We are delighted to announce that England cricket legend Monty Panesar will be the inspirational speaker for this year’s Cruise Stars ceremony, which will be held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London on 13 December

Panesar, who was a pivotal member of England’s famous Ashes winning teams in 2009 and 2010-11, became the first Sikh player to feature in the international side.

In 2019, he released his autobiography, The Full Monty, detailing his struggles with injury and mental health issues that sadly cut his career short, as well as his encounters with discrimination throughout his career, which once led to a petition being started by BBC Radio Five Live, calling for his inclusion in the 2006-07 Ashes series.

Since his retirement from professional cricket, Panesar has forged a successful career as an inspirational speaker, with his next stop taking him to the Cruise Stars ceremony on 13 December.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate the very best of the cruise sector during the ceremony. Tickets are still available to purchase, so be sure to take advantage and book your tickets now to secure your spot.

The free-to-enter event celebrates individual talent from across the cruise industry, with categories this year including Cruise Line Sales Star, Mentoring Star and the coveted Star of the Year award, while roving travel agents will also be celebrated with two regional gongs.

You can see the full shortlist for Cruise Stars 2024 here.