Last night (11 November) the cruise industry came together for the 10th annual Wave Awards at The Dorchester, London to celebrate excellence throughout the sector, with Royal Caribbean, Celestyal and Limitless Travel’s Angus Drummond among the winners on what was a jubilant evening

Royal Caribbean was the biggest winner on the night, picking up the coveted Grand Prix Award after triumphing in three categories, including Best for Accommodation Design, Best Family Cruise Line and Best for Accessibility.

Two special gongs – The Peter Grant Award and the new DEI (Diversity Equality Inclusion) Award, which celebrate two individual cruise pioneers who’ve driven innovation and positive change throughout the sector – were won by World Travel Holding’s Alison Earnshaw and Limitless Travel founder Angus Drummond, respectively.

This year’s Wave Awards was hosted by beloved British TV broadcaster Sue Perkins, who took the baton from last year’s host Joel Dommett, with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines returning as the night’s headline sponsor.

Elsewhere on the night, Marella Cruises took home Best for Entertainment, while AE Expeditions shone in a hotly contested category to win Best Sustainability Initiative.

Seven consumer awards, which were voted for by readers of Cruise Trade News’ sister publication World of Cruising, saw Norway win Favourite Cruise Destination. Meanwhile, Hays Travel took home the award for Favourite Cruise Travel Agent with Jenni Fielding (AKA Cruise Mummy) winning Favourite Cruise Travel Influencer for the third year running.

You can see the full list of last night’s Wave Awards winners below

“Tonight is about celebrating success in the cruise industry”

The Wave Awards, which was celebrating its 10-year anniversary, began with a welcome reception, sponsored by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, before Chris Pitchford, CEO of Cruise Trade News publisher Real Response Media kicked the ceremony off, thanking the packed-out room for coming together to celebrate the award’s momentous milestone.

“Thank you to each and every one of you for being here with us this evening, as we recognise and reward excellence in our beloved cruise industry.”

“Tonight marks a decade of the Wave Awards – the ‘Oscars of Cruising’ – and we are absolutely thrilled to be back at The Dorchester, one of the capital’s most prestigious hotels, for our special 10th anniversary.

“We are all here due to a mutual passion for cruise – and tonight is about celebrating success in our industry, which is in ship shape yet again.”

The stage was then taken over by a spectacular welcome show, sponsored by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, with dancers from entertainment company Pop-Up Global wowing the crowd with a 10-minute performance, soundtracked by Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Whitney Houston.

Remarkably, the nine performers were chosen as part of a live casting call last Friday (8 November), which saw more than 2,000 people audition for a chance to perform at last night’s ceremony. The company then had just two days to learn and perform the routine, which was overseen by award-winning choreographer Dane Bates.

Speaking to exclusively to Cruise Trade News during last week’s rehearsals, Bates said: “What’s been special about this is that we’ve gone from auditions on Friday, straight into rehearsals Saturday and Sunday to perform for you tonight. What I love about the show tonight is I’ve utilised the skills and talent of each individual dancer and they’ve all come together as a company to put on this spectacle.”

Click here to see our behind-the-scenes video of Dane and the performers in action during this weekend’s rehearsals.

More incredible performances took place throughout the night, courtesy of the award’s entertainment sponsor Cunard, featuring world-renowned violinist and vocalist Lizzie Ball and Tosh Wanogho-Maud, a rising star in musical theatre who dazzled audiences in the multi-award-winning West End show The Drifters Girl.

As the awards unfolded, a three-course dinner consisting of wild mushroom and truffle tortellini and tournedos of Aberdeen Angus beef, was served, courtesy of The Dorchester and main course sponsor Oceania Cruises.

The night ended with all 41 winners on stage for a triumphant group shot (main image), before the official after party, sponsored by Marella Cruises, invited guests to celebrate long into the evening.

Your 2024 Wave Awards winners…

Special awards

The Peter Grant Award, sponsored by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Alison Earnshaw, World Travel Holdings

The DEI Award, sponsored by Iconic Luxury Hotels

Angus Drummond, founder of Limitless Travel

Grand Prix Winner

Royal Caribbean International

Consumer awards

Favourite Cruise Travel Influencer, sponsored by Marella Cruises

Jenni Fielding (AKA Cruise Mummy)

Favourite Cruise Destination, sponsored by Carnival Cruise Line

Norway

Favourite Cruise Travel Agent, sponsored by Virgin Voyages

Hays Travel

Favourite Luxury or Premium Cruise Lince, sponsored by The Independent

Oceania Cruises

Favourite River Cruise Line, sponsored by The Independent

Viking River Cruises

Favourite Ocean Cruise Line, sponsored by The Independent

MSC Cruises

Favourite Specialist Cruise Line, sponsored by The Independent

Fred. Olsen cruise Lines

Industry awards

Best Escorted & Specialist Tour Operator

Riviera Travel

Best Advertising, Marketing or PR Campaign, sponsored by Force24

Celestyal

Best Sustainability Initiative, sponsored by Cunard

AE Expeditions

Highly commended: MSC Cruises

Best Transfer Service, sponsored by Marella Cruises

Titan Travel

Technology award

Best Technology Innovation, sponsored by Virgin Voyages

My Kind of Cruise

Onboard awards

Best for Wellbeing, sponsored by Limitless Travel

Explora Journeys

Best for Enrichment, sponsored by Limitless Travel

Cunard

Best for Accessibility, sponsored Limitless Travel

Royal Caribbean International

Best for Cuisine

Havila Voyages

Highly commended: Hurtigruten

Best for Accommodation Design

Royal Caribbean International

Highly commended: Windstar Cruises

Best for Entertainment

Marella Cruises

Port & Destination awards

Best for Excursions

Celestyal

Best Port, sponsored by Princess Cruises

Portsmouth International Port

Highly Commended: ABP Southampton

Agent awards

Best Independent/Solo Agent, sponsored by Riviera Travel

The Cruise Room

Best Homeworking Network, sponsored by Cruise Plus

Travel Counsellors

Best Consortia, sponsored by Cunard

Advantage Travel Partnership

Best Online Agent, sponsored by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Iglu Cruise

Best Retail Agent, sponsored by Princess Cruises

Barrhead Travel

Best Specialist Cruise Agent, sponsored by Oceania Cruises

Iglu Cruise

Highly commended: Bolsover Cruise Club

Cruise line awards

Best Trade Sales Team

Princess Cruises

Best Family Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean International

Best Specialist Cruise Line

Unforgettable Croatia

Highly commended: Havila Voyages

Best Value-for-money Cruise Line

Virgin Voyages

Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Line

Explora Journeys

Best Luxury River Cruise Line, sponsored by Oceania Cruises

AmaWaterways

Best Premium Cruise Line, sponsored by Travelzoo

Windstar Cruises

Best for Solo Travellers, sponsored by Travelzoo

Riviera Travel

Best Expedition Cruise Line, sponsored by the Expedition Cruise Network

Ponant

Best New Ship Launch, sponsored by Traveltek

Cunard (Queen Anne)

Best River Cruise Line, sponsored by Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Riviera Travel

Highly commended: APT Travelmarvel

Best Ocean Cruise Line, sponsored by Cruise Plus

P&O Cruises

Highly commended: Princess Cruises