Cruise Ship Interiors Awards welcomed a new generation of champions to the winners’ circle in December 2024. Ending an energising Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe in high spirits, the Awards handed out plaudits across 11 categories, including Best Refurbishment, Guest Experience Tech of the Year and Best Dining Space.
The complete list of winners can be found below:
Best Dining Space
Irth, Cruise Saudi, Aroya Cruises, SMC Design
Best Suite, sponsored by Bath Fitter
Studio DADO and Fincantieri for Regent Suite, Regent Seven Seas
Best Stateroom, sponsored by Ball & Young
SMC Design and Meyer Werft, Balcony Cabin, NYK Cruises Asuka III
Best Public Space, sponsored by Varuna Cruise Engineering Powered by STIM Tech Group
Tillberg Design of Sweden, for Sanctuary onboard Sun Princess, Princess Cruises
Best Onboard Experience, sponsored by JSN United
Royal Caribbean, Wilson Butler Architects and Breakfast, NY, for The Pearl, Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean
Best Dining Space, sponsored by Lavagnoli
SMC Design and MJM Marine for Irth, Aroya Cruises
Best Refurbished Space, sponsored by Somec Group
Windstar Cruises, DESIGN STUDIO BERG++ and Civil Marine Contract for Wind Star Lounge, Wind Star
Guest Experience Tech of the Year, sponsored by Cocon Decor
MRD Lighting, Lighting Design
Interior Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Fantoni
Meyer Turku, Sustainable Stateroom
Galley Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Workhouse
MKN – SteelPlus
Brand Partnership of the Year, sponsored by Ocean Shade Canopies and Awnings
Princess Cruises & Akula
Legend of Design
George Scammell, Director Interior Asset Management, Princess Cruises
The awards opened with the drinks reception, hosted by Trimline. Representatives from AmaWaterways, Ambassador Cruise Line, Carnival Maritime, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Disney Cruise Line, Explora Journeys, Holland America Line & Seabourn, Hurtigruten, HX, Marella Cruises, Meyer Turku, Meyer Werft, MSC Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line and more, mingled in the crowd, ready to celebrate the deserving winners. Elite Exhibitions CEO Toby Walters started the ceremony with thanks to the awards sponsors, including Global Headline Sponsor Kalmar Lighting. The beautiful trophies were created by Laticrete. These awards were created out of beautiful, dark marble, affixed with gold-coloured plates.
SMC Design were among the big winners of the night. They won their first award, Best Stateroom, in partnership with Meyer Werft. The winning stateroom, Balcony Cabin was situated on NYK Cruises’ Asuka III. Asuka III is designed to appeal to experienced guests and those new to cruising so NYK Cruises wanted an interior that felt fresh and inviting with an international appeal. Their second award, Best Dining Space, came for their work with the pioneering new cruise line, Cruise Saudi, on the extensively refurbished and transformed Aroya Cruises. The winning dining space, Irth, is the flagship Saudi restaurant. It offers guests an immersive dining experience showcasing speciality dishes crafted from the freshest local produce.
Royal Caribbean was one of the most-nominated brands. Their new vessel, the largest cruise ship in history, the Icon of the Seas was finalist for many of the awards. Victory came for Royal Caribbean when they won the award Best Onboard Experience, in partnership with Wilson Butler Architects and Breakfast, NY for The Pearl. A smooth sphere and pearlescent exterior gives way through large portals to showcase a dynamic interior within. Here, thousands of kinetic tiles ebb and flow, emotionally reflecting the energies of the water just outside and the Royal Promenade below.
Windstar Cruises, DESIGN STUDIO BERG+ and Civil Marine Contract took home Best Refurbished Space for the Wind Star Lounge on Wind Star. Transformation is key to the space, as in its new form it is a quiet space where guests can curl up with a good book and a hot latte, enjoying the adjacent Yacht Club Café. As the day progresses, the lounge evolves into a lively pre-dinner cocktail venue, and later, a dynamic space for dancing with our entertainment team or enjoying our celebrated crew show.
Ending on a high
The awards ended with a pleasant surprise. George Scammell received a previously unannounced award, The Legend of Design award. As Toby said when he announced the award, George has had a tremendous impact on the cruise ship interiors industry over his decades as a designer. He’s not only influenced the trends, but been an immensely valuable mentor and leader to many designers who now lead their own teams.
