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Seatrade Cruise Awards announced in Lisbon

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Seatrade Cruise Personality of the Year is Douglas Prothero, center, CEO, The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. He is congratulated by Per Bjørnsen, director, V. Ships Leisure, the award's sponsor, and Seatrade's Mary Bond
Seatrade Cruise Personality of the Year went to Douglas Prothero, CEO, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, while Outstanding Contribution Award went to Fred Danska, director-cruise, at Wärtsilä, and Port Personality of the Year to Betty MacMillan, cruise development manager, Port Saint John.

Destination of the Year is Dubai, Port of the Year is Dublin and Supplier of the Year is ADELTE. Environmental Initiative Award went to Port of Santo Domingo, and Marketing Initiative of the Year, sponsored by Cruise Baltic, to Discover Saint John.

Innovative Shorex of the Year Award, sponsored by Abu Dhabi Department of Tourism and Culture, went to Rainforest Adventures St. Maarten for The Flying Dutchman.

A list of all the 2018 finalists is here.

The awards were presented during the evening welcome reception for Seatrade Cruise Med in Lisbon by Mary Bond, managing director, publishing & content, Seatrade, alongside Ingo Sørensen, area VP, global cruise sales, Oracle Hospitality, the principal sponsor of the Seatrade Cruise Awards. The Seatrade Cruise Personality of the Year Award was sponsored by V. Ships Leisure.

Douglas Prothero, 35-year entrepreneurial career

In announcing the Seatrade Cruise Personality Award to Prothero, Bond recounted how the noted entrepreneur had labored five years to develop the new brand, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. This is the culmination of a 35-year career spanning from tall ships to adventure cruises, as a captain, a hands-on boat builder, financier and philanthropist.

Fred Danska, early proponent of LNG for cruise ships

Announcing the Outstanding Contribution Award to Danska, Bond said: 'He was among the first to extol the virtues of LNG as an environmentally friendly solution for cruise ships ... and the company he represents (Wärtsilä) is currently contracted to supply engines and gas cleaning systems for an exploration cruise ship under construction in China, dual-fuel engines for a luxury icebreaker with electric hybrid system powered by LNG, being built in Europe, and various cruise newbuilding projects with smart nautical and technical systems.'

Betty MacMillan, champion of her port and region

Seatrade Port Personality MacMillan was recognized for her decades-long efforts to grow Port Saint John's seasonal cruise business and her determination and tireless work to develop and promote the port and the entire Canada/New England region.

Now in their 12th edition, the Seatrade Cruise Awards celebrate the best of international cruise industry success, ambition and innovation. Industry winners are chosen by a panel of industry experts, while the personality awards are selected by Seatrade from nominations submitted.

Bond said the awards had received a record number of entries—more than 100—and reflected the global reach of the award scheme.