Royal Caribbean was named Best Cruise Line at the 2019 Elliott Advocacy Readers' Choice Customer Service Awards, an annual recognition of companies that offer outstanding customer support and service.

The top five cruise lines were:

1. Royal Caribbean
2. Viking
3. Disney
4. Carnival
5. Celebrity

For 2019, readers of Elliott Advocacy, a leading consumer advocacy site, nominated and voted for their favorite companies in 16 categories ranging from airlines to wireless service providers.

Royal Caribbean also won the honor in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Forbes announced today that Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been named to the America's Best Employers for Diversity 2019.

Forbes and research firm Statista surveyed 50,000 American employees in companies that have at least 1,000 employees.  Survey questions focused on diversity with respect to gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and ability. Other components of the ranking included gender diversity among top executives and the board of directors, and the company's proactive communication about diversity.

"I am extremely pleased that Forbes has recognized Royal Caribbean as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity," said Laura Miller, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer for  Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "This recognition would not be possible without our employees. As one of the world's largest cruise companies, we are committed to our over 75,000 talented and devoted employees representing nearly 200 countries.  We will continue to focus and demonstrate the importance of diversity and inclusion both on shore and at sea."

Royal Caribbean was named the “Best Cruise Line Overall” and “Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean” in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards for the sixteenth year in a row.

At the 2018 awards ceremony, Royal Caribbean also won “Best Cruise Line Sales & Service” for the eleventh year in a row. In addition, Royal Caribbeantook home the “Best Entertainment” award, while Harmony of the Seas was named“Best Overall Individual Cruise Ship” – both honors received for the second consecutive year.

“All year, we make it a point to hear from and collaborate with our travel partners – their feedback is invaluable. Sweeping the top cruise categories in Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards is such an honor and a testament to the powerful relationships we have with advisors,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president, Sales, Trade Support and Service, Royal Caribbean International. “Being recognized as ‘Best Cruise Line Overall’ and ‘Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean’ since the inception of the awards, as well as the best in sales and service, entertainment and individual ships year after year shows our connections with the community continue to build. We thank Travel Weekly and our valued advisors for their ongoing support, and will continue to deliver on our commitment and promise to seeing them succeed.”

Travel Weekly recognized the honorees at its sixteenth annual Readers’ Choice Awards held at the Conrad New York. Winners were selected in 78 categories in the airline, car, hospitality, rail, GDS, agent education, tour, cruise, destination, loyalty program and theme park sectors. The awards are presented to suppliers considered by Travel Weekly readers who led the way in product and service during the past year.

Royal Caribbean came away with a few awards from the 11th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards.

Royal Caribbean was the winner in the following categories:

Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

"Royal Caribbean continues to entertain with original Broadway-style productions, parades and now, laser tag. State-of-the-art technology, including drones, has enhanced new shows in the skating rink as well as with amusements like Sky Pad, a bungee-trampoline experience that also employs virtual reality. And as always, you can still surf, slide and fly (by zipline or skydive simulator) onboard many of Royal Caribbean's ships."

Best Ship Refurbishment: Mariner of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International

"Royal Caribbean invested $120 million into the refurbishment of Mariner of the Seas and the results are astounding. From the bright yellow globe at the top of the ship that houses the virtual reality trampoline experience Sky Pad to the addition of two restaurants, two bars, FlowRider surf simulators, the Perfect Storm water park and an escape room, Mariner's got plenty to keep you entertained."

Best Suites: Royal Caribbean International

"The lavishness of Royal Caribbean's top cabins as well as their inclusiveness and variety -- some ships offer up to a dozen suite categories -- can't be beat by any other mainstream cruise line. Just imagine, suites as deluxe as luxury penthouses. Royal Caribbean's got them. And this year, the line even introduced the Ultimate Family Suite, a visual marvel complete with a bedroom-to-living room slide."

Royal Caribbean reached a new milestone with its induction into TTG Travel Awards’ Travel Hall of Fame.  After winning the “Best Cruise Operator” Award for 10 consecutive years, the cruise line was honored to be added to the Hall of Fame at the 29th Annual TTG Travel Awards 2018 ceremony in Bangkok this evening.

Angie Stephen, Managing Director, Asia Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. who accepted the award said, “This is a very proud moment for Royal Caribbean that we wish to share with all our supporters. We are not resting on our laurels however, as we continue to live up to and deliver our award-winning cruise experience and service, by bringing our best ships such as Spectrum of the Seas to the region next year for our customers and agents.”

Royal Caribbean has consistently won the “Best Cruise Operator” Award for offering the best product, services and facilities. 

Royal Caribbean International was named "Best Cruise Operator, International" and "Best Cruise Operator, Domestic" at the AFTA National Travel Industry Awards 2018. 

The annual event was held on Saturday night, and since 2005, Royal Caribbean has received the Best Cruise Operator award nine times.

“We are so grateful to our travel agent partners for their incredible and unrelenting support, year after year,” said Kathryn Valk, Director of Marketing and Sales, Royal Caribbean International Australia and NZ. “We’ll never stop bringing our guests the industry’s most adventure-packed cruise holidays, with some of the best dining, entertainment and accommodations in the world, and we’ll continue coming up with innovative ways to work seamlessly with our agents.”

Royal Caribbean was recently honored with two distinctions that honor the terrific work the heads of the cruise line engage in throughout the year.

Royal Caribbean International was honored for its contributions to the communities and environment in which it operates by winning the Humanitarian of the Year Award. President and CEO Michael Bayley was in attendance to receive the award on behalf of the company.

The South Florida nonprofit, Samuel M. & Helene Soref Jewish Community Center (JCC), recognized Royal Caribbean's efforts during last year's unprecedented hurricane season as well as its work in ocean conversation, education and local employee volunteering. More than $200,000 in proceeds was raised at the annual gala in support of the nonprofit as well. 

“This is an incredibly proud moment, to be part of a company that goes above and beyond to do the right thing,” said Michael Bayley. “From our school in Haiti to our relief efforts during the unprecedented 2017 hurricane season, we support the communities we know and love because it’s what good neighbors do.”

Vicki Freed, Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service, was inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement award. Presented with the award by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain, this was a great thanks from the cruise industry to Vicki for her passion and dedication to the business in the span of her 40-year career.

Freed recently celebrated 10 years at Royal Caribbean International, a decade during which the cruise line has seen its relationship with travel partners grow stronger than ever. Under her leadership, the largest sales team in the cruise industry has received a lineup of awards, including Best in Sales and Service for 10 consecutive years at Travel Weekly’s Readers Choice Awards.

Richard Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., presented the award to Freed after a heartfelt speech noting his and the community’s resounding thoughts, compliments and memories of the industry veteran. “Vicki has been an amazing leader. She has fought for her agents and for our business,” Fain said. “I applaud Vicki’s election to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, and am proud to have the opportunity to present it to her.”

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies for the third year in a row.

Royal Caribbean has won the distinction three consecutive years as among the world's most ethical companies in the leisure and recreation category, underscoring RCL's commitment to leading ethical business standards and practices.

"I am extremely grateful that Ethisphere has again honored Royal Caribbean as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "At Royal Caribbean, ethical leadership is an important part of our worldview. We value this honor, and will continue to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in following our mantra of continuous improvement."

The World's Most Ethical Companies assessment is based upon the Ethisphere Institute's Ethics Quotient® (EQ) framework, which offers a quantitative way to assess a company's performance in an objective, consistent and standardized manner. The information collected provides a comprehensive sampling of definitive criteria of core competencies rather than all aspects of corporate governance, risk, sustainability, compliance and ethics.

Scores are generated in five key categories: ethics and compliance program (35 percent), corporate citizenship and responsibility (20 percent), culture of ethics (20 percent), governance (15 percent) and leadership, innovation and reputation (10 percent). All companies that participate in the assessment process receive their scores, providing them with valuable insights into how they stack up against leading organizations.

Royal Caribbean earned five wins in the 2017 Travel Weekly Reader's Choice Awards, including three major milestones — Best Cruise Line Overall and in the Caribbean 15 years running. And Best Sales & Service for 10 years straight.

The awards won were

• Best Sales & Service: Royal Caribbean International
• Best Cruise Line Overall: Royal Caribbean International
• Best Cruise Line in the Caribbean: Royal Caribbean International
• Best Individual Cruise Ship: Harmony of the Seas
• Best Entertainment: Royal Caribbean International

Travel Weekly honored the winners of its Readers Choice Awards at a gala dinner and ceremony at the Conrad Hotel in New York. Winners were selected in 77 categories, ranging from hotels to tours to airlines to GDSs to cruise lines, represent the best of the best in travel.