Luxury cruises dominate Forbes Travel Guide’s 2026 Star Awards list
Cruise ships from Celebrity, Silversea and more lines won big in this year’s Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards.
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- More than a dozen cruise ships received accolades in the 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards.
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma became the first cruise ship to earn a Five-Star award.
- Forbes Travel Guide’s ratings are based on evaluations from anonymous inspectors at hotels, spas, restaurants, and cruise ships.
Cruise ships won big in this year’s Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards.
More than a dozen ships – ranging from those carrying thousands of passengers to more intimate, yacht-like vessels – earned accolades from the independent rating system, including some first-time Five-Star designations.
Five-Star, Four-Star, and Recommended awards are given based on evaluations from anonymous inspectors. The list also includes hotels, spas and restaurants (several cruise ship restaurants got nods, too, after appearing on the list for the first time in 2025).
“Forbes Travel Guide’s newest Star Award winners showcase an exciting evolution in luxury,” Amanda Frasier, FTG’s President of Standards & Ratings, said in a news release. “As guests navigate the increasingly complex travel landscape for the best places to stay, sail, dine and spa, we are proud to provide them with the trusted, integrity-based guidance they need. The 2026 list showcases properties deeply committed to delivering consistent and reliable world-class experiences.”
What do the categories mean?
Five-Star winners are properties that “deliver an outstanding experience and consistently offer a highly customized level of service,” according to the Forbes Travel Guide website. The rating system describes Four-Star winners, meanwhile, as “exceptional” with high-level facilities and service.
Those deemed Recommended are “excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities.”
Which cruise ships earned 2026 Star Awards?
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma, which launched in 2024, received a Five-Star award − a first for a cruise.
The following ships were designated as Four-Star:
- Celebrity Ascent
- Explora Journeys’ Explora II
- Seabourn Ovation
- Silversea Cruises’ Silver Endeavour
- Silver Nova
- Silver Origin
- Silver Shadow
- Regent Seven Seas Splendor
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima
The remaining ships received Recommended awards:
- Celebrity Apex
- Celebrity Flora
- Celebrity Xcel
- Explora I
- Oceania Insignia
- SeaDream II
- Viking Neptune
- Viking Sky
- Windstar Cruises’ Star Pride
Which cruise ship restaurants made the list?
Le Voyage by chef Daniel Boulud, an upscale dining venue on Celebrity Xcel, earned Forbes Travel Guide’s first Five-Star award for a cruise ship restaurant. The following eateries earned Four-Star ratings:
- Anthology on Explora II
- The Dining Room on SeaDream II
- Fine Cut Steakhouse on Celebrity Apex
- Fine Cut Steakhouse on Celebrity Ascent
- Kaiseki on Silver Nova
- La Dame on Silver Endeavour
- Le Voyage on Celebrity Ascent
- S.E.A. on Evrima
These venues were awarded Recommended status:
- Anthology on Explora I
- Candles on Star Pride
- The Grill on Silver Origin
- La Dame on Silver Nova
- La Dame on Silver Shadow
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].
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