These awards recognize the work of companies and professionals in the sector.
The ninth edition of the Excellence Cruise Awards will take place on February 18, 2016 , where awards are given to the best shipping companies, best ships and best destinations in the Mediterranean, divided into twelve categories.
The awards are based on surveys of national and international cruise passengers, which gives them added value, as they represent the opinions of users of the cruise industry. They are organized by Cruises News Media Group, which collects votes through its website, user forums, specialized social media networks, and onboard the ships themselves. Cruises News is a Spanish company specializing in the national and international promotion and communication of the cruise sector and is the organizer of the International Cruise Summit in Madrid.
After previous editions in Barcelona, Málaga, and Palma de Mallorca, this year's ceremony will be held in Cartagena, where the event has the support of both the Port Authority and the City Council. The choice of this city, which is experiencing significant growth in the sector, is due to the consolidation of the Port of Cartagena as one of the Spanish destinations that has seen the greatest increase in recent years.
In this regard, the forecasts for this year surpass the results of the best year in the Port Authority's history. In 2015, a total of 151,195 passengers arrived in the city, distributed across 108 port calls, and for 2016 a 33% increase in passenger numbers is projected, with around 200,000 tourists expected on 118 ships. These figures reinforce its position as a key tourist infrastructure for attracting a large number of visitors throughout the year, generating a significant economic impact for the Region of Murcia.
