These are the best cruise lines for families, couples and more

Travelers are spoiled for choice when it comes to cruise lines, but the number of options can be overwhelming.
U.S. News & World Report may be able to help narrow it down. The media company released its 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings on Tuesday, showcasing operators that excel in activity-packed family vacations, romantic getaways and more.
“With so many cruise lines to choose from, it may be hard to know where to start when it comes to finding the perfect cruise vacation,” Nicola Wood, senior travel editor at U.S. News, said in a news release. “The 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings not only recognize the top cruise lines, but also provide a way for travelers to compare features, amenities and offerings to find the right cruise for an exciting experience at sea.”
The company assessed 18 popular cruise lines in six categories. The results are based on expert ratings from U.S. News editors, traveler ratings under license by Cruiseline.com and health ratings from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program inspection scores (with additional criteria and cutoff points for the ships and lines evaluated).
These are the top three lines in each category:
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Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].