Australian expedition cruise line Aurora Expeditions scooped the top gong as the World’s Best Expedition Cruise Line 2023 at the third annual World Cruise Awards announced in Dubai on 15 October 2023.
The expedition line joins a roll call of honourees at the World Cruise Awards, which recognises and rewards excellence in the global cruise sector as a sister event to the World Travel Awards.
Of its distinction, CMO Hayley Peacock-Gower said Aurora Expeditions was thrilled and honoured to receive the global award.
“As a small Australian-owned company with big ambitions in the expedition space, we are so proud to gain this recognition amongst our worthy fellow nominees and we thank our expeditioners and travel industry peers who voted for us,” she said.
The World’s Best in ocean cruising
Abu Dhabi is the World’s Best Cruise Destination and also won the World’s Best Cruise Terminal award for the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port.
The World’s Best Cruise Line for 2023 is Norwegian Cruise Line, while Viking is the World’s Best Cruise Line for Shore Excursions.
Star Clippers is the World’s Best Boutique Cruise Line and the World’s Best Green Cruise Line for 2023 as the global cruise sector shores up its sustainability credentials.
Some of the ships receiving gongs included Celebrity Solstice (Best Midsize Cruise Ship), RCI’s Wonder of the Seas (Best Large Cruise Ship) and SeaDream II (Best Small Cruise Ship).
Scenic Eclipse is the World’s Best Cruise Ship for Activities, Celebrity Edge for dining, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 for entertainment and Disney Dream for families.
River cruise winners
For river cruising, DouroAzul is the World’s Best River Cruise Line for 2023, Botswana is the World’s Best River Cruise Destination and Viking Mississippi is the World’s Best River Cruise Ship.
Oceania cruise winners
Within the APAC region, Princess Cruises took out Oceania’s Best Cruise Line and Ecruising.travel for Oceania’s Best Cruise Travel Agency 2023.
Fiji is Oceania’s Best Cruise Destination 2023 with Port of Suva recognised as Best Cruise Terminal.
Read the full list of winners here
