Norwegian Cruise Line has been announced the winner of two awards at the inaugural Cruise Awards 2011 ceremony, hosted by Cruise International magazine in London yesterday afternoon.

The first award for ‘Innovation of the Year’ recognises Norwegian’s innovative Studio complex onboard Norwegian Epic, with 128 staterooms designed and priced for solo travellers. The second award for ‘Coolest Cruise Captain’ was won by Norwegian’s youngest Captain, Havard Ramsoy, and voted for entirely by consumers.

Francis Riley, Vice President & General Manager, International and Captain Havard Ramsoy, accepting the awards on behalf of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Francis Riley, Vice President and General Manager International, says, “Freestyle Cruising has been driven by innovation and doing things differently to meet our guests’ needs. The Studios have been a hit with guests since we launched them on Norwegian Epic, so much so that we’ll be including them on our two recently named new builds, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.”

Captain Ramsoy, 39, was made master aged just 35 and took his first command in 2007 onboard Norwegian Dream, before taking the helm of Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Sky and most recently Norwegian Jade in Europe. He is also currently involved in Norwegian’s new ship building projects in Papenburg, Germany.

“I’m delighted to be recognised by our guests and to be a part of a company like Norwegian Cruise Line that is constantly bringing new and exciting innovations to the cruise industry,” says Ramsoy.

The inaugural Cruise Awards 2011 were voted for by readers of Cruise International magazine and consumers globally, and moderated by a select panel of UK cruise experts.