TORONTO — Virtuoso has revealed its 2026 Cruise Icons, a select group of travel advisors whose cruise sales performance ranks among the highest within the global luxury travel network.
A total of 178 advisors worldwide – including 21 from Canada – earned the designation this year, representing the top tier of cruise sellers within the Virtuoso network. The program highlights advisors who demonstrate exceptional performance in luxury cruise sales.
According to Virtuoso, this year’s Cruise Icons class reflects a higher qualification threshold introduced as part of the program’s annual review. With luxury cruising continuing to expand globally, the network refined its benchmarks to ensure the designation recognizes consistent individual performance rather than growth tied to overall market demand.
The result, Virtuoso says, is a more selective group that reinforces the prestige of the recognition and its role as an indicator of leadership within the cruise sector.
“Cruise Icons are the advisors the industry looks to when there are market shifts or demand accelerates,” said Cory Hagopian, senior vice president, global partnerships. “They set the standard for how clients engage with luxury cruising across every category, how preferred partners position their products and how the sector continues to evolve. This group represents leadership in action, not just results on paper.”
This year’s Canadian Cruise Icons include:
- Judy Branner, Civilized Adventures
- Barbara Chamberlain, BCR Consultants, an affiliate of Direct Travel – Ancaster
- Rose Coleman, Direct Travel – Georgetown
- Rosie Durham, TTI Travel
- Jodi Fax, Direct Travel – Calgary
- Erika Gal, Direct Travel – Ancaster
- Sheila Gallant-Halloran, Lush Life Travel, an affiliate of Direct Travel Toronto – HQ
- Nimet Jessa, Kerrisdale Cruise & Vacation Travel
- Sandra Keeso-Hall, Direct Travel – Georgetown
- Shawn Kilner, Imagine Cruise 7 Travel, an affiliate of Direct Travel – Victoria
- Gerry Koolhof, Direct Travel – Toronto Downtown
- Carolyn Kremer, Direct Travel – Georgetown
- Rhonda Leblanc, Trevello Travel Group
- Grace Markus, Direct Travel – Vancouver
- Magda Newman, Direct Travel – Toronto Downtown
- Sue Pechtel, Direct Travel – Government Centre
- Linda Sim, Renshaw Travel
- Samuel Spencer, Ocean & River Cruises
- Michelle Streicher, Direct Travel Toronto – HQ
- Alan Szeto, Direct Travel – Vancouver
- Barbara Trotter, Direct Travel – Victoria
PERKS & BENEFITS
In addition to industry recognition, advisors who earn Cruise Icon status gain access to a range of professional opportunities within the Virtuoso network. These include quarterly collaboration sessions designed to support networking and business growth, as well as access to insights and best practices through the network’s Cruise Community.
Cruise Icons are also honoured during Virtuoso Travel Week, the network’s annual gathering that brings together travel advisors, suppliers and partners from around the world.
The designation also provides advisors with exclusive travel experiences that highlight emerging destinations and new cruise offerings. For 2026, there will be two dedicated charter sailings with AmaWaterways along Colombia’s Magdalena River departing Sept. 23 and Sept. 26. Both sailings will follow the same itinerary and include a networking session in the town of Santa Bárbara de Pinto, where advisors will take part in offsite discussions and collaboration focused on emerging cruise opportunities.
Virtuoso notes that many cruise partners also provide exclusive amenities to members of the network, allowing advisors to offer additional benefits to their clients. Through the Virtuoso Voyages program, advisors can access more than 450 select cruises each year across 13 cruise lines. The program includes a dedicated onboard host and additional amenities that can range from $500 per couple to several thousand dollars depending on the sailing.
