FAQ

What travel services do you provide?

• Ocean, river, luxury and small-ship cruises - all cruise lines and destinations
• Pre and post-cruise extensions and independent shore excursions
• All-inclusive resort vacations throughout the Caribbean and Mexico
• Guided vacations, worldwide
• Family vacations
• Group travel
• Custom, multi-destination trip planning
• Domestic travel and city stays
• Vacation add-ons - flights, excursions, sightseeing tours, rental cars, transportation
• Travel insurance

Do you charge a fee for your services? 

My services are free for MOST trip planning. However, I do charge for complex trips requiring more research time and effort, airline tickets, hotel only, and other miscellaneous services. Please see my Pricing page for complete list.

All services include

• a professional presentation of handpicked hotel, resort or cruise package options
• a carefully detailed mobile-friendly itinerary available in the palm of your hand
• personalized service
• suggestions for destination sightseeing and day trips
• prompt answers to all your questions and concerns
• 24/7 in-destination support and emergency assistance
• Electronic or paper documents, as requested
• Assistance selecting travel insurance
• Management and followup with cancellations, changes and future travel vouchers.

Do you offer travel insurance? 

Yes, not only do I offer travel insurance, but I highly recommended it. A vacation is a big investment, and you should expect the unexpected. Why chance losing your hard earned money in the event you become ill or an emergency forces you to cancel your trip. Insurance will reimburse you for non-refundable trip costs. A quote for insurance will be provided before you make your initial trip deposit.

Will I need a passport for my trip? Will I need a travel visa for my destination? 

This all depends on where you are going. For U.S. citizens, all international destinations by air require valid passports that must be valid for at least six months following the trip return date. If your passport is up for renewal soon, apply as soon as possible, as processing is taking longer than usual. For cruises that depart and return from the same U.S. port to any destination in the Western Hemisphere, a Driver's License and Birth Certificate will suffice. However, a passport is highly recommended in the event it becomes necessary to fly home from a foreign port in an emergency. *Non-US citizens must be legal residents of the U.S. with a permanent U.S. address and a U.S. credit card. Contact your government consulate for exact documents necessary for travel.

Are there any current COVID protocols or health restrictions in place for my vacation destination? Do I need to be vaccinated? 

Health protocols, testing and vaccination requirements for destination, hotels and cruises are continually changing, and current information is readily available at the websites for all cruise and travel suppliers. I make it a practice to furnish my clients with links to the most up-to-date information possible before traveling. However, the responsibility ultimately falls upon the traveler to know what restrictions are in place and what preparations should be made.

What is your trip cancellation and change policy?

I do not charge any other fees for cancellations or changes over and above any trip planning fee I charge for your particular vacation. However, the travel suppliers have their own cancellation and change fees listed within their terms and conditions, and this information will be provided to you with your vacation quote.

Why should I use a travel agent instead of booking my own trip?

There are lots of reasons to use a travel agent. If your trip is complex, we do all the research in finding the perfect trip tailored to your needs. If it's your first cruise, you might be confused by all the different options - big ship, small ship, active ship, quiet ship - and the various destinations and ports of call. How do you choose? That's where I come in. I have extensive cruise experience and know what to look for in choosing a cruise. Most importantly, if problems arise in your trip, I'm here to problem-solve. Finally, you have my expertise, undivided attention and attention to detail to assure that your vacation will be one to remember.

My trip is booked. When will I receive my travel documents? 

We are in a digital age, and with that comes electronic documents. To save a tree, I prefer to save documents to PDFs and email them to my travelers, which they can in-turn save them to their device or print, whichever they prefer. For those who like paper documents, I can provide these in person or by USPS priority mail.

What are your business hours and do you reply promptly to phone calls and emails? 

I work from my home office Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, and weekends 9:00-1:00. I am also remain on call whenever my travelers need help. My mobile devices follow me everywhere, and I am always available to provide immediate assistance when needed, whether by phone, text or email.

Can we meet in person to discuss my travel plans?

My clients reside far and wide all around the country, so it's not always possible to meet in person. However, I am always available to video or voice chat. For my clients that live within driving distance, I welcome meet-ups in person at your favorite coffee shop or other public place.

What is the best way to contact you if I need assistance with a new or existing trip? 

My preferred method of communication is email or text so that all our correspondence is clearly documented. Of course, I welcome phone calls, and if I am not immediately available, your call will be returned promptly.

I made a cruise booking directly with the cruise line. Can I transfer the booking to you for handling, and what's the benefit for me? 

Absolutely - I encourage it! You will receive $25 - $100 onboard credit, depending on the length and cost of the cruise, and receive the benefit of my knowledge and expertise. You can also depend on prompt answers to all your questions and assistance when you need it! Note: reservation must be transferred within 30 days of booking, and before final payment.

I am ready to start planning a vacation. Where do we begin?

In order to begin researching your options and place a hold on accommodations, I require the following:

• a completed Vacation Request or, if you're looking to cruise, a completed Cruise Request.
• a copy of your valid passports or I.D.

Once I have these items, I will provide up to 3 quotes for your trip, and when you have decided on an option, a final quote with trip, payment and deposit details will be emailed to you for your review. If the quote meets with your satisfaction, the required deposit will be made at that time.