- Call for editors, journalists, cruise lines and cruise partners to enter by 31st January 2014 -

CLIA UK & Ireland has announced that its third annual Cruise Journalism Awards ceremony will take place in London in March 2014. Editors, journalists, cruise lines and cruise partners are invited to submit their qualifying entries by 31st January for a chance to win one of ten prestigious awards.

As well as traditional print media, the 2014 awards will include online media articles and will consider consumer engagement through social media such as Facebook links and tweets to the article as part of the judging criteria.

CLIA, the world's largest cruise industry trade association which represents 60 river and ocean cruise lines, aims to celebrate the very best in cruise journalism and acknowledge the media who have continued to support the growing cruise industry.

The CLIA UK & Ireland Cruise Journalism Awards 2014 categories are:

• Best first time cruise feature
• Best 'off the beaten track' cruise feature
• Best national newspaper cruise feature
• Best regional newspaper cruise feature
• Best cruise lifestyle feature
• Best river cruise feature
• Best cruise broadcast feature
• Best contribution to social media
• Best cruise industry/trade feature
• Contribution to Cruise Journalism

Entries for the awards are welcomed from editors and journalists as well as cruise line representatives and industry partners.  Entries must have been published between 1 January and 31 December, 2013 and encourage cruise travel by sea or river. Judging criteria can be found here.

Andy Harmer, Director, CLIA UK & Ireland said: "Our media colleagues play an important role in covering every aspect of a cruise holiday - the variety and value together with the huge choice of destinations and amazing experiences. The CLIA awards recognise the quality of cruise writers across all areas, whether that's print, broadcast or social media, and I'm delighted we have this opportunity to reward this talent and also thank the media for their ongoing support for the industry."

The awards will be attended by senior cruise line representatives and media to congratulate the winners and celebrate the industry's ongoing success as it continues to gain popularity among UK audiences.

ENDS

About CLIA

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers.

For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruiseexperts.org. CLIA can also be followed on the Cruise Lines International Association's Facebook and Twitter fan pages.

Notes to entrants

All entries should be emailed to cruisejournalism2014@bell-pottinger.com and must be sent as PDF or Word files.

Further information:

Charlie Hampton, Claire Lowe, Rupa Tailor and Sophie Adamson

Bell Pottinger on behalf of CLIA

Tel:    +44 (0)20 7861 2431/2446/2447/3922

E-mail: clia@bell-pottinger.com