happy New Year to you all. It’s the time of resolutions – for some, these quickly fade into the background, while others will somehow faithfully stick to their 2020 plans with admirable willpower (count me as one of the former). Speaking of 2020, what a huge 12 months it is for the cruise industry. Some may argue they have heard that before, and yes, they are probably correct. However, there is an undeniable feeling of expectation running throughout the sector, whether that be river, ocean, expedition, luxury, boutique or any other branch. Virgin Voyages makes its debut, with the launch of Scarlet Lady in April, while Celebrity Cruises welcomes the second vessel in its celebrated Edge-class, Celebrity Apex, which is sailing from Southampton for its first five voyages. You can read more about the latest ship launches in our Trend Watch column on page 10. Elsewhere, we look at some of our Cruise Stars Awards winners, starting on page 27. These awards, which were held in central London, celebrate excellence across both travel agencies and cruise lines, with categories such as PR & marketing stars, management stars and sales stars. Our big interview piece features TUI River Cruises. In this, we speak to general manager Abi Devaney to learn more about the line’s new river vessels and what they will offer guests.