Princess Cruises Earns 15 Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards of Excellence

Premium cruise line Princess has won 15 Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence for 2023, recognizing the brand’s curated wine list.

All of Princess Cruises’ main dining rooms across the company’s fleet of 15 ships have once again been honored with an Award of Excellence in Wine Spectator‘s 2023 Restaurant Awards—more than any other cruise line in that category.

Each Princess ship was recognized for its wine lists that pair well with the menu, offering a well-rounded culinary experience.

Every main dining room across the Princess Cruises fleet received a 2023 Award of Excellence from *Wine Spectator* (image courtesy of Princess Cruises)

The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence

Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, began its awards program in 1981 to recognize the world’s best wine lists.

The magazine’s award program features three levels: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence, and Grand Award. This year 2,001 restaurants achieved the Award of Excellence, given to venues with 90 or more wine selections that also match the cuisine in both style and pricing.

The 2023 *Wine Spectator* Award of Excellence is given to venues with 90 or more wine selections that also pair well with the restaurant’s cuisine (image courtesy of Princess Cruises)

According to a press release from Princess, the brand’s carefully curated wine list includes more than 250 labels. Each major varietal and wine-growing region is represented, allowing cruisers to taste the best from around the world. Princess’ beverage team has designed a wine philosophy centering around exploration, discovery, and enrichment.

“Receiving this highly regarded recognition from Wine Spectator once again reaffirms our commitment to curate a collection of wines that encompass(es) noteworthy, exceptional, and familiar varietals to explore,” said Sami Kohen, VP of food and beverage for Princess Cruises.

“We believe we offer the most extensive wine list in the industry that reflects our guests’ shared passion for travel and celebrating with wines from many of the destinations we visit,” Kohen added.

Princess offers a collection of wines to suit all tastes

Available in the main dining rooms fleetwide, Princess’ wine menu is approachable, with various price points and descriptions to make it easy for both occasional wine drinkers and oenophiles to sip.

Princess offers a range of wines in the MDR to suit a wide variety of tastes and budgets (image courtesy of Princess Cruises)

Wines from around the world—including some from New Zealand, Argentina, Italy, and even China—are featured. In addition, Princess includes a list focused on celebrating women winemakers; identifies biodynamic, organic, vegan, and sustainable wines; and offers many selections by the glass.

Menu descriptions on Princess ships call out wines as “refreshing,” “light and mild,” “fruity and vibrant,” or “rich and textured” for easy selection.

Recently, Princess Cruises partnered with renowned Caymus Vineyards to offer the exclusive Caymus Vineyards Winemaker Dinner. Available for $140 per person, the new Winemaker Dinner leverages the expansive expertise of Chuck Wagner, owner and winemaker of the renowned Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards, to deliver a five-course menu crafted to complement the tasting notes of his wines.

The dinner, available for 12 guests per seating, is offered two to three times per cruise (based on voyage length), and interested guests can reserve their spot once on board.

The complete list of award winners will be available in the August 21, 2023 issue of Wine Spectator, available at newsstands July 11, and at winespectator.com.

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Do you think Princess Cruises has the best wine lists at sea? What’s your favorite wine to sip on a Princess cruise—or what do you think they’re missing? I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments below!

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Carrie Ann Karstunen

Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

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