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VIRTUOSO NAMES 2025 CRUISE AMBASSADORS AND BEST CRUISE EXPERIENCES DURING THE ANNUAL VIRTUOSO AWARDS GALA (États-Unis)
Virtuoso, the leading global network specialising in luxury and experiential travel, recognised its top cruise preferred partners Thursday, August 14, during the 37th annual Virtuoso Travel Week. |
Catégorie : Amérique du Nord et Antilles - États-Unis - Économie du secteur
- Expériences exclusives
- Récompenses, remises de prix, concours - Tourisme
Ceci est un communiqué de presse sélectionné par notre comité éditorial et publié gratuitement le jeudi 21 août 2025
Winners were honoured at the Virtuoso Awards Gala, one of the hottest tickets of the week.
Award categories include the Cruise Ambassador, which honours a member and partner who demonstrate outstanding support of the Virtuoso network and are selected internally by Virtuoso leadership.
Meanwhile nominations for additional categories – Best Expedition Cruise Experience, Best Ocean Luxury Cruise Experience, Best Contemporary & Premium Ocean Cruise Experience, Best River Cruise Experience and Best Niche Cruise Experience – were determined by a survey to Virtuoso advisors, who then cast votes to determine the winners.
As the cruise category expands, competition has also grown alongside consumer demand. This year's winners share a commitment to excellence, innovation, support of the travel advisor community, client satisfaction and, of course, unforgettable travel experiences in some of the world's most extraordinary destinations.
From August 9-15, Virtuoso Travel Week brought together 4,700 top luxury travel professionals, travel advisors and preferred partners, from 105 countries.The winners are:Cruise Ambassador recognises a Virtuoso member and partner who stand out for their support, amplification and engagement within Virtuoso. They have made a measurable impact on Virtuoso cruise sales and innovation.
Member winner: Carl Fabruada / TripMatters, an independent affiliate of Montecito Village Travel
Partner winner: Chris Austin / Explora JourneysBest expedition cruise experienceWinner: PONANT
Committed to responsible tourism and purposeful voyages of exploration for over 35 years, PONANT is the world leader in luxury expeditions with ultra-modern, intimate ships offering attentive service and well-designed itineraries sailing to all corners of the globe. Each year, PONANT offers more than 400 awe-inspiring cruises, calling at over 450 ports on all seven continents. The fleet of purpose-built ships are able to call at iconic, international ports as well as secret harbours accessible only to smaller-sized ships.
BEST OCEAN LUXURY CRUISE EXPERIENCE
Winner: Explora Journeys
Explora Journeys blends remarkable itineraries, renowned destinations and lesser-travelled ports for journeys that celebrate discovery. With 461 oceanfront suites – all with private terraces – 11 culinary experiences providing unrivalled variety at sea and equipped with the latest in environmental-supporting and marine technologies, Explora Journeys redefines ocean travel for discerning explorers.Best contemporary & premium ocean cruise experienceWinner: Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises is the world's leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line. The line's seven luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries that span the globe. Expertly curated travel experiences aboard the designer-inspired ships call on more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on 7 continents on voyages that range from 7 to more than 200 days.Best river cruise experienceWinner: AmaWaterways
A family-owned company since 2002, AmaWaterways offers unforgettable river cruises with 29 ships sailing through Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. With exquisite locally sourced cuisine, a variety of shore excursions included in every port, personalised service, twin-balcony staterooms and fleetwide wellness activities, AmaWaterways is redefining the river cruise experience. It is also the only river cruise line inducted into La Chaine des Rotisseurs, one of the world's most prestigious culinary organisations.Best niche cruise experienceWinner: Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises offers a vacation experience that is 180-degrees from ordinary. Guests are able to step away from the crowds and enjoy a small ship experience where freedom is the order of the day and casual elegance is the style of choice. Each yacht allows only 148-342 guests for an intimate and personalised travel experience, all while traveling to the world's most legendary places, best small ports and hidden harbours.
Virtuoso wishes to congratulate all award recipients this year.About VirtuosoVirtuoso is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in 54 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,300 of the world's best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalized annual sales of (U.S.) $28-$32 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry.
 Crédit photo © Virtuoso
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