After being a franchise owner of McDonald’s with one of the highest volume restaurants in NYC and ranked one of the top 20 locations in the nation, I decided to stop selling Happy Meals and transition to another franchise business in an industry I was passionate about. I fell in love with cruising in 2000 and decided to follow my passion in becoming a cruise specialist. I joined CruiseOne in 2001 and rebranded as Dream Vacations in 2016. For the past eight years, my agency has ranked
We decided to make the change from CruiseOne to Dream Vacations because over the prior six years as a franchise, our clients thought we only sold cruises. With the name change to Dream Vacations, we will now be recognized as a go to team for all types of vacations not just cruises. The name change will help us propel our business to the next level and we are up for the challenge.
I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to pursue my passions for art and travel. Previously, I owned an art advisory business in NYC. When Kevin and I relocated to Philadelphia, it dawned on me that my other great passion, travel, could offer a sustainable career that would provide me with the same opportunity to help people fulfill their dreams. Right off the bat, CruiseOne was a natural choice, since my family booked all of our vacations – by cruise and land – through
I’ve been selling travel under the CruiseOne name for more than 12 years. This was great at first, when all I sold was cruises. But as our portfolio grew to include all things related to vacations, the name just didn’t work. My clients just never remembered that I was a Vacation Specialist and not just a Cruise Specialist. I was thrilled to be able to rebrand to Dream Vacations. And as it turns out, the publicity surrounding the rebranding has generated a lot of interest from new
As the current top producing franchise for Dream Vacations / CruiseOne we have repeatedly been in situations that have required support and guidance from the Headquarters staff. Every request and opportunity has been met with a consultative and partnership approach to finding a workable solution that is fair to all involved. We couldn’t be any happier with the support we get from the home office and the value that they provide to us in the field. The recent addition of the Dream Vacations brand to the marketing
“As a veteran, the military offered opportunities that many people only dream of. It allowed me to travel to places I’d only seen through pictures in a book, and to learn the value of working together as a respectful team. That team became my family, because we depended on each other to make it through whatever came our way – together. Those same qualities are what make a good business partnership great: camaraderie, respect, support, honesty, a defined plan of action, impactful learning exchanges and something that
Whether working as a funeral director or a vacation specialist, I love to hear people’s stories and help them find solutions. In both fields I find that people don’t understand or are overwhelmed by all of the options they face. I help narrow down the options to the most appropriate for their needs. I get to help create life-long memories that will shape a family’s own story. And, as a vacation specialist I look forward to repeat clients! Dream Vacations gives me the systems and support so
I was looking for an opportunity to own my own business. I had previously worked in sales and customer service for the semiconductor industry, but took 14 years away from my career to be a full time Mom. With my kids growing up and nearing college, I wanted to return to the workforce. Owning my own business intrigued me – I liked the idea of setting my own schedule, working from home, and being responsible for my own success. I decided to look into CruiseOne after I had
I was working the tough streets of Orlando as a Deputy Sheriff. I worked 12-13 hour shifts, eight days a week. I became interested in cruising and after taking my first cruise I was hooked. I began to organize group cruises for friends and family through a travel agent. One day I said I am doing all the work – Why don’t I start my own travel company? I started part time while still working as a Law Enforcement Officer and eventually realized the commitment was too
I never thought I would be a Vacation Specialist helping people achieve their personal travel bucket list. I only remember two vacations from my childhood. Probably because I was raised by a single parent and became one myself in my mid-20s. Vacations were not an option then. It seems I have been fortunate to make up miles lost some 40 years later with now over 40 countries visited. I have always had a passion for geography, cultures, far way places, and of course serving people. I was
