Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), the organization responsible for promoting tourism to the island, recently honored five top travel advisors at the 2026 Regal Rewards Awards held on August 29. These agents were recognized for their exceptional performance in selling cruise vacations to Jamaica during 2024 and 2025. The awards ceremony marked a key moment in the island's strategy to maintain its position as a premier Caribbean cruise destination.
The recognition comes through the Regal Rewards program, an initiative operated under JAMVAC's Jamaica Cruising brand. This program is designed to support travel advisors by offering incentives for booking cruises that stop in Jamaica, alongside providing essential marketing materials and destination resources. By rewarding the professionals who bring passengers to the island, JAMVAC aims to strengthen the partnership between cruise lines and the local tourism economy.
While the specific names of the top five advisors were not detailed in the initial report, the focus of the event underscores a broader trend: the continued growth of cruise traffic to Jamaica. The program's success in 2024 and 2025 suggests that the island is effectively leveraging industry partnerships to attract more ships and passengers, a dynamic that directly influences the availability and variety of itineraries available to the general public.
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Editor Take
This news matters because it confirms that Jamaica is actively investing in the travel agents who book your vacation. When an island rewards agents with incentives and resources, it often translates to better deals, more exclusive shore excursions, or priority booking windows for the passengers those agents sell to. If you are planning a Caribbean cruise, this indicates that Jamaica is a high-priority destination for cruise lines, meaning you are likely to find robust schedules and competitive pricing for stops there in the near future.
Key Takeaways
- When booking a cruise with a Jamaica stop, ask your travel advisor if they are a 'Regal Rewards' partner, as they may have access to exclusive onboard credits or shore excursion upgrades not available to the general public.
- If you are currently on a cruise and considering a Jamaica port day, check with your advisor for any new 'destination resources' or marketing offers that JAMVAC may have recently distributed to their top partners.
- For travelers planning 2026 or 2027 itineraries, prioritize cruise lines that have strong relationships with JAMVAC, as these partnerships often result in longer port stays or more frequent sailings to Jamaica.
What Travelers Ask
Does this award affect my existing cruise booking to Jamaica?
No, the awards recognize the travel advisors who sold the tickets. However, if your advisor is one of the top performers, they may have access to better promotional rates or added perks that they can apply to your booking before you finalize payment.
Will this change the ports or schedules for my cruise?
The awards themselves do not change schedules. However, the program's goal is to drive business to Jamaica, which typically leads cruise lines to add more ships or extend port times in Jamaica to meet the high demand generated by these advisors.
How can I find a travel advisor who is part of this program?
You can ask your travel advisor directly if they participate in the JAMVAC Regal Rewards program. Top advisors will often highlight this affiliation as a sign of their expertise and access to exclusive destination resources.