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Travel and Leisure magazine is the latest organization to opine on the best cruise lines and cruise ships for 2008. While T&L is just one of several organizations that rate the cruise industry (others include Conde Nast Traveler magazine, Porthole magazine, Cruise Critic and the British Travel Awards), I like T&L, Porthole and Conde Nast Traveler because their readers are well traveled and actually do the picking.

Since I know you have been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to hear what the readers of these prestigious magazines think about the cruise industry, I’ve decided to save you some work and list the results here so that you can compare their findings. So here’s my summary version of the top awards for cruise line and ships for 2008:

Travel and Leisure Magazine Awards

Best large ship cruise line

1. Crystal Cruises

2. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best small ship cruise line

1. Silversea Cruises

2. SeaDream Yacht Club

Porthole Magazine Awards

Best small ship

1. Seabourn Spirit

Best mega-ship

1. Carnival Freedom

Best Luxury Line

1. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Most family-oriented line

1. Disney Cruise Line

Best medium-sized ship

1. Oceania Regatta

Best expedition cruise line

1. Cruise West

Most romantic cruise line

1. Windstar Cruises

Best value for money cruise line

1. Carnival Cruise Line

Best onboard shopping

1. Princess Cruises

Conde Nast Traveler awards

Best large ship cruise line

1. Celebrity Cruises

2. Crystal Cruises

Best small ship cruise line

1. Windstar Cruises

2. Silversea Cruises

So there you go. That’s what several thousand respondents to surveys run by these three magazines said about their favorite cruise lines and ships in 2008. While I don’t agree with all the results, I do think that on average they are pretty solid findings and a good guide for making your cruise selections in 2009.