High-street agents, providing the personal touch, are more important than ever following on from the pandemic. Whether they’re helping a customer who’s new to cruise or finding exactly the right dates and itinerary for a loyal cruiser, the best retail agent will work tirelessly to drive client satisfaction as well as sales. They also use every tool available to learn as much as they can about the cruise industry, so they can sell it effectively to customers, many of whom walk in off the street, looking for holiday inspiration. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your customer service, store innovations and personal touch help drive customer satisfaction and sales.

The best consortia are important to the cruise industry because they not only support independent agents and homeworkers but also ensure they have all the knowledge and tools available to sell more cruise holidays. Consortia provide training, information, and negotiate with cruise lines to get the best deals to pass on to customers. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how you support, motivate and equip independent agents and homeworkers with the latest tools and knowledge to make more cruise sales.

Offering the best advice, exclusive deals and competitive prices, the best online agent can focus on listening to customers’ needs to give them exactly what they want. From transfers through to pre- and post-cruise stays, bespoke itineraries and last-minute deals, the best online agent uses all their technological tools to deliver the perfect cruise to a large audience, focusing on innovative practices to streamline the customer journey. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your customer service and online innovation helps drive customer satisfaction and sales. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.

The best specialist cruise agent will be one that has a laser focus on all things cruise. Whether that’s in a retail setting or online, this agency will be able to demonstrate what makes them the number one cruise experts, offering unrivalled customer service and expertise, including the ability to match clients to their dream cruise. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your customer service and multiple platform innovation helps drive customer satisfaction and sales.

From innovative new ways to provide thrills and spills on board through to tried-and-tested excellence delivered by trusted brands, we are looking for the cruise line that excels at food, accommodation, entertainment and service. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate the unique touches that set you apart from other cruise lines, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction.

Whether it’s the sumptuous cabins and suites with designer interiors, the fine dining with impeccable but intuitive service, the high crew-to-passenger ratio, or the little touches – from staff greeting guests by name to heated bathroom floors and personalised stationery – this is the category for luxury cruise lines whose passengers sail the oceans in style. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate these luxurious touches, your core USP in the luxury sector and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the luxury cruise market.

The best river cruise line should match the most opulent of hotels. Add an itinerary that takes in magical destinations and offers exciting and cultural excursions at every port, and this will be a winning line with the wow factor. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate these specialist touches in the river cruise sector, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the river cruise market.

The true sign of a luxury river line is that the experience on shore is as exceptional as on the ship. Private performances, exclusive access to cultural events and bespoke visits to iconic places of interest are all part of the rich itinerary. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate these specialist touches, your core USP in the luxury river cruise sector and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings, or growth in the luxury river cruise market. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.

From building the momentum to the actual launch, this is the ship launch that created the biggest buzz and got the entire industry talking. Did you come up with an innovative way of marketing the ship, or stage the most exciting event? The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate an innovative, headline-grabbing launch that impressed the media and the rest of the industry as well as the guests. From idea to delivery, tell us how your launch campaign set the agenda and showcased your new ship’s core USPs and innovations.

The best specialist or niche cruise line doesn’t follow others but sets its own passenger-pleasing agenda, offering anything from in-depth lectures and lesser-known destinations to exceptional experiences, both on board and ashore. In essence, a specialist cruise line will have a defining USP, whether that’s destination programmes, culinary partnerships, or distinct cruising styles, such as a yacht experience. The judges are looking for your entry to showcase your specialist or niche area and how you cater for and attract guests, as well as your core USPs in the specialist or niche sector and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the market.

The best premium cruise line offers great value on a high-end product. Sophisticated, with second-to-none service, the best premium cruise line is fast closing the gap with the luxury market. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate these premium touches, your core USP in the premium sector and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the premium cruise market. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.

The best expedition cruise line will provide extensive opportunities for guests to discover and learn about new destinations, with an unrivalled onshore and on-board programme of activities. As expedition is a growing part of the cruise sector, the judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate what makes your expedition ships, itineraries, and excursions different from the competition.

The best family cruise line is that one that puts a smile on the faces of the whole family. From family-friendly innovations and thrilling experiences to the most entertaining kids’ clubs, the best family cruise line ensures there’s something special for every generation. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate these family-friendly touches, your core USPs in the family sector and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the family cruise market.

Value means different things to different people. It may or may not be all-inclusive, and this cruise line may or may not offer speciality experiences at a supplement, have a no-extras policy or give guests complimentary additional services – but delivering great value is the sign of an outstanding cruise, no matter what the cost. Customer satisfaction ratings for this cruise line – whatever the price of the holiday – will prove that offering consistently good value for money is priceless. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate why your cruises are the best value for money, with your core USPs outlined along with any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the value-for-money cruise market.

Sometimes, going it alone is the best way to travel. The best for solo travellers award goes to the cruise line that can show how it has truly created a unique experience, whether it be themed nights, excursions, solo accommodation, or no/reduced single supplements. The judges are looking for your entry to show how solo travellers are so well looked-after that they don’t feel as though they are travelling alone, as well as your core USPs in the solo sector and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the solo traveller market.

The best accommodation on an ocean or river ship rivals anything in the world’s finest hotels – with the unique advantage that guests can go to sleep in one city or country and wake up in another. The best accommodation, whether it’s for solo travellers, couples or families, offers much more than just a fantastic view of the ocean or river, and should elevate the experience no matter what the price point. Your accommodation, for example, may offer the most comfortable beds, powerful showers and 24-hour room service. Your entry should demonstrate these luxurious and unique touches across all the accommodation on offer, or in one particular area – you could have the best solo traveller accommodation, for example, or the best suite-only accommodation with a guaranteed ocean/river view.

Now more than ever, dining is seen as a fundamental part of the overall cruise experience. No longer are guests satisfied with run-of-the-mill cuisine, but expect new and exciting culinary adventures to accompany them as they traverse the globe. The best cuisine at sea or on the river rivals any hotel menu and offers a variety of dishes for all tastes that leaves guests coming back for more. The winner in this category will use fresh, locally sourced food, may offer market tours at destinations, and will believe in telling guests exactly where the food they are eating came from. Your entry should demonstrate that food is a central component of the cruise experience, with provenance carefully considered and the most diverse palates catered for.

The best enrichment programmes/activities in the cruise sector are focused on expanding guests’ interests and offering genuine life-changing learnings and experiences. Whether it be expert lectures on board, exclusive on-shore activities, or themed activities – such as wine, food, history, dance or crafts – they make a cruise into a deeply enriching and informative journey. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate the value of your enrichment programme and activities, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the market.

The best cruise line for wellbeing offers everything from running decks to a full activities programme and a focus on mental wellbeing too, plus well-equipped spas that make the ship a floating wellness resort. From collaborations with brands through to spas with hammams, couples’ suites and relaxation rooms with ocean views, the best onboard spas are breaking new ground to overtake the facilities offered in five-star hotels. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your wellness facilities and programme and/or spa facilities beat the competition, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the wellness/spa cruise market.

Entertainment on board has evolved over recent years. Now it’s common to see West End hits and Broadway shows, comedians, jazz musicians, TV show winners, pop stars, children’s characters, variety acts and high-wire acts on ships. Whether it’s a saxophonist serenading guests at the cocktail hour or a rock legend in concert, there’s always something to see, listen to and enjoy on a cruise. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your entertainment programme beats the competition, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the market.

Whether it’s the incredible passenger facilities, big or small, fascinating cultural or historical sights on the doorstep or proximity to the destinations and attractions passengers want to see, the best port has plenty to offer. It might be a destination its own right, a gateway to a popular capital or have duty-free or boutique shopping, diverse dining or a stunning beach. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate the USPs that make your port the best. You should outline any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the cruise market

Discovering a capital’s hidden gems, a country’s wine region or a bucket-list destination’s must-see tourist attraction is easy with the best excursion. This is the experience that defines a visit to a country or city and makes the entire cruise memorable. Therefore, weare looking for a cruise line, destination or company which really gives guests the best destination experiences. From the range of experiences on offer to those that take guests deeper than ever, providing experiences that can only be enjoyed on a cruise. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate why your excursion is the best, your core USPs and why these are important to the cruise sector.

Whether it’s organised around a theme, to see art and culture, indulge a specialist interest or explore a destination in more detail, an escorted tour gives passengers the inside track. Maybe the itinerary takes in all the hidden gems only known by the locals, or provides a local guide to help guests experience new cultures in depth. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how you beat the competition, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the escorted tour market.

The best advertising, marketing and PR campaign could have made global headlines, gone viral on social media and made everyone in cruising sit up and take notice. For a truly effective campaign to be the best, it must have generated not just publicity but also a slew of forward bookings. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how successful your advertising, marketing or PR campaign was, how you delivered on the aims and goals surrounding the product/launch at the centre of your campaign and how you came up with the best campaign from idea to delivery. You should also outline your core USPs and demonstrate the media value and exposure you delivered.

Cruise has transformed in recent times, with new technology emerging and on-board personalisation a key element for many passengers. From booking excursions through to shopping online, tracking other members of the family, navigating the ship and even helping the crew to learn and predict guests’, technology is making cruising ever more enjoyable. The best innovation, however, could also be identified as an expansion into a new form of cruising, and an overall change in guest experience across the board. Your entry should demonstrate how your innovation enhances passenger satisfaction and benefits the cruise line and the industry. The judges are also looking for your core USPs and how your technological innovations have driven customer satisfaction.

The cruise industry is working hard to improve its environmental performance, to protect the oceans and rivers on which ships operate. With advancements in ship propulsion, on-board policies and reduction in emissions, the sector is on course to make sustainability a key performance indicator. The best environmental initiative could help to save our seas and marine life, have recycling at its centre, be changing the fuel that powers our ships, or changing port infrastructure. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your environmental initiative will help the oceans and environment, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in environmental awareness.

Whisking guests off to the airport or ship in a chauffeur-driven private car or organising something memorable to start their cruise in style is the best kind of transfer. It takes the stress out of travelling at the beginning and end of a cruise so guests can sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate these personalised and luxurious touches, as well as your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the market. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.