Princess Cruises Wine Spectator Awards 2025 headlines the latest cruise-industry success story. The premium line confirmed that every vessel in its 16-ship fleet earned Wine Spectator's 2025 Award of Excellence, cementing Princess as the most decorated cruise brand for onboard wine service. For travelers who equate a great vacation with a great glass, the news signals fleet-wide access to cellar-worthy labels, thoughtful pairings, and expert guidance while at sea.
Key Points
- Why it matters: fleet-wide recognition raises the bar for cruise-ship wine programs.
- All 16 ships earned Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence.
- 250-plus labels span France, Italy, Argentina, New Zealand, and emerging regions.
- Lists highlight biodynamic, organic, vegan, sustainable, and women-made wines.
- Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess joins 15 main dining rooms on the honor roll.
Princess Cruises Wine Spectator Awards 2025 Snapshot - How It Works
Wine Spectator's three-tier Restaurant Awards honor venues that integrate extensive, well-curated wine lists with quality cuisine and knowledgeable service. The entry-level Award of Excellence-bestowed on all 16 Princess dining rooms-demands at least 90 selections covering key regions and styles. Submissions include full lists, photos of storage conditions, and menu pairings. Editors vet entries for depth, balance, and pricing fairness before a judging panel casts final votes. Winners appear in the August print issue and in the magazine's searchable online database, giving travelers an easy way to verify credentials before booking.
Princess Cruises Wine Spectator Awards 2025 Background - Why It Matters
Shipboard wine programs once leaned on narrow, brand-driven portfolios. Princess began widening its lens a decade ago by hiring sommeliers from Michelin venues, investing in temperature-controlled lockers, and integrating destination-specific picks-Bordeaux on Atlantic crossings, Malbec on South America routes, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc when sailing New Zealand. The approach paid off in 2024, when 15 ships first claimed Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. Expanding the honor to the entire fleet in 2025 signals consistency across new-builds and older tonnage alike, reassuring guests that they can expect the same caliber list whether they board the 2004-built Caribbean Princess or the 2024-launched Sun Princess. For an industry still recovering from pandemic disruptions, accolades tied to service and quality help differentiate brands beyond price cuts and mega-ship bells and whistles.
Princess Cruises Wine Spectator Awards 2025 Latest Developments
A flurry of updates followed the June 26 announcement.
Fleetwide Recognition
Princess is the only Cruise line to secure 16 Awards of Excellence this year, outpacing wine-forward rivals such as Oceania and Viking by double digits. The breadth matters: travelers no longer need to cherry-pick a "wine ship." If a sailing fits their schedule, they can book with confidence that the vino will equal the views.
What Sets the Lists Apart
Each main dining room carries roughly 250 labels, with seasonal rotation to mirror itineraries. Old-World classics-from left-bank Bordeaux to Barolo-anchor the selections, while niche producers supply skin-contact Assyrtiko, natty Mosel Riesling, or low-alcohol pét-nat for trend-hunters. A third of the list sits below $60, curbing sticker shock. Princess also dedicates a page to women winemakers, spotlighting luminaries such as Susana Balbo and Helen Turley. Sustainability gets its own call-out, reassuring eco-conscious guests.
How Guests Can Sip Like Pros
Certified sommeliers staff every dining room; MedallionClass app users can scan bottle QR codes for tasting notes, aging windows, and pairing tips. Sea days often feature regional flights-think "Patagonian Pinot Noir" or "Mount Etna Reds"-hosted in Vines Wine Bar. For splurge seekers, the Love Lines Premium Liquors Collection offers celebrity collaborations like Taraji P. Henson's Moscato or Kylie Minogue's zero-alcohol sparkling rosé. Guests booking the Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess gain access to a separate reserve list with rare vintages served by Coravin, allowing by-the-glass pours of Super Tuscans and aged Napa Cabs.
Analysis
For travelers, the practical takeaway is value. Shore-side restaurants with comparable lists often charge corkage-plus-markup; Princess prices align with land-based retail, and the Premium Beverage Package covers many bottles up to $70. Wine-centric enrichment-blind tastings, Meet-the-Winemaker dinners-adds layers to itineraries already rich in port calls. The recognition also reinforces Princess's destination storytelling. Sipping a Sicilian Frappato while cruising past Mount Etna or a Marlborough Pinot in view of New Zealand's fjords turns a simple glass into an immersive experience. From a broader industry lens, fleet-wide accolades pressure competitors to elevate their beverage programs. Expect more Cruise lines to court boutique importers and certify larger sommelier teams. Travelers stand to benefit as sea-going cellars grow deeper and more adventurous. For now, Princess Cruises Wine Spectator Awards 2025 sets a new benchmark others will chase. (For more cruise-planning insight, see our Cabin Selection Guide.)
Final Thoughts
Princess Cruises Wine Spectator Awards 2025 confirms that fine wine no longer stops at the pier. Guests booking any Princess sailing can count on diverse, well-priced labels, expert service, and educational programming that rivals top land-based venues. To maximize the experience: reserve tastings early, consult the sommelier for hidden gems under $50, and splurge on at least one destination-themed wine flight. A thoughtful sip at sea now complements the line's signature "Love Boat" hospitality-proof that great vacations pair best with great pours.