For the third year in a row, Global Traveler steps out of the boardroom to explore the business of leisure travel, recognizing the world’s best leisure destinations, airlines, cruises and hotel groups in this year’s Leisure Travel Awards.

Nominations in each category came from Global Traveler’s elite Globility Board as well as highly experienced magazine staff. From these nominations, Global Traveler’s esteemed Advisory Board selected the final winners.

Global Traveler’s Globility Board consists of well-traveled subscribers who act as a direct link between the magazine and our readers. These savvy world travelers serve as a conduit for information about our readers’ interests and insights in leisure travel that goes far beyond the data we can garner from our surveys and research.

Best Caribbean Island: British Virgin Islands © Sean Pavone | Dreamstime.com

Whatever your tastes, you’ll find in the winners’ circle somewhere and something to inspire your travels, from the coastal charms of the British Virgin Islands and Greece’s beautiful island of Santoríni to adventurous activities such as skydiving in New Zealand and up-close encounters with wilderness on cruises with Lindblad Expeditions.

It is with great pleasure we announce the 2015 winners. Congratulations to those deemed the very best the leisure travel world has to offer.

FOR TRAVELERS SEEKING to relax and rejuvenate with sun and sand, look no further than Turks and Caicos, earning the Best Beaches award with stretches of uncrowded sand across 40 unique islands and cays, eight of which are inhabited, in the inviting waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Best Adventure Cruise Line: Lindblad Expeditions © Michael S. Nolan

A chain of more than 60 picturesque islands in the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, the British Virgin Islands picks up the Best Caribbean Island award this year with its picture-perfect resorts and hotels as well as miles of golden beaches. B.V.I. visitors have an endless variety of beach choices as well as all types of accommodations, from private islands to exclusive resorts, villas and even small hotels tucked away on a cay.

The crescent-shaped island of Santoríni earns the Best Island in Europe title for the second consecutive year, delighting leisure travelers with the deep blue waters of the Aegean, famous postcard-perfect sunsets, colorful beaches with black and red sands, and archaeological delights like the impressive ruins at Akrotiri and the historic city of Manolas on Thirassia.

With its turquoise waters, ultra-luxury resorts, glittering sands and pristine natural environment, it’s no wonder Fiji earned the Best Island Pacific Rim achievement. The secluded set of 333 islands in the heart of the South Pacific welcomes guests with warm Fijian hospitality and keeps them coming back with world-class hotels on beautiful shorelines and memorable activities in pristine, warm waters. Visitors enjoy snorkeling, diving, thrilling jet boat rides and whitewater rafting, as well as breathtaking hikes through lush forests.

If you’re seeking action and adventure, look south of Fiji to New Zealand, named Best Adventure Destination this year for its various activities that thrill and inspire travelers. Those seeking a dose of adrenaline will find any kind of action-packed option you can think of — and even some you haven’t — including bungee jumping, skydiving, caving, canyoning and zip-lining, all against a backdrop of incredible idyllic landscapes.

For history and archaeology buffs, Israel takes home the top prize, earning Best Historical Attractions with some of the world’s most famous historical sites. The country offers a plethora of opportunities to explore its extensive history stretching back thousands of years. Visitors can get a glimpse of the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum, explore the evocative ruins in the desert fortress of Masada and discover the sacred site of the ancient Western Wall.

CONSISTENTLY SAILING the high seas best is Silversea Cruises, earning the Best Small Ship Cruise Line award for the third consecutive year. The ultra-luxury cruise line offers itineraries that encompass all seven continents, including voyages that cruise to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, both polar regions and more than 800 destinations in between. Maiden ports recently announced for next year’s itineraries include Summerside, Prince Edward Island; Rockland, Maine; Le Marin, Martinique; Shimizu, Japan; Rijeka and Rab Island, Croatia; Bremerhaven, Germany; Ullapool, Scotland; and Kalmar, Sweden.

Taking home Best Large Ship Cruise Line this year is Royal Caribbean, featuring its new Quantum class of ships, Quantum of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas, each capable of carrying 4,180 guests. Royal Caribbean’s innovative Quantum class ushers in a new era of cruising with an array of first-at-sea features and amenities, including a skydiving simulator, the world’s first robotic bartenders, bumper cars, superfast wireless connectivity, partnerships with celebrated chefs and futuristic entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, the Best Cruise Line Entertainment achievement goes to Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity offers a scintillating onboard experience, entertaining passengers from sunup to sundown with custom productions, award-winning European-style circus shows and classic tribute performances that rival Broadway, West End and Vegas shows. An array of guest entertainers such as aerialists, acrobats, comedians, singers, instrumentalists and magicians provide additional amusement.

Best Cruise Line Dining: Oceania Cruises © Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises, awarded the Best Cruise Line Dining honor, offers vacations that thrill the palate with the finest cuisine at sea, ranging from authentic Italian fare at Toscana, classic steakhouse dishes at Polo Grill, continental cuisine in the Grand Dining Room and made-to-order American favorites in the Terrace Café. Guests on board Oceania’s celebrated Marina and Riviera ships have access to French fare at Jacques, contemporary Asian delights at Red Ginger and private vintage wine and gourmet fare pairings at La Reserve by Wine Spectator.

Best Luxury Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line © Yehuda Bernstein | Dreamstime.com

Luxury is the name of the game for Norwegian Cruise Line, winning the honor of Best Luxury Cruise Line with the addition of one of the most exclusive and luxurious cruise penthouses available: The Haven. Hidden away at the top of the ship, this new exclusive enclave acts as a ship within a ship, providing guests with the utmost privacy and tranquility. Exclusive benefits include the personal service of a concierge; a 24-hour butler; access to a private pool, sundeck, hot tub and fitness area; and an array of delicious extras, such as 24-hour room service, special menus, gourmet treats each evening and invitations to an exclusive breakfast and lunch.

For cruisers seeking adventure, Lindblad Expeditions is the answer, taking home Best Adventure Cruise Line for its authentic exploration and adventure cruises around the world. Lindblad offers a fleet of 10 small ships that sail to unique destinations like Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands and offer once-in-a-lifetime excursions such as hiking in search of Komodo dragons in Indonesia or through a Patagonia ice field.

Named Best Family Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line is making waves with high-tech ships that offer families the opportunity to reconnect, give kids the chance to experience magical fantasy worlds only Disney can create, and provide settings where adults can relax and recharge. The family-friendly line offers cruises to classic getaway destinations on ships that feature kid-friendly experiences like production numbers from the animated hit Frozen this summer. For adults, indulgent amenities range from elegant dinners to world-class spas to exclusive adults-only pools.

Viking River Cruises was named the Best River Cruise Line for the third consecutive year. The European line significantly expanded its fleet last year, christening 18 vessels across four countries in five days, and ordered 12 new river vessels for this year, including 12 award-winning 190-passenger Viking Longships. Viking plans to launch two new itineraries highlighting the scenic beauty along the Rhine River during spring this year as well as debut its first ocean cruise ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, this April.

WHEN IT COMES TO offering the best leisure accommodations on land, Meliá Hotels International receives the top honors with the Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World achievement, with more than 350 hotels in 35 countries on four continents under eight brands. These include premium brands Gran Meliá, Paradisus and ME by Meliá hotels in dynamic markets worldwide. New luxury openings for this year include the 132-room ME Milano in Italy, the 130-room ME Miami and the 201-room ME Caracas in Venezuela.

Westin Hotels & Resorts takes home the Best Hotel Chain Resorts prize this year. Whether you’re lying on a beach in Bali or golfing in Abu Dhabi, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Westin brand offers a modern hotel resort experience complete with instinctive service and a rejuvenating atmosphere. Signature amenities designed with guests’ well-being in mind include the comfortable Heavenly Bed, delicious SuperFoodsRx and state-of-the-art WestinWORKOUT studio as well as spas with an array of signature treatments and restorative therapies.

Best Lifestyle Leisure Hotel Group in the World: Vida Hotels and Resorts © Ayaad Damouni

Vida Hotels and Resorts earns the Best Lifestyle Leisure Hotel Group in the World honor with its boutique hotels that cater to the modern leisure traveler who demands all of the modern luxuries of travel but none of the fuss. Part of the Emaar Hospitality Group, the Vida brand consists of two hotels, Vida Downtown Dubai and Manzil Downtown Dubai, offering the latest technology, including check-in via iPad, and delicious cuisine inspired by Middle Eastern and international fare. Emaar plans to roll out the new hotel chain in its key global markets in the future.

The top airline to take leisure travelers to destinations where they can unwind and relax is Hawaiian Airlines, earning the Best Leisure Airline award with warm hospitality in the air and on the ground. As Hawai’i’s biggest and longest-serving carrier, Hawaiian provides the very best Hawai’ian hospitality on non-stop service to the islands from 11 U.S. gateway cities, along with the nation’s most on-time service, leading in punctuality for the 11th year in a row. In addition to expanding its continually growing fleet, the carrier’s plans for this year include opening six renovated Premier Club lounges for its frequent-flyer members, featuring premium amenities like free WiFi and refreshments.

For the second year in a row, Global Traveler recognizes four brands that raise the bar in the travel industry and excel in customized service, environmental initiatives, innovation and community involvement with the Leisure Travel Special Achievement Awards.

Etihad Airways’ new Residence cabin available on its Airbus A380 aircraft and Flying Nanny service earned the carrier the Outstanding Customized Services honor. In addition to a living room space, bedroom and en-suite bathroom complete with a shower, the carrier’s Residence cabin comes with a personal butler fully trained at London’s Savoy Butler Academy to offer customized service tailored to guests’ requirements. To bring serenity to the skies, Etihad’s Flying Nanny program on all its long-haul flights offers nannies trained in child psychology and sociology on call to feed and entertain children in all classes with tours of the plane, hand puppets, origami, face painting, magic tricks and games.

For its strong commitment to making travel environmentally friendly, American Airlines takes home the Outstanding Environmental Initiatives honor. The carrier became the first major airline to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program and is dedicated to a 30 percent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

Outstanding Innovations: China Airlines © China Airlines

China Airlines’ unique Family Couch seating earns the airline the Outstanding Innovations achievement. Available on the airline’s new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in economy class, this pioneering family-friendly feature allows three seats to combine into a single flat surface, enabling families and couples to enjoy the comfort of lying flat on their backs on long-haul flights.

British Airways receives the Outstanding Social Awareness honor for its dedicated investment in the community, supporting more than 40 charities through its Community and Conservation program and Flying Start charity partnership with Comic Relief UK. The carrier’s Flying Start program focuses on raising money to give children living tough lives in the United Kingdom and around the world a helping hand with access to education and vaccinations for babies and children against deadly viruses.

Here’s to our 2015 Leisure Travel Awards winners; may their pristine beaches, action-packed itineraries and luxurious accommodations encourage you leave the office and go explore. Congratulations!

Winners’ Circle

Best Beaches
Turks and Caicos

Best Caribbean Island
British Virgin Islands
Second Consecutive Year

Best Island in Europe
Santoríni
Second Consecutive Year

Best Island Pacific Rim
Fiji

Best Adventure Destination
New Zealand

Best Historical Attractions
Israel

Best Small Ship Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises
Third Consecutive Year

Best Large Ship Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean International

Best Cruise Line Entertainment
Celebrity Cruises

Best Cruise Line Dining
Oceania Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Adventure Cruise Line
Lindblad Expeditions

Best Family Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line

Best River Cruise Line
Viking River Cruises
Third Consecutive Year

Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World
Meliá Hotels International

Best Hotel Chain Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts

Best Lifestyle Leisure Hotel Group in the World
Vida Hotels and Resorts

Best Leisure Airline
Hawaiian Airlines

Special Achievement Awards

Outstanding Customized Services
Etihad Airways Outstanding

Outstanding Environmental Initiatives
American Airlines

Outstanding Innovations
China Airlines Outstanding

Outstanding Social Awareness
British Airways