Cruise lines and travel agents came together for a jubilant Cruise Stars 2025 ceremony on Friday (12 December) to celebrate the very best from across the industry

The awards, hosted by Cruise Trade News (CTN), saw representatives from the likes of Ambassador Cruise Line, Marella Cruises, Hays Travel and GoCruise & Travel join a packed-out room at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms hotel in Central London.

Riviera Travel, Princess Cruises and Iglu were among the biggest winners on the day after judges poured through the highest number of entries in the awards’ history.

A total of 20 gongs, including the new Cruise Line Editor’s Choice Award and Agent Editor’s Choice Award, recognised the accomplishments of sales, PR and marketing staff, as well as senior management and rising stars from across the cruise line and travel agent sectors.

The ceremony began with a welcome drinks reception, before Cruise Trade News (CTN) and World of Cruising group editor, cruise Jack Carter and Real Response Media chief operating officer Lina Slater looked back on the publications’ achievements over the last 12 months, including the launch of CTN’s first industry report.

Pete Smith, the host of CTN’s travel agent training programme with a twist, the Cruise Challenge, was then welcomed to the stage to reveal the winners of this year’s Cruise Stars.

This year, the National Literacy Trust (NLT) was named as the event’s charity sponsor, with £10 from every ticket sale – with the total amount being matched by Real Response Media – going towards the charity’s incredible work in empowering people with the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.

Thanks to the partnership, delegates heard from award-wining author Anthony Horowitz CBE, who discussed his career and encouraged up and coming industry executives to “believe in yourself”.

“The life of a writer is very solitary and we can never be sure that our next book will succeed. Many of us suffer from ‘imposter’ syndrome, when we believe we’re somehow going to be found out. Self-confidence and a refusal to give in to doubts are, I think, crucial to future success,” he added.

A special thank you to our Cruise Stars 2025 sponsors, which this year include Marella Cruises (headline sponsor), Ambassador Cruise Line (motivational speaker sponsor), Princess Cruises (360° video booth sponsor), Crystal Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Riviera Travel and Virgin Voyages.

Your 2025 Cruise Stars winners are…

Cruise line categories 

Cruise Line Management Star of the Year

Vicky Billing, Riviera Travel

Highly commended: Stephen Joyner, Crystal Cruises

Cruise Line Marketing Star of the Year

Roxy Glendon, Rivera Travel

Cruise Line Mentoring Star of the Year

Hayley Moore, Hurtigruten (formerly Princess Cruises)

Highly commended: Sam Sparks, Marella Cruises/TUI River Cruises

Cruise Line PR Star of the Year

Kate Edwards, Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruise Line Sales Star of the Year

Danielle Weller, MSC Cruises

Cruise Line Rising Star of the Year

Raef Reid-Easton, Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Line Star of the Year

Max Campos, Aqua Expeditions

Highly commended: Kerry Buchanan, Virgin Voyages

Trade Sales Star of the Year

Millie Spicer, P&O Cruises (formerly Princess Cruises)

Highly commended: Jessica Garner, Marella Cruises

Agent categories 

Travel Agent Homeworking Star of the Year, sponsored by Virgin Voyages

Emma Otter, Travel Counsellors

Highly commended: Daniel Hammond, GoCruise & Travel

Regional Travel Agent Sales Star of the Year, sponsored by Ambassador Cruise Line

Samantha Wilkinson, Delmar World

Travel Agent Rising Star of the Year, sponsored by Princess Cruises

Josh Harris, Paramount Cruises

Travel Agent Management Star of the Year, sponsored by Crystal Cruises

Alison Hamilton, Oasis Travel

Highly commended: Caroline Harris, Air and Ocean Travel

Travel Agent Marketing Star of the Year, sponsored by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Lee Gouws, Iglu Cruise

Highly commended: Louise Hunter, Barrhead Travel

Travel Agent Mentoring Star of the Year, sponsored by Marella Cruises

Claire Guthrie, Iglu Cruise

Highly commended: Jess Hartley, Paramount Cruises

Travel Agent Star of the Year, sponsored by Riviera Travel

Jessica Armitage, Bolsover Cruise Club

Industry categories 

Above and Beyond Star of the Year

Emma Sanger-Horwell, Travelpack

Trainer Star of the Year

Stephanie Adams, P&O Cruises

Highly commended: Sarah Whitehouse, Marella Cruises

New to Cruise Extraordinaire of the Year, sponsored by Marella Cruises

Peter Stamford, Cruise Family

Cruise Line Editor’s Choice Award

Emma Hayes, Marella Cruises

Agent Editor’s Choice Award

Daniel Hammond, GoCruise & Travel