Franchise System
Published January 9, 2020

Expedia Cruises Franchise 2025 Year in Review and 2026 Growth Goals

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Updated May 27, 2026

A Look Back at Another Strong Year for Expedia Cruises

2025 was another milestone year for Expedia Cruises as we continued to build on our momentum as one of North America’s leading sellers of cruises and vacations. While our roots are in cruise, our franchise network offers travelers a full range of vacation experiences, from ocean and river cruises to all-inclusive resorts, guided tours, vacation packages, and customized getaways. What continues to set Expedia Cruises apart is our network of entrepreneurial Franchisees and dedicated Vacation Consultants who combine passion, expertise, and personalized service to help travelers create unforgettable vacation experiences.

Beyond our strong Canadian presence, the United States offers tremendous opportunity for continued expansion and long-term growth. As one of North America’s leading sellers of cruises and vacations, Expedia Cruises remains focused on strategic franchise development and empowering entrepreneurs to capitalize on the resilience and long-term potential of the travel industry. With significant opportunity still ahead in the United States, Expedia Cruises remains well positioned to capture growing demand within the travel industry. CLIA projects that 38 million people will cruise in 2026, highlighting the continued strength and long-term growth potential of the cruise and vacation industry.

Reflecting on 2025

Industry Recognition & Awards

Each year, franchise and travel industry organizations recognize Expedia Cruises for the strength of our brand, franchise system, culture, and commitment to innovation. In 2025, we were honored to receive the following awards:

Franchise Awards

Industry Awards

  • Azamara Cruises – Strategic Partner of the Year
  • Costa – Top Producer in North America
  • MSC – Consortia Partner of the Year

Center Awards

  • MSC’s Western Quebec Retail Partner of the Year – Expedia Cruises in Laval Est
  • MSC’s Western & Central Canada Retail Partner of the Year: Expedia Cruises in Chestermere
  • MSC Yacht Club E-Retail Partner of the Year: Expedia Cruises in Laval

Special Awards

TravelAge West honored Expedia Cruises President Matthew Eichhorst with the prestigious “Legend of the West” award at the 2025 WAVE Awards. This recognition celebrates leaders who have made a significant impact on travel and tourism and highlights Matthew’s contributions to the industry. Since joining Expedia Cruises, Matthew has played a key role in driving our brand’s growth, innovation, and long-term success, helping position Expedia Cruises as one of North America’s leading sellers of cruises and vacations.

TravelageWest-Wave Awards 2025

Investing in Innovation and Franchisee Success

Throughout 2025, we invested heavily in tools, technology, training, and support to help Franchisees and Vacation Consultants grow their businesses and better serve travelers. We launched new technology pilots, expanded Power BI reporting capabilities, and increased cruise inventory across more than 45 suppliers to create smarter, more efficient ways to operate and sell. Expedia Cruises also introduced a new Consultant Certification Program that reduced time to first sale by more than 50% for graduates, expanded AI-powered learning experiences, enhanced the Learning Center platform, and introduced new sales and marketing initiatives aimed at improving communication, lead generation, and business performance. Combined with highly rated system events, workshops, and operational enhancements, these initiatives continued to strengthen collaboration, innovation, and long-term growth across the Expedia Cruises franchise network.

Looking Ahead to 2026

In 2026, we plan to accelerate our growth across North America by expanding our storefront presence and growing our network of Vacation Consultants. We aim to open 14 new franchise locations and award 15 new franchises in strategic markets across the United States. We also plan to recruit 2,400 new Vacation Consultants and continue investing in technology and AI-driven enhancements designed to improve operations, support our Franchisees, and elevate the customer experience. We’ll also be hosting our largest-ever ANCHOR Conference aboard MSC World America, bringing together nearly 1,000 Franchisees, Vacation Consultants, partners, and corporate team members for collaboration, education, and inspiration as we build momentum for the future.

Exploring the Expedia Cruises Franchise Opportunity?

Expedia Cruises empowers entrepreneurs to build rewarding businesses backed by the strength of a globally recognized travel brand. With a proven franchise model, comprehensive support system, innovative technology, and growing demand for vacation travel, Expedia Cruises offers Franchisees the opportunity to combine business ownership with a passion for travel and leading a team of extraordinary Vacation Consultants.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity, fill out the form below, email jeff@expediafranchise.com, or call (778) 928-0053.

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Exploring the Expedia Cruises Franchise Opportunity?

Are you seeking a business opportunity that perfectly balances equity, lifestyle, and fun? The Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity empowers franchise owners to do it all!

The power of Expedia’s well-known brand, commitment to exceptional customer service, omnichannel approach, and proven franchise business model has helped it grow into a leading travel seller in North America.

Learn more

At Expedia Cruises, we are committed to helping our franchise owners become best in class leaders who can build a strong team and become the go-to cruise experts in their local community.

For in-depth details about our franchise opportunity, download our free franchise report.