Last night Cruise Passenger announced the big winners in the cruise industry, as voted for by you.

Some of the top names in the cruise industry joined the Cruise Passenger team at the Observatory Hotel in Sydney for canapés, drinks and, of course, the highly anticipated awards.

Host Jeff Watson kept guests laughing with his jokes, while Cruise Passenger editor Sally Macmillan, associate publisher Chris Waite, adventure editor Roderick Eime, Cruise Passenger blogger John Pond (Click here for John’s photos from the evening) and ICCA general manager Brett Jardine presented the awards.

Silversea Cruises took out the luxury category for the coveted Best Luxury Cruise Line and Best Luxury Cruise Ship for Silver Shadow. Steve Odell, senior vice president Asia Pacific was on hand to collect the awards.

Premium cruise line Princess Cruises won the award for Best Premium Cruise Line while Cunard’s traditional ocean liner Queen Mary 2 is Cruise Passenger readers’ favourite premium cruise ship.

The Carnival brand did well, also winning Best Mid-Range Cruise Line and Best Mid-Range Cruise Ship for P&O Cruises and Pacific Dawn – a testament to the popularity of its lines and ships with the Australian and wider public.

And although Captain Cook Cruises won the Best Adventure/Small Ship Cruise Line, it was Orion Expedition Cruises‘ famed Orion that won the Best Ship for that category.

Guests took home spectacular goodie bags, heaving with skin and body products, chocolates, the new Summer Luxury edition of Cruise Passenger and complimentary tickets for two to the Opera in 2011.

Click here to read the full rundown of the Cruise Passenger 2010 Readers’ Choice Awards!

What do you think of the winners? Did you vote for the winner or another cruise line?