Anyone can book a cruise.
I plan the trip around it.
I plan luxury and expedition cruises — and everything around them: the flights, the hotels before and after, the tours. I've been on these trips myself, and I plan yours the same way.
Stephanie Ng (PenguinsPreferred) at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, aboard Celebrity Summit. Yes, it really is that blue.
Why Work with Me?
As a travel advisor who specializes in luxury and expedition cruises, I help travelers design adventures as unique as they are. Picking the right ship is only part of it. There's the hotel before and after, the excursions that fit how active you do (or don't) want to be, the taxis and luggage and lines that turn a good trip into an exhausting one, all of it made easier when your advisor actually knows what to do.
I'm a full-service independent travel advisor with Master Travel, Travel Experts, and Virtuoso, which means real relationships at luxury properties, cruise lines, and tour operators, plus access to experiences you can't get booking yourself.
The cruise is just the beginning. I plan the whole trip around it.
Questions About Working with a Travel Advisor
I specialize in luxury and expedition cruising. On the luxury side I regularly book Seabourn, Silversea, SeaDream, Ponant, and Regent Seven Seas among others. On the expedition side I've recently booked Aurora, Quark, and Scenic, sailing to Antarctica, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, the Arctic, Greenland, and Iceland. I’ve been in love with cruising since I was 10, and I’ve sailed to Antarctica myself. I recommend from experience, not a brochure.
I also book hotels in every embarkation and disembarkation port, and plan multigenerational groups, honeymoons, and solo trips. If it involves a ship, it's probably in my wheelhouse. Tell me where you want to go.
What trips does a cruise travel advisor like you plan?
1
You can book it yourself, and it's a fine choice if you like the research. A cruise travel advisor is worth it if you'd rather not spend that time finding the right cruise line, ship, hotel, and tours for what you want.
As a member of the Virtuoso Cruise Community and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), I match you with the cruise line and ship that fit your style. On Virtuoso partner lines you also receive a Virtuoso amenity, usually onboard credit.
I handle everything around the ship too: flights, the hotel the night before, and tours and tickets before, during, and after.
Why use a cruise travel advisor instead of booking it myself?
2
No. You pay the same price or better than you'd pay booking direct. Cruise lines and the suppliers I book with pay me a commission, and that commission covers my full concierge service, so it's included at no charge whenever a cruise is part of your trip.
Trips without a cruise carry a planning fee.
Does it cost more to book through you?
3
What happens after I reach out?
4
We start with a brief call. I get to know you, what you want from the trip, and how far along your planning is. Planning is collaborative: I bring recommendations, you react, and we refine until it's right. Ready when you are - start planning!
What does full-service planning mean?
5
Full-service planning means I research, recommend, and book every part of your trip, not just the cruise. Cruises often leave from places worth exploring on their own, especially expedition cruises. I help you decide how early to arrive, where to stay, and what to do, from tours to dinner reservations. Then I book all of it, down to the transfers to and from each activity.
How far ahead should I book?
6
As soon as you have an idea. Cruise schedules open two, sometimes three years out, and prices tend to rise as inventory sells. Alaska and other popular itineraries often fill a year ahead, and the smaller the ship, the tighter it gets.
Unlike flights or hotels, a cruise can often be repriced if the fare drops after you book, so booking early rarely costs you.
What if something goes wrong while I'm traveling?
7
You call (or WhatsApp) me, not a hold queue. My relationships with cruise lines and properties mean I can fix problems and make changes before they ruin your trip. Changed ports and adjusted itineraries come with traveling to remote places. When your ship misses a dock, I rebook the flights, hotels, and tours it affects and pursue any refund or credit you're owed. You don't spend your vacation sorting it out yourself.
Do you work with clients outside New Jersey?
8
Yes, I work with clients anywhere. Services are paid by credit card or wire, depending on the vendor and currency.
Ready to start planning?
Get in touch for a no fee, no commitment consultation. Tell me what you're dreaming of, and I'll be in touch within a day to schedule a call.