Johannesburg-based, South African Boutique Agency Celebrated on the Global Stage
Johannesburg-based boutique travel agency Cruise Vacations has once again placed South Africa firmly on the global cruise map, winning Africa’s Best Cruise Travel Agency 2025 at the prestigious World Cruise Awards — marking the fourth consecutive year they have brought this accolade back to South Africa.
The award was presented during the World Cruise Awards Gala Ceremony, hosted in Bahrain on Saturday 6th December 2025, and attended by senior executives from the world’s leading cruise lines, global travel industry decision-makers, and international media. The ceremony forms part of the World Cruise Awards programme, which recognises excellence, leadership and innovation across the global cruise sector.
The 2025 win is particularly meaningful as it coincides with owner Gaynor Galbraith Neill’s 30th anniversary year in luxury cruising, celebrating three decades of expertise, industry leadership, and unwavering commitment to service excellence.
Operating as a boutique agency, Cruise Vacations continues to distinguish itself through its quality of service, depth of cruise knowledge and strong, longstanding relationships with international cruise line principals. These relationships have enabled the successful introduction and growth of luxury, expedition, niche and river cruising within South Africa – categories that require specialist training and product understanding beyond mainstream cruising.
As proud members of ASATA, Cruise Vacations is deeply committed to the training and development of South African travel agents, with a strong focus on educating the retail trade on the nuances of specialist cruising. This commitment extends to mentoring and supporting newcomers entering the travel industry, contributing to long-term skills development and sustainable industry growth.
Beyond commercial success, Cruise Vacations actively champions responsible tourism and sustainability. The agency supports Rhino Connect’s rehabilitation programme, contributes regularly to local charities serving indigent communities, and continues to reduce its operational footprint – demonstrating that meaningful social and environmental impact is achievable even at boutique scale.
Galbraith Neill says:
“Bringing this award back to South Africa for the fourth year in a row is incredibly meaningful. To receive this recognition during my 30th year in luxury cruising makes it even more special. It reflects the passion and dedication of our small, hard-working and committed team, our ongoing support of the local travel trade, and our belief that travel can be a powerful force for positive change.”
The World Cruise Awards are part of the globally recognised World Travel Awards programme, widely regarded as the benchmark of excellence within the travel and tourism industry.
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