Cruise industry highlights: Virtuoso awards and Legend of the Seas debut

The cruise industry is seeing significant developments regarding luxury service and new vessel experiences. The Virtuoso Cruise Awards 2026, presented during the 38th Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, recognized top performers across five categories based on travel consultant evaluations of service quality and innovation.

Winners include Aqua Expeditions for small-ship cruises, Explora Journeys for ocean luxury, Oceania Cruises for contemporary and premium ocean cruises, AmaWaterways for river cruises, and National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions for expedition cruises.

In related news, Royal Caribbean is preparing for the 2026 debut of the Legend of the Seas. Travelers are advised to take advantage of specific onboard traditions, such as the unofficial seafood buffet offered at Windjammer on embarkation day, which features items like lobster tails and filet mignon. Additionally, while the ship's Golden Retriever, Skipper, is a social media fixture, passengers are cautioned that there is no official schedule to meet him to avoid causing the animal stress.