Cruise Lines

It's a day for celebration for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who has just been named cruise ambassador  of the year in Cruise Critic's UK cruise industry awards.

And all because she named a ship and went on a cruise this year.

I'm already 50% in with a chance for 2011!

It's an eclectic mix of awards, which includes some British cruise lines, which makes sense, and quite a few American ones, which doesn't. It does say UK awards after all.

Unless these are supposed to simply represent what the British like best in terms of cruising. But if that is the case, judging by online reviews and recent award ceremonies, Royal Caribbean, P&O, Fred Olsen and Thomson would have stolen the show. And Swan Hellenic might have got a mention as well.

I had to smile when I saw Kirkwall, which I suspect most people can't even find on a map, won best UK port of call, and again when I read the Golden Lions on Cunard ships were named best pubs at sea.

The Golden Lion on Queen Elizabeth got my vote for being my least-favourite room on the ship. No atmosphere, an over-loud and not very good piano player and not a cigarette burn or beer stain to be seen!

Here's the full list Cruise Critic's 2010 winners.

Best for First Timers - Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas
Best for Honeymoons - P&O Cruises
Best for Healthy Cruising - Celebrity's Solstice-class 
Best for Cruising with Kids - P&O Cruises' Ventura
Best for Kid-Free Cruising - Saga Cruises
Best for Seeing the World - Fred. Olsen
Best for Nonstop Fun - NCL's Norwegian Epic  
Best for Adventure - Spirit of Adventure
Best for Luxury - Seabourn
Best for River Cruising - Viking River
Best Budget-Friendly Cruises - Thomson Cruises
Best for Dining - Celebrity's Solstice-class
Best Pub at Sea - Cunard's Golden Lion
Best Entertainment at Sea - Blue Man Group, NCL's Norwegian Epic
Best for Aspiring Chefs - Holland America's Culinary Arts Center Program
Best for Lectures at Sea - Voyages of Discovery 
Best for Acquiring a New Skill - Crystal Cruises
Best New Ship - Cunard's Queen Elizabeth
Best U.K. Port of Call - Kirkwall, Orkney
Best U.K. Departure Port - Southampton Port

Special Cruise Industry Award: Best Cruise Ambassador - Queen Elizabeth II

Which cruise lines would have got your votes? Tell us your thoughts below.