The Expedition Cruise Network’s (ECN) Awards are back for a second year to recognise the very best expedition cruise lines and sellers across the expedition cruise industry.
The prestigious ECN Awards 2025 ceremony will be held on board The Dixie Queen, a luxury River Thames Charter on the evening of Tuesday 30 September, as part of the ECN’s annual conference held in central London on 30 September and 1 October, while nominations and voting for the awards open on Wednesday 30 April and close on Wednesday 30 July.
This year there are eight award categories travel trade professionals can vote on, including a new category for Best Expedition Cruise Operator Sales Representative and the Industry’s Favourite Expedition Cruise Destinations – a category sector expedition cruise lines can also vote on.
In addition, there are five travel trade award categories judged by a panel of experts from expedition cruise companies.
Expedition Cruise Operator Award categories
- Best expedition cruise operator for polar regions
- Best expedition cruise operator for warm weather destinations
- Best expedition cruise operator for luxury
- Best expedition cruise operator for sustainability
- Best micro-expedition cruise operator (ships with less than 50 guests)
- Best specialist expedition cruise operator
- Best expedition cruise operator
- NEW: Best expedition cruise operator sales representative
Trade Award Categories
Travel trade professionals can also nominate themselves or others in five categories celebrating trade professionals making a difference in expedition cruising. These awards will be judged by a panel of experts from expedition cruise companies, with winners revealed at the September ceremony.
These are:
- Best Expedition Cruise Travel Agency
- Best Individual Expedition Cruise Seller / Travel Advisor
- Best Individual Newcomer to Expedition Cruise
- Best Expedition Cruise Tour Operator (ATOL bonded)
- Best Newcomer to Expedition Cruise – Travel Agency or Tour Operator
Past winners include Swoop Antarctica, Sarah Meadowcroft (Global Travel West Kirby), Polar Tracks Expeditions, Kenwood Travel, and Lucy Yeoman (Polar Routes).
Between now and the awards ceremony, the Expedition Cruise Network team will select one lucky voter to win a Sea Change wine signature pack or an alcohol-free alternative every month.
Akvile Marozaite, CEO Expedition Cruise Network said: “We are delighted to launch the 2025 Expedition Cruise Network Awards and thrilled to be expanding the awards into a prestigious ceremony featuring a sit-down dinner at a unique, waterborne venue.
“This year, we have worked closely with the industry to refine the categories to reflect the evolving sector and are excited to have introduced destination and sales rep categories.
“We would encourage everyone who is part of the expedition cruise industry ecosystem to vote through the links on the Expedition Cruise Network website to celebrate the very best in the industry.”
Registered exhibitors and invited buyers from the ECN conference will attend the ECN Awards Ceremony on 30 September, and there will be a limited number of spaces and tables available to buy via application to [email protected].
NEW AWARD CATEGORIES:
1. Best Expedition Cruise Operator Sales Representative
2. Destination Categories
NEW AWARDS CEREMONY VENUE: Luxury River Charter, The Dixie Queen
VOTE & NOMINATE: expeditioncruisenetwork.com/ecn-awards-2025
TIMELINE: Voting and Nomination 30 April – 30 July; ECN Award Ceremony 30 September
