line
- Celebrity Cruises
Best for Romantic/Honeymoon
- Cunard Line
- Celebrity Cruises
- Princess Cruises
Best for Kids
- Disney Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Carnival Cruise Lines
Best for Families
- Disney Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Carnival Cruise Lines
Best for Seniors
- Holland America Line
- Cunard Line
- Celebrity Cruises
Best for Weekend Getaways
- Disney Cruise Line
- Royal Caribbean
- Carnival Cruise Lines
Best for Budget Cruises
- Carnival Cruise Lines
- Costa Cruises
- Norwegian Cruise Line
Best for Expedition Cruises
- Celebrity Cruises
- Princess Cruises
- Holland America Line