Disney Cruise Line Awards and Accolades

Disney Cruise Line Awards and Accolades

Disney Cruise Line has received more than 50 distinguished awards and recognitions from the travel industry, since first setting sail in 1998.  These awards have included all aspects of the operation from dining and entertainment, to youth activities and spa facilities.  Most recently, Disney Cruise Line has received top honors from the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure.

2011

  • Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line the No. 1 Large-Ship Cruise Line for Families and the No. 4 Large Ship Cruise Line overall.
  • Condé Nast Traveler magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 3 Medium-Sized Cruise Line.
  • Cruise Critic recognized the Disney Dream with awards for “Best New Ship” and “Best Inside Cabins” as well as the entire Disney fleet for “Best Standard Cabins.”
  • Porthole Cruise Magazine named Disney Cruise Line “Best Entertainment,” “Most Family-Oriented Line” and “Best Children’s Programs.”
  • The Themed Entertainment Association awarded Disney Cruise Line the “Ingenious Use of Technology” award for the new “Animation Magic” show at Animator’s Palate on the Disney Fantasy.
  • Travel Age West awarded Disney Cruise Line an Editor’s Pick award for “Cruise Line Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction (Big Ship)” as part of the 2011 WAVE (Western Agents’ Vote of Excellence) Awards.
  • A 2011 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Award was given to the Disney Wonder for “Best for Entertainment” in the mid-sized ship category.
  • The World Waterpark Association presented an Innovation Award to Disney Cruise Line for the AquaDuck.
  • Cruise International magazine gave Disney Cruise Line the “Best for Kids” award.

2010


  • Condé Nast Traveler readers named Disney Cruise Line the no. 1 cruise experience in the Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
  • Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line in its 10th Annual Cruise Poll. In the mega ship category, the Disney Magic was rated No. 1 for activities and facilities, and the Disney Wonder was No. 1 for crew and service.
  • Travel + Leisure named Disney Cruise Line the Top Family-Friendly Large-Ship Cruise Line in the 2010 World’s Best Awards poll.
  • The British Travel Awards have named Disney Cruise Line the Best Family Cruise Line and Best Niche Cruise Line, both in the Bronze category.
  • Porthole Cruise Magazine has named Disney Cruise Line the Most Family-Oriented Line and Best Children’s Programs in their Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

2009

  • Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 1 cruise experience in the 9th Annual Cruise Poll.  Disney Wonder was ranked No. 1, while Disney Magic was ranked No. 4.
  • Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in their annual reader’s choice awards.  Disney Cruise Line placed No. 4 in the large cruise ship category.
  • Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as the No. 1 family-friendly cruise line in its 2009 “World’s Best Hotels and Cruises for Families” travel awards in the large ship category.
  • SpaFinder named Disney Cruise Line Vista Spa as one of the top 10 spas in the “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship” category.
  • Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in the 2009 Reader’s Choice Awards.  Disney Cruise Line placed No. 2 in the mega-ship category.
  • Zagat Survey recognized Disney Cruise Line in its first cruise line survey for “Top Activities” in the large ship category.  Disney Cruise Line ranked top in the Live Entertainment and Nightlife categories, and was recognized as the Best for Kids, Best for Weekend Getaways and Best for Families.

2008

  • Porthole Cruise Magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line with a “2007 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Award” for Best Family-Oriented Line.
  • Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in their annual reader’s choice awards.  Disney Cruise Line was No. 3 in the large cruise ship category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line as a finalist in four categories of their World Savers Awards.  Disney Cruise Line was a runner-up in the Wildlife category and received honorable mentions in the Poverty Alleviation, Education and Preservation categories.
  • SpaFinder named the Disney Magic Vista Spa as one of the top 10 spas in the “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship” category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler recognized Disney Cruise Line as No. 3  in the Large Cruise Ship category for the 2008 Reader’s Choice Awards

2007

  • Porthole Cruise Magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the recipients of a “2006 Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Award.”
  • Condé Nast Traveler rated the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder cruise ships in the top 10 in the “Top 80 Cruise Ships in the World” poll.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line in their annual “Gold List” for 2007 in the cruise category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Vista Spa & Salon aboard Disney Cruise Line as the No. 3 cruise line spa in its Spa Poll, an annual guide to the Top Spas in North America, the Caribbean and at sea.
  • Travel Age West awarded Disney Cruise Line two Editor’s Pick awards on “Best Overall Spa Facility” and “Best Onboard Entertainment” as part of the 2007 WAVE (Western Agents’ Vote of Excellence) Awards.
  • Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Disney Cruise Line as one of the top cruise lines in the industry in their annual reader’s choice awards.  Disney Cruise Line placed No. 4 in the large cruise ship category.
  • AAA awarded Disney Cruise Line the “Preferred Partner of the Year designation for continued excellence in providing products and services to AAA and its members.

2006

  • Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line the “2005 Readers’ Choice Award” for the Most Family-Oriented Line.
  • Cruise Critic ranked the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder in the “Top 10 Overall Cruise Ships.” Disney Magic was ranked second, while Disney Wonder was third.
  • Cruise Critic also ranked the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the best onboard entertainment category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Vista Spa & Salon aboard Disney Cruise Line as the No. 4 cruise line spa in its Spa Poll.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line in their “2006 Condé Nast Traveler Cruise Poll,” ranking Disney Wonder in top categories for Crew/Service and Cabins.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line in their 12th annual 2006 “Gold List” in the transportation/cruise category.

2005

  • Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line 4th in its “The World’s Best” travel awards in the Top 10 Cruise Lines large ship category.
  • AAA Travel awarded Disney Cruise Line and The Walt Disney Travel Company with two out of its three “Preferred Partner of the Year” awards for AAA Vacations.
  • Disney Magazine’s “Reader’s Choice Awards,” named seeing a show at the Walt Disney Theatre as the favorite shipboard activity while Animator’s Palate was named as the favorite shipboard restaurant.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line No. 5 in the “Readers’ Choice Awards” Top 25 Cruise Lines in the large ship category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Vista Spa & Salon aboard Disney Cruise Line as No. 3 in its “World’s Best Spas at Sea” list.

2004

  • Porthole Cruise Magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” as Best Family-Oriented Line.
  • South Florida Parenting magazine readers awarded Disney Cruise Line with the magazine’s “Kids Crown Award.”
  • Family Travel Forum listed Disney Cruise Line in its “Top Ten Getaways for Tiny Travelers” list.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Wonder 8th and Disney Magic 19th in the “Best Cruise Ships in the World” large ship category.
  • Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line 6th in “The World’s Best” travel awards for the large ship category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line No. 5 in the “Readers’ Choice Awards” Top 25 Cruise Lines in the large ship category.
  • Cacique Award (Bahamas) recognized Disney Cruise Line as the “Cruise Line of the Year” – the highest honor for tourism in the Bahamas.

2003

  • Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line with the “Readers’ Choice Awards” as Best Family-Oriented Line.
  • AAA Travel awarded Disney Cruise Line the “2002 Preferred Cruise Partner of the Year” award under the service, product and marketing areas of criteria.
  • Disney Cruise Line won the title of “Best Marketing” amongst all cruise suppliers from AAA.  This award considers sales, training, promotional materials, support and brochures under the guidelines for evaluation.
  • Disney Cruise Line won the AAA award for achieving 100% satisfaction in the areas of Product Quality, Marketing Support and Overall Performance.
  • Cruise Reports awarded Disney Cruise Line the “Head of the Class” award for the top value rating and top combined score in resort category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line 6th in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” for the Top 25 Cruise Lines in the large ship category.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked the Disney Magic 8th and Disney Wonder 10th in the large ship category for the “Best Cruise Ships in the World.”

2002

  • Carlson Wagonlit Travel awarded the “Cruise Supplier of the Year” to Disney Cruise Line, under the criteria:  quality, value, quality of brochure, reservations performance, sales and sales support.
  • The Travel Channel listed Disney Cruise Line as the best family cruise line in its “World’s Best Cruises” show.
  • The Discovery Channel listed Disney Wonder as the 7th Wonder of America in its “Seven Wonders of America” show.
  • Porthole Cruise Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line the Best Family-Oriented Line in its annual “Readers’ Choice Gold Award.”
  • Bridal Guide magazine listed Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island paradise, as the “Top American Honeymoon Destination.”
  • Daily Express Newspaper awarded the Disney Magic as the “Best Family Ship,” in its cruise awards.
  • Condé Nast Traveler ranked Disney Cruise Line 5th in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” Top 25 Cruise Lines large ship category.
  • World Ocean & Cruise Liner Society named Disney Cruise Line “Best Cruise Value”
  • Travel + Leisure Magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line in its “The World’s Best” Top 10 Cruise Lines large ship category.

2001

  • Porthole Cruise Magazine ranked Disney Cruise Line in its “Readers’ Choice Gold Award” for Best Family-Oriented Line, the Most Innovative Dining Experience and Best Children’s Program.
  • Porthole Cruise Magazine also awarded Disney Cruise Line with the “Editor-In-Chief” award for Most Innovative Dining Experience.
  • Onboard Service Magazine awarded Disney Cruise Line the Overall Onboard Services Award, Tableware Diamond Award, Amenities Diamond Award and Equipment Sapphire Award.

2000

  • Sea Letter Cruise Magazine  recognized Disney Cruise Line in its “Readers’ Choice Awards” for Best Entertainment, Food, Midnight Buffet, Dining Room & Cabin Service, and Dance Clubs.
  • Onboard Services Magazine honored the signature stage show “Disney Dreams” with the Diamond award for the best onboard entertainment.

1999

  • Cacique Award (Bahamas) recognized Disney Cruise Line as the “Cruise Line of the Year” – the highest honor for tourism in the Bahamas.
  • Adults Only: 5 Activities for Adults on DCL (chipandco.com)
Disney Cruise Line Awards and Accolades
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Chip is the owner, editor, and writer of Chip and Company. When he is not writing about Disney News or Planning Tips, you will find him counting down the days to his next Disney Vacation.
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