On Thursday 6 February, P&O Cruises, Cunard, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn and Carnival Cruise Lines joined forces to recognise valued travel agent partners at the sixth annual UK Cruise Awards ceremony.
More than 200 agents attended the event held at the Iconic Roundhouse in Camden, London. The evening had a music theme in keeping with the venue and was kicked off with an energetic performance from the P&O Cruises Headliners Theatre Company showcasing a vignette from one of the new shows for Iona. A video highlighting successes across all brand, introduced by Paul Ludlow, Simon Palethorpe and Josh Weinstein, was also shared with the guests.
Host, Mark Durden-Smith, introduced representatives from each brand to present the awards. Each brand recognised agent partners across three categories for their partnerships with the brand, their outstanding contribution and, in a new category for 2020, the Rising Star award for brand advocates or up and coming agents.
Also new for 2020 the two final and very special award recipients were selected and presented on behalf of all the brands. The Retailer of the year award – which recognises the outstanding contribution of a retail agency within the travel industry, was presented by Alex Delamere-White, P&O Cruises and Iain Baillie, Carnival Cruise Lines, to Hays Travel. The Cruise Specialist of the year, presented by Angus Struthers, Cunard and Tony Robert, Princess Cruises, was awarded to ROL Cruise in recognition of their work across all Carnival brands.
Winners were as follows…
CUNARD
Partnership Achievement Award – Iglu Cruise
Outstanding Contribution – The Sovereign Cruise Club
Rising Star Award – Cruise 1st
CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE
Partnership Achievement Award – Hays Travel
Outstanding Contribution – Cruise.co.uk
Rising Star Award – Viva Cruise
HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Partnership Achievement Award – Titan Cruises
Outstanding Contribution – Iglu Cruise
Rising Star Award – The Advantage Travel Partnership
P&O CRUISES
Partnership Achievement Award – Cruise 1st
Outstanding Contribution – Bolsover Cruise Club
Rising Star Award – Cruise Club UK
PRINCESS CRUISES
Partnership Achievement Award – Imagine Cruising
Outstanding Contribution – Cruise.co.uk
Rising Star Award – ROL Cruise
SEABOURN
Partnership Achievement Award – Six Star Cruises & ROL Cruise
Outstanding Contribution – The Sovereign Cruise Club
Rising Star Award – Cruise Direction
OVERALL
Retailer of the Year – Hays Travel
Cruise Specialist of the Year – ROL Cruise