What are the Wave Awards?
The Wave Awards celebrate outstanding achievement across the cruise industry. They recognise excellence and innovation across the sector, with categories spanning cruise lines, tourist boards, travel agents and tour operators.
The awards are owned and produced by Real Response Media, the publisher behind World of Cruising and our sister title Cruise Trade News. The annual event brings the who’s who of the industry together to honour its brightest talent and biggest success stories.
How are winners selected?
Winners are chosen by a judging panel made up of recognised specialists and respected industry figures.
The judging process takes place in two stages. Judges score entries independently before coming together for roundtable discussions that help determine the final results.
The only exception is the Passenger Favourite Awards, which are voted for entirely by the public. Since the awards launched, more than 300,000 public votes have been cast.
The 2025 winners of the Wave Awards
Passenger Favourite Awards
Voted for by the public
Favourite cruise destination
Winner: Qatar
Sponsor: Celestyal Cruises
Favourite cruise travel agent
Winner: Hays Travel
Highly commended: Bolsover Cruise Club
Sponsor: Cunard
Favourite cruise travel influencer
Winner: Cruise Mummy
Sponsor: Marella Cruises
Favourite luxury cruise line
Winner: Cunard
Sponsor: The Independent
Favourite ultra luxury cruise line
Winner: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Favourite ocean cruise line
Winner: Marella Cruises
Highly commended: Princess Cruises
Sponsor: The Independent
Favourite river cruise line
Winner: Viking
Sponsor: The Independent
Favourite specialist cruise line or tour operator
Winner: Hurtigruten
Sponsor: The Independent
Favourite expedition cruise line
Winner: Seabourn
Highly commended: HX
Special awards
Peter Grant Award
Winner: Edwina Lonsdale, Mundy Cruising
Sponsor: Royal Caribbean International
Special Recognition Award
Winner: Steve Williams, MSC
Industry categories
Best advertising & marketing campaign
Winner: P&O Cruises
Highly commended: Accord Marketing for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Best escorted & specialist tour operator
Winner: Travelsphere & Just You
Highly commended: Riviera Travel
Sponsor: Travelzoo
Best initiative for attracting new-to-cruise
Winner: Riviera Travel
Best PR Team
Winner: PR42
Highly commended: Cunard
Best sustainability initiative
Winner: HX
Highly commended: Marella Cruises
Best trade sales team
Winner: Riviera Travel
Best transfer service
Winner: Lifts To
Tech and online categories
Best technology innovation
Winner: ROL Cruise
Sponsor: Riviera Travel
Best technology provider
Winner: Digitaltravel.io
Sponsor: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
On board categories
Best for accommodation design
Winner: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Sponsor: Chewton Glen
Best for cuisine
Winner: Hurtigruten
Highly commended: Havila Voyages
Best for enrichment
Winner: Cunard
Highly commended: HX
Best for entertainment
Winner: Virgin Voyages
Best for wellbeing
Winner: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
Ports and destination categories
Best for excursions
Winner: Quark Expeditions
Highly commended: Celestyal Cruises
Best port
Winner: Portsmouth International Port
Highly commended: Liverpool Cruise Port
Sponsor: Princess Cruises
Agent categories
Best homeworking network
Winner: InteleTravel
Sponsor: Virgin Voyages
Best independent/solo agent
Winner: The Cruise Room
Highly commended: Cruise Family
Sponsor: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best online agent
Winner: Iglu Cruises
Highly commended: Panache Cruises
Sponsor: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Best retail agent
Winner: Barrhead Travel Group
Highly commended: The Cruise Room
Sponsor: Princess Cruises
Best specialist cruise agent
Winner: Panache Cruises
Highly commended: Iglu Cruises
Sponsor: Riviera Travel
Cruise line categories
Best expedition cruise line
Winner: HX
Best family cruise line
Winner: Royal Caribbean International
Best for solo travellers
Winner: Riviera Travel
Best luxury ocean cruise line
Winner: Seabourn
Best luxury river cruise line
Winner: AmaWaterways
Best new ship launch
Winner: MSC Cruises
Best ocean cruise line
Winner: Royal Caribbean International
Highly commended: P&O Cruises
Sponsor: Travelzoo
Best river cruise line
Winner: APT & Travelmarvel
Best specialist cruise line
Winner: Unforgettable Croatia
Highly commended: Antara River Cruises
Best value for money
Winner: Celestyal Cruises
Grand prix award
Winner: Riviera Travel
FAQs
When were the 2025 Wave Awards held?
The 2025 Wave Awards took place on the 26th of November 2025 at The Dorchester in London.
Who are the judges?
The judging panel comprises recognised specialists and respected industry figures. You can see the full judging panel for the 2025 Wave Awards on the official judging page.
Who are the sponsors?
The Wave Awards collaborates with a range of valued partners across the cruise and travel industries. You can find the full list of sponsors for 2025 on our sponsors page.
If you’re interested in future sponsorship opportunities, further information is available on the Wave Awards website.
Who can enter the Wave Awards?
The Wave Awards are open to any company or organisation involved in cruises or cruise holidays, anywhere in the world, regardless of size. This includes agencies, e-commerce companies, marketing service providers, vendor companies and individuals who work within the sector.
Agencies, vendors and e-commerce companies may submit entries on behalf of their clients and will receive appropriate credit when results are announced. Multiple entries from the same organisation are permitted, provided each submission is tailored to the category being entered.
Entries for 2025 are now closed, and entries for 2026 will open in due course.
Does the Wave Awards have a charity partner?
Yes. In 2025, we are supporting the National Literary Trust, an independent charity dedicated to transforming lives through the power of words. It works with schools, families and communities across the UK to improve reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, helping people of all ages succeed in education, work and life.
The partnership is a natural fit for World of Cruising and Cruise Trade News, where words, storytelling and communication sit at the heart of what we do.
Where can I see past winners of the Wave Awards?
You can view the full list of 2024 winners on the Wave Awards website.
Who hosts the Wave Awards?
In 2025, actor, writer and producer Sally Phillips hosted the Wave Awards. Past hosts have included Sue Perkins, Joel Dommett and Stephen Mangan.
How can I get in touch?
Please get in touch with us at [email protected] or use the contact form on the Wave Awards website.
