Princess Cruises Claims Top Honour in Condé Nast Traveler 2026 Readers' Choice Awards

## Princess Cruises Tops Condé Nast Traveler 2026 Readers' Choice Rankings Princess Cruises has secured the top position in the Mega Cruise Ship category of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, the Fort Lauderdale-based cruise line announced on October 6, 2026. The accolade, one of the travel industry's most closely watched consumer recognition programmes, places Princess Cruises ahead of its major competitors in the mega-ship segment. The line's Sphere Class vessels — **Sun Princess** and **Star Princess** — were specifically cited as earning top honours from the publication's readership. The Sphere Class represents Princess Cruises' most ambitious newbuild programme in recent years, with the ships introducing a new architectural concept centred around the 'Sphere' — a multi-deck entertainment and dining hub positioned at the heart of each vessel. The class signals a broader industry trend toward experiential design, as cruise operators compete to differentiate their products in an increasingly crowded premium market. 'Being named the #1 Mega Cruise Ship by Condé Nast Traveler readers is a tremendous honour,' Princess Cruises stated in its announcement, according to PR Newswire. The line attributed the recognition to its ongoing investment in onboard experience and fleet innovation. ### Industry Context The Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards carry significant commercial weight in the cruise sector, influencing consumer booking decisions and reinforcing brand positioning. For Princess Cruises, which operates as part of the Carnival Corporation portfolio, the recognition comes at a time when the wider cruise industry continues its post-pandemic capacity expansion, with multiple major operators taking delivery of large-format newbuilds. The Sphere Class ships, each exceeding 175,000 gross tonnes, place Princess firmly in the ultra-large cruise vessel segment — a category that has seen intense competition from Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line in recent years. The 2026 award underscores growing passenger appetite for large-scale, resort-style cruise experiences, a trend that is reshaping fleet investment strategies across the industry.