Expedia Cruises is named a top franchise opportunity in 2026 based on franchisee satisfaction

Franchise Business Review, a leading independent market research firm serving the franchise industry, recently named Expedia Cruises travel host agency franchise as a Top Franchise for 2026. This year is our 11th consecutive year as a top franchise—a milestone we are incredibly proud of. This continued recognition reflects the strength of our brand, the resilience of our system, and, most importantly, the commitment and success of our franchisees.

The FBR Awards are particularly meaningful to us, as they are not based on brand awareness or application fees. Instead, Franchise Business Review rankings are determined entirely by franchisee satisfaction and system performance. The 2026 awards are based on the results of our 2025 system-wide survey, completed by our own franchisees, making this recognition especially rewarding. Expedia Cruises also won several other satisfaction awards in 2025 – next survey will be completed in May of this year.

In order to determine which franchise systems made the list of Top 200 Franchises, the publication surveyed more than 26,000 franchise owners from over 330 brands. 

“Franchisee satisfaction is one of the most reliable indicators of long-term franchise performance. This year’s Top Franchise winners significantly outperformed industry averages, demonstrating strength in the areas that matter most to franchise owners: leadership, support, innovation, culture, and financial opportunity. These brands are not just growing, they are building healthy, resilient systems.”

Michele Rowan, President and COO of Franchise Business Review

Expedia Cruises launched in 1987 and is one of the largest sellers of cruise travel in North America. Our travel agency franchise is rapidly expanding, with over 260 locations open or under development. Our growth is driven by three overarching realities: our proven business model is affordable to start and extremely scalable, our focus on cruise vacations makes us a trusted resource among cruise customers (who overwhelmingly prefer to book with a travel agent), and the cruise industry is growing quickly.

Franchise Awards

Top Franchises – Top 200

Expedia Cruises was recognized by Franchise Business Review as a 2026 Top 200 Franchises recipient, ranked #17 overall and #3 among Top 50 Large Franchises. This is the 21st annual ranking of the 200 best franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners. 

“We are pleased to report that our latest research shows satisfaction has remained at some of the highest levels in the past 21 years. In fact, our survey results show that three out of four franchise owners would recommend their brand to others. That’s extremely encouraging news for franchise owners and anyone considering investing in a franchise,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to helping prospective franchisees get an objective view of the best franchise opportunities available based on actual feedback from the people who own them. Each of the award winners on this year’s list of the 200 Top Franchises received stellar ratings from their franchisees in the areas crucial to success in operating a franchise, including training & support, leadership, innovation, culture, and financial opportunity.” 

The brands in their Top 200 list rank highest in these key areas:

• High Franchisee Satisfaction
• Alignment with Core Values
• Strong Franchisee Community
• Exceptional Training and Support
• Excellent Executive Leadership
• Strong Financial Opportunity

Click here for the full list of winners!

Top Franchises for Women – Top 100

Expedia Cruises was among 350 franchise brands, representing over 8,500 female franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research on the Top Franchises for Women.

There are thousands of different franchise opportunities available, so it’s important to examine feedback from other female franchise owners on how well the franchise meets their expectations regarding support, work-life balance, financial opportunity, and other key areas of business ownership before leaping. The brands on this list received outstanding ratings and reviews from the women who own them.

“Franchising is a terrific option for women seeking business ownership on a full- or part-time basis,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “With so many franchise opportunities to choose from, it’s critical to do in-depth research to understand how satisfied current female franchise owners are with the training and support, work/life balance, financial opportunity, culture, and leadership of any brand they’re considering before making an investment. When you look at the brands on this year’s list of the Top Franchises for Women, 89% of women said they enjoy being part of their franchise organizations and 88% said they enjoy operating the business, making them all excellent options for women looking to make the transition to business ownership.”

Click here for the full list of winners!

Top Franchises Culture – Top 100

Expedia Cruises made Franchise Business Review’s annual “Culture 100” list for the 3rd year in a row! The 100 (out of 360+) brands that were selected received the highest overall ratings based on 17 unique areas that contribute to a strong company culture, including leadership, core values, franchisee community, and engagement. The most relevant question is: “Does your franchisor care about your success?” Agreement with this single statement is the highest correlation to whether or not a franchisee would recommend their brand to others. On a 100-point satisfaction scale, every franchise on this year’s Culture100 List has an FBR Culture Score of 80+. This puts them in the top quartile of all franchises surveyed.

“Finding the right culture fit is an important part of any franchise investment decision, but it can be difficult to gauge,” said Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review. “That’s why we gather data on how current franchisees rate a brand’s culture. It tells you whether franchisees believe the franchisor cares about their success and how well the community of support staff and franchisees work together to achieve their business objectives. For anyone looking to buy a franchise, we recommend you start with the brands on this year’s Culture100 list. These companies are rated 20% – 50% higher by their franchisees than other franchise brands in the key areas that contribute to a positive culture.”

Click here for the full list of winners!

Top Franchises for Veterans – Top 200

Expedia Cruises was named a Top Franchise for Veterans by Franchise Business Review. Franchise Business Review analyzed 18 months’ worth of data from nearly 38,000 franchisees representing more than 385 brands. Franchisees were asked about their brand’s innovation and creativity as well as their trust in the franchisor, overall satisfaction with the brand, and likelihood to recommend it to others. The franchise organizations on this top 100 list focus on providing franchisees with the most innovative products, services, and processes to help their businesses stay fresh and grow.

“For prospective franchisees, understanding which brands are the most innovative can help you make a confident and smart investment,” said Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review. “Each of the companies on our list of the Most Innovative Franchises has developed and implemented products, processes, or services that enable and sustain growth and long-term relevancy. We are proud to recognize the franchises that prioritize and value innovation to support their franchisees’ success and the long-term resiliency of the brand.”

With over 385 brands being considered for this award, we are truly honored to have made the top 100!

Click here for the full list of winners!

Most Innovative Franchises – Top 50

Expedia Cruises was 1 of just 50 franchise brands to be named in Franchise Business Review Most Innovative Franchises list.

Franchise Business Review analyzed 18 months’ worth of data from over 35,000 franchisees representing more than 365 brands. Franchise owners were asked about their brand’s innovation and creativity as well as their trust in the franchisor, overall satisfaction with the brand, and likelihood to recommend it to others.

“In today’s competitive market, franchise innovation isn’t optional—it’s what sets the smartest, most sustainable opportunities apart,” said Michelle Rowan, president & COO of Franchise Business Review. “We’re proud to celebrate the brands that consistently deliver new products, services, and systems that fuel franchisee growth and strengthen their long-term success.”

Top 100 Franchises – Franchise Direct Global Award

Franchise opportunities are as strong in 2025 as they ever have been in recent years. Expedia Cruises made Franchise Direct’s Top 100 Franchises Global Award for 2025, evaluated based on a range of factors such as sales, location growth, company age, and financial support for franchisees.

Click here for the full list of winners!

Supply Partner Awards

Azamara Cruises – Strategic Partner of the Year

 

 

 

 

 

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.

To learn more about the Expedia Cruises franchise opportunity, fill out the form below, email jeff@expediafranchise.com, or call (778) 928-0053.