Cruise ships are the epitome of luxury travel, providing respite from a busy schedule and the opportunity to relax and unwind. A highlight of any voyage is the food and drink provided on board. The conditions of sea travel provide challenges for wine storage and service, and the sommeliers and restaurant teams that manage to maintain a high-quality wine experience deserve recognition. The category of Best Cruise Line / Ship Wine List enables Judges to highlight the most outstanding wine lists of vessels large and small. As with other restaurant settings, the lists are assessed by the criteria of breadth, depth, height, balance, selection, accuracy, originality, suitability, design, and value.
Best Cruise Line/ Ship Wine List
The World, Residences at Sea - Global Winner 2021
The World is the largest private residential ship in the world, on which its residents can travel the globe. A diverse group of residents from over 20 different countries own the homes on board and share interests in world cultures, history, and adventure, and exploring fascinating destinations. They circumnavigate the globe every two to three years following an extraordinary itinerary that they select.
The ship is equipped with high-end facilities and luxurious amenities, offering residents the option to dine in one of the Ship’s six restaurants, or have a meal prepared in their own private residence, complemented by an extensive wine list of over 1,400 selections hand-picked from 19 countries and a wine cellar holding over 16,500 bottles. The World’s Beverage Manager and Head Sommelier welcomes select winemakers aboard the ship, where they discuss topics such as wine production and pairing with the residents. World of Fine Wine Judges noted ‘this is a great wine list throughout … they have done a fabulous job’ recognising that ‘logistics for a list of that calibre is never easy, let alone on a ship.’
Contact Address: 1551 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale 33323
Global and Regional Winners - Best Cruise Line/Ship Wine List 2020
Australasia 2020
The Glass House, P&O Cruises - Regional Winner
The Glass House restaurant at P&O Cruises is headed up by the irrepressible, award-winning wine expert and P&O Cruises Food Hero, Olly Smith, The Glass House is the perfect location for a light bite, lunchtime tipple, afternoon apéritif or a tastefully informal evening out. And if guests are looking to match their chosen wine with their food they’ve picked the perfect place, as they’ll find helpful pairing suggestions in the menu. The entire range of Glass House fizz is available by the glass or bottle and will be served perfectly chilled. Whether you’re after a bargain bubbly or a splash out celebration, The Glass House has the perfect glass for you.
North America 2020
The World, Residences at Sea - Global Winner
The World, Residences at Sea is the largest private residential ship in the world, on which its residents can travel the globe. With a continuous worldwide itinerary the ship spans the globe every two-to-three years. The ship is a complete floating city equipped with high-end facilities and luxurious amenities offering residents the option to dine in one of the Ship’s six restaurants, or have a meal prepared in their own private residence, The World’s master chefs prepare global cuisine with the freshest local ingredients, unmatched passion, creativity, and enthusiasm. The ship has an extensive wine list of over 1,100 selections hand-picked from 19 countries and a wine cellar holding over 14,000 bottles. The World’s Beverage Manager and Head Sommelier welcomes select winemakers aboard the ship, where they discuss topics like wine production and pairing with the residents. When curating wines from new destinations the preferences and tastes of The World’s residents are a top consideration of the Head Sommelier. To extend the experience onshore, the Culinary Team often arranges exclusive visits and dinners at notable vineyards, some of which have not opened their doors to visitors in years. World of Fine Wine Judges noted 'this is a great wine list throughout ... they have done a fabulous job' recognising that 'logistics for a list of that calibre is never easy, let alone on a ship.'
South & Central America/ Caribbean 2020
Grand Dining Room on Oceania Cruises - Regional Winner
The Grand Dining Room on Oceania Cruises is a study in stateliness, a tribute to the spirit of Europe’s marquee five-star hotel restaurants that inspired its dignified yet convivial ambience. Handsomely decorated in rich woods, designer tapestry fabrics and oversized armchairs, the expansive dining area exudes classic splendour. The restaurant offers some of the finest dining at sea because they select only the best ingredients and use the most talented chefs from around the globe. In galleys evoking those in Michelin-starred restaurants, the gifted chefs create culinary masterpieces. The Grand Dining Room experience has always offered a bevy of delicious Continental dishes, as well as a range of global flavours and an all new Executive Chef’s Tasting Menu.
Middle East & Africa 2020
Princess Cruises - Regional Winner
Princess Cruises sail to 380 destinations in seven continents, with their restaurants offering menus using the fresh regional cuisines of the countries they visit. Guests are invited to savour sauces made from scratch, breads baked fresh, and homemade ice cream created every day. Princess Cruises is setting high standards for one of the best wine lists in the cruise industry, offering a total of 142 wines, all carefully selected in partnership with Master of Wine and Master Sommelier Doug Frost. The Princess Cruises beverage team, along with Frost, established a new wine philosophy that centres on exploration, discovery and enrichment. With quality and global diversity in mind, the new wine menu, available in the main dining rooms fleet wide, is also approachable, with two-thirds of the wine list at around $50 or less. Descriptions on the list also make it easy for occasional wine drinkers to select. For example, white wines are designated as “refreshing,” “light and mild,” “fruity and vibrant” and “rich and textured.” Guests can also enjoy 20 high-end and spirits, some of which reflect the cruise line’s exotic destinations, and 17 international and craft beers, as well as 39 wines by the glass, also inspired by the cruise line’s itineraries.
Australasia 2020
The Glass House, P&O Cruises - Regional Winner
The Glass House restaurant at P&O Cruises is headed up by the irrepressible, award-winning wine expert and P&O Cruises Food Hero, Olly Smith, The Glass House is the perfect location for a light bite, lunchtime tipple, afternoon apéritif or a tastefully informal evening out. And if guests are looking to match their chosen wine with their food they’ve picked the perfect place, as they’ll find helpful pairing suggestions in the menu. The entire range of Glass House fizz is available by the glass or bottle and will be served perfectly chilled. Whether you’re after a bargain bubbly or a splash out celebration, The Glass House has the perfect glass for you.
North America 2020
The World, Residences at Sea - Global Winner
The World, Residences at Sea is the largest private residential ship in the world, on which its residents can travel the globe. With a continuous worldwide itinerary the ship spans the globe every two-to-three years. The ship is a complete floating city equipped with high-end facilities and luxurious amenities offering residents the option to dine in one of the Ship’s six restaurants, or have a meal prepared in their own private residence, The World’s master chefs prepare global cuisine with the freshest local ingredients, unmatched passion, creativity, and enthusiasm. The ship has an extensive wine list of over 1,100 selections hand-picked from 19 countries and a wine cellar holding over 14,000 bottles. The World’s Beverage Manager and Head Sommelier welcomes select winemakers aboard the ship, where they discuss topics like wine production and pairing with the residents. When curating wines from new destinations the preferences and tastes of The World’s residents are a top consideration of the Head Sommelier. To extend the experience onshore, the Culinary Team often arranges exclusive visits and dinners at notable vineyards, some of which have not opened their doors to visitors in years. World of Fine Wine Judges noted 'this is a great wine list throughout ... they have done a fabulous job' recognising that 'logistics for a list of that calibre is never easy, let alone on a ship.'
South & Central America/ Caribbean 2020
Grand Dining Room on Oceania Cruises - Regional Winner
The Grand Dining Room on Oceania Cruises is a study in stateliness, a tribute to the spirit of Europe’s marquee five-star hotel restaurants that inspired its dignified yet convivial ambience. Handsomely decorated in rich woods, designer tapestry fabrics and oversized armchairs, the expansive dining area exudes classic splendour. The restaurant offers some of the finest dining at sea because they select only the best ingredients and use the most talented chefs from around the globe. In galleys evoking those in Michelin-starred restaurants, the gifted chefs create culinary masterpieces. The Grand Dining Room experience has always offered a bevy of delicious Continental dishes, as well as a range of global flavours and an all new Executive Chef’s Tasting Menu.
Middle East & Africa 2020
Princess Cruises - Regional Winner
Princess Cruises sail to 380 destinations in seven continents, with their restaurants offering menus using the fresh regional cuisines of the countries they visit. Guests are invited to savour sauces made from scratch, breads baked fresh, and homemade ice cream created every day. Princess Cruises is setting high standards for one of the best wine lists in the cruise industry, offering a total of 142 wines, all carefully selected in partnership with Master of Wine and Master Sommelier Doug Frost. The Princess Cruises beverage team, along with Frost, established a new wine philosophy that centres on exploration, discovery and enrichment. With quality and global diversity in mind, the new wine menu, available in the main dining rooms fleet wide, is also approachable, with two-thirds of the wine list at around $50 or less. Descriptions on the list also make it easy for occasional wine drinkers to select. For example, white wines are designated as “refreshing,” “light and mild,” “fruity and vibrant” and “rich and textured.” Guests can also enjoy 20 high-end and spirits, some of which reflect the cruise line’s exotic destinations, and 17 international and craft beers, as well as 39 wines by the glass, also inspired by the cruise line’s itineraries.