British Travel Awards winners 2014 announced

The British Travel Awards 2014 were presented at a glamorous Venetian-themed gala dinner event in the  London last week. The ceremony, which attracted an audience of around 1,000 of the UK travel industry’s finest, was hosted by comedian Russell Kane.

The line up of British Travel Awards 2014 trophies

Nearly 300 companies registered to take part in the British Travel Awards this year and the winners were decided through a public vote. Customers had an opportunity to vote for their favourite companies across a number of travel categories including hotels, travel agencies, specialist travel companies and many more.

The ones that really matter to readers of Time Spent at Sea are those that involve sea travel. Ocean and river cruise operators were represented in the Best Cruise Lines category whilst ferry operators were represented in the Best Car Hire, Ferry And Cross Channel Operators category.

P&O Cruises won the Best Family Cruise Line award, with Thomson Cruises and Princess Cruises coming in second and third respectively.

Princess Cruises did however win the Best Luxury Cruise Line award followed by Seabourn and Hebridean Island Cruises in second and third place respectively.

The Best Specialist and Small Ships Cruise Line award was given to Saga Holidays, whilst Voyages of Discovery picked up the silver award and Hurtigruten won the bronze award.

Viking River Cruises won the Best River Cruise Line award for the sixth year running. Riviera Travel and Red Sea Holidays came in second and third respectively.

P&O Cruises scooped a second award for the Best UK Departure Cruise Line award followed by Saga Holidays and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines in second and third place respectively.

In terms of ferries, P&O Ferries won both the Best English Channel Operator and Best Ferry Operator awards. The runners-up for the Best English Channel Operator award were Eurostar International in second place and DFDS Seaways in third place. The runners-up for the Best Ferry Operator award were Brittany Ferries in second place and DFDS Seaways again in third place.

A full list of winners and categories for the 2014 awards can be found here.

(Photo credit to British Travel Awards)

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River Cruises Vs. Ocean Cruises by Anthony Nicholas

Ok, say you’re older now, and your idea of ‘messing about on the river’ has graduated from sticking frogs in your sister’s satchel to the idea of playing Huckleberry Finn on one of the great rivers of the world, rolling through a raft of different countries at a civilised speed, with a hefty dollop of adventure and wonder for company. Fine, come on down.

So, where to then? As it happens, the world is yours to choose from. Not so much on a plate as just around the next river bend. Imagine watching the glorious confection of old world spires and cobbled squares of Prague emerging from the midst of the steel grey Danube, or sassy, sophisticated Paris on the Seine, blinking herself awake as the sun hauls itself slowly into the sky. Tres bien, oui?

Meander along the ancient, magnificent Nile and see the greatest theme park on earth, as the matchless treasures of Egypt unfurl each day like a series of staggering drum rolls. Karnak. Esna. Aswan… Feluccas on the river at sunset, palm trees on the river banks. A journey back through five thousand spellbinding years.

Take a slow boat to China with a meandering passage up the mighty Yangtze, or drink wine on the Rhine as cathedral cities like Cologne come and go. Often as not, overnight stops enable you to really get into the heart and soul of a place. Board, unpack once, settle in and, wherever your sense of wonder takes you, well- just go with the flow. Easy, really.

But if the big old ocean’s more your thing, there’s more choice than you can shake a really big stick at. Dress up or down, formal with all the glamour or free and easy, there’s a style and ship for you wherever you want to go. Ride a carousel in the Caribbean on the biggest cruise ship the world has ever seen. Wave goodbye to winter on a festive swing round the island paradise they call Hawaii.

See the dreamy spires and cobbled squares of old Europe in the Baltic, and experience just how ‘wonderful’ Copenhagen really is.

More? Meander round the sunny, alluring Med, and indulge your inner Onassis in the playgrounds of the French and Italian Riviera, then top up with a healthy dose of platinum chip excitement in Rome, Florence or even Pisa. Play at Zorba in the Greek islands, and feel more like Zeus as you take in the awesome panorama from atop Santorini’s spectacular heights.

Get far out in the Far East, or saunter into Sydney’s incredible harbour for a spot of life down under. Or indulge your inner Jack and Rose on a black tie and ball gown breeze across the Atlantic to New York. Oh, and Bermuda is just, well, blissful really.

So, it’s wherever whenever. Unpack once and watch the world roll out between all the feasting and partying. Champagne at sunset, casinos at midnight or just curling up with a good book or good friend. Both even. Or neither. Your ship’s come in- all that’s missing is you.

You can read more of Anthony Nicholas's work in the UK's premier cruising magazine, World Of Cruising.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

If you haven't already, subscribe to the World of Cruising magazine today.