- Forbes has added cruise ship restaurants to its “Star Awards”.
- These awards are part of Forbes Travel Guide, which assigns star ratings to restaurants, hotels and more.
- They claims this is the first recognised universal rating system of cruise ship restaurants. So what does it show?
There is no doubt that cruise restaurants have raised the game in the past decade, so it is fitting that a well-known travel and review brand has included them in its ratings system. But the Forbes Travel Guide, which lays claim to being the world’s first rating system for cruise ship restaurants, has chosen an eclectic bunch to start.
Amanda Frasier, Forbes Travel Guide’s president of Standards & Ratings said: “The cruise industry has raised the bar significantly when it comes to dining with big investments from the style and design to the food and wine program all helping to elevate the epicurean experiences at sea.
“Of note, we are seeing cruise lines partnering with celebrated chefs and sourcing of the finest ingredients to equal the very best restaurants on land. We’re proud to acknowledge this progress and highlight the best of the best through our Star Ratings.”
But don’t expect to find many of your favourites in those who have made the cut.
Some of the restaurants reviewed and rated include Candles on Windstar’s Star Pride, The Dining Room on SeaDream II, Fine Cut Steakhouse on Celebrity Apex.
Six cruise ship restaurants made the list overall.
Three received four-star awards:
- Dining Room on SeaDream II
- Fine Cut Steakhouse on Celebrity Ascent
- S.E.A. on Evrima from Ritz Carton Yachts
And another three received the ‘recommended’ status:
- Candles on Windstar’s Star Pride
- The Grill on Silversea’s Silver Origin
- Fine Cut Steakhouse on Celebrity Apex
What do we think?
It’s an interesting bunch, but there is a lot missing. Our own favourite for cuisine Oceania, for instance, doesn’t get a mention. We agree with Silversea’s placing, but where is Regent Seven Seas and Crystal’s Nobu?
It’s a good provocative first try, but we think there is a ways to go before the list is complete.
Cruise Passenger runs its own annual awards every year, relying on the votes of thousands of readers. See the results here.
Who won the ship awards
Forbes has been giving Star Awards to cruise ships since 2023, they are rated like hotels or other accomodation properties. This means five-star ratings go to venues that “deliver an outstanding experience and consistently offer a highly customised level of service” and four-star ratings to “exceptional” venues, rather than outstanding, and recommended venues are categorised as “excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities.”
Who won big this year? 14 ships got awards in total , split between the four-star ratings and the recommended category.
The four-star ratings were awarded to the following ships:
- Celebrity Ascent
- Celebrity Millenium
- Seabourn Ovation
- Seven Seas Splendor
- Silver Origin
- Silver Shadow
- The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Evrima
The ships award the ‘recommended’ platitude are:
- Celebrity Apex
- Celebrity Flora
- Oceania Insignia
- SeaDream II
- Star Pride
- Viking Neptune
- Viking Sky
How reliable are travel guides?
When evaluating cruise ships, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Forbes Travel Guide each offer distinct perspectives based on their methodologies and audience engagement.
Condé Nast Traveler:
- Methodology: Primarily relies on its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, where thousands of readers vote on their favorite cruise lines and ships. This approach reflects the collective experiences and preferences of a broad audience.
- Example: In the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, Seabourn was recognized as the top small ship cruise line with a score of 95.15, while Virgin Voyages led the large ship category with a score of 94.55.
- cntraveller.com/
Travel + Leisure:
- Methodology: Utilizes its World’s Best Awards, where readers rate cruise lines based on various criteria, including service, itineraries, and onboard experience. This reader-driven approach captures personal travel experiences and satisfaction levels.
- Example: In the 2024 World’s Best Awards, Virgin Voyages was named the top mega-ship ocean cruise line with a reader score of 89.71, followed by Celebrity Cruises with a score of 85.85. travelandleisure.com
Forbes Travel Guide:
- Methodology: Known for its professional inspections and star ratings, Forbes applies its rigorous standards to evaluate luxury accommodations. While traditionally focused on hotels and resorts, it has recently expanded to include cruise ships.
- Example: In the 2025 Star Awards, Celebrity Cruises’ ships, Celebrity Ascent and Celebrity Millennium, each received a four-star rating, highlighting their exceptional service and facilities.
Tell us which are your favourite cruise ship restaurants in the comments below.
