Steve Griswold
Virgin Voyages Top 100 First Mate in North America (2024)
Certified Cruise & Travel Specialist | Co-Owner, Pixie Vacations
Sandals CRC Platinum Elite Advisor | Disney College of Knowledge Graduate
About Steve
Steve Griswold is one of the most recognized travel advisors in the United States, specializing in cruise vacations, Caribbean all-inclusive resorts, and Disney destinations. In 2024, Virgin Voyages named Steve one of their Top 100 First Mates in all of North America — an award given to the highest-performing travel advisors out of more than 22,000 Virgin Voyages-certified agents across the continent.
As a Top 100 First Mate, Steve was invited aboard the exclusive First Mate Spectacular Soiree on Valiant Lady in January 2025, where Virgin Voyages celebrated their elite advisors with private events, executive access, and the annual First Mate Ink Awards ceremony.
Virgin Voyages Experience
Steve has sailed every ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet — Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady. He has experienced Caribbean, Mediterranean, and specialty itineraries firsthand, giving him direct knowledge of cabin categories, onboard dining across all 20+ restaurants, the Beach Club at Bimini, Scarlet Night events, and the overall VV experience that sets this cruise line apart from traditional lines.
This blog, virginvoyages.blog, is Steve’s independent fan site dedicated to helping first-time and returning Virgin Voyages sailors get the most out of their cruise. Every guide, tool, and recommendation is based on personal experience sailing VV ships — not press trips or sponsored content.
Professional Credentials
- Virgin Voyages Top 100 First Mate, North America (2024) — Top travel advisor out of 22,000+ certified agents
- Sandals Certified Resort Counselor (CRC) Platinum Elite — Highest certification level; visited all 17 Sandals properties
- Disney College of Knowledge Graduate — Certified Disney vacation specialist
- Certified Cruise Specialist — Full-service cruise planning across all major lines
- Co-Owner, Pixie Vacations — Full-service travel agency based in Canton, Georgia
Media & Recognition
Steve hosts the Mouse Chat podcast, one of the longest-running Disney and family travel podcasts. He has been featured in USA Today, NBC, ABC, and CNN for his Griswold Family Truckster road trips, which have raised awareness for family travel and generated national media coverage.
Steve’s travel content network includes six websites covering different aspects of vacation planning: Pixie Vacations (booking hub), Pixie Honeymoons (romance travel), CaribbeanMag (resort reviews), Griswold Family Vacations (family travel), MouseChat (Disney podcast), and Universal Family Vacations (Universal Orlando).
Plan Your Virgin Voyages Cruise
Steve personally reviews every cruise booking made through Pixie Vacations. There are no booking fees — just expert advice from someone who has actually sailed the ships.
Phone: 678-815-1584
Email: steve@pixievacations.com
Free Quote: Request a quote online