Princess Cruises Bags 16 Wine Spectator Excellence Awards

Princess Cruises adds 16 Wine Spectator Excellence Awards to its trophy case

Princess Cruises has garnered 16 coveted Wine Spectator Award of Excellence honors for its 2025 program, according to a press release by Princess Cruises. The recognition, bestowed annually by the influential wine magazine, celebrates restaurants and hospitality venues that offer carefully curated wine lists, depth in both Old- and New-World selections, and knowledgeable service. For cruise guests, the awards translate into a promise that the line’s specialty restaurants and main dining rooms are serious about their cellars—and that the glass poured tableside will do justice to sea-day sunsets, Chef’s Table dinners or a simple pool-deck lunch.

What the Wine Spectator Excellence Award means for travelers

Wine Spectator’s awards are tiered (Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award) and are regarded throughout the hospitality industry as a benchmark of quality. To qualify, a venue must present a wine list of at least 90 well-chosen labels that pair appropriately with the menu, demonstrate regional breadth and offer solid depth in key varietals. Service staff must also be able to speak knowledgeably about the selections. For passengers planning their next voyage, the 16 awards indicate that Princess Cruises’ beverage team has invested heavily in procurement, storage and training. Whether sailing on a three-day West Coast sampler or a months-long World Cruise, oenophiles can expect menus that go far beyond the usual “house red” and “house white.”

A toast from the bridge

“We are thrilled that so many of our venues continue to meet Wine Spectator’s high bar,” the company said in the statement. Though the line kept its announcement brief, Princess has long touted a philosophy of pairing elevated cuisine with equally elevated wines. Its ships feature temperature-controlled cellars, onboard sommeliers and dining partnerships with noted culinary figures, all of which help secure a steady flow of accolades.

What this means for your onboard experience

1. Expanded by-the-glass options Travelers who prefer to sample a range of varietals without committing to a full bottle can look forward to more by-the-glass choices, often dispensed via Coravin or other preservation systems to ensure freshness. 2. Food-and-wine pairing events Award status usually translates into themed dinners, tasting flights and seminars led by the head sommelier or visiting vintners. Check the ship’s daily program; reservations often fill up within hours of embarkation. 3. Climate-controlled cellars at sea Maintaining optimal temperature and humidity while crossing the Tropics is no small feat. Princess has outfitted its newest vessels with vibration-dampening racks and smart-humidity monitoring so that each Pinot, Chardonnay or Super-Tuscan arrives at your table in peak condition. 4. Better availability of half bottles Couples who want the nuance of pairing different wines with successive courses will appreciate the line’s growing inventory of 375-milliliter formats.

Planning tips for wine-focused cruisers

• Reserve specialty dining early. Wine-centric venues and chef’s tables are often the first to sell out. Use the cruise line’s app or call once your voyage is paid in full. • Attend the embarkation-day wine expo. Many Princess itineraries kick off with a walk-around tasting, giving you a preview of what’s on offer for the week. • Budget for premium tastings. Most standard beverage packages cover wines up to a certain dollar amount; flagship Napa Cabs and aged Bordeaux may carry an upcharge. • Ask about regionally themed sailings. Trans-Atlantic repositionings and Pacific Coastal routes sometimes feature guest winemakers from Spain, France, Chile or California.

The wider cruise-industry context

While river lines have long promoted vineyard visits and onboard tastings, ocean ships are upping their game. Princess Cruises’ 16 Wine Spectator Excellence Awards place it among a small circle of major brands that can credibly claim wine expertise comparable to land-based fine-dining establishments. For travelers weighing itineraries, the award count can serve as a tiebreaker when comparing balcony prices or route maps.

• Princess Cruises’ haul of 16 Wine Spectator Excellence Awards signals serious commitment to quality wine programs and staff training. 

• Award criteria ensure depth, range and informed service—good news for anyone who plans vacation days around what is poured at dinner. 

• Reserve specialty dining ahead of time to secure a seat at wine-themed events, especially on peak-season sailings. 

• Review beverage package limits if you aim to sample high-end vintages without unwanted surprise charges. 

• Pair onboard tastings with port-side vineyard tours to extend the wine experience beyond the ship. 

Travelers increasingly demand that the culinary standards of a top hotel or metropolitan restaurant follow them onto the high seas. With recognition from Wine Spectator now attached to 16 of its venues, Princess Cruises offers reassurance to guests who equate a memorable voyage with an equally memorable glass of wine. — Source: Princess Cruises press release