The winners of the 2023 Cruise Stars Awards were announced during an intimate ceremony at the Middle Eight Hotel in London on Friday (8 December).

In partnership with Royal Caribbean International, Gail Kenny Executive Recruitment, Riviera Travel, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Seabourn and AmaWaterways, the free-to-enter event celebrated individuals from across the cruise sector.

Awards included Cruise Line PR & Marketing Star, Cruise Line Sales Star and National Travel Agent Sales Star, as well as new for 2023 titles Above and Beyond Star and Trainer Star of the Year.

During last week’s ceremony – the first of its kind since 2019 – Cunard business manager James Scott took home the Cruise Line Sales Star accolade while Scenic Group trade support specialist Jessica Tansey was named Cruise Line Rising Star of the Year.

Trainer Star of the Year was handed to Celebrity Cruise EMEA training manager Leon Hand and Riviera Travel channels marketing manager Roxy Ilbury was awarded Cruise Line PR & Marketing Star.

The final award in the cruise line category, Cruise Line Management Star, went to Virgin Voyages director of sales UK Sarah Jane Walker.

Cruise Stars winner ‘elated, over the moon and overjoyed’

“I am absolutely elated, over the moon and overjoyed,” Hand said, explaining how he already has a spot in mind for his trophy on his mother’s mantlepiece in Liverpool. “To get this recognition in the industry is just a wonderful feeling, so I am very, very happy.

“These events are very important because everyone works so hard and we do a lot for the trade, it’s not just about recognition, but it’s also about celebration of success and it just motivates to do more.”

Cruise and travel specialist at GoCruise & Travel Daniel Hammond scooped the Above and Beyond Star award, while Travel Agent Rising Star of the Year was awarded to InteleTravel’s Danielle Falcus.

It was a double-haul for InteleTravel on the night, with Geraldine Nolan picking up the Travel Agent Marketing Star accolade while Bolsover Cruise Club’s Jessica Armitage took home National Travel Agent Sales Star.

The Travel Agent Award category was rounded off with Paul Cranny of Paul Cranny Travel being named the Regional Travel Sales Star of the Year for the South of England and Wales, Hays Travel’s Michelle Higson taking home the North of England and Scotland-based accolade and Thorne Travel’s John Ferguson winning the Travel Agent Management Star award.

‘This win feels amazing – it puts it all into perspective’

“This win feels amazing, it’s been a hectic year so it puts it all in to perspective and makes everything I and the team have done worth it,” said Hammond.

“These awards are massive for the industry. Agents are often unsung – they don’t get a lot of recognition, the cruise lines get more at times, which they should, but agents are the little people at times so events like these make us big and make us more known in the industry.”

Riviera Travel head of product Will Sarson hailed travel agents for being a “really important part” of the river cruise operator’s business, saying Cruise Stars 2023 is “the perfect way to celebrate their successes”.

“So often we get busy with day-to-day work, so you have to take the time to really enjoy yourself and look back at what we have achieved as an industry and on an individual level,” he added.

“2023 has been a fab year, it’s what we all hoped for in terms of Covid recovery – which is now a distant memory – and 2024 sales are doing so well for us, particularly through the trade, so we’re really excited to keep on building that momentum as we move forward into the new year.”