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Cruise Critic's 2019 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners Revealed

Cruise Critic has announced the winners of its first-ever Cruisers' Choice Awards in Australia and New Zealand.

Compare: 10 Most Popular Cruise Ships

The most popular cruise ships in Australia come in a variety of sizes and styles. In this chart, we look at the top 10 locally based ships, as rated in the thousands of reviews by Cruise Critic members. For more information about these popular ships, click on the ship name to find out its point of difference, take a photo tour, and read reviews by our experts and past passengers.

12 Best Cruises for First Timers

We recommend the best cruise lines for first timers in a variety of categories, as well as runners-up. So dry your cruise planning tears, and get ready to find your perfect cruise line.

5 Ways to Get a Cruise Ship Cabin Upgrade

We wish there were a magic elixir you could whip up to get a free or low-cost cabin upgrade on a cruise ship. We'd be chugging it all the time. But sorry -- no can do. Before you sit by the phone, waiting for the upgrade fairy to call, there are a few basic things to know about cruise ship cabin

22 Do's and Don'ts for Your First Day Onboard a Cruise Ship

If you're a first-timer or haven't settled into a familiar cruise routine, here's a list of embarkation day do's and don'ts, culled from our many years cruising, as well as input from Cruise Critic's Facebook fans.

Cruising 101

Featured Destinations

Australia & New Zealand

Between the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia is extraordinarily diverse in terms of its geography, wildlife and climate, with deserts, mountains and rainforests (not to mention those beloved Koala bears). Hardly limited to wilderness, Australia also boasts urban culture in Sydney and Melbourne. Famous as the set of the "Lord of the Rings" movies, New Zealand has unparalleled natural beauty (did we mention the Great Barrier Reef), as well as adventure sports and outstanding wine.

South Pacific

Imagine the ultimate paradise; you're likely to find it in the South Pacific. Reachable from Australia and New Zealand, the South Pacific includes popular islands like Fiji, Bora Bora, Tahiti and Samoa as well as more remote stops that are diverse in culture, history, languages, geology and scenery. On a South Pacific cruise, you can enjoy relaxed beaches and some of the world's best water sports.

Europe

Your biggest difficulty planning a European cruise is narrowing down where you want to go. A Western Mediterranean itinerary usually includes stops in Barcelona and Monaco, as well as ports in Italy. Eastern Mediterranean cruises encompass eastern Italy, Croatia and Greece, and sometimes even Turkey and Israel. A Baltic Sea voyage brings you to Scandinavia and Russia; the Norwegian Fjords carry their own beauty. Don't forget about British Isles cruises, which allow you to visit castles in England, Scotland and London. For sun lovers, it's hard to beat the Canary Islands.

Mediterranean

From the pristine beaches and ancient ruins of the Eastern Mediterranean to the artsy and flavorful countries of the Western Mediterranean, this region is easily one of the most diverse in the world. Revel at Spanish and Italian architecture, soak up some sun in Greece, explore antiquities in Istanbul and Malta or get a taste of the French countryside on the outskirts of Nice, Monte Carlo or Cannes. Some Med itineraries dip down into northern Africa; the Canary Islands are also a popular stop for repositioning cruises.

Asia

On the Pacific Ocean, coastal Asia inspires a spectrum of adjectives: ancient, futuristic, sacred, industrial, peaceful, riotous and breathtaking. A trip through East Asia usually includes port stops in the busy urban centers of China, Japan and South Korea. Southeast Asia cruises, traditionally sailing between Singapore and Hong Kong, provide opportunities for ecotourism and beach time in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

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Featured Ships

Pacific Explorer

P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer carries 2,000 passengers and sports a contemporary design, a cabaret-style supper club and a water park with waterslides.

Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas

Part of Royal Caribbean's Quantum class, Ovation of the Seas boasts high-tech features such as the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, bumper cars and robot bartenders.

Celebrity Solstice

Sophisticated vibe with gourmet dining, the country club-style Lawn Club and two suites-only restaurants; partnership with Canyon Ranch is a highlight for spa-goers.

Majestic Princess

Princess Cruises' newest and largest ship offers cruises out of Sydney and Shanghai. It has a dancing fountain of lights and music and a pool club.

Carnival Spirit

One of Australians' favourite cruise ships -- like a true Aussie, it's laid-back, fun and friendly -- from crew, to passengers and the atmosphere.

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Cruise News

Luxury Line SeaDream to Build New Mega-Yacht That Will Sail All 7 Continents

(8 a.m. EDT) -- For the first time since its inception in 2001, SeaDream Yacht Club will build a new yacht -- one that will be designed to sail all seven continents. SeaDream Innovation, slated to launch in September 2021, will visit more than 200 ports in 49 countries during its first year.

Wave Season Cruise Deals 2019

During these first months of the year, we will bring you the top promotions from your favourite cruise lines so you can decide which deals are right for you. Make 2019 the year you book your best cruise yet! ----- ### Norwegian's Free at Sea **What it is:** Norwegian's Hawaii Free at Sea

Cunard Reveals Guest Speaker Line Up for 2019 Wine Cruise

(1:15 p.m. GMT) -- Oz Clarke, Will Lyons and Charles Metcalfe are set to headline Cunard's "Voyage du Vin" wine-themed sailing onboard Queen Victoria in September 2019. Budding wine connoisseurs will get to attend talks by the trio of experts, plus daily wine tastings and experience food and

Radiance of the Seas to Cruise From Brisbane in 2020/21

Radiance of the Seas will be based at the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal at Luggage Point for the 2020/21 cruise season.

CroisiEurope Christens Amalia Rodrigues River Cruise Ship on the Douro

(4 p.m. GMT) -- River cruise line CroisiEurope today unveiled its sixth ship, Amalia Rodrigues, on the popular River Douro in Portugal -- Europe's fastest-growing river cruise destination. The new ship enables the family-owned company to increase annual passenger capacity in Portugal to 25,000.

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