The shortlist for the Wave Awards 2026 has been announced after a record number of entries

The event, hosted by Cruise Trade News and World of Cruising in partnership with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, will take place on 24 November at The Dorchester on London’s Park Lane, with winners to be chosen on the night from the shortlist below.

A limited-time Flash Sale is now live, with discounted individual tickets and tables available to purchase until 31 July.

The shortlisted entries were chosen after a comprehensive judging day at The Independent HQ in Finsbury Square, London on 10 July.

More than 50 judges made up the independent panel, with new additions including Katharina Peck, group commercial director, The Travel Network Group; Helen Crosbie, strategic account manager UK, Silversea; Tom McLoughlin, CEO and founder, North9; Ola Quadrio, head of travel, client solutions, TikTok; Si Morris-Green, director of cruise, On The Beach; Bryony Boulter, head of trade sales UK, Abercrombie & Kent; Steven Harris, director, sales (UK & Europe), Rocky Mountaineer; Lauren Wood, head of cruise, Destinology; and Russell Bailey, senior business development manager, Holiday Extras.

After a phenomenal year for the cruise industry, the travel community’s enthusiasm to recognise its achievement translated into a record number of entries, up from last year which also broke records.

The increased entry number was also fuelled by several new categories, including Best Trade-Only Operator, Best Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line, Best for Touring and Adventure, Best Ancillary Service and Best Tourist Board.

Join us in celebrating the very best of the cruise sector at the industry’s premier event in November by purchasing tickets HERE, using our Flash Sale discount.

A special thank you to our Wave Awards 2026 sponsors, which this year include Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (headline sponsor), Marella Cruises (entertainment sponsor), Regent Seven Seas Cruises (welcome drinks sponsor), Celestyal, Cunard, Hurtigruten, Princess Cruises, Riviera Travel, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages.

Wave Awards 2026 shortlist

Agent categories:

Best Homeworking Agent

Brilliant Travel
InteleTravel

Best Independent/Solo Agent

Cruise Family
Cruise Monks
Harden Holidays
InteleTravel
No Fuss Holidays Ltd
Pure Joy Escapes
The Cruise Room

Best Luxury Agent/Agency

Destinology
Panache Cruises
SixStarCruises
The Cruise Room

Best Online Agent

Cruise118.com
Iglu Cruise
Panache Cruises

Best Retail Agent

Barrhead Travel
Bolsover Cruise Club
The Cruise Room

Best Specialist Cruise Agent

Bolsover Cruise Club
Iglu Cruise
No Fuss Holidays Ltd
Panache Cruises
Paramount Cruises
ROL Cruise
SixStarCruises

Cruise line categories:

Best Expedition Cruise Line

AE Expeditions
HX Expeditions
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions
PONANT
Quark Expeditions
Seabourn
Swan Hellenic

Best Family Cruise Line

MSC Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
P&O Cruises
Royal Caribbean

Best for Solo Travellers

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
HX Expeditions
Norwegian Cruise Line
Riviera Travel

Best Luxury Cruise Line

Cunard
Oceania Cruises
Windstar Cruises

Best New Ship Launch

Amawaterways for AmaMagdalena
Oceania Cruises for Allura
Regent Seven Seas Cruises for Seven Seas Prestige
Virgin Voyages for Brilliant Lady

Best Ocean Cruise Line

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
MSC Cruises
P&O Cruises
Princess Cruises
Virgin Voyages

Best River Cruise Line

AmaWaterways
APT Travel Group
Riviera Travel
Scenic
TUI
VIVA Cruises

Best Specialist Cruise Line

Azamara Cruises
Hurtigruten
Unforgettable Croatia
Windstar Cruises

Best Ultra-Luxury Cruise Line

Crystal
Explora Journeys
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Scenic
Seabourn

Best Value for Money Cruise Line

Celestyal
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
P&O Cruises
Princess Cruises
VIVA Cruises
Windstar Cruises

Technology and online categories:

Best Technology Provider

d-flo Limited
SystemsX
Widgety

Industry categories:

Best Advertising & Marketing Campaign

Accord Marketing for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Cunard
Hurtigruten
P&O Cruises
Riviera Travel

Best Ancillary Service

Holiday Extras
Lifts To
Marella Cruises
Travelpack

Best for Touring and Adventure

Abercrombie & Kent
Antara Cruises
Imagine Cruising
Newmarket Holidays
Riviera Travel
Travelpack
Travelsphere & Just You

Best Initiative for Attracting New to Cruise

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Travelpack
Virgin Voyages

Best PR Team

MSC Cruises
PR42
Riviera Travel
Travelpack

Best Sustainability Initiative

AE Expeditions
Havila Voyages
Hurtigruten
HX Expeditions
PONANT
Portsmouth International Port
TUI

Best Trade Sales Team

Azamara Cruises
Crystal
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
MSC Cruises
P&O Cruises
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Riviera Travel
Virgin Voyages

Onboard categories:

Best for Cuisine

Best for Cuisine
Crystal
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Hurtigruten
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Seabourn
Virgin Voyages
VIVA Cruises

Best for Enrichment

Antara Cruises
Cunard
HX Expeditions
Seabourn

Best for Entertainment

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Marella Cruises
MSC Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Virgin Voyages

Best for Wellbeing

Explora Journeys
Scenic
Virgin Voyages

Ports and destinations:

Best for Excursions

AE Expeditions
Celestyal
Hurtigruten
Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services
Marella Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
TUI

Best Port

Southampton
Portsmouth International Port

Best Tourist Board

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Grenada Tourism Authority
Visit Portsmouth