Cruise Specialists' Luxury Cruise Agents

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Our Experts

Our cruise consultants have decades of experience on cruise lines that suit the most discerning travelers.

From all-inclusive, ultra-luxury ships, to tall-masted sailing yachts, or family-friendly cruise ships laden with the most enticing activities, we can help you find the cruise that is right for you. Our experience in finding unique shore excursions, land tours and group and incentive travel makes Cruise Specialists the perfect choice for nearly any type of leisure travel.

You can find information about our leadership team in the Our Leadership Team section.

Cruise Specialists took care of absolutely everything, and we really enjoyed the other people in our circle. It was the perfect mix of adventure, learning and socializing.

- Alex Johnson (California)

Sheila Balsimo

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT SHEILA

ABOUT SHEILA

Sheila has proudly spent most of her career in the travel industry specializing in cruising – and credits one of her junior high teachers for ...Read more

YEARS

Sheila has proudly spent most of her career in the travel industry specializing in cruising – and credits one of her junior high teachers for ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Active Traveler Cruises
Culinary Cruises
Family-Friendly Cruises
Group/Club Cruises
Luxury Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Caribbean
Europe
Hawaii
Mediterranean

Diane Ritchey

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT DIANE

ABOUT DIANE

With decades of experience in the travel industry, Diane has had a chance to explore its many diverse aspects including adventure travel, leisure and executive ...Read more

YEARS

With decades of experience in the travel industry, Diane has had a chance to explore its many diverse aspects including adventure travel, leisure and executive ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Expedition Cruises
Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
Luxury Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Antarctica
Caribbean
Galápagos Islands
Mediterranean
South Pacific
World Cruises

Bridgett Quinn Webber

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT BRIDGETT

ABOUT BRIDGETT

Bridgett’s travel industry career includes five years working onboard Holland America Line ships as Cruise Staff and Guest Relations Supervisor. She was fortunate enough ...Read more

YEARS

Bridgett’s travel industry career includes five years working onboard Holland America Line ships as Cruise Staff and Guest Relations Supervisor. She was fortunate enough ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Caribbean
Europe
River Cruises
World Cruises

Gayle Takashima

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT GAYLE

ABOUT GAYLE

Gayle continues to expand her knowledge of products and destinations, including World Cruises and Grand Voyages. Sailing as a Voyage Host for Virtuoso Voyages, she ...Read more

YEARS

Gayle continues to expand her knowledge of products and destinations, including World Cruises and Grand Voyages. Sailing as a Voyage Host for Virtuoso Voyages, she ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Back-to-Back Cruises
Expedition Cruises
Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Luxury Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

African Safaris
China
Europe
South Pacific
World Cruises

Gillian Clark, CTC

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT GILLIAN

ABOUT GILLIAN

Gillian’s passion for travel has brought her to all seven continents, and she uses those vast and varied travel experiences to ensure her discerning clients ...Read more

YEARS

Gillian’s passion for travel has brought her to all seven continents, and she uses those vast and varied travel experiences to ensure her discerning clients ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Charters & Incentives
Culinary Cruises
Expedition Cruises
Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
Luxury Cruising & Luxury Tours
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Antarctica
Caribbean
Eastern Canada
Europe
French Polynesia
River Cruises
South America
World Cruises

Matt Caplinger

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT MATT

ABOUT MATT

With a love for both land and sea, Matt’s travel industry career has taken him off the beaten path to more than 75 countries and ...Read more

YEARS

With a love for both land and sea, Matt’s travel industry career has taken him off the beaten path to more than 75 countries and ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

World Cruises
Active Traveler Cruises
Grand Voyages
Luxury Cruises

Destination Expertise:

World Cruises
Alaska
Asia
Europe
River Cruises

Dan Twomey

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT DAN

ABOUT DAN

Dan credits his love of travel to his father, an Irishman, who instilled in him the culture of his native country. Since then he has ...Read more

YEARS

Dan credits his love of travel to his father, an Irishman, who instilled in him the culture of his native country. Since then he has ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Family Reunion Cruises
Family-Friendly Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
Luxury Cruises
Wine Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

England
Ireland
Italy
Mexico
Spain
Tahiti
World Cruises

Teresa Skeim

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT TERESA

ABOUT TERESA

Teresa’s mission statement is “Move life forward – live life now, don’t wait!” With that guiding principle in mind, she works tirelessly to help clients ...Read more

YEARS

Teresa’s mission statement is “Move life forward – live life now, don’t wait!” With that guiding principle in mind, she works tirelessly to help clients ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
Incentives
Luxury Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Australia/New Zealand
Caribbean
European Rivers
Grand Voyages
World Cruises

Sharon Whiting

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT SHARON

ABOUT SHARON

After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in linguistics, Sharon Whiting began her travel career with a very challenging assignment ...Read more

YEARS

After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in linguistics, Sharon Whiting began her travel career with a very challenging assignment ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Expedition Cruises
Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Luxury Cruises
Solo Traveler Cruising
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Caribbean
Europe
Hawaii
World Cruises

Nora Wisk

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT NORA

ABOUT NORA

Nora has been in the service and travel industry for 20-plus years and has always strived for the best value and experience for every one ...Read more

YEARS

Nora has been in the service and travel industry for 20-plus years and has always strived for the best value and experience for every one ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Family Reunion Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
River Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Asia
Caribbean
Europe
Hawaii
South Pacific

Joe Lucero

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT JOE

ABOUT JOE

Joe Lucero maintains a thorough knowledge of the cruise industry and makes certain that his clients benefit from that knowledge. He has cruised on many ...Read more

YEARS

Joe Lucero maintains a thorough knowledge of the cruise industry and makes certain that his clients benefit from that knowledge. He has cruised on many ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Expedition Cruises
Family-Friendly Cruises
Grand Voyages
Group/Club Cruises
Luxury Cruises
Solo Traveler Cruising
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Asia
Caribbean
Europe
Mexico
South Pacific
World Cruises

Carol Terhune

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT CAROL

ABOUT CAROL

During Carol’s decades in the travel business, she has traveled to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, China and her favorite destination of all, Tahiti. ...Read more

YEARS

During Carol’s decades in the travel business, she has traveled to Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, China and her favorite destination of all, Tahiti. ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Family Reunion Cruises
Group/Club Cruises
Luxury Cruises
Solo Traveler Cruising
Wine Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Caribbean
Europe
Hawaii
Tahiti
World Cruises

LynnDee King

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT LYNNDEE

ABOUT LYNNDEE

LynnDee King combines her customer service skills and years of experience in travel planning when creating the perfect vacation for her clients. She has cruised ...Read more

YEARS

LynnDee King combines her customer service skills and years of experience in travel planning when creating the perfect vacation for her clients. She has cruised ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Expedition Cruises
Family Reunion Cruises
Family-Friendly Cruises
Grand Voyages
Luxury Cruises
Solo Traveler Cruising
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Alaska
Mediterranean
Mexico
Northern Europe
South Pacific
World Cruises

Cliff Bainum

Cruise Consultant

CONTACT CLIFF

ABOUT CLIFF

Cliff’s passion for travel was ignited as a graduate of the International Aviation & Travel Academy in Arlington, Texas. For the past three decades, he ...Read more

YEARS

Cliff’s passion for travel was ignited as a graduate of the International Aviation & Travel Academy in Arlington, Texas. For the past three decades, he ...Read more

YEARS

Cruise Specialties:

Culinary Cruises
Family-Friendly Cruises
Grand Voyages
Luxury Cruising & Luxury Tours
Solo Traveler Cruising
Wine Cruises
World Cruises

Destination Expertise:

Asia
Australia/New Zealand
Caribbean
Europe
Hawaii
Mexico
South America