Best for Accommodation
From four-poster beds, marble bathrooms, suites with Jacuzzi hot tubs and cabins with hammocks on balconies, 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.
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. The judges are also looking for your core USPs and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the cruise market. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.
Best for Cuisine
Dining on board is important for passengers hungry to try new and favourite dishes from all over the world. Whether it’s the buffet, room service, a five-course dinner from a Michelin-starred or celebrity chef, or the chef’s table with the Executive Chef on board, the dining experience is an essential part of the onboard journey. 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 judges are also looking for your core USPs in cruise cuisine and any innovations that have driven customer satisfaction, forward bookings or growth in the cruise market. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.
Best for Enrichment
Nothing broadens the mind like travel – except travel with the added opportunity to learn and discover more while sailing to incredible destinations. The best enrichment cruises have specialist guest lectures, with experts, authors and legends bringing their topics alive for the audience. Found on a variety of cruises, these may have a theme – wine, food, history, dance or crafts – but whatever the subject, 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. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.
Best for Entertainment
West End hits and Broadway shows, comedians, jazz musicians, TV show winners, pop stars, children’s characters, variety acts and dinner theatre with high-wire acts are all part of the entertainment offered on board today’s cruise 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. And the very best entertainment has the entire ship buzzing, bringing repeat bookings just for the theme or the act alone.
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. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.
Best for Wellbeing/Spas
Travelling is about exploring, relaxing and treating your mind and body to a well-earned rest. Wellbeing cruises – with the emphasis on yoga, sports, meditation or sporting activities – put passengers through their mental and physical paces, while spas are all about pampering. The best offer everything from running decks to a full activities programme, and 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. You should clearly be able to show how you communicated these, to both the market and the trade.
How To Enter
Entries are closed for the 2021 awards.but you can still book your place at the event.
