When perfectly executed marketing campaign has the power to make headlines, go viral and make travellers everywhere sit up and take notice of the cruise industry. For a campaign to be truly effective campaign, 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.

The best consortia are important to the cruise industry because they not only support independent agents, but also ensure they have 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 with the latest tools and knowledge to make more cruise sales.

Whether it’s organised around a particular theme or to explore a destination in more detail, an escorted tour gives passengers the inside track on the world’s most intriguing cultural destinations. Maybe the itinerary takes in the hidden gems only known by the locals or provides an expert guide to help guests get under the skin of a town or city.

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 expedition cruise line will provide extensive opportunities for guests to discover and learn about new destinations, with an unrivalled shore-side and on-board programme of insightful activities.

As expedition is a fast 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.

This award is for the cruise line that puts a smile on the faces of the whole family. From family-friendly innovations and thrilling experiences to the most entertaining kids’ club programmes, the best family cruise line ensures there’s something special to enjoy for all generations.

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.

This new category is designed to highlight and champion the leading homeworking agent networks amongst the cruise industry. From supporting new agents with setting up their independent homeworking businesses to being on hand to help experienced sellers reach even greater heights, the best homeworking agency will work tirelessly to support agents to boost client satisfaction as well as sales.

They offer members every tool available so they can improve their cruise knowledge to help them convert would-be-clients into a new customer.

The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your agent support network and training initiatives help homeworking members increase customer satisfaction levels and drive independent sales.

This is a new category and is designed to reward the homeworker and mini agency. The rise of the homeworker and self-employed agent has been pivotal in bringing even more business to the cruise industry. This award is dedicated to those who’ve successfully got their operation off the ground and forged a name for themselves in the industry.

The judges are looking for you to demonstrate how you launched your operation and what innovative techniques you used to attract your first clients, as well as your dedication to the industry. Your customers are your judges so it’s important to reference how you’ve served them and how this has translated into tangible business results.

Whether it’s sumptuous cabins and suites with designer interiors, fine dining with impeccable, Michelin-grade service, or spectacular stage shows and evening entertainment, this is the category for luxury cruise lines that help their passengers sail the oceans in style.

The judges are looking for entries that demonstrate how these high-end touches enhance the guest experience, your core USPs and how they have contributed to more forward bookings and/or growth in the luxury 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 market. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.

From building excitement right the way through to the launch day, this award celebrates the ship launch that created the biggest buzz and got the entire travel industry talking.

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 guests. From idea to delivery, tell us how your launch campaign set the agenda and showcased your new ship’s core USPs and innovations. Did you come up with an innovative way to market the ship or did you stage the most exciting naming ceremony? We want to know.

From innovative ways to provide thrills and spills on board to tried-and-tested experiences that keep guests coming back for more, we are looking for the cruise line that offers top-of-the-range dining, accommodation, entertainment and service.

The judges want your entry to demonstrate the unique touches that set you apart from other cruise lines, your core USPs and any innovations that have helped drive customer satisfaction.

Offering the best advice, exclusive deals and competitive prices, the best online agent listens 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.

Whether it’s the incredible passenger facilities or fascinating cultural and historical sights on its doorstep, 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

The best premium cruise line offers great value on a high-end product, along with sophisticated service.

The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how you’ve elevated the guest experience with premium touches while ensuring good value for money, as well as 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 be able to clearly show how you communicated these to both the market and the trade.

With the number of new ships and itineraries increasing dramatically in recent years, high street agents are more important than ever. Whether they’re persuading a customer who’s new to cruise to book their first holiday at sea or finding the right itinerary for a loyal cruiser, the best retail agent will work tirelessly to drive client satisfaction as well as sales. They use every tool available to them 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 river cruise ship should match the most opulent hotels. Combine this with an itinerary that takes in magical destinations and exciting cultural excursions at every port and you get a river cruise 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 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 expert, 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.

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 sailings to 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 through 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 cruise industry is working hard to reduce its environmental impact 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 making strides towards a more sustainable future. The best sustainability initiative could focus on recycling energy or onboard materials, testing new fuels or changing port infrastructure.  

The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your sustainability initiative has or will help the oceans and wider environment, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in environmental awareness.

This award will go to the technology innovation with the biggest potential to revolutionise and disrupt the cruise sector. Perhaps you have used technology to improve operational efficiency for booking systems, or you’re a technology developer working with cruise lines to improve back-office systems with a ground-breaking new function. You may be using Artificial Intelligence, advanced data analytics, Augmented or Virtual Reality or maybe you’re using the metaverse.

Judges will be looking for a technology product that is being built or tested in a live environment and promises to make a real impact in the cruise sector and is delivering operational efficiency or improved customer experience.

Only ever a phone call away, ever-present at trade-facing events and always on hand to support wherever they may be needed, the best trade sales team is the embodiment of their company’s brand message. Open to both cruise lines and agencies, the best trade sales team goes above and beyond to make sure their clients are always supported from marketing materials to immersive training sessions and sales tips to planning advice.

The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how your trade sales team helps support your clients from enquiry to holiday. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these.

Whisking guests off to the airport or ship in a chauffeur-driven private car or organising something memorable so they can kick off their cruise in style are what make an unforgettable transfer experience. 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.

In this award, we want to honour the cruise retailer who typifies how irresistible content can engage audiences and drive bookings. Whether it’s an incredible piece of copy accompanied with static or moving imagery, professionally created or user generated, used on more traditional web channels or emerging social and sharing platforms like TikTok, this award is for the company that has used content in the most impactful way.

Judges will be looking for creativity and innovation in how content is created and utilised for maximum impact to drive online traffic and, ultimately, conversions.

Affordability 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 offer guests complimentary services. Whatever it is, the winner of this category is the cruise line that helps guests’ money go even further while still delivering an outstanding holiday.

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 money-saving innovations that have driven customer satisfaction and forward bookings.

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, however. It should elevate the experience no matter what the price point, whether that’s through premium bedding, well-designed bathrooms with modern amenities or 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.

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.

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, we are looking for the cruise line that takes 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.

The Best for Solo Travellers award goes to the cruise line that can show how it has created a unique, safe and rewarding experience for the guests who choose to go it alone, whether it be themed nights, tailored 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 wellbeing and enrichment programmes are focused on expanding guests’ interests and offering horizon-broadening experiences while focusing on physical and mental wellbeing. Whether it be through onboard lectures led by industry-leading experts, exclusive on-shore activities, or spa facilities and treatments, activity programmes make a cruise a deeply enriching and informative journey.

The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate the value of your wellness and enrichment programmes and your relevant activities, your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the market.

The best for accessibility should cater for all travellers, whether it be through accessible corridors and boarding processes, specially designed cabins or accessible shoreside excursions, entrants should go above and beyond for travellers with additional requirements.

Entrants should also cater for travellers with non-visual disabilities, through the implementation of amenities such as sensory rooms or autism-friendly training for staff and crew.

The judges are looking for your entry to demonstrate how you champion accessibility, ensure all passengers have a comfortable and enjoyable and no guest feels left behind on their holiday.