AwardsAwards

Award-Winning River Cruise Line

At Grand Circle, our #1 goal is to deliver the best travel experience at the best value. This focus has earned us a number of awards and accolades from industry-leading publications over the years—most recently in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, where we were voted #5 Best River Cruise Line and #5 Best Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Line. We also placed in USA Today's 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025: #2 Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers and #3 Best River Cruise Line.

Our fleet has also been ranked #4 in the Small Ships category and #6 in the River Cruise category of Condé Nast Traveler’s “2026 Readers' Choice Awards”. In fact, we’ve been ranked among the best river cruise lines in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 20 years in a row―from 2006 to 2026.

We’re proud to provide our travelers unforgettable discoveries and we’re extremely gratified when our travelers and industry experts recognize that commitment, and honor us by giving us award-winning high marks in independent surveys.

Award-Winning Experiences

Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards

Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best Awards celebrate readers’ favorite travel experiences in a number of different categories, including cruise lines, tour operators, and more.
2026	#5 Best River Cruise Line
2026	#5 Best Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Line in 2026
2022-2025	Top "World's Best" River Cruise Lines
2018-2019	Top "World's Best" River Cruise Lines
2012-2016	Top "World's Best" River Cruise Lines

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards

Condé Nast Traveler readers are annually asked to rate the world’s best cities, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more. In the cruise line category, readers rate their experiences based on ship activities/facilities, cabins, crew/service, design/layout, food/dining, itineraries/schedule, and shore excursions.
2026	#4 in Small Ships
2026	#6 in River Cruises
2025	#2 in River Cruises
2025	#6 in River Cruises
2024	#2 in Small Ships
2024	#10 in River Cruises
2023	#6 in River Cruises
2022	#5 in River Cruises
2021	#4 in River Cruises
2019	#5 in River Cruises
2012-2016	#1 in River Cruises
2010	Honored

USA Today's 10Best Readers Choice Awards

Each year, readers select their favorite river cruise lines as part of USA Today’s 10Best's survey of the best of the best on the world’s riverways.
2025	#2 Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers
2025	#3 Best River Cruise Line
2024	#1 Best Cruise Line for Solo Travelers
2024	#4 Best River Cruise Line
2023	#4 Best River Cruise Line

Grand Circle Corporation

2019	Best Wellness Employer “Silver Certification” for our worksite wellness program. The award is given by Wellness Workdays in collaboration with Harvard Medical School to recognize the significant accomplishments of employers dedicated to improving employee health and well-being.
2018	2018 WorkWell Massachusetts Award Bronze Level Worksite Wellness Council of Massachusetts
2018	Boston’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For National Association for Business Resources (NABR)
2018	Best Wellness Employer “Silver Certification” for our worksite wellness program. The award is given by Wellness Workdays in collaboration with Harvard Medical School to recognize the significant accomplishments of employers dedicated to improving employee health and well-being.
2013	Tourism Council of Bhutan In appreciation for promoting Bhutan as a tourist destination; largest U.S. travel company to Bhutan
2013	Top Producing Tour Operator received by O.A.T. and Grand Circle Travel Best Value for the Money Packages received by Grand Circle Travel South African Tourism Board
2006	Humanitarian Award received by O.A.T. Tanzania Tourist Board
2006	Top 15 Corporate Charitable Contributors in MA Corporate Philanthropy Summit and Boston Business Journal
2006	25 Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work for in America Great Place to Work® Institute, Inc. and Society for Human Resource Management
2006	New England Social Entrepreneur of the Year received by Grand Circle CEO Alan Lewis Ernst & Young
2006	Excellence Award Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy
2005	Top 20 Best Places to Work (large company division) Boston Business Journal
2000 & 1998	Friends of Thailand Award Government of Thailand

Grand Circle Foundation

2016	Citizenship Award received by Harriet Lewis City on a Hill Public Charter School
2004	Cornerstone Award Neurofibromatosis Foundation
2004	Circle of Giving Award received by Harriet Lewis The New England Women's Leadership Award (NEWLA)
2004	Thompson Island Outward Bound North Star Award Thompson Island Outward Bound
2003	UNESCO World Heritage Centre Partners in Conservation Program UNESCO
2002	AIDS Action Corporate Partner Award AIDS Action Committee
2001	Big Sister Association Achievement Award Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
2001	Recognition Award Shelter, Inc.
2000	Hero of Philanthropy Award National Society of Fund Raising Executives (NSFRE)
1998	Thompson Island Founders' Award Thompson Island Outward Bound
1996	Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Founders' Award Save the Harbor/Save the Bay