Expedia Cruises
A North American travel-agency franchise network specializing in cruise vacations and broader air, land, and sea travel.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Expedia Cruises is a North American travel-agency franchise brand focused on cruise vacations and related leisure travel. The business began in Vancouver in 1987 under the name CruiseShipCenters International. Rather than operating primarily as an online booking site, it developed a network of storefront agencies and independent vacation consultants who help customers compare itineraries, select cabins, arrange transportation, and coordinate other components of a trip. The company became strategically connected to Expedia in 2007, when Expedia acquired a significant but non-controlling interest in CruiseShipCenters International. At that point the Vancouver-based agency network had about 100 Canadian retail locations and was reported to account for approximately one-fifth of cruises sold in Canada. Expedia also indicated that it intended to support the company’s expansion into the United States. Expedia subsequently increased its ownership, and by March 2013 Expedia Inc. owned the business outright. The brand’s model combines the purchasing reach and travel-industry relationships of a large travel group with local franchise businesses and personal advice. Its consultants have traditionally supported customers through the research and booking process, an approach that differentiates the company from purely self-service online travel agencies. The service scope expanded beyond ocean cruises to include river cruises, luxury and expedition travel, land tours, safaris, all-inclusive resorts, travel insurance, and other vacation arrangements. The brand therefore operates as a broader leisure-travel advisory and sales network rather than only as a cruise-ticket intermediary. During the 2010s, Expedia CruiseShipCenters expanded its North American franchise presence, including growth in the United States and activity in markets such as Texas. The business reported more than $790 million in gross bookings in 2018 and announced its 300th North American franchise agreement in 2019. In 2020 it adopted the name Expedia Cruises and the positioning line “Air, Land & Sea Vacations,” signaling the wider range of travel products sold through the network. The network was reported to have approximately 290 franchise locations and 6,100 vacation consultants in the United States and Canada in 2021. By 2024, published descriptions identified about 260 locations in North America and continued to describe the brand as selling cruises alongside luxury and expedition trips, river itineraries, land tours, safaris, all-inclusive resort stays, and insurance. The change in location count may reflect franchise turnover, reporting differences, or network consolidation; the available material does not establish the precise cause. Expedia Cruises remains part of Expedia Group’s portfolio of travel businesses. Matthew Eichhorst has been identified as its president in reporting through 2025. Its present proposition is centered on expert assistance, local franchise relationships, and access to a broad range of cruise and vacation suppliers, with the Expedia name providing group-level brand recognition.
History
Expedia Cruises traces its origins to CruiseShipCenters International, a travel-agency franchise business established in Vancouver in 1987. The company built its business around cruise specialists operating through local agencies and serving customers with itinerary research, booking assistance, and vacation planning. This franchise structure gave the brand a physical and personal-sales presence that differed from the self-service model associated with many online travel agencies. Expedia entered the business in 2007 by purchasing a significant but non-controlling interest. At the time, CruiseShipCenters had about 100 retail locations in Canada and was described as handling roughly 20 percent of cruises sold in the country. The investment connected a specialist cruise-sales network to Expedia’s wider travel distribution platform and was accompanied by plans to expand the concept into the United States. Expedia later increased its ownership; by March 2013, Expedia Inc. owned 100 percent of the company. The business retained its corporate base in Vancouver while expanding its franchise footprint across North America. During the middle and late 2010s, it added locations in the United States, including Nevada and Texas. In 2018, the network was reported to have generated more than $790 million in gross bookings. In September 2019, it announced its 300th franchise agreement in North America, illustrating the scale reached before the subsequent rebrand. In 2020, Expedia CruiseShipCenters changed its name to Expedia Cruises. The new identity was accompanied by the “Air, Land & Sea Vacations” tagline, emphasizing that the company sold more than conventional ocean cruises. Its product range included river cruises, luxury and expedition journeys, escorted or independent land tours, safaris, all-inclusive resorts, and insurance. The rebrand positioned the company as a general vacation-planning network while retaining cruise expertise as its central association. The network was reported to include about 290 locations and 6,100 vacation consultants in the United States and Canada in 2021. A later 2024 description cited approximately 260 North American locations. The available reference material does not explain whether the difference resulted from closures, franchise changes, consolidation, or different counting methods. Matthew Eichhorst continued to be identified as president in material referring to 2025. Expedia Cruises operates within Expedia Group, whose wider portfolio includes online travel agencies, accommodation brands, metasearch businesses, and other travel services. The brand’s role within that group is that of a specialist, franchise-led vacation sales channel. It combines local consultant relationships with access to cruise lines, resort operators, tour providers, and other travel suppliers. Its development reflects the broader evolution of cruise retailing from a narrowly focused cruise agency into a multi-category leisure-travel business.
- 2024
Broader leisure-travel offering reported
[1]The brand is described as operating about 260 North American locations and selling cruises, luxury and expedition travel, tours, safaris, resorts, and insurance.
- 2021
Network reported at approximately 290 locations
[1]Published descriptions cite approximately 290 franchise locations and 6,100 vacation consultants across the United States and Canada.
- 2020
Brand renamed Expedia Cruises
[1]Expedia CruiseShipCenters adopts the Expedia Cruises name and the “Air, Land & Sea Vacations” tagline.
- 2019
300th North American franchise agreement announced
[1]The company announces its 300th franchise agreement in North America.
- 2018
Gross bookings exceed $790 million
[1]The franchise network is reported to have generated more than $790 million in gross bookings.
- 2013
Expedia becomes sole owner
[1]Expedia Inc. is reported to own the entire CruiseShipCenters International business.
- 2007
Expedia takes a significant minority interest
[1]Expedia acquires a significant but non-controlling interest and announces plans to support expansion into the United States.
- 1987
CruiseShipCenters International is established
[1]A Vancouver-based travel-agency franchise specializing in cruise vacations is established.
Products and positioning
A specialist, consultant-led North American travel franchise network combining cruise expertise with broader leisure-trip planning.
Cruise travel · 1987
Ocean cruises
The core offering is the planning and sale of ocean-cruise vacations. Franchise consultants assist with comparing cruise lines, itineraries, sailing dates, cabin categories, and related travel arrangements.
Cruise travel
River cruises
The brand also sells river-cruise itineraries, extending its cruise specialization beyond large ocean vessels and into destination-focused voyages.
Leisure travel
Luxury and expedition travel
Expedia Cruises markets luxury and expedition journeys as part of its broader vacation-planning portfolio, using consultant expertise to arrange specialized travel experiences.
Tours
Land tours and safaris
Land tours and safaris broaden the company’s offer beyond cruise-only bookings and can be used as standalone vacations or as components of multi-part itineraries.
Travel services
All-inclusive resorts and insurance
The network also books all-inclusive resort properties and offers travel insurance, allowing consultants to address accommodation, protection, and other needs associated with a vacation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Air, Land & Sea Vacations
United States · Canada
The rebrand from Expedia CruiseShipCenters to Expedia Cruises was paired with the “Air, Land & Sea Vacations” tagline. The message presented the business as a broader vacation-planning service rather than a company limited to cruise reservations.
Outcome. The Expedia Cruises name became the brand identity used for the North American franchise network.
Brand decisions
2020
Rebrand as Expedia CruisesStrategyBackground
The company’s services had expanded beyond ocean cruises into other forms of leisure travel, including land-based and resort products.
Action taken
Expedia CruiseShipCenters was renamed Expedia Cruises and adopted the “Air, Land & Sea Vacations” tagline.
Aftermath
The new identity aligned the franchise network more visibly with Expedia Group and communicated a wider travel proposition.
2013
Complete the ownership transitionM&ABackground
After holding a significant minority interest since 2007, Expedia increased its stake in the cruise-agency business.
Action taken
Expedia Inc. became the reported 100 percent owner of CruiseShipCenters International.
Aftermath
The business continued as an Expedia-owned specialist franchise network and later operated under the Expedia Cruises identity.
2007
Acquire a significant interest in CruiseShipCenters InternationalM&ABackground
Expedia sought a stronger presence in cruise vacation distribution through a specialist agency franchise with an established Canadian network.
Action taken
Expedia purchased a significant but non-controlling interest and stated that it would help expand the business into the United States.
Aftermath
The investment preceded Expedia’s eventual acquisition of full ownership and the later adoption of the Expedia Cruises name.
Sources3 sources
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