Five Carnival Corporation brands — Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn — gathered in Miami Beach August 19-21 to recognize the contributions of their top travel partners at the second annual World’s Leading Cruise Line Excellence Awards. In all, 35 awards in seven categories were bestowed during the three-day celebration.
First presented in 2018, the original World’s Leading Cruise Lines Excellence Awards recognized the travel partners of Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. The 2019 awards were expanded to include all five North American cruise brands of Carnival Corporation.
Executives from the winning travel partners were hosted at the W South Beach and had opportunities to meet and network with other agency community leaders and executives and sales teams from the five Carnival Corp. brands. The highlight of the event was the gala awards ceremony that took place the night of August 20 at the Temple House on South Beach. Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald gave the welcoming address and Charles Sylvia, vice president of membership and trade relations for Cruise Lines International Association, served as the gala’s master of ceremonies.
The most prestigious of the 35 awards included Carnival Cruise Line’s Ted Arison Founder’s Award, which went to Expedia Group; Cunard’s Samuel Cunard Founder’s Award, bestowed on Vacations To Go; Holland America Line’s Chairman’s Award, presented to Expedia CruiseShipCenters; Princess Cruises’ Stanley McDonald Founder’s Award, given to AAA Travel and CAA Travel; and Seabourn’s Warren Titus Award, conferred on Valerie Wilson Travel Inc.
Each of the five lines also presented Excellence Awards in these categories:
President’s Award: Dream Vacations, CruiseOne, Cruises Inc. (CCL); Avoya Travel (CUN); Vacations To Go (HAL); Ensemble Travel Group (PCL); Vacations To Go (SBN).
Consortia Partner Excellence Award: TRAVELSAVERS NEST (CCL); Ensemble Travel Group (CUN); Travel Leaders Network (HAL); Travel Leaders Network (PCL); Virtuoso (SBN).
Franchise Agency Network Excellence Award: Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative (CCL); Expedia CruiseShipCenters (CUN); Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative (HAL); Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative (PCL); Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative (SBN).
Online Travel Partner Excellence Award: International Voyager (CCL); WMPH (CUN); Cruises-N-More (HAL); Vacations To Go (PCL); World Travel Holdings (SBN).
Retail Travel Partner Excellence Award: Travel Planners; Expedia CentrodeCruceros, Puerto Rico (CCL); FROSCH International Travel (CUN); Auto Club Enterprise (HAL); Expedia CruiseShipCenters (PCL); FROSCH International Travel (SBN).
Host Agency Network Excellence Award: Travel Planners International (CCL); Cruises & Tours Unlimited (CUN); Cruises & Tours Unlimited (HAL); KHM Travel Group (PCL); Travel Experts Inc. (SBN).
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