Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has revealed the finalists for its 23rd Cruise Industry Awards for Australasia. The shortlist follows a record year of nominations from travel advisors across Australia and New Zealand.
CLIA confirmed 83 finalists will contest 15 gongs at the sold-out awards ceremony, which will take place at the International Convention Centre Sydney on 7 March.
According to CLIA, around 1,200 nominations were received, the highest total in Cruise Industry Awards’ history.
Major categories include Cruise Agency of the Year, Cruise Consultant of the Year, Home-Based Cruise Agent/Broker of the Year and Rising Star.
In a new development, CLIA has also expanded the Network Cruise Promotion of the Year award into small and large network categories.
“The judging process will soon get underway and it’s clear we have a very high standard of finalist to consider this year,” CLIA in Australasia Managing Director Joel Katz said.
“At a time when the cruise industry is enjoying record levels of demand globally, it’s clear our Australasian travel agent community is among the most dedicated and professional in the world, and this is reflected in the calibre of this year’s nominations.”
2026 CLIA Awards Finalists
Agency of the Year Categories
Cruise Agency of the Year: Multi Location/Brand – Australasia
- Hunter Travel Group
- RAA Travel
- Phil Hoffmann Travel
- Ignite Travel Group
- Bicton Travel / Claremont Travel
- Gallivanter Travel
Cruise Agency of the Year: Single Location – Australia
- Destination HQ
- Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
- FBI Travel
- Chirn Park Travel
- Cruise Express
- Main Beach Travel
Cruise Agency of the Year: Single Location – New Zealand
- Pukekohe Travel
- House of Travel Botany Junction
- Private Travel Company
- North Shore Business Travel
- Bon Voyage Cruises and Travel
- House of Travel Hornby
Online Cruise Agency of the Year: Australasia
- CruiseAway by Dreamlines
- Our Vacation Centre
- Clean Cruising
- TripADeal
- Luxury Escapes
- Ecruising
Individual Categories
Cruise Broker of the Year: New Zealand
- Trish Seeher, TS Travel Ltd
- Robert Schroder, Mondo Travel
- Sarah Rodgers, Envoyage
- Jenny Jia, NZ Travel Brokers
- Kristy Cockerill, KC Travel
- Kim Mildon, Wanderlust Travel Experts
Mobile (Home-Based) Cruise: Consultant of the Year – Australia
- Shane Black, SW Black Travel
- Jessica Bennett, TravelManagers Australia
- Lyndall Collins, itravel
- Lauren Jenkins, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Lisa Maddox, Spencer Travel
- Karryn Bartlett, TravelManagers Australia
Cruise Consultant of the Year: New Zealand
- Shelley Williams, Cruisedeals.co.nz
- Lesley Johns, Helloworld Westgate
- Lorraine van Veen, House of Travel Botany
- Lisa Wharfe, Pukekohe Travel
- Craig Martin, Streeter & Turner Travel Associates
- Lydia Haydon, YOU Travel Bethlehem
Cruise Consultant of the Year: Australia
- Lauren Macartney, Clean Cruising
- Justin Lubrig, Cruiseabout Whitford City
- Kai Floto, Southlands Cruise & Travel
- Tina Wheelock, Cruise Express
- Laurel Brown, Flight Centre Taree
- Genevieve Thomspon, Complex Travel Group
Rising Star: New Zealand
- Flynn Cox, Travel Associates Howick
- Diana Lintag, Flight Centre Silverdale
- Sian Loh, YOU Travel Bethlehem
- Kurt Johnston, Flight Centre Botany Town
- Shannara Robinson, Best Travel
Rising Star: Australia
- Josh Hall, RAA Travel
- Corey Martin, The Cruise & Travel Store
- Kim Da Costa, Southlands Cruise and Travel
- Thomas Liardo, Cruiseabout Narellan
- Jason Rigg, Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg
Promotion and Media Categories
Cruise Month Promotion of the Year: Australasia
- Cruise Express, “Discover, Engage & Win”
- House of Travel, “Cruise Made Easy”
- My Cruises, “Early Bird Sale”
- Globe Trotters Cruise & Touring, “Explore, Discover, Cruise”
- House of Travel Invercargill, “The Go-To Crew for Cruising”
Small Network Promotion of the Year: Australasia
- National Travel Group, “Cruise Beyond Ordinary”
- House of Travel Papamoa Group, “Small Ship Cruising Travel Showcase”
- Bicton Travel and Claremont Travel, “Sapphire Princess Calls Fremantle Home 2027/28”
Large Network Promotion of the Year: Australasia
- Cruiseabout, “Cruise Mega Sail”
- House of Travel, “Discover Cruise Guide”
- Travel Associates, “The Travel Associates Film Festival”
- RAA Travel, “It Pays to Cruise with RAA”
- Hunter Travel Group, “2025 Holiday & Cruise Expo”
- Flight Centre, “Luxury Cruise Campaign”
Agency/Agent Cruise Promotion of the Year – Australasia
- Main Beach Travel, “Sail Beyond Ordinary”
- My Cruises, “Explorations by Norwegian”
- Megan Catterall, LUXE by itravel, “Grand Sakura Rolls Royce & Bentley”
- Imagine Cruising, “European River Cruising”
- Roger Koller, Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel, “Tyrrells & Henschke Wine-Makers Cruise”
- Cruise Deals NZ, “Pacific Island Hopper”
Media Award: Australasia
- Jocelyn Pride, Luxury Travel “Wild Dining”
- Lee Tulloch, The Australian “Greenland Immersion”
- Michael Ferrante, The West Australian “Bear Essentials of Exploring the Arctic”
- Andrea Black, Delicious “To the Outer Limits”
- Amanda Woods, Mindfood “Sailing the Soul of India”
KARRYON UNPACKS: Strong nomination numbers show cruise remains a powerful revenue driver. For travel advisors, recognition matters, and the Cruise Industry Awards spotlight the expertise clients increasingly trust.
