SUNRISE, Fla. — October 7, 2026 — Century Cruises has announced a landmark achievement in its continued global expansion, earning eight prestigious 2026 Magellan Awards — seven Gold Awards and one Silver Award — recognizing excellence across its operations and experiences in China and Europe.
These honors represent one of the company’s broadest collections of accolades to date, celebrating its river cruise ships, destination experiences, sustainable innovation, international expansion, marketing initiatives, social media campaigns, itinerary development, and travel industry education programs.
The Eight 2026 Magellan Awards
GOLD — #DiscoverChina2026: Inspiring Travel Through Social Media
Cruise Lines — Marketing Campaign/Social Media Campaign
GOLD — Century Star: Redefining Luxury and Eco-Conscious River Cruising in Europe
Cruise Lines — Overall/River Cruise Ship
GOLD — Century Star: A New Era of Sustainable River Cruising
Cruise Lines — Overall/Eco-Friendly “Sustainable” Cruise Ship
GOLD — Above the Clouds, Along the River: A Journey Into China’s Surreal Landscapes
Cruise Elements — Expeditions/Itinerary
GOLD — Elevating Global Partnerships Through Immersive Travel Experiences
Cruise Lines — Overall/Education Program
GOLD — From the Yangtze to the Danube: Century Cruises’ European Expansion
Tour Operators — Overall/Destination Expansions/Changes
GOLD — Chongqing: Where the Future Meets 3,000 Years of History
Asia — Overall Destinations/City
SILVER — Century Star: A New Standard in Luxury River Cruising
Cruise Lines — Overall/Luxury Ship
Together, these awards reflect Century Cruises’ evolution from its established roots on China’s Yangtze River into an increasingly prominent international river cruise and tour company.
The recognition is particularly significant for Century Star, which received three awards for overall river cruising, sustainability, and luxury. The vessel represents Century Cruises’ expansion into European river cruising and embodies the company’s “Rivers Entwined” philosophy, combining the destinations, cultures, and experiences of Europe with subtle influences from its Chinese heritage.
The awards also acknowledge Century Cruises’ continued efforts to introduce travelers to China through immersive destination experiences and compelling storytelling. These include recognition for Chongqing and an innovative itinerary showcasing some of China’s most extraordinary landscapes.
“This is a moment to be proud of,” said David Fredericks, President and CEO of Century Cruises – The Americas. “Eight amazing awards — seven Gold and one Silver — demonstrate the true dedication of our global team. These awards belong to the people throughout China, Europe and the Americas who work every day to create, communicate and ultimately deliver the Century Cruises experience.”
Fredericks continued, “I am especially proud of the recognition for education. In a remarkably short amount of time, our teams have built an education and training program designed to engage the travel advisor community, meeting planners, incentive planners and our broader travel industry partners. We are not simply asking the travel community to sell Century Cruises; we are investing in giving them the knowledge, tools, experiences and confidence to understand our products and tell our story.”
“That success comes from collaboration,” Fredericks added. “Our marketing teams create awareness and tell the story. Our trade and inside sales teams educate and build relationships. Our teams attend trade shows, meet travel advisors and partners face-to-face, and develop those relationships every day. Then our people in China and Europe, our shipboard teams, tour guides, tour operators and destination partners bring that promise to life for our guests. That is what makes these eight awards so meaningful — they recognize the work of an entire global organization.”
The awards also reflect the global expansion vision established by Century Cruises Chairman Peng Jianhu. His strategy has focused on taking the company beyond its leadership position on China’s Yangtze River while preserving the culture, hospitality, and heritage that have defined the Century Cruises brand.
“Chairman Peng had the vision to take Century Cruises to the world and, importantly, the confidence in our teams to go out, create and deliver,” Fredericks said. “Today, we are seeing that vision recognized across two continents. We are incredibly proud of what has been accomplished, but we also recognize that we are only getting started.”
The company’s marketing achievements have also been recognized with a Gold Magellan Award for #DiscoverChina2026: Inspiring Travel Through Social Media. This accolade highlights Century Cruises’ growing commitment to introducing China to new audiences through engaging digital storytelling and social media initiatives.
The eight awards come as Century Cruises prepares for its next phase of international expansion. Following the introduction of Century Star in Europe, the company is continuing the development of Century Diamond, expanding its China cruise portfolio with offerings including Century Vision, and exploring further opportunities for its planned Egypt product line.
For Century Cruises, the 2026 Magellan Awards represent both recognition of its achievements and a reflection of its ambitious plans for the future.
China. Europe. And potentially Egypt. Different rivers, different cultures, and different experiences — one Century Cruises.
“Everyone throughout Century Cruises should take a moment and be proud of this achievement,” Fredericks concluded. “Be proud of your colleagues, be proud of the experiences we are creating and be proud of where we are going together. Eight Magellan Awards is an extraordinary accomplishment. And we have only just begun.”
About Century Cruises
Century Cruises is an international river cruise and tour company with deep roots on China’s Yangtze River and a growing global presence. The company combines luxury river cruising with immersive destination experiences designed to connect travelers with the history, culture, cuisine, landscapes, and people of the destinations it serves.
With its expansion into Europe aboard Century Star and the continued development of its international river cruise portfolio, Century Cruises is bringing its heritage of hospitality, innovation, and exceptional guest experiences to an increasingly global audience.
