If you’re looking to spend a vacation at sea but haven’t decided which cruise line is best for your specific needs, a new online ranking shows the best options for every type of traveler, from families to luxury seekers.

U.S. News & World Report has released its 2025 Best Cruise Lines rankings, highlighting 18 of the most popular cruise lines across six categories ranging from couples and families, to which distinct parts of the globe you’re looking to experience.

From cruises that offer the best bang for your buck to experiences that spare no expense, the rankings aim to help travelers select the perfect cruise vacation based on expert evaluations, traveler ratings and other key factors.

Viking Ocean Cruises topped three categories: Best Luxury Cruise Lines, Best Cruise Lines for Couples, and Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean.

Disney Cruise Line also made a strong showing, maintaining its No. 1 positions in Best Cruise Lines for Families and Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean.

And for thrifty vacationers, Celebrity Cruises earned the title of Best Cruise Line for the Money.

“Given the variety of cruise lines available, these rankings provide travelers a way to compare features, amenities, and offerings to find the right cruise,” said Nicola Wood, senior travel editor at U.S. News.

2025 Best Cruise Lines Highlights

Best Cruise Lines for the Money

1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Virgin Voyages
3. MSC Cruises

Best Cruise Lines for Families

1. Disney Cruise Line
2. Royal Caribbean International
3. Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Cruise Lines for Couples

1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruise Line
3. Celebrity Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Lines

1. Viking Ocean Cruises
2. Seabourn Cruise Line
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The rankings were based primarily on three main factors: expert evaluations (30%), traveler ratings (50%), and health ratings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program (20%). Expert ratings assessed the ship’s luxury, facilities and services, while traveler reviews provided first-hand insights into the experience of being onboard one of the ships.

Each cruise line was also evaluated on factors including price, family suitability, and destination options. Cruise ships and lines were only included in rankings if they met a minimum threshold for traveler reviews or itinerary availability.

For a full list of rankings and insights, visit U.S. News Cruise Rankings.

A resident in a small San Bernardino County Mountain community is being criticized after he shot and killed a bear last week that he claimed was getting into his chicken coop.  

The Arrowbear Lake resident, a man identified only as Chris, reported the Nov. 13 shooting on Fox Lane to the county sheriff’s department and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said the homeowner was justified in fatally shooting the animal.  

Under California Fish and Game code 4181.1 “any bear that is encountered while in the act of inflicting injury to, molesting or killing livestock may be taken immediately by the owner of the livestock.” 

“I love the bears, everybody here. We coexist with them,” neighbor Mike Kutz, who heard the shots told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. “I hear three or four gunshots and then, a few minutes later, I had another two more gunshots.”  

According to Kutz, the bear was no stranger to the neighborhood and added that it appeared to be skittish of humans.  

“He would just walk up the street and if I opened the door to my cabin, he would run,” he said. “He would not stop and look. He would instantly run.”  

The homeowner who shot the bear and had previously reported to the sheriff’s department that the animal charged him briefly spoke to KTLA.  

“It was getting into my chicken coop. Like I said, talk to the sheriff. They’ll give you the details,” he explained. “I’ve done everything I can to prevent this bear. I had an electric fence. The bear went right through it no matter what. I had a bunch of deterrents, the bear kept coming. I even bear sprayed him, and he still kept coming.”  

While the shooting was deemed justified, it has drawn a lot of criticism from other mountain residents, especially online, with many saying it was sad to see the situation end this way.  

“I think if fish and game said that it’s justified then it’s justified,” Arrowbear Lake resident Eric Real told KTLA. “I do love animals, so it does hurt to see a bear get shot over the situation.”  

The Federal Aviation Administration was in Pomona Monday to investigate a plane crash that left four people hurt at the Pomona Fairplex a day earlier.

Preliminary details regarding the crash that occurred around 11:10 a.m. Sunday during the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals could be released later in the day, the Orange County Register reported Monday.

The single-engine Piper PA32 Aircraft was apparently trying to land at nearby Brackett Field Airport in La Verne when it crashed near the racetrack with thousands in attendance.

A thud could be heard on a video that showed the low-flying plane followed by someone in the grandstands saying “An airplane just crashed.”

The races were delayed as a result of the crash while emergency personnel rushed to survey the scene.

Aerial video from Sky5 Monday morning showed yellow tape surrounding five vehicles and three trailers that were involved in the crash.

Somehow, no bystanders were injured and the four people aboard the plane were rescued with moderate to severe injuries but none were considered to be life-threatening. No updates on the injuries were available Monday.

The cause of the crash is part of the investigation being conducted by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.