Expedia Cruises News & Blog

This past April, we welcomed more than 900 attendees aboard MSC’s brand-new ship, MSC America for our annual Expedia Cruises® ANCHOR event. Attendees included 275 Franchisees and Managers, 300 Vacation Consultants, 150 Supply Partners, 40 Corporate Team Members, and 150 guests - making this our largest and most dynamic ANCHOR yet! The seven-day conference featured an action-packed agenda, including inspiring keynotes, interactive workshops, one-on-one sessions with travel partners, and lively panel discussions. Together, we explored the booming travel industry, emerging technologies, and strategies to help our Franchisees and Vacation Consultants elevate their businesses.

"The Expedia Cruises 2026 ANCHOR Meeting was our most successful ever. Not only did we welcome our largest and most engaged audience to date, but I have never seen our distribution channel more energized about the opportunities ahead over the next decade. Each conference represents a unique moment when our entire industry and system come together to one place. These gatherings help move our industry forward by sharing best practices, strengthening relationships, and reigniting our collective passion for the business."– Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia Cruises.

Our conferences are thoughtfully designed with our Franchisees and Vacation Consultants in mind. With dedicated learning tracks for each group, attendees gained targeted insights while stepping away from their day-to-day operations to focus on growth. From inspiring speakers to hands-on sessions and meaningful networking, every moment was designed to deliver value—with plenty of sunshine and fun mixed in.

From elegant cocktail receptions to a lively Great Gatsby-themed party and a beach day at Ocean Cay, attendees had countless opportunities to connect and unwind. We also gave away 35 prizes throughout the week, including 10 free cruises—adding even more excitement to an already unforgettable experience.

"The slogan of ANCHOR this year was a perfect two-word description of our experience: Stronger Together! Bringing everyone in the industry — consultants, franchisees, corporate leadership, and suppliers — together provides an amazing forum for ideas to flow back and forth across all of our stakeholders. Consultants are learning from suppliers, corporate leaders are getting feedback from franchisees, and everyone is learning about new industry and company developments together while sharing feedback in the same room. These waves of communication and knowledge energize all of us as we return to our respective communities stronger—both in knowledge and from spending time with a thousand people who share common ground and interests!" – Expedia Cruises, Vacation Consultant.