The best cruises to take in 2020, according to Condé Nast Traveler
- Condé Nast Traveler just released its annual Gold List, which is a collection of editors' favorite travel experiences.
- The list included hotels, resorts, and cruises. Below are the top-rated cruise vacations to take next year.
- Athens, Greece is the most popular port on the list.
- The majority of featured ships were smaller and had more of a focus on luxury than a typical, traditional cruise ship.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
"Are you a cruise person?" is a question that encompasses several others: How comfortable are you with overcrowding? How much personal space do you need? How much money do you want to spend on a vacation?
Cruising doesn't always have the best reputation for a whole host of reasons – but it is also a preferred method of travel for many, especially as the industry takes a turn toward the luxurious.
Condé Nast Traveler just released its annual Gold List, a collection of hotels, resorts, and yes, cruises, that the editors recommend.
For the most part, the cruises selected by Condé Nast Traveler are high-end, luxury-oriented vacations with smaller or more boutique cruise lines. Only two featured ships had a carrying capacity over 1,000 passengers, and many had undergone recent renovations.
The routes selected also play into that luxurious narrative – only one route included Caribbean cruise hot spots, while other itineraries included less-traveled routes through French Polynesia or down the Nile River. Athens, Greece was crowned as a go-to spot: It was port city for three of the seven cruises included on the list.
Keep reading for a look at the cruise vacations that made the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, organized in ascending order of base price.
New Orleans round trip to the Caribbean on the Norwegian Getaway
Cruise line: Norwegian Cruise Line
Length of trip: 5 days or 7 days
Prices start at: $399 per guest on 5-day cruise, $599 per guest on 7-day cruise
The Norwegian Getaway sails from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean. Potential stops include Cozumel, Mexico; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and George Town, Grand Cayman. The ship docks back in New Orleans.
The Norwegian Getaway is the largest ship on this list – it's 1,068 feet long and can carry up to 3,963 guests. The ship, which boasts nearly 30 dining options and an original art collection, was refurbished this year.
Copenhagen, Denmark, to Stockholm, Sweden, on the Oceania Marina
Cruise line: Oceania Cruises
Length of trip: 10 days
Prices start at: $2,999 per guest
The Baltic cruise starts in Copenhagen and makes its way to eight cities, including Berlin, St. Petersburg, and Helsinki, before docking in Stockholm.
The ship has a carrying capacity of 1,250 and its nicest suites were furnished by Ralph Lauren. Off the ship, Oceania recently introduced local tour guides to its excursion offerings.
Papeete, Tahiti, to Auckland, New Zealand on the Crystal Serenity
Cruise line: Crystal Cruises
Length of trip: 14 days
Prices start at: $4,549 per guest
The Crystal Serenity is doing a two-week cruise through French Polynesia and the South Pacific, starting in Tahiti and stopping in Tonga and Fiji before docking in New Zealand.
The ship has been around for 17 years but just underwent a dramatic renovation in 2018. The re-design included the implementation of an open-plan dining space that eliminated the classic assigned seating trope found on traditional cruises as well as updated and expanded cabins. The renovations brought the ship's carrying capacity down 9% to 980 passengers.
Cairo round trip on the Viking Ra
Cruise line: Viking River Cruises
Length of trip: 12 days
Prices start at: $4,899 per guest
Viking, which specializes in river cruises, runs a 12-day program called "Pharaohs and Pyramids" that begins in Cairo and runs down the Nile River before returning to Cairo.
It is an intimate trip as the ship only accommodates 52 guests. The size ensures comfortable lodging for all guests – most cabins are equipped with balconies.
Lisbon, Portugal, to Athens, Greece, on the Seabourn Ovation
Cruise line: Seabourn
Length of trip: 14 days
Prices start at: $5,999 per guest
The Mediterranean cruise aboard the Seabourn Ovation departs from Lisbon, Portugal and stops multiple times in Spain, France, and Italy, before docking in Athens, Greece.
At 690 feet, the Seabourn Ovation is another small ship with 300 suites. The ship made its debut last year and was designed for a more intimate luxury experience. It is the fifth ship in Seabourn's fleet.
Istanbul, Turkey, to Athens, Greece, on the Regent Seven Seas Voyager
Cruise line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Length of trip: 8 days
Prices start at: $9,099 per guest
The trip starts in Istanbul and then stops in Ephesus before hitting several Greek hotspots including Rhodes, Mykonos, and Santorini before docking in Athens.
The Regent Seven Seas Voyager is a 9-deck ship that caps its carrying capacity at 700.
Mumbai, India, to Athens, Greece, on the Silversea Silver Spirit
Cruise line: Silversea Cruises
Length of trip: 26 days
Prices start at: $12,000 per guest
The Silver Spirit will stop at 14 ports in nine countries over its 26-day journey. The trip starts in Mumbai and will continue in ports like Dubai, Doha, Jerusalem, and Nazareth before docking in Athens.
The ship has a capacity of 608 and was just refurbished last year. The updates included a 50-foot pool deck and refreshed cabins.