Cartagena, honoured as Cruise Capital for the celebration of the IX Edition of the Cruise Excellence Awards Gala
The event brought together more than 250 professionals including the senior executives of the main cruise companies, tour operators, port agents, Mediterranean destinations, travel agents, press, suppliers and companies related to cruise industry.
The Cruise Excellence Awards are organized every year by Cruises News Media Group.
The Director of Cruises News Media Group, Virginia López Valiente together with Sr. Corrales were the gala ceremony hosts, extending a welcome to the guests and introducing the Mayor of Cartagena, Mr. José López Martínez who presented one of the awards, specifically the one from the City of Cartagena, “Best popular Cruise Company” to Pullmantur, represented by Captain Antonio Toledo, Director of Maritime Operations.
The Port Authority of Barcelona collected the Excellence Award for “Best Spanish Port”, from Jose Ortega Llorca, President of The National Ports Authority, who once again attended the Awards.
Additionally, Royal Caribbean collected the award for “Best Cruise ship on Mediterranean”, namely Allure of the Seas. Francisco Marco, Regional sales manager East and North East, collected the award.
Later, Virginia López, gave the award for “Best River Company” to CroisiEurope. Collecting the award was its Comercial Director, Tomás Fernández.
Winners
Pullmantur also received another award for “Best Crew”. Human Resources Manager Encarnación Rute, collecting the award. MSC Cruceros also picked up two awards. Firstly, the BC Agency award for “Best Cruise Line for the first cruise” and secondly for “Best Consumer Brand Recognition”. Its General Director, Emiliano González collected the first and Levante Sales manager, Luis Blanes proudly received the second.
Also winning two prizes was Costa Cruceros, “Best value for money Cruise Line” and “Best Brand Recognition by Travel Agencies”. Jorge Serrano, Commercial Director, collecting the first one and Sales Manager, Carlos López, the second.
Antonio Sevilla, President of Port Authority of Cartagena gave the award “Best premium/Luxury Cruise Line” to Princess Cruises. Collecting this award was the Director of Mundomar Cruceros, Agustín Quesada.
More awards
The award for “Best Luxury Cruise Line” was won by Silversea. Carmen Bigas, Comercial Director of Star Class, collecting the award. And the award of the “Best Mediterranean Port & Destination”
went to Malta, collecting the award, Charles Duncan, Port Operations Manager.
Norwegian Cruise Line, received the award for “Best Entertainment”. Business Development Manager, Gabriele Restivo collected the award, from the hand of Juan José Gudiño, Executive Director of Spanish Golf Cruises.
Special recognitions
As in every edition, Cruises News Media Group presented its plaques of recognition. This time Viajes El Corte Inglés, specifically the travel agency number 12, was recognized for being the Number one in cruise selling in Murcia. Collecting the recognition was Juan Carlos Gómez, Regional Director of Murcia, Alicante and Albacete.
Celestyal Cruises was recognized as “Cruise Line Revelation”. Noelia Dominguez, Sales Manager for Spain and Latin America, collecting the award.
To end the gala ceremony, the Port of Cartagena gave the recognition for the development of the cruises industry in Cartagena to ASEAM. The President of ASEAM, Jose María Fernández, receiving this one.
In this edition, the sponsors where: Bags & Go, Spanish Golf Cruises, ASEAM, Autocares Vidal , BC Agency, The Cartagena`s city council, Cruises Atlantic Islands and Medcruise as supporting organization.
Last but not least, the gala enjoyed the intervention of Mr. Corrales and “the Infinity show”, featuring two dancers who gave a display of interactive dancing, an innovative exhibition that combined contemporary dancing with audiovisual projections.
Finally, a reminder that next year will be the X Anniversary of the gala ceremony, with the venue to be announced shortly.
Cruises News Media Group is a Spanish media, marketing and communication national and international company specializing in the cruise industry and aimed at positioning Spain as a destination for cruise ships and promoting cruise holidays. With a division of specialized media through its magazine, Cruises News and e-CruisesNews digital newsletter, a division of events organizing Cruise Forums, Cruise Trainings , The Cruise Excellence Awards and the International Cruise Summit. A third division offers services of marketing and communication to Cruise Lines, Port authorities, cruise destinations, cruise tour operators, travel agencies and port agents.
