Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia has announced the finalists for its 21^st Cruise Industry Awards ahead of a sold-out celebration in March.

A total of 79 finalists have been chosen from across Australia and New Zealand and will be in the running to win one of cruising’s highest honours.

More than 800 entries were received for this year’s awards with 18 categories to be judged, including 11 open to self-nomination or peer-nomination.

Key categories include Agency of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, Home-Based Cruise Agent/Broker of the Year, Rising Star, Cruise Champion, Promotion of the Year and a Media Award.

CLIA managing director in Australasia Joel Katz said this year’s award nominations reflected this region’s growing community of successful travel agents.

“This year’s nominees include not only the most successful and high-profile travel agents in our community, but also a new and determined generation of travel agents who are part of our expanded CLIA membership,” Katz said. “All these travel agents have been a big part of the spectacular comeback cruising has achieved in Australia and New Zealand, so our 21st Cruise Industry Awards will recognise their enormous contribution to our industry’s success.”

Hosted by entertainer Tim Campbell, CLIA’s 21st Cruise Industry Awards will be held at The Star Event Centre in Sydney on Saturday March 9.

Find the full list on nominees below!

Agency of the Year Categories

Large Cruise Agency of the Year: Multi Location/Brand – Australasia

• Phil Hoffmann Travel
• Ignite Travel Group
• RAA Travel
• Bicton Travel/Claremont Cruise & Travel Centre
• Hunter Travel Group

Small Cruise Agency of the Year: Single Location – Australia

• Cruise Express
• Main Beach Travel
• Travelrite International
• itravel Carlingford
• Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel

Small Cruise Agency of the Year: Single Location – New Zealand

• YOU Travel Bethlehem
• House of Travel Botany Junction
• House of Travel Papamoa
• Cruise Connections
• Pukekohe Travel

Online Cruise Agency of the Year: Australasia

• Cruise Guru
• Clean Cruising
• Our Vacation Centre
• cruisedeals.co.nz
• Ecruising
• Trip A Deal

Individual Categories

Broker of the Year: New Zealand

• Zaheda Davies, NZ Travel Brokers
• Debbie Christian, Travel Advocates
• Lucy Marshall, The Travel Brokers
• Michelle Downey, Bucket List Travel
• Andrew Lennox, Travel Managers

Home-Based / Mobile Agent of the Year: Australia

• Karryn Bartlett, TravelManagers Australia
• Mark Spurway, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
• Jane Fowler, TravelManagers Australia
• Sarah Fenton – MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
• Rose Febo, TravelManagers Australia

Cruise Consultant of the Year: New Zealand

• Joanne Coolen, House of Travel Kapiti Coast
• Jill Harris, Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel
• Lydia Haydon, YOU Travel Bethlehem
• Kay Paulsen, cruisedeals.co.nz
• Gail Littin, Pukekohe Travel
• Sam Fowler, Cruise Connections

Cruise Consultant of the Year: Australia

• Kara Lane, Ecruising
• Alison Lord, Travel Associates Turramurra
• Martine Hero, Clean Cruising
• Elizabeth Madsen, Flight Centre Kenmore
• Byron Horne, Bicton Travel

Rising Star: New Zealand

• Taylor le Breton, House of Travel Invercargill
• Bibiana Saudua, cruisedeals.co.nz
• Rachael Wood, House of Travel Hornby
• Jaimee Phelps, House of Travel Kapiti Coast

Rising Star: Australia

• Kai Floto, Southlands Travel & Cruise
• Paige Cameron, My Cruises
• Mitchell Tam, Phil Hoffmann Travel
• Ben Chidgzey, Bicton Travel
• Vanessa Sokolji, Flight Centre Epping Plaza

Cruise Champion: Australasia

• Rhona Rodgers, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
• Kylie Crouch, First Travel Group
• Megan Catterall, LUXE by itravel
• Mike Clark, Phil Hoffmann Travel

Cruise Line Champion: Australasia

• Elsa McLean, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Rachaelle Tyrell, Princess Cruises
• Christine Oliver

Promotion and Media Categories

Cruise Month Promotion of the Year: Australasia

• House of Travel “Omnichannel 2023 Cruise Month Promotion”
• Cruise Express “Embracing CLIA Cruise Month”
• MTA – Mobile Travel Agents “What’s Your Cruise Personality? Quiz”
• Rose Febo “Seas The Day”
• My Cruises “My Cruises Cruise Month and 24/25 Earlybird Campaign”

Network Cruise Promotion of the Year: Australasia

• World Travellers “It’s a Suite Life”
• Flight Centre “Oceans of Offers”
• RAA “It Pays to Cruise with RAA”
• Travel Associates “Luxury Cruise Luncheons”
• Hunter Travel Group “Newcastle Holiday & Cruise Expo”

Agency/Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year: Australia

• My Cruises “Unmissable Sale”
• Luxury Escapes “Virgin Voyages Partnership”
• Cruise Express “Royal Rail & Sail Adventure”
• Rose Febo “At My Cruising Table – Epicurean Experiences Across the Seas”

Agency/Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year: New Zealand

• Pukekohe Travel “Travel & Cruise Expo”
• cruisedeals.co.nz “Kiwi Explorer – Best of the South Island”
• Bon Voyage Cruises & Travel “Japan Arts, Parks & Culture”

Media Award: Australasia

• Brian Johnston, Traveller “Smooth sailing: Who’s who in a cruise ship crew”
• Andrea Black, Escape “Only on a cruise”
• Kate Armstrong, Traveller “The Alaskan glacier that makes Game of Thrones’ Wall seem feeble”
• Imogen Eveson, International Traveller “The New Wave”

(Featured Image: CLIA’s 2023 Cruise Industry Awards)