Carnival UK CEO David Dingle has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Cruise International Awards announced in London today and presented by Gyles Brandreth at the Soho Hotel.
He has ultimate responsibility for 12 cruise ships: three flying the Cunard flag, seven sailing for P&O in the UK, and two more in P&O’s Australian division.
Already this year he has seen Cunard’s ships assemble in Southampton to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and joined Princess Anne as she reviewed the P&O fleet in celebration of the line’s 175th anniversary.
Dingle, who has been employed in the cruise industry for 30 years, took up his present position in June 2007, and was awarded a CBE in 2008. Liz Jarvis, Editor of Cruise International magazine, said: “David Dingle has made an outstanding contribution to the cruise industry. We are delighted that he has agreed to accept this award.”
In the awards voted for by passengers, Carnival Cruise Lines – a division not headed by Dingle – came out in front, pipping last year’s winners, Fred Olsen Cruise Line, to the post.
Olsen picked up prizes for Best Affordable Line and Best for Learning. Seabourn was voted Best Luxury Line, and Voyages to Antiquity is Best Specialist. Viking won the River Cruise Line title, while Uniworld triumphed as Best Luxury River Cruise Line.
The Best for Kids award went to Disney Cruise Line, with Royal Caribbean voted Best for Activities. The Verandah Restaurant on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth has the Best Food and the 5D Cinema on Carnival Breeze was named Best Innovation. Princess Cruises are Best for Entertainment and MSC’s Aurea Spas are Best for Well-being.
The vote reveals British passengers’ preference for scenery over sunshine: Norway was declared Best European Destination, with Alaska taking the title for the Rest of the World. Uniworld River Cruise Collection have the Best Shore Excursions.
Carnival’s John Heald was named Best Blogger for the second year running, Thomas Cook are the Best Cruise Agent, and Titan’s door-to-door service picked up the prize for Best Product. The PO&O 175th Anniversary celebrations were picked as the Best Cruise Event.
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