Awards

Since founding modern yacht cruising in 2001, SeaDream Yacht Club has received numerous awards, honors, and accolades from authoritative travel publications, prestigious industry organizations, and valued past guests. In the last few years alone, we have topped the lists of USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for both “#1 Best Boutique Cruise Line” and “#1 Best Small Cruise Ship”; Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards; Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards; Cruise Critic Editor’s Picks; Forbes; Fodor’s Travel Best Bets; Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships “Top 5 Boutique Ship Cruise Lines”; the World Cruise Awards and the Grand Travel Awards. Examples of awards and accolades include:

2025

• USA Today 10 Best: #1 Best Boutique Cruise Line
• Grand Travel Awards: Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award – SeaDream founder Atle Brynestad
• Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships (former Berlitz):  Top Rated Boutique Ships (SeaDream I and SeaDream II)

2024

• World Cruise Awards: World’s Best Cruise Ship For Romance (SeaDream I)
• Luxury Travel: Gold List - Luxury Ocean Cruise Brand
• Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards: Small Ships (Fewer than 500 guests)
• USA Today 10 Best: Best Boutique Cruise Line
• Global Traveler Award: Best Luxury Cruise Line
• Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships (former Berlitz):  Top Rated Boutique Ships (SeaDream I and SeaDream II)
• Wine Enthusiast: Wine Enthusiast's Best Cruise Beverage Programs 2024
• Grand Travel Award: Best Cruise Line – Small Ships (Under 1000 guests)

2023

• Condé Nast Traveler 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards: Winner, Small Ships
• World Cruise Awards 2023: World’s Best Small Cruise Ship (SeaDream II)
• World Cruise Awards 2023: World’s Best Ship for Romance (SeaDream I)
• Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships (former Berlitz):  Top Rated Boutique Ships (SeaDream I and SeaDream II)
• Grand Travel Award: Best Cruise Line – small ship (under 1000 passengers)
• USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards: #1 Best Small Cruise Ships, according to readers

• USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards: #1 Best Boutique Cruise Lines in the World

   

2022

• Global Traveler magazine 2022 Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Winner’s Circle- Best Luxury Cruise, Winner’s Circle- Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
• USA TODAY 2022 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Boutique Cruise Line Top 10
• TRAVEL + LEISURE 2022: The 10 Best Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Lines: Top 5

• M&A Today – Global Awards – 2022: Luxury Yachting Experience of the Year – Norway

   

2021

• CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER Readers’ Choice Awards: #7 SeaDream Yacht Club : Small Ship category
• Cruisetruth.com Best at Sea Award: #1 The cruise you want when your own yacht is tied up
• Cruisetruth.com Best at Sea Award: #1 The warmest/most sincerely friendly crew
• Cruisetruth.com Best at Sea Award: #2 The best itineraries at sea for those seeking a float through paradise
• BRIDES Magazine: The Top 10 Cruise Lines of 2021
• Fodors Travel, Best Bets: Best Small Ships – SeaDream I, SeaDream Yacht Club
• Mundy Cruising (UK): 10 of the best small cruise ships at sea: #1 & #2 SeaDream I & II
• Stern’s Guide to the Cruise Vacation:  Category A-five+ stars
• The Points Guy: The 5 best cruise lines for romance
• Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: Top 10 Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines #7
• Travel Daily: The top cruise lines for romance
• TravelAge West WAVE Awards: Editor’s Pick: Small-Ship Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
• TripSavvy: Best Yacht Cruise: 8 Best Luxury Cruise Lines of 2021

2020

• Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships: SeaDream I and SeaDream II rated 4 star and #4 SDYC in the Top 20 Boutique Ship cruise lines
• CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER Readers’ Choice Awards: The best cruise lines in the world 2020. • SMALL SHIPS: 14
• Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 Best Luxury Cruise Line
• Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
• Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: Top 10 Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines in 2020: #4
• TravelAge West WAVE Awards: Best Small-Ship Line: Editor’s Pick: SeaDream Yacht Club
• Travvy Awards: Best Cruise Ship – Small: SeaDream I (Silver medal)

2019

• Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships: SeaDream I ranked #1 in Boutique Ships category and #3 overall
• Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships: SeaDream II ranked in Top 5 in Boutique Ships category and Top 10 overall
• Cruise Critic US & UK: Best Luxury Cruise Line for Romance
• Travel Weekly Australia The Travel Awards: Small Cruise Line of the Year
• Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award: Best Golf Cruises – Yachts
• CruiseTruth.com: The Warmest/Most Friendly Crew
• CruiseTruth.com: #2 in The Best Island Itineraries at Sea
• Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 Best Luxury Cruise Line
• Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
• Signature Luxury Travel & Style Best of the Best Luxury Cruise Awards: Top 3 for Best Ocean Ships (less than 250 passengers), Best Suites, Best Wellness, Best Service, Best Itineraries, Best Dining and Best Shore Tours.
• Trip Savvy:Best Yacht Cruise
• Departures Magazine Legend Awards: Best Luxury Cruise Lines – Yacht Cruising

2018

• Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards: Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines
• Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards (UK): Top 5 Small Ship Cruise Lines
• Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships: Top 5 Best Boutique Ships
• Signature Luxury Best of the Best Luxury Cruise Awards: Best Wellness Programs for Boutique Ships
• Signature Luxury Best of the Best Luxury Cruise Awards: Top 3 Best Boutique Ships
• Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 Best Luxury Cruise Line
• Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards: Top 10 Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
• CruiseTruth.com Best at Sea Luxury Awards: The Warmest/Most Friendly Crew
• CruiseTruth.com Best at Sea Luxury Awards: #2 in The Best Itineraries at Sea
• CruiseTruth.com Best at Sea Luxury Awards: The Most Yacht-Like Cruise Experience
• Travvy Awards: Awarded Silver for Best Cruise Ship, Small
• Kreuzfahrt Guide Awards: Best Service
• Cruise Critic UK Editor’s Picks Awards: Luxury Category, Best Dining

2017

• Town & Country Cruise Awards: SeaDream Yacht Club awarded Best Fitness Itineraries
• American Airlines’ Celebrated Living Magazine Platinum List Award Winner, 2017
• Signature Luxury: Boutique Cruise Ship Award
• CruiseTruth.com: The Best Island Itineraries at Sea
• CruiseTruth.com: The Most “Yacht-Like” Experience at Sea
• CruiseTruth.com: The Warmest/Most Friendly Crew at Sea
• Travvy Awards-Silver: Best Cruise Ship, Small
• Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships: “#1 and #2 in Best Boutique Ship”
• Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships: Listed Top 5 in the Best for Food Category
• Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards: Top 5 Small-ship Ocean Cruise Lines
• Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards (UK): Top 5 Small Ship Cruise Lines

2016

• Kreuzfahrt Guide Awards 2016: Best Cruise Ship of the Year for Service
• Andrew Harper Readers’ Choice Awards: “Best Cruise Lines”
• Dream Luxury Cruises Vencedor Awards: “World’s Best Small Cruise Ship”
• 2016 Celebrated Living Platinum List: Best Boutique Cruises Worldwide
• World of Fine Wine Magazine: Star Awarded – “World’s Best Wine List Awards 2016”
• BRIDES Best Honeymoons Awards: “Top Cruise Line for Couples”
• Golf Digest Editor’s Choice Awards: SeaDream Yacht Club named among “Best Golf Cruise Lines”
• Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice (UK): Top 5 Small Cruise Lines

2015

• Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards: SeaDream Yacht Club ranked number four in the “Small Ships” category with a score of 85.756
• Virtuoso Travel: “Best Niche Cruise Line”
• Travel Channel: “Best Caribbean Cruise for 2015”
• Islands: “Best Summer Cruises”
• USA TODAY: “Top Cruise Ship Crews”
• ForbesLife: SeaDream Yacht Club named “Best Small Luxury Cruise Ship of 2015”
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream Yacht Club was named one of the five “Best Lines for Foodies”
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream I & II achieved Five Star ratings in the ‘Boutique Ships’ category (50 – 250 passengers).

2014

• Condé Nast Traveler Gold List: SeaDream named top Ocean cruise.
• Newsweek’s Best of the Best Places to Visit in 2014: SeaDream I is recognized as “Cruise of the Year” by travel writer Andrew Harper.
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream I & II scored in the top three ratings in the ‘Boutique Ships’ category (50 – 250 passengers).
• Bon Voyage Awards: SeaDream Yacht Club was named “Best for Couples”

2013

• Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards: SeaDream earns the highest score for cuisine in the small ships category and also places as one of six “Best in the World” small ship lines.
• Travel + Leisure: SeaDream earns recognition as one of the best all inclusive cruises by expert cruise writer Fran Golden.
• Condé Nast Traveler Spa Poll: SeaDream earns a place on the list of the “Top 25 Cruise Ship Spas.” Of the 25 spas named, SeaDream came in #1 for Spa Staff and #2 for Treatments. Readers who participated in the poll visited a total of 46,352 hotel, resort and cruise ship spas.
• Fox News: The major news media outlet ranks SeaDream as one of the “Top 10 Cruise Lines.”
• Chicago Tribune: Chicago’s daily newspaper features SeaDream as one of the “Ten Best Luxury Cruise Ships Afloat.”
• Cruise Critic: SeaDream named 2013 top luxury line.
• Cruise International Awards: SeaDream recognized as “Best Specialist Cruise Line.”
• Cruise Report Editor’s Choice Awards: SeaDream named “Best Small Ship Luxury Cruise.”
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream I & II achieved the top two ratings in the ‘Boutique Ships’ category (50 – 250 passengers).
• The Telegraph: SeaDream’s October 2013 Adriatic voyage named one of the six best short luxury cruises.

2012

• Condé Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards: SeaDream Yacht Club landed a spot on the list of the “Top 25 Cruise Lines,” placed among few others in the “Top Small Ship Lines” category.
• Condé Nast Traveler Annual Readers’ Survey: SeaDream is named one of “Top 270 Spas in North America, the Caribbean, Hawaii and at Sea.” The survey includes the “Top 25 Cruise Ship Spas” with SeaDream scoring 91.4 for both treatments and staff.
• Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: SeaDream placed on the short list of “World’s Best Service” for Cruises (Small-Ship). Only three ships were awarded in each of the three size categories. SeaDream scored in the top percentile, at 94.82.
• National Geographic “Ten Best of Everything”: The ultimate guide for travelers, this third edition of the colorful 480 page book named SeaDream Yacht Club as one of the “10 Best Cruises.”
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream I & SeaDream II achieved the top two ratings in the ‘Boutique Ships’ category (50 – 200 passengers). The SeaDream mega-yachts’ rating – out of a possible 2,000 points – were 1,788 points for SeaDream II and 1,786 points for SeaDream I.

2011

• Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards: SeaDream I & SeaDream II named the “World’s Best Small Ships”. SeaDream’s total score of 88.94 was higher than every other cruise line of any size.
• Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards: SeaDream I is ranked number one for service in the Small Ship category.
• Frommer’s Guide to Cruises and Ports of Call 2011: SeaDream earns number one spot in “Notable Ships” category.
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream Yacht Club earns the title of “Simply the Best” in the “small or boutique” ship category.

2010

• Kreuzfahrt Guide (Germany): SeaDream Yacht Club’s twin mega-yacht cruisers, SeaDream I & II, were awarded “Number One for Service” for the second year in a row by the authoritative German guidebook. The award was presented at ITB (International Tourism Bourse) Berlin, one of the world’s leading and largest travel industry trade shows.
• Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships: SeaDream was described by this authoritative guidebook as “Ultimately Exclusive Boutique Vessels.” Both mega-yachts ranked as two of the top three passenger vessels in the world, earning Five Stars and topping 10 contenders in the boutique ships (50 to 200 passengers) category.
• Porthole Magazine 2010: SeaDream Yacht Club was named “Best Passenger Yacht Experience” in the Editor-in-Chief Awards of Porthole Magazine, a sophisticated, international consumer cruise publication.

There have been many such commendations for SeaDream since its founding in 2001. These have come publications and organizations such as Travel + Leisure Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, The Zagat Survey 2009, Cruise Critic 2009, Prow’s Edge Cruise Magazine, VERYBEST.COM, Celebrated Living magazine, Cruise Magazine UK, Virtuoso Ltd., Kapital Magazine Germany, Seven Seas Society, Cruise Report.Com, Carlson Marketing Group, Hideaways International, Travel Agent Magazine and Travel Weekly.