Virtuoso has released its 2026 ‘Cruise Icons’ list, a “distinctive honour recognising advisors whose cruise sales performance ranks among the very best in the industry,” adding 37 Australian advisors.
In total, 178 advisors worldwide have earned the designation as Cruise Icons, “representing the top tier of cruise sellers within the Virtuoso network”.
In addition to industry clout, Virtuoso says the prestigious status provides advisors with quarterly collaboration sessions designed to foster growth and networking, access to invaluable insight and best practices within the network’s Cruise Community, and an exclusive event honouring excellence during Virtuoso Travel Week.
Icons also gain access to exclusive travel opportunities centred on emerging destinations and innovative cruise products.
In 2026, this includes two dedicated charter sailings with AmaWaterways along Colombia’s Magdalena River on September 23 and September 26, designed to highlight the country’s growing presence within the luxury cruise landscape.
Virtuoso Global Partnerships Senior Vice President Cory Hagopian says as luxury cruising continues to expand globally, it has refined the benchmark to ensure the status remains aligned with “exceptional, sustained individual performance rather than overall market growth”.
“The result is a more selective class that reinforces the designation’s prestige and reaffirms its role as a trusted indicator of leadership and performance at the highest level of the cruise sector.
“Cruise Icons are the advisors the industry looks to when there are market shifts or demand accelerates.
“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.”
The Australian advisors named as 2026 Cruise Icons are:
- Kristen Cahill, Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
- Megan Catterall, LUXE by itravel
- Natalie Cherry, Noosa Cruise and Travel
- Elizabeth Clarke, The Cruise Centre by Travelcall
- Fay Cohen, Wentworth Travel
- Michelle Cook, Noosa Cruise and Travel
- David Cooper, Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre
- Richard Davey, an affiliate of Savenio
- Josephine DeMuth, Bayview Travel
- Kyle Duffield, an affiliate of Home Travel Company
- Mandy Dwyer, Main Beach Travel
- Rohan Ford, an affiliate of Savenio
- Sharon Godden, LUXE by itravel
- Melinda Gregor, Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
- Byron Horne, Bicton Travel
- Jo Kennedy, Kennedy & Turner Travel Associates
- Margot Knispel, Main Beach Travel
- Roger Koller, Gregor & Lewis Bespoke Travel
- Katie Lapierre, Bicton Travel
- Lisa Maddox, Spencer Travel Holdings Pty Ltd
- Hollie McCann, Bicton Travel
- Christine McIlroy, Travel Inspirations
- Garry McLaughlin, First Class Escapes, an affiliate of LUXE by itravel
- Julie McMillan, Claremont Travel
- Dave Oakes, Travel Masters
- Sally O’Brien, Mary Rossi Travel
- Kathy Pavlidis, Gannon & Turner Travel Associates
- Robyn Sinfield, Home Travel Company
- Carole Smethurst, Bicton Travel
- Philip Smethurst, Bicton Travel
- Gemma Smith, The Travel Gem, an affiliate of Frontier Travel
- Gina Storey, Travelling Places
- Maria Theodosatos, Spencer Travel Holdings Pty Ltd
- Lee Van Dongen, Claremont Travel
- Vicki Williamson, MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
- Adrienne Witteman, Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre
- Michelle Yates, The Travel Studio
Through the Virtuoso Voyages program, advisors can access more than 450 select cruises each year across 13 different cruise lines.
For more information, visit Virtuoso.
