U.S. News rates ‘best of’ in cruises, with some surprising (in a good way) results

Royal Caribbean, Disney and Crystal are among the leaders in the “best of” ratings in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Cruise Lines 2016 rankings.

Each year the magazine evaluates 15 cruise lines across six categories to help travelers make good choices. It ranks several bests: value for the money, plus best for families, for romance and for luxury. It also rates the best in the Caribbean and best in the Mediterranean.

For the third year in a row, Royal Caribbean tops the value for the money list, and Disney again is deemed best for families and best cruise line in the Caribbean. Regent Seven Seas takes top spot for Mediterranean cruises.

The magazine gave kudos to Royal Caribbean for keeping rates low and including many onboard activities in its prices.

The website shows three-night Bahamas sailings starting at $213 per person, and four-night Western Caribbean cruises starting at $342 per person (prices exclude tax and fees) -- each less than $100 per person per night.

For best value, Carnival came in second followed by Celebrity, Norwegian and Princess.

If you care more about the experience than how much you spend, Crystal Cruises would be a safe bet. The line took the top spots for romance and luxury.

The company made a big leap this year when it announced that three new ships would debut in 2017 and that it would enter the river cruise market too. Yachts and planes also have been added to its lineup.

Info: U.S. News & World Report Best Cruises 2016

ALSO

MSC Cruises partners with Cirque du Soleil for entertainment at sea

Five great places to see killer whales in the wild

Deal: Two Los Cabos hotels mark reopening with 40% discount on room prices