On Wednesday night (26 November) the cruise industry came together for the 11th annual Wave Awards at The Dorchester, London to celebrate excellence throughout the sector, with Riviera Travel, Unforgettable Croatia and Mundy Cruising’s Edwina Lonsdale among the winners

Riviera Travel was the biggest winner on the night, picking up the coveted Grand Prix Award after triumphing in three categories, including Best Initiative for Attracting New to Cruise, Best Trade Sales Team and Best for Solo Travellers.

Two special gongs – The Peter Grant Award and a Special Recognition Award, which celebrate two individual cruise pioneers who’ve driven innovation and positive change throughout the sector – were won by Mundy Cruising’s Edwina Lonsdale and Steve Williams, respectively.

This year’s Wave Awards was hosted by beloved British TV comedian and actor Sally Phillips, who took the baton from last year’s host Sue Perkins, with Virgin Voyages steering the ship as this year’s headline sponsor.

Elsewhere on the night, Barrhead Travel took home Best Retail Agent, while AmaWaterways shone in a hotly contested category to win Best Luxury River Cruise Line.

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

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

The winners were decided after a comprehensive judging day at The Independent HQ in Finsbury Square, London earlier this year. A total of 40 judges made up the independent panel, with new additions including Helen Beck, managing director, global commercial, Windstar; David Duff, managing director, UK, Azamara; and Torey Kings-Hodkins, trade sales and marketing director EMEA, Disney Destinations International.

A special thank you to our Wave Awards 2025 sponsors, which this year include Virgin Voyages (headline sponsor), Cunard (entertainment sponsor) Princess Cruises (after party sponsor), The Independent (media partner) and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (welcome drink sponsor), as well as Marella Cruises, Riviera Travel, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Travelzoo, Celestyal, Royal Caribbean International and Chewton Glen.

Your 2025 Wave Awards winners…

Special awards

The Peter Grant Award, sponsored by Royal Caribbean International

Edwina Lonsdale, Mundy Cruising

Special Recognition Award

Steve Williams

Grand Prix Award

Riviera Travel

Consumer awards

Favourite Cruise Destination, sponsored by Celestyal

Qatar

Favourite Cruise Travel Agent, sponsored by Cunard

Hays Travel

Favourite Cruise Travel Influencer, sponsored by Marella Cruises

Jenni Fielding (AKA Cruise Mummy)

Favourite Luxury Cruise Line, sponsored by The Independent

Cunard

Favourite Ultra Luxury Cruise Line

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Favourite Ocean Cruise Line, sponsored by The Independent

Marella

Favourite River Cruise Line, sponsored by The Independent

Viking

Favourite Specialist Cruise Line or Tour Operator, sponsored by The Independent

Hurtigruten

Favourite Expedition Cruise Line

Seabourn

Industry awards

Best Escorted & Specialist Tour Operator, sponsored by TravelZoo

Travelsphere & Just You

Highly commended: Riviera Travel

Best Advertising, Marketing or PR Campaign

P&O Cruises

Highly commended: Accord Marketing for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Best Sustainability Initiative

HX

Highly commended: AE Expeditions

Best Transfer Service

Lifts To

Best Initiative for Attracting New to Cruise

Riviera Travel

Best PR Team

PR42

Highly commended: Cunard

Best Trade Sales Team

Riviera Travel

Technology Awards

Best Technology Innovation, sponsored by Riviera Travel

ROL Cruise

Best Technology Provider, sponsored by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Digitaltravel.io

Onboard awards

Best for Wellbeing

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Best for Enrichment

Cunard

Highly commended: HX

Best for Cuisine

Hurtigruten

Highly commended: Havila Voyages

Best for Accommodation Design, sponsored by Chewton Glen

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best for Entertainment

Virgin Voyages

Port & Destination awards

Best for Excursions

Quark Expeditions

Highly commended: Celestyal

Best Port, sponsored by Princess Cruises

Portsmouth International Port

Highly commended: Liverpool Cruise Port

Agent awards

Best Independent/Solo Agent, sponsored by Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The Cruise Room,

Highly commended: Cruise Family

Best Homeworking Network, sponsored by Virgin Voyages

InteleTravel

Best Online Agent, sponsored by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Iglu Cruise

Highly commended: Panache Cruises

Best Retail Agent, sponsored by Princess Cruises

Barrhead Travel Group

Highly commended: The Cruise Room

Best Specialist Cruise Agent, sponsored by Riviera Travel

Panache Cruises

Highly commended: Iglu Cruise

Cruise line awards

Best Family Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean International

Best Specialist Cruise Line

Unforgettable Croatia

Highly commended: Antara Cruises

Best Value-for-money Cruise Line

Celestyal

Best Luxury River Cruise Line

AmaWaterways

Best for Solo Travellers

Riviera Travel

Best Expedition Cruise Line

HX

Best New Ship Launch

MSC Cruises (MSC World America)

Best River Cruise Line

APT Travelmarvel

Best Ocean Cruise Line, sponsored by TravelZoo

Royal Caribbean International

Highly commended: P&O Cruises

Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Line

Seabourn