Thursday, July 3, 2025

For travelers across North America dreaming of glacier-kissed fjords or Mediterranean yacht escapes, the horizon just got a lot more luxurious. This week, Scenic Group—the powerhouse behind Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Emerald Cruises—announced a new preferred partnership with Ensemble, a U.S. and Canada-based consortium of top-tier boutique travel agencies.

This strategic alliance is more than just a handshake between industry leaders. It’s a promise to elevate the way discerning travelers explore the world, offering all-inclusive, immersive journeys across Europe, Asia, the polar regions, and beyond—all backed by Ensemble’s expansive network of seasoned travel advisors.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, luxury travel is steadily rebounding post-pandemic, with affluent North American travelers seeking curated, culturally rich, and smaller-group travel experiences. This Scenic–Ensemble collaboration is well-timed to meet that demand.

As Ken Muskat, President of Scenic Group, USA/LATAM, put it:
“Partnering with Ensemble is a powerful opportunity to align with a network that shares our values of innovation, quality, and advisor-centric service.”

Muskat emphasized that the collaboration will give Ensemble travel advisors enhanced access to Scenic’s diverse, global cruise offerings, along with marketing tools, incentives, and customized training—all designed to make it easier for advisors to grow their luxury cruise business.

Ensemble, which operates in coordination with travel professionals across the U.S. and Canada, has been building a reputation for carefully selecting partners that deliver uncompromising guest experiences. According to the U.S. Travel Association, travelers in North America are increasingly turning to advisors for personalized planning, especially when it comes to premium cruise and expedition options.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours is known for its sophisticated itineraries aboard Discovery Yachts™—like the Scenic Eclipse and Scenic Eclipse II—purpose-built for expedition cruising across all seven continents, including polar adventures and rare-access destinations. These ultra-luxury ships offer elegant design, all-suite accommodations, onboard helicopters and submarines, and world-class dining.

Complementing this, Emerald Cruises brings a modern and stylish approach to both river and yacht cruising. The brand is expanding quickly:

In 2026, Emerald Astra will join its river fleet as the 11th Star-Ship.

Emerald Kaia, a luxury superyacht, will launch alongside sister ships Emerald Azzurra and Emerald Sakara to cruise the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Adriatic Seas.

By 2027, the fleet will welcome Emerald Raiya, Emerald Xara, and Emerald Lumi, marking its debut on the Seine in France.

Each of these vessels is designed to blend intimacy, innovation, and destination immersion—a key demand from modern cruisers, especially those in North America’s growing millennial and Gen X luxury travel markets, as noted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Ensemble’s Vision: Advisor Empowerment Through Premium Partnerships
From the start, Ensemble has been clear about its mission: to equip its members with the best tools, suppliers, and experiences to serve travelers at the highest level. Scenic and Emerald now join this curated portfolio of preferred partners, reinforcing Ensemble’s growing emphasis on luxury cruising and immersive travel.

Rachel Grogan, Senior Director of Partner Relations for Ensemble, highlighted the match:
“Their reputation for exceptional service, immersive itineraries, and innovative ships aligns perfectly with our mission. This partnership gives our advisors access to an even broader range of cruise options to suit today’s sophisticated traveler.”

Through Ensemble’s innovative platforms—like Cruise Circles (a peer-sharing community) and Cruise EMAPP (Member Advisor Partner Panel)—travel professionals will be able to exchange insights, gain exclusive access to promotional offers, and tap into real-time training programs tailored for Scenic and Emerald bookings.

To mark the launch of this new alliance, Scenic Group is offering a limited-time incentive on all new bookings made in July and August 2025. This applies to all 2025 river and ocean sailings on both Scenic and Emerald ships. While details of the promotion are still being finalized, early indicators suggest added onboard value, upgrades, and advisor commissions, sweetening the deal for clients and agents alike.

Beyond this initial push, the brand plans to roll out ongoing consumer benefits available fleet-wide, aimed at enhancing the guest experience and reinforcing loyalty.

This partnership between Scenic Group and Ensemble is not just a business deal—it’s a compass point for the future of luxury travel in North America. It reflects a collective shift toward purposeful, personalized, and culturally rich experiences that can only be delivered through the synergy of trusted advisors and visionary cruise operators.

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