2 FEB: Familiar names appear in the list of finalists for 2011 International Cruise Council Australasia awards, which cover the industry in Australia and NZ. Last year’s Cruise Agency of the Year, Bicton Travel, and the Consultant of the Year from that agency, Phil Smethurst, are among those who’ve made the cut for the latest annual presentations, which will take place in Sydney on 11 February.

Here’s a full list of the Australian finalists, issued by the ICCA yesterday.

Agency of the Year:

Bicton Travel: Bicton WA

Cruiseabout: Turramurra NSW

Our Vacation Centre: Helensvale QLD

Ozcruising: Philip ACT

Consultant of the Year

Mario Cufone: Phil Hoffmann Travel Glenelg SA

Madonna Dwyer: Travelworld Helensvale QLD

Roland Kautzky: Cruiseabout Port Melbourne VIC

Phil Smethurst: Bicton Travel, Bicton WA

Robert Watson: Cruiseabout, Turramurra NSW

Rising Star

Jamii-Lee Alpen: Ozcruising, Phillip ACT

Melanie Birch-Inwood: Travelworld Newcastle NSW

Maria Hobbs: Just Cruises, Brisbane QLD

Gary McCabe: Ozcruising, Phillip ACT

Agency Promotion of the Year

Bayview Travel, Brighton VIC - "Evening with Orion Expedition Cruises"

Cruisescene, North Ryde NSW - "2GB Campaign"

Just Cruises, Brisbane QLD - "Cruise Sale Week"

Network Promotion of the Year

Cruiseabout - "The Great Cruise Debate"

Escape Travel - "Cruise Direct Marketing Campaign"

Media

Brad Crouch, on Avalon Waterways, Sydney Sunday Telegraph

Barry O’Brien, on Rhapsody of the Seas, News Ltd website Escape.com.au

Mike O’Conner, on Pacific Dawn, Brisbane Courier-Mail

Robert Upe, on Queen Elizabeth, The Age