2025 Gold List Awards to celebrate the world’s best cruise lines

Celebrating the world’s finest at sea and on the rivers, the 2025 Gold List Awards spotlight three exceptional cruise categories – honouring brands that set the standard in luxury expedition, ocean and river cruising

Each year, Luxury Travel’s Gold List Awards spotlight the most exceptional experiences in luxury travel  – and few travel styles capture the romance of discovery quite like cruising. In 2025, the awards once again shine a light on excellence at sea and on the rivers with three standout cruise categories now open for entry: Luxury Expedition Cruise Brand, Luxury Ocean Cruise Brand and Luxury River Cruise Brand.

From polar expeditions to Mediterranean coastlines and storied European waterways, these awards recognise the cruise brands pushing the boundaries of comfort, sustainability and cultural immersion. 

Luxury Expedition Cruise Brand

Celebrating cruise lines that embody the luxurious new age of exploration, this category honours brands offering extraordinary expedition voyages to the world’s most remote corners. With no limit on ship size or guest capacity, it recognises companies that pair world-class service with bold itineraries, expert-led adventures and considered onboard design. Think: luxury in the wild, where every detail is crafted for travellers who seek meaning through discovery.

Luxury Ocean Cruise Brand

Honouring cruise lines that deliver true elegance on the open seas, this category applauds those elevating the ocean cruise experience – from suite design and onboard dining to destination immersion and responsible travel practices. The winner will be a brand where indulgence meets innovation, with curated shore excursions, refined hospitality and a seamless sense of place at every port.

Luxury River Cruise Brand

This category spotlights brands crafting exceptional journeys along the world’s most iconic rivers. From the Danube to the Mekong, it celebrates companies that blend intimate ship design and personalised service with cultural depth, local engagement and sustainability. The winner will epitomise how river cruising can uncover the soul of a destination – through cuisine, heritage, and people.

Entries for the 2025 Gold List Awards close on 18 July. If you’re part of a cruise brand setting new standards in expedition, ocean or river cruising, there is still time to submit your nomination and join the ranks of luxury’s most celebrated names.

For submission guidelines and to enter visit the Gold List Awards.

Explore last year’s winners here.