Century Cruises celebrates a major milestone in its international expansion by winning eight Magellan Awards 2026, seven gold and one silver, which recognize the excellence of its operations and experiences in both China and Europe.
These awards constitute one of the most extensive collections of recognitions obtained to date by Century Cruises and distinguish its fleet of river ships, destination experiences, sustainable innovation, international expansion, marketing and social media actions, itinerary development and training of tourism professionals.
The eight 2026 Magellan Awards given to Century Cruises are as follows:
GOLD AWARD — #DiscoverChina2026: Inspiring travel through social media. Category: Cruise Lines — Marketing Campaign / Social Media Campaign.
GOLD AWARD — Century Star: Redefining Luxury and Sustainable River Cruises in Europe. Category: Cruise Companies — General / River Cruise Ship.
GOLD AWARD — Century Star: A new era for sustainable river cruising. Category: Cruise Lines — General / Eco-friendly and Sustainable Cruise Ship.
GOLD PRIZE — Above the Clouds, Along the River: A Journey Through China's Extraordinary Landscapes. Category: Cruise Elements — Expeditions / Itinerary.
GOLD AWARD — Fostering international partnerships through immersive travel experiences. Category: Cruise Lines — General / Educational Program.
GOLD AWARD — From the Yangtze to the Danube: Century Cruises' European expansion. Category: Tour operators — General / Expansion and changes of destinations.
GOLD AWARD — Chongqing: Where the future meets 3,000 years of history. Category: Asia — General Destinations / City.
SILVER AWARD — Century Star: A new standard in luxury river cruising. Category: Cruise Lines — General / Luxury Ship.
Taken together, these accolades reflect the evolution of Century Cruises, which has grown from its roots on the Yangtze River in China to become a river cruise and travel company with an ever-increasing international presence.
The awards are especially significant for the Century Star, which was recognized in the river cruise, sustainability, and luxury categories. The ship represents Century Cruises' expansion into European rivers and embodies the company's Rivers Entwined , which blends European destinations, cultures, and experiences with subtle elements of the cruise line's Chinese heritage.
The awards also recognize Century Cruises' efforts to bring China closer to travelers through immersive experiences at destinations and narrative proposals that allow them to discover its history and culture. Among these, the award for Chongqing and an itinerary showcasing some of the country's most extraordinary landscapes stands out.
“This is a moment we can be truly proud of,” said David Fredericks, president and CEO of Century Cruises – The Americas. “Eight magnificent awards—seven gold and one silver—demonstrate the true dedication of our international team. These accolades belong to all the people in China, Europe, and the Americas who work every day to create, communicate, and ultimately deliver the Century Cruises experience.”.
Fredericks adds: “I am especially proud of the recognition our training program has received. In a very short time, our teams have developed an educational and training program designed to engage the community of travel agents, meeting and incentive travel planners, and our partners across the tourism industry. We don’t just ask industry professionals to sell Century Cruises; we invest in providing them with the knowledge, tools, experiences, and confidence needed to understand our products and share our story.”.
“This success is the result of collaboration,” Fredericks continues. “Our marketing teams build awareness and tell our story. Our sales and internal sales teams train professionals and build relationships. We participate in industry trade shows, meet personally with travel agents and partners, and cultivate those relationships every day. Then, our teams in China and Europe, our crews, tour guides, tour operators, and local partners deliver on that promise for our passengers. That’s what makes these eight awards so significant: they recognize the work of an entire international organization.”.
The awards also reflect the internationalization vision set by Century Cruises Chairman Peng Jianhu, whose strategy is to expand the company's presence beyond its leading position on the Yangtze River in China, while maintaining the culture, hospitality and heritage that define the brand.
“President Peng had the vision to bring Century Cruises to the world and, equally important, he trusted our teams to go out, create, and deliver experiences,” Fredericks said. “Today we see that vision being recognized on two continents. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved, but we are also aware that this is just the beginning.”.
The company's marketing initiatives have also received direct recognition with the Gold Magellan Award for #DiscoverChina2026: Inspiring Travel Through Social Media, which highlights Century Cruises' efforts to bring China closer to new audiences through digital storytelling and social media engagement.
The eight awards come as Century Cruises prepares for a new phase of expansion.
Following the launch of the Century Star in Europe, the company is working on the development of the Century Diamond, while expanding its product offering in China, including the Century Vision, and exploring new opportunities for its future product line in Egypt.
For Century Cruises, the 2026 Magellan Awards represent both a recognition of past achievements and a preview of its future ambitions.
China. Europe. And, potentially, Egypt. Different rivers, different cultures, and different experiences under one brand: Century Cruises.
“Everyone at Century Cruises should take a moment to feel proud of this achievement,” Fredericks concludes. “We should be proud of our colleagues, the experiences we are creating, and the journey we are taking together. Winning eight Magellan Awards is an extraordinary accomplishment. And this is just the beginning.”.
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