Our Founders
Welcome to Best Expedition Cruises, a division of Kingsbridge Travel, where your extraordinary journey begins. Kingsbridge Travel was founded in 2011 by Diane and Arnie Ross, both seasoned travelers and passionate adventurers. They specialize in crafting premium and luxury cruises that offer personalized service and value-added experiences that are simply unparalleled. The Rosses have traversed more than 70 cruises and explored the corners of the globe.
Diane Ross, with a knack for sales, embarked on a career that led her from selling contact lenses to office equipment. However, her true passion for travel blossomed when she met Arnie. Diane and Arnie's love story began on a blind date where they instantly connected over their shared love of exploration. Seven months later, they tied the knot and embarked on their first adventure together, a week in Nice and Eze in the south of France, followed by a Windstar cruise through the French and Italian Rivieras.
In 1992, Diane embraced her calling as a travel agent to help others design their dream vacations. Her journey began at Rosenbluth Vacations in southern New Jersey, where she worked with corporate clients, including the renowned Campbell Soup. Diane's dedication and expertise earned her the respect of management, leading her to become the sole independent contractor in her office. She pursued advanced certifications, earning the titles of Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) and Master Cruise Counselor (MCC), reflecting her commitment to excellence and her desire to create dream vacations for her clients.
As a Certified Travel Counselor, Diane embodies extensive industry knowledge and professionalism, as conferred by The Travel Institute. The MCC designation, reserved for experts in cruise travel, was awarded by the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), signifying her proficiency in recommending and selling cruises.
In 2023 Diane added to her accolades by becoming a member of The 1000, a club for the world's most influential travel advisors. The 1000 is a community of wholly-verified, top producing travel advisors from every corner of the world.
Best Expedition Cruises and Kingsbridge Travel are proud affiliates of Montecito Village Travel (MVT), an esteemed agency with around 800 travel advisors. MVT's longstanding membership in Virtuoso, a prestigious consortium of luxury travel agencies, provides us access to exclusive promotions and amenities you won't find elsewhere. In 2023, MVT achieved recognition as one of the inaugural Forbes Travel Guide Endorsed travel agencies, elevating our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences at Forbes-recommended properties worldwide.
In 2022, Diane was honored as MVT's top river cruise producer. While continuing to serve premium and luxury ocean and river cruise clients through Kingsbridge Travel, Best Expedition Cruises was launched to cater to the burgeoning interest in Expedition Cruising.
As connoisseurs of fine travel, Diane and Arnie Ross extend impeccable service to their clients. Their expertise and joyful approach to vacation planning make the process enjoyable and stress-free. They continuously explore new destinations, seek out special experiences, inspect the latest hotels, and evaluate the most luxurious ocean and river cruise lines. Diane and Arnie set sail 2-3 times per year, ensuring firsthand knowledge of ships, services, and itineraries, all to better serve their clients.
Diane and Arnie's extensive travels have taken them through the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, the Society Islands, China, New Zealand, and Australia, giving them a wealth of insights to curate unforgettable journeys for you.
Join us at Best Expedition Cruises, where Diane and Arnie Ross transform your travel dreams into remarkable realities. Let's embark on a voyage like no other, exploring the world's most extraordinary destinations in style and comfort. Your journey of a lifetime begins here.
