Cruise Counsellor, Cruise Holidays PLUS

I jumped into my travel career relatively late, having dedicated my life previously to the roles of parent supervisor on school trips, parent driver to school sporting events, and other joyful duties of a stay-at-home Mom to two boys. I was raised in Sault Ste Marie and my father loved to travel, believing strongly in the life enrichment it offered. His family was scattered throughout England and we often travelled there via ocean liner but it was a honeymoon voyage on Carnival Mardi Gras that clinched my love affair with cruising. It took awhile to return to the sea but – as Jacques Cousteau said – “The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever”. The sea draws me to it – be it from a cruise ship balcony, a seashell dotted sandy beach, or from a rocky cliff on a wave-pummelled jagged coast. And if I can capture the perfect photograph at the same time, all the better!

In what feels like a blink of an eye, I am entering my 17th year with Cruise Holidays Plus! I remain passionately and tirelessly dedicated to the “craft of cruising” – constantly attending webinars, training seminars, travel trade conferences, and most importantly, travelling and experiencing. I am enrolled in numerous cruise line and destination specialist accreditation programs, and have earned both Master Cruise Counsellor and Luxury Cruise Specialist accreditation through CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association). I want to put all of it to the best possible use:  matching the priorities, personalities and preferences of my clients to the destination, cruise line, ship & stateroom, and shoreside activities that best fits them.

I have a reputation for being overly thorough. I admit, I agonize over the smallest details, and on one cruise I escorted, I was referred to as a mother hen, but my clients will never doubt that I care about them and their travel experiences!

My goal is to travel on as many different cruise lines as I can. I would say I’m making good progress, as I’ve taken over 30 voyages on 18 different cruise lines but the list keeps growing! I’ve cruised in the Caribbean 15+ times but it felt new every time because of the ships, ranging from the largest (at that time) Allure of the Seas to the newest (at that time) Celebrity Edge, to the small and luxurious Silver Cloud (now an expedition ship), to my most recent (just before the world shut down) 5-masted tall ship Royal Clipper.  In the same way that I can’t decide on a favourite cruise line – and believe me, I’ve been asked plenty of times – I can’t decide on my favourite destination, but Norway, South America/Antarctica, and Hawaii are all right up there at the top of the list.  Other destinations I’ve explored by cruise ship are the Mediterranean, Alaska, Bermuda, and Canada/New England.

I also love river cruising. My first was as a teenager, and I know I didn’t appreciate it the way I should have, but I made up for it cruising through France and on an authentic paddlewheeler in the upper Midwest of the USA. 

As a member of the Travel Leaders Network of agents, I am honoured to have the opportunity to be a host on select cruises across a number of cruise lines that participate in the Distinctive Voyages program. I recently hosted an Alaska cruise on Holland America, and a France-intensive cruise on Azamara, with a Greece-intensive cruise on my horizon in May 2023. 

I should add that I’ve taken advantage of cruise travel opportunities to push my boundaries a little. Among the improbable experiences I’ve joyfully conquered while travelling are ziplining, white-water rafting, Jet Skiing, crewing an America’s Cup yacht and snorkelling (I’m afraid of fish!). You won’t, however, see “swam with sharks” on any updated versions of this list!The valuable insights I’ve gained through education and experience – coupled with my attention to detail – enable me to create life-enriching (and anxiety-free) vacations for my clients.

Where does your sense of adventure take you? What boundary-pushing experiences are on your bucket list? Where is the sea calling you to explore? I am ready to help when you are ready to travel. Please refer to my Secondary Bio regarding the Distinctive Voyages sailings I'll be hosting, and contact me for more information about other hosted sailings through this complimentary program. 

Vivian Warren

Distinctive Voyages sailings

Royal Clipper in St Lucia, March 2020

As a Distinctive Voyages host I was pleased to represent Travel Leaders Network agencies on board Holland America's Eurodam sailing a 7-night Alaska cruise July 9, 2022 roundtrip Seattle. I hosted on Azamara Onward sailing an 8-night France intensive itinerary September 8, 2022 and a 10-night Greece intensive in May 2023. I am excited to have been selected to host on Oceania Vista for 10 days between Valletta and Venice, as well as in the Adriatic in April Windstar "Windsurf" for 8 days in September 2024, and for 7 days on Seabourn Pursuit in November 2024 between Lisbon and Barcelona! These ships are small enough to visit unique ports but also popular cruise ports. The features of a Distinctive Voyage are at no extra cost to you so enjoy!