"We have always strived to offer authentic, out of the ordinary itineraries along with memorable on-board and on-shore experiences," said Dietmar Wertanzl, president & CEO. "These awards are a testament to our role as a leader in the small ship exploration/expedition market. We're proud of this acknowledgement from the travel agent community."
This marks the 10th and 12th years respectively for Porthole Cruise and Recommend magazines Readers' Choice Awards, honoring the best in travel. The winners of the awards are chosen by thousands of readers whose ballots are tallied by magazine editors. All winners are featured in the December 2008 issues.
For more information about Cruise West's itineraries throughout the Americas, South Pacific, Asia and Europe, please visit http://www.cruisewest.com/destinations/ or call 1-800-689-1783.

~ Up-Close, Casual and Personal Cruising ~

Cruise West offers the opportunity to explore remote and distinctive destinations throughout North and Central America, Asia, South Pacific and Europe. Small-ship cruising allows for personalized experiences not offered by larger cruise lines. Guest capacities aboard Cruise West's nine ships range from 78-138. Guests may expect personal enrichment through insightful shore programs, onboard narrative and presentations by local experts from a wide variety of backgrounds. In addition, destination specific materials and an array of books are provided in the onboard library on every vessel. Cruise West considers it a privilege to access some of the world's most pristine wilderness areas and culturally rich countries. With this in mind, Cruise West views itself as good stewards and encourages crew and guests to act responsibly with respect to the environment and diverse cultures visited. For more information, call 1-800-689-1783 or visit www.cruisewest.com.