SOUTHAMPTON-BASED Carnival UK and ABP who own and run the city's port are both celebrating after success in the British Cruise Awards 2018.

The Port of Southampton has been voted the best UK port in the British Cruise Awards 2018.

The award was sponsored by Marello Cruises and was presented by their managing director, Chris Hackney at a ceremony held at the House of Lords.

ABP Southampton commercial manager Rebekah Keeler and head of landside Operations Liz Stokes received the award on behalf of the port.

Rebekah said: “We were delighted to be recognised by the readers of Cruise International and the guests who regularly take cruises from Southampton.

“It was a fantastic event that covered the full breadth of the excellence within the cruise industry as a whole.”

It is the second year running Southampton has received the honour.

Carnival brands Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, Seabourn and Holland America Line were all on the winners' list at the awards ceremony, while Cunard was highly commended.

Princess Cruises won the overall 'Best Cruise Line' for an unprecedented fifth year in a row. P&O Cruises was highly commended in the category for a consecutive year.

P&O Cruises scooped two awards for ‘Best for New to Cruise’ and ‘Best for Onboard Entertainment’.

Seabourn won the prestigious 'Best Luxury Cruise Line' for the second year running while its newest vessel, Seabourn Ovation, was highly commended as 'Best New Ship'.

Holland America Line was also voted 'Best for Wellbeing' for the second year in a row.

Cunard was highly commended in the 'Best For Cultural Immersion' category.

In total, 80,000 votes were cast by the readers of Cruise International, the UK’s best-selling consumer travel magazine dedicated to cruise holidays. The awards were presented by Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE at the House of Lords, Westminster.