Condé Nast Traveler Announces The Winners Of The 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards

The World’s Best Hotels, Resorts, Cities, Islands, Airlines, Airports and Cruise Lines Ranked

Condé Nast Traveler has unveiled the winners of its 31st annual Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines, airports, and cruise lines in the world. The Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry. This year, we received a recording-breaking number of responses from nearly half a million readers who rated their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how we travel today.

Condé Nast Traveler November issue cover. Captured on a Google Pixel 3.

The full list of winners, including more than a dozen galleries and web-only exclusives of the 50 Best Hotels in the World and 50 Best Resorts in the World, can be found here.

The 2018 results are all about comfort. Readers stayed closer to home than ever before, pushing more cities like Chicago, Charleston, and Nashville to the top of our lists. They favored the Caribbean and domestic islands in the southeast, like Hilton Head, Amelia, and Kiawah. The properties that impressed them most were smaller and less flashy than in years past, and our small-cruise-ship list is longer than it’s ever been, suggesting that the right kind of less is more. The world has changed in ways no one could have predicted, and so it stands to reason that how we get away from it all would, too. 

The 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards are celebrated in Condé Nast Traveler‘ November issue on newsstands October 16 and on online at www.cntraveler.com/rca.

Condé Nast Traveler Reveals the All-New 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards: The World’s Best Hotels, Resorts, Cities, Islands, Airlines, and Cruise Lines

Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 30th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines, airports, and cruise lines in the world. Over 300,000 readers submitted millions of ratings and tens of thousands of comments, voting on a record-breaking 7,320 hotels and resorts, 610 cities, 225 islands, 468 cruise ships, 158 airlines, and 195 airports–thereby creating our largest-ever list of Readers’ Choice Award winners. The Readers’ Choice Awards will be announced in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands nationwide on October 24, 2017. (The full list is published exclusively online, at www.CNTraveler.com/rca.)

Conde Nast Traveler (PRNewsFoto/Conde Nast Traveler)

THE 2017 READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS:

• Top Large and Small U.S. Cities: Chicago for the first time ever and Charleston, S.C., for the seventh year in a row!
• Top Hotel in the U.S.: Faena Hotel Miami Beach
• Top Resort in the U.S.: The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyo.
• Top Island in the U.S.: Hilton Head, S.C.
• Top Island in the World: Boracay, Philippines
• Top Hotel in Europe: La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa
• Top Hotel in South America: Fasano, São Paulo
• Top Airline in the World: Air New Zealand
• Top U.S. Airline: Virgin America
• Top U.S. Airport: Indianapolis (IND)
• Top Airport in the World: Singapore (SIN)
• Top Large Cruise Line: Disney Cruise Line
• Top Midsize Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises
• Top Small Cruise Line: Seabourn Cruise Line
• Top River Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises

HIGHLIGHTS

• 83 million tourists went to France in 2016, making it the most popular country in the world to visit.
• 12 new hotels that opened in 2017 have already made it into this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards.
• Colorado is so popular that it now has its own hotel and resorts lists.

NEW TRAVEL TRENDS

• The popularity of holistic spa resorts is on the up, especially those that tap into their local surroundings.
• We’re aching for simplicity when we travel. Instead of multidestination, run-around-see-everything spots, we’re looking to kick back, relax, and enjoy the place.
• Smaller airports and secondary cities are both more popular than ever.

Condé Nast Traveler Reveals The All-New 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards

The World’s Best Hotels, Resorts, Cities, Islands, Airlines, And Cruise Lines

Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 29^th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, airlines, and cruise lines in the world. Over 300,000 dedicated readers – nearly twice as many as last year — cast votes for 7,394 hotels, 606 cities, 500 cruise ships, 236 islands, in an average survey time of 8.4 minutes. The result? The 1,402 best travel experiences in the world.

Conde Nast Traveler November 2016 (PRNewsFoto/Conde Nast)

THE 2016 READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS:

• Top Large and Small U.S. Cities: New York City for the second year in a row and Charleston, S.C., for the sixth year in a row!
• Top Hotel in the U.S.: Virgin Hotels Chicago
• Top Resort in the U.S.: The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch, Saratoga, Wyoming
• Top Island in the World: Boracay, Philippines
• Top Hotel in Europe: Ballyfin, Co. Laois, Ireland
• Top Hotel in Asia: Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
• Top Hotel in South America: Hotel Unique, São Paulo
• Top Safari Camp: Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa
• Top Airline in the World: Singapore Airlines
• Top U.S. Airline: Virgin America
• Top Large Cruise Line: Disney
• Top Midsize Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises
• Top Small Cruise Line: Seabourn Cruise Line
• Top River Cruise Line: Grand Circle Cruise Line
• Top Beach Resort in Mexico: El Dorado Maroma, Playa del Carmen
• Top Beach Resort in the Caribbean: Le Sereno, St. Barths

HIGHLIGHTS

• 24 properties that appeared on our HOT LIST in May 2016 also made the RCA list: our readers are more engaged than ever.
• Smaller properties have grown their presence against the global hotel chains.
• The votes cast by leisure travelers outnumbered the ones by business travelers.

NEW TRAVEL TRENDS

• Luxury, all-inclusive resorts are for a wide cadre of travelers, not just couples.
• Caribbean properties are stronger than ever, despite recent health alarms.
• Italy cannot be beat.
• U.S. secondary cities are more popular than ever.
  

  Conde Nast Traveler Logo (PRNewsFoto/Conde Nast Traveler)

The Readers’ Choice Awards are announced in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, on newsstands nationwide on October 25, 2016. The full list is published exclusively online, at www.CNTraveler.com/rca.

Virgin America Named “Best U.S. Airline” In Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards For The Eighth Straight Year

Airline Celebrates By Launching New Inflight Streaming Partnerships With Spotify And The New York Times

Virgin America, the California-based airline known for reinventing flying, has today been named “Best U.S. Airline” in the coveted Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – for an unprecedented eighth year in a row. This year, over 128,000 readers of the premium travel magazine participated in the annual survey, continuing an award-winning streak for Virgin America, which has picked up this distinction every year since it started flying. The 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards will be reported in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

Virgin America logo. (PRNewsFoto/Virgin America)

Also today, Virgin America launches new inflight streaming partnerships with Spotify to provide access to the entire catalogue of over 30 million songs, and the New York Times to stream breaking news to guests’ personal devices for free onboard the airline’s new ViaSat WiFi-equipped aircraft through March 2, 2016.
“The influential readers of Condé Nast Traveler believed in our airline from day one and we are honored that they continue to count Virgin America as the ‘Best U.S. Airline’ for the eighth straight year,” said Virgin America President and Chief Executive Officer, David Cush. “Over 128,000 readers cast votes this year, making this is one of the largest and more prestigious independent travel surveys.  To win this award yet again, despite our growth over the years, is an incredible credit to our Teammates — who believe in the mission of this airline and who work every day to go above and beyond for our guests.  Despite having the best and most consistent product in the skies today, we are continuing to invest in next generation in-flight entertainment, innovative design and topnotch service. Our goal remains to create a different kind of airline — one that people not just tolerate, but actually love to fly with.”
In addition, the airline is offering a Double Points, Double Status Credits frequent flyer promotion on Virgin America flights for guests that book and fly by November 19, 2015. For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com.

Airbus 320, Vigin America, aircraft, jet, passenger transport, aerial, airliner, airline

Conde Nast Traveler Announces For The First Time Ever The Editors’ 100 Favorite Hotels In The World The 2015 Gold List: Redefined

Conde Nast Traveler has unveiled the newly reinvented Gold List.  For the first time ever, the 2015 Gold List was hand selected by Conde Nast Traveler editors, writers, and network of influencers. Consider this a response to the perennial question, “what are your favorite hotels in the world?”

A prerequisite for a Gold List property is a high standard of service, luxury, and beauty. Yet what earned each winner a spot on the list was the unforgettable special touches that bring a hotel’s ethos to life.  The housekeeper at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani who delivers a message to the tooth fairy after hearing a young guest has lost her tooth, the scent of lavender in the air at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, or the feeling of picking a mango from your balcony at Strawberry Hill in Jamaica.

“The result,” says Editor in Chief Pilar Guzman, “is a group-written love letter to the properties that inspire memories that linger long after we’ve left them. Like travel itself, the best hotel experiences often can’t be measured by a point system–they’re as ineffable as memory itself.”

The U.S. hotels on the 2015 Gold List are:
—  California
—  Ventana Inn & Spa, Big Sur
—  The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
—  Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles
—  Shutters on the Beach, Los Angeles
—  Sunset Tower Hotel, Los Angeles
—  Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, Ojai
—  Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, San Diego
—  Hotel Vitale, San Francisco
—  Florida
—  Metropolitan by COMO, Miami Beach
—  Hawaii
—  Halekulani, Oahu
—  Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Big Island
—  The Royal Hawaiian (A Luxury Collection Resort), Honolulu
—  Maine
—  Hidden Pond, Kennebunkport
—  Missouri
—  Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
—  New York
—  ACE Hotel New York
—  Lafayette House, NYC
—  The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel, NYC
—  The Mark, NYC
—  Trump SoHo, NYC
—  Rhode Island
—  Watch Hill Inn
—  Utah
—  Montage Deer Valley, Park City
—  Washington
—  Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

The 2015 Gold List is published in the January issue of Conde Nast Traveler, on newsstands December 23, 2014, and online at www.CNTraveler.com/reports/gold-list-2015

Conde Nast Entertainment Unveils Second Phase Of Digital Expansion

Conde Nast Entertainment (CNE) today unveiled the next phase of its digital expansion at its second annual Digital Content NewFront (organized by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)** which is comprised of more than 600 leading media and technology companies and responsible for selling 86% of online advertising in the United States). CNE, which launched its digital video network in March 2013 with GQ and Glamour channels, has built the network into a growing force with eleven iconic branded channels inspired by storied Conde Nast titles, and nearly a billion views to date.  The next phase of the division’s digital expansion includes the addition of three new branded channels to its network – Bon Appetit, The New Yorker and Lucky – the production of over 100 new and returning digital series across all channels, and the creation of THE SCENE, the industry’s first platform devoted to curating and showcasing premium digital-first video content.  The announcements were made by Dawn Ostroff, president, Conde Nast Entertainment.

Conde Nast Entertainment logo (PRNewsFoto/Conde Nast Entertainment )

The company attracts more than 95 million consumers across its twenty industry-leading print and digital media brands:  Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Brides, Self, GQ, The New Yorker, Conde Nast Traveler, Details, Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appetit, Epicurious, Wired, W, Lucky, Golf Digest, Golf World, Teen Vogue and Ars Technica.

According to Ostroff, “In just one year, CNE has set the industry standard for award-winning original video content that millions of influential millennials are watching and sharing. The addition of THE SCENE, which will feature content from all of our powerful branded channels and premium digital videos from leading traditional and digital media companies, will increase our reach to entirely new audiences.”

CNE’s digital video network has been widely recognized by the industry for the quality of its content including being honored with the company’s first Producers Guild of America Award, first Emmy nomination and fourteen Webby nominations this year. The network  is now widely available on over 25 platforms and devices including AOL, Yahoo, Roku, YouTube, Twitter, Dailymotion and Conde Nast’s brand sites.  Distribution is expected to continue to expand to more platforms and devices this year.

New CNE series debuting in 2014 include:

Allure
Cassandra To The Rescue – YouTube sensation Cassandra Bankson helps women tackle their insecurities and skin problems with makeup secrets and lessons in confidence.

Beauty Evolution – Top beauty insiders reveal the best moments – and not-so-best moments – of the most glamorous celebs on their journeys to becoming beauty icons.

Bon Appetit
I Effed It Up – Bon Appetit’s senior food editor, Dawn Perry, shares cooking techniques that will keep viewers from messing up their favorite dishes.

Cook Like A Pro – The country’s best chefs reveal the secrets to their most famous dishes.

Big Fat Weekend – Bon Appetit’s inimitable Andrew Knowlton bursts onto the scene of a new town in each episode and revels in the local food, drink and culinary indulgences.

Epicurious
1 Item 3 Ways – Viewers will learn how to take the seasonal food item of the moment and reinvent it in three unique and delicious recipes.

What’s In Your Bag? – Comedian Mike Kenton plays the most comically intrusive and revealing game with the residents of New York City – what’s in their grocery bags.

Epicuriousity – This visually lush and compelling docu-series explores the trends and personalities at the forefront of the artisanal food and wine movement in America.

Glamour
30 Things – From executive producers Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, this series presents the must-haves and must-knows for women on the cusp of, and beyond, the age of 30.

Glamour Documentaries – The next installment in the award-winning documentary series that brought viewers Screw You Cancer.

Golf Digest
Shanked – Outrgeous and hilarious pranks have finally made their way onto the golf course in this new hidden-camera comedy series.

Hungover Caddy – An animated series that follows the antics and shenanigans of an unruly caddy at the fanciest of country clubs.

GQ
45 Second Man – GQ’s new animated series demonstrates how to do everything – in style – with invaluable insight and expertise.

Most Expensivest Sh*t – Whether in good taste or totally over the top, this series looks at the most outrageously decadent toys of the rich and famous – the most expensivest sh*t known to man.

SELF
Rachel’s Rules – Nutrition expert Rachel Beller dissects the shocking reality behind the foods people think are healthy, and how to truly eat smart.

Treat Yourself – This series shows viewers how to enjoy a delicious indulgence without going up in jean size – the ultimate treat for every healthy food lover.

Style.com
In The Mood For – With her unrivaled style sensibility and hilarious irreverence, fashion blogger Leandra Medine (aka Man Repeller) demonstrates how to wear the hottest looks of the moment.

Beauty Icons – Celebrity makeup artist Kayleen McAdams transforms herself from glam squad team member to Hollywood icon, making every glamorous feature accessible and easy to achieve for viewers.

Teen Vogue
Bryanboy Goes To College – On a cross-country college tour, popular fashion blogger Bryanboy meets chic and stylish college students in this series that celebrates street style at the top of its class.

Strictly Ballet – This series presents an unprecedented, never-before-seen look inside the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center.

Get The Look – Teen Vogue’s Elaine Welteroth gives viewers the scoop on their favorite celebrities’ most iconic makeup moments straight from the source – speaking with their very own makeup artists who demonstrate how to achieve each look.

Vanity Fair
@VF Scandal – No one does scandal quite like Vanity Fair; this documentary series reveals the most salacious, scandalous and intriguing tales that exist, proving that when it comes to storytelling, it’s either Vanity Fair or it’s not.

Red Carpet Conversations – Red carpet footage like you’ve never seen it before – with irreverent lip reading that suggests a conversation between celebrities that you would never imagine.

Vogue
73 Questions – From director Joe Sabia comes a totally unique interview that takes us inside a celebrity’s home, where they’ll answer 73 very personal questions – on the spot.

Born Free – This gripping documentary series brings together top fashion designers with iconic photographer Annie Leibovitz as they embark on a quest to minimize the spread of HIV to children from infected mothers.

WIRED
Retro Grade – A gadget lab for antiquated and obsolete technology, this comic series offers tech demonstrations that viewers won’t believe were once possible.

Teen Technorati – Hundreds of thousands of dollars and a Thiel Fellowship await a select few teen inventors who are competing for the chance to develop their inventions.

Popular CNE series being renewed for 2014 include:

Glamour: Dressed to Kill, Elevator Makeover, The Single Life, Why Do Guys?, My Glamour Do

GQ: America’s Bartender

SELF: Girl vs. Sweat, Which is Worse?

Teen Vogue: Besties, Breakfast with Bevan, Get the Look, My Room Makeover: College Edition, Outfit of the Day

Vanity Fair: Vanity Code

Vogue: Vogue Weddings: The Dress, The Fashion Fund

WIRED: Angry Nerd, Codefellas, Design FX, The Window, What’s Inside

Further details on other new series and original programming will be announced closer to their launch dates. Teasers for the upcoming content can be found at their channel links below.

Allure’s Video Site: http://video.allure.com
Subscribe to Allure’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/Allure

Epicurious’ Video Site: http://video.epicurious.com
Subscribe to Epicurious’ YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/Epicurious

Glamour’s Video Site: http://video.glamour.com
Subscribe to Glamour’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/Glamour

Golf Digest’s Video Site: http://video.golfdigest.com
Subscribe to Golf Digest’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/Golfdigest

GQ’s Video Site: http://video.gq.com
Subscribe to GQ’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/GQ

SELF’s Video Site: http://video.self.com
Subscribe to SELF’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/SELF

Style.com’s Video Site: http://video.style.com
Subscribe to Style’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/Style

Teen Vogue’s Video Site: http://video.teenvogue.com
Subscribe to TeenVogue’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/TeenVogue

Vanity Fair’s Video Site: http://video.vanityfair.com
Subscribe to Vanity Fair’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/Vanityfair

Vogue’s Video Site: http://video.vogue.com
Subscribe to Vogue’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/Vogue

WIRED’s Video Site: http://video.wired.com
Subscribe to Wired’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/Wired

Crystal Cruises Wins 20th Year As Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Best Cruise Line

2013 Score is Highest of All Small, Midsize, and Large-Ship Cruise Lines

For a record 20th year, Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers have voted ultra-luxe Crystal Cruises the industry’s “Best Cruise Line” (Midsize).  Crystal’s winning score of 94.4 is the company’s highest since 2004, second highest ever, and highest overall score of all Small, Midsize, and Large-ship cruise lines.  Crystal significantly outranked its luxury peers in

Conde Nast Traveler 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards. (PRNewsFoto/Conde Nast Traveler)

almost all the voting categories, including Itineraries, Excursions, Service, Food, Activities/Facilities, and Design.  The line also bested its own previous top scores in the Service and Food categories, and tied its past personal best in Itineraries.  All Readers’ Choice winners and scores are listed at www.cntraveler.com/rca will be featured in the U.S. magazine’s November 2013 issue.

With ground-breaking enhancements to its vacation experience and $120 million invested in redesigns, while retaining the service, choices, and quality for which the line has been known, Crystal’s ratings have consistently climbed in recent years.

“To earn this award once is an incredible achievement; to be recognized by discerning travelers for an unprecedented 20 years is astounding,” said Edie Bornstein, Crystal’s new president and chief operating officer, who joined the company today.  “While I have long admired Crystal from afar, it was only when I recently sailed that I fully grasped why this experience receives such consistent accolades.  Every single member of the Crystal team works incredibly hard to give discerning vacationers a Six-Star standard of luxury travel that is unwavering, while leading new developments within cruising.  I want to personally thank all of Crystal’s crew, employees, associates, and guests for their part in this humbling, momentous win, and look forward to leading the company into the next two decades of record-breaking awards.”

The Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are among the most preeminent in travel, honoring the best hotels, airlines, cruise lines, cities, rental car companies, and islands from around the world.  Almost twice as many readers voted this year as last — a record 79,268 — ranking their personal experiences with cruise lines’ Itineraries, Excursions, Service, Food, Activities/Facilities, Staterooms, and Design.

Computer University at Sea® on Crystal Serenity

Crysal Serenity -North Cape Geiranger

Crystal Cheese Sommelier

All three of Crystal Cruises’ 2013 Mind, Body, and Spirit-themed cruises offer complimentary fitness classes, ranging from yoga and Pilates Reformer to Tai Chi and nutrition education. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

CRYSTAL CRUISES COMPUTER CLASSES

Crystal Cruises(TM) European-trained waiters stand at the ready to serve. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

Crystal Serenity – Crystal Spa & Salon Reception Area

Crystal Serenity in Sorrento, Italy

Crystal Serenity Stateroom with Balcony

Crystal Symphony in Antarctica. (PRNewsFoto/Crystal Cruises)

SeaHorse Pool on Crystal Symphony

Waiter Serving Afternoon Tea

The renowned Crystal Experience has been rated “World’s Best” more than any other cruise line, hotel, or resort in history.  The newest “Best” award is but the latest in a string of readers’ choice awards Crystal has won it its size category this year, including Conde Nast Traveler’s #1 and #2 cruise ships, Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Cruise Line and Service and Cruise Critic’s Best Dining, Entertainment, and Public Rooms.

Conde Nast Traveler Announces Winners of the 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards the “Best Of The Best” Of Travel

Conde Nast Traveler today announced the results of its 26th annual Readers’ Choice Awards, ranking the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and resorts in the world. This year, a record-breaking 79,268 readers participated in the survey, almost double the number of survey takers in 2012. These dedicated and discerning travelers cast 1.3 million votes for more than 16,000 properties around the world. The Readers’ Choice Awards are announced in the November issue of Conde Nast Traveler, on newsstands and online October 15, 2013.

Conde Nast Traveler 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards. (PRNewsFoto/Conde Nast Traveler)

The results? The most comprehensive “best of the best” travel awards ever. So many, in fact, that Conde Nast Traveler has introduced 15 new categories for popular destinations, including the Best Hotels in San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Charleston, and New Orleans, to name a few. In total, there are 1,351 winners of the 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards. Some list highlights:

— Top 100 in the World: It’s a tie for first place between La Residence in South Africa and Lodge at Kauri Cliffs in Maturi Bay, New Zealand, which both scored a near-perfect 99.2 on the Top 100.

— Top U.S. City: Charleston, South Carolina, is the No. 1 city in the U.S. for the third year in a row!

— Top U.S. Island: Maui is the top island in the U.S. for the 20th year in a row!

—  Top Hotel in Boston: XV Beacon.

—  Top Hotel in New York City: The Peninsula.

—  Top Hotel in Texas: Mokara Hotel & Spa.

—  Top Hotel in Chicago: Waldorf Astoria.

—  Top Hotel in Northern California: Auberge du Soleil.

—  Top Hotel in San Francisco: St. Regis.

—  Top Resort in Southern California: Resort at Pelican Hill.

—  Top Resort in Hawaii: Four Seasons Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu.

—  Top Resort in the Southwest: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa.

—  Top U.S.-Based Airline: Virgin America.

—  Top Small-Ship Cruise Line: Seabourn.

—  Top Midsize-Ship Cruise Line: Crystal Cruises.

—  Top Large-Ship Line: Disney.

—  Top River Cruise Line: Grand Circle Cruise Line.

Methodology: The Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey, begun in 1988, is available through a secure Web site at www.condenasttraveler.com/vote. This year’s tabulations of 79,268 responses were done by Equation Research.

Organization: The questionnaire contains lists of candidates in various categories (Cities, Hotels, etc.). Candidates must receive a required minimum number of responses to be eligible for a Readers’ Choice Award.

Evaluation: Individual candidates are judged on a set of criteria relevant to their category, based on a standard five-point scale: excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor. The percentage of excellent and very good ratings determines the final score published here. For example, in Baja, the One&Only Palmilla’s score of 97.2 represents the average of excellent and very good ratings it received from all respondents for all criteria relevant to resorts: Activities, Food/Dining, Location, Overall Design, Rooms, and Service.

For the complete list of 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards, visit www.cntraveler.com/RCA

CRYSTAL CRUISES’ SHIPS VOTED #1 AND #2 MEDIUM-SIZE SHIPS IN THE WORLD BY CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER READERS AS BEING AMONG THE TOP “100 BEST CRUISE SHIPS IN THE WORLD” FOR 2013 (Revised)

CRYSTAL CRUISES’ ultra-luxe CRYSTAL SYMPHONY and CRYSTAL SERENITY have been voted the #1 and 2 cruise ships, respectively, in the world (medium size category) by the refined readership of Condé Nast Traveler magazine (http://www.cntraveler.com/cruises/polls/2013/top-100-cruise-ships-in-the-world). With overall scores of 94.5 and 94 for CRYSTAL SYMPHONY and CRYSTAL SERENITY, respectively, the 2013 ratings mark the ships’  highest scores in five years, and are several points ahead of most every ship in the world.

Crystal Serenity at Sea (Courtesy: Crystal Cruises Media)

Crystal Symphony in New York City