In two separate ceremonies, Carnival Cruise Lines presented San Diego-based America’s Vacation Center and North Potomac, Md.-based The Cruise Line Ltd. with its Agency of the Year Awards.

For the first time, Carnival recognized two agencies for this award. Nominees were selected from more than 30,000 cruise-selling travel agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Both America’s Vacation Center and The Cruise Line Ltd. were recognized for having achieved a high level of success by employing distinctly different business models. While both agencies have developed a national network of home-based agents, America’s Vacation Center focuses on developing a worldwide network of home-based independently owned and operated affiliates, while The Cruise Line Ltd. takes a more traditional agency approach by encouraging local agents to concentrate on their local communities from virtual home-based offices.

Following the reception, representatives from the agency and the cruise line celebrated at a local restaurant, compliments of Carnival.

Pictured here at the America’s Vacation Center reception in San Diego are (from left to right): Carnival’s Vice President of Sales for the Western Region Vicki Tomasino; San Diego Business Development Director Lori Goldspiel; America’s Vacation Center President Brad Anderson; Vice President of Marketing Jeff Anderson; Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Guest Services Lynn Torrent; and Vice President of Business Development and National Accounts Edie Bornstein.

Pictured here at The Cruise Line Ltd. reception in North Potomac, Md., are (from left to right): Carnival’s Director of Business Development for Maryland and Delaware Tom Dougher; Regional Vice President of Sales for the Eastern Region Karen Viera; The Cruise Line, Ltd. Vice President of Sales and Marketing Jason Jacobs; Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Guest Services Lynn Torrent; The Cruise Line, Ltd.’s President Mark Jacobs; and Vice President of Operations Christina Jacobs.