The Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) 2026 Star Awards have officially marked a historic milestone, effectively dissolving the traditional boundaries between land and sea hospitality by awarding Five-Star ratings to cruise vessels and onboard dining venues for the first time in history.
​This achievement is underpinned by the rigorous methodology that has defined Forbes Travel Guide as the industry’s only independent, global rating system for luxury travel. The 2026 ratings were determined through a comprehensive, data-driven process designed to ensure total objectivity, where highly trained inspectors travel onboard as regular guests to experience the service without bias or special treatment. Each property is measured against up to 900 objective criteria, but the evaluation places a distinct emphasis on service-first performance; while facility quality is essential, 70% of the rating is based on service excellence—specifically the consistency, anticipation, and personalization of staff interactions. By maintaining this independent standard, where no rating can be purchased and no business relationship exists between the rated properties and the Forbes Travel Guide, the 2026 results serve as a definitive benchmark for the modern maritime traveler.
​2026 Cruise Award Winners: Defining Maritime Luxury
- ​Ilma (The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection) – Five-Star Cruise Ship – Ilma achieved this distinction as the first-ever Five-Star cruise ship in history due to its industry-leading employee-to-guest ratio and a deeply personalized service ethos. The yacht was recognized for its ability to deliver seamless, intuitive service that spans the entire guest journey—from initial reservation to final disembarkation—paired with sophisticated, terrace-equipped suites and an atmosphere of relaxed, ultra-luxury exclusivity.
- ​Le Voyage (Celebrity Xcel) – Five-Star Cruise Restaurant – Developed in partnership with world-renowned chef Daniel Boulud, Le Voyage became the first-ever restaurant at sea to earn Five Stars. It was honored for its technical culinary mastery, an expansive wine program featuring over 500 labels, and an elegant, immersive dining ambiance that matches the elite standards of top-tier restaurants in global capitals like Paris and New York.
​Editor’s Note
​The inclusion of cruise ships into the Forbes Star Award ecosystem is a clear signal: luxury at sea is no longer defined by size or opulent hardware, but by the ability to deliver “hyper-personalized” service consistently. For the discerning traveler, Ilma and Le Voyage prove that elite hospitality is now fully mobile and held to the same exacting standards as the world’s most prestigious land-based resorts.
Reference: Original reporting by Forbes Travel Guide
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