Bespoke Cruise Holidays - Independent Cruise Specialist

Bespoke Cruise Holidays - Independent Cruise Specialist Independent luxury cruise specialist. Discover authentic & immersive mid-size & small ship cruising and river cruise. Hi everyone, I'm Lorraine.

Working with people who value time, quality & experience. I have over 30 years travel agency experience, working for independent, and large chain agencies like Lunn Poly & Thomas Cook. In 2007, my family and I moved to Nova Scotia Canada, Canada, where I started work in an agency which only sold cruises, and I was sold. From here on, I was a luxury cruise specialist. Returning to England in 2013,

I picked up my position with Cruise Holidays UK, with whom I am still a franchisee with today. Breaking away from their US counterparts, Cruise Holidays are now known as Cruise & Travel Holidays, still specialisng in cruise, but also welcoming land travellers. I offer land as part of an add-on to your cruise holiday, including; scenic railway journeys, safari holidays, and luxury spa resorts. I am happily married for over 20 years, with 2 adult kids and 1 grandchild, living & working from my home in Wokingham, Berkshire. Having been on over 30 ships from mega to small river cruises and loved them all. My travel has matured somewhat over the last few years, preferring smaller luxury ships and the river cruises, due to their ability to dock in exclusive ports that the larger ships cannot reach. Plus fine-dining, all-inclusiveness, and amazing service as standard. Cruising - as it is meant to be, is what I believe in, and what I promote to my clients.

Two river cruise ships - SS.Victoria, and LiberteTwo different companies - Uniworld, and EmeraldWhat's the difference?W...
19/01/2026

Two river cruise ships - SS.Victoria, and Liberte

Two different companies - Uniworld, and Emerald

What's the difference?

Would you know?

This is why, if you value experience, then work with me - I have over 30 years travel agency experience, including 18 years selling only cruises.

How do I choose the cruise lines I work closely with?I use to promote and book all cruise lines, but now, I only work wi...
19/01/2026

How do I choose the cruise lines I work closely with?

I use to promote and book all cruise lines, but now, I only work with, and specialise in, a few.
This enables me to focus on my clients who are looking for genuine holiday experiences.

How do I determine the cruise lines?

1) Their ships accommodate up to 1,400 passengers, allowing plenty of room for Oceania's new ship; Oceania Sonata.

2) Authentic & fine-dining restaurant choices

3) High staff-to-guest ratio, allowing for outstanding service

4) Classy & fun immersive entertainment

5) Destination immersion with quality shore excursions and exclusive & unique tours in tourist hotspots

6) Unique itineraries, creating authentic voyages, each one different to the last.

7) They featurte longer days & some overnight stays in exclusive, as well as iconic ports

8) I have either been on their ships - through cruise line hosted inspections or personal holidays, or have completed extensive cruise line training - I know these ships inside and out.

I have been on over 30 ships, but these are the cruise lines I personally choose to specialise in:

Ocean:

Azamara
Oceania
Regent Seven Seas
Explora Journeys
Crystal
Scenic
Emerald
Windstar
Star Clippers
Riviera

River:

Uniworld
Scenic
AMA Waterways
Emerald
Avalon Waterways
Riviera

Follow me each day, as I will choose a cruise line to tell you all about - starting tomorrow.

Here's a little something special for a Friday afternoon - And it's almost sold out - Only French balconies & royal suit...
16/01/2026

Here's a little something special for a Friday afternoon - And it's almost sold out - Only French balconies & royal suite remaining!

Ultra-luxury river cruise & railway journey visiting 9 countries!

Look at all of this:
Bucharest to Venice
One date: 24th April 2026
2 night pre-cruise hotel in Bucharest
8 day cruise from Bucharest to Budapest
7 day train from Vienna to Venice
1 night post-cruise hotel in Venice

All included:
Return UK flights
All overseas transfers
14 days of excursions including exclusive events
All meals onboard cruise & train
Unlimited premium beverages
Cultural entertainment
All-suite accommodation
Gratuities
Wi-Fi

Prices from £22,000 per person.

WOW!
Contact me to find out more & to book this incredible journey.

Look at this little package idea - Talk about bucket list!Vancouver & Alaska2 nights in a 4-star hotel in Vancover pre-c...
16/01/2026

Look at this little package idea - Talk about bucket list!

Vancouver & Alaska
2 nights in a 4-star hotel in Vancover pre-cruise
The Vancouver skywalk - Capilano suspension bridge & city lookout tour
9 day Azamara cruise

Cruise itinerary:
Vancouver
Klawock
Sitka
Icy Strait Point
Ketchikan
Victoria
Vancouver

Cruise includes:
All meals onboard - stunning food in every restaurant
Beer, wine & spirits
Premium soft drinks - Fruit juices, bottled water, smoothies, specialty tea/coffee
Signature cultural events onboard & ashore
Gratuities
PLUS - $100 onboard credit!

Prices with return UK flights, overseas transfers, and a veranda stateroom from just £6398.00 per person!

Contact me to talk about this, or let's tailor-make what you want!

Why I love small-ship cruisingDay 4 - Number 4:More included = Better valueI send you a quote for one of the cruise line...
16/01/2026

Why I love small-ship cruising

Day 4 - Number 4:

More included = Better value

I send you a quote for one of the cruise lines I work with...your response may be - "EEK"😬

But let's look at this.

The ships are smaller & more exclusive, giving access to non-touristy ports, uncrowded decks, and better service.

Unlike the large cruise lines, the staff are paid a salary. They are treated more like family. And in turn - so are you.

Let's go there - My husband is half-Scottish (If you don't get it, the Scots can be erm...miserly with their money). He likes to know what he's getting, what he's paying for, and would rather pay all that in advance, than have a heart-attack when being given a massive bill at the end.

Select wine, beer, spirits & cocktails - Included with some
Bottled water, smoothies, fruit juices - Included with some
Specialty teas/coffees - Included
Gratuities - Included
Authentic fine dining & open-seating - Included
Relaxed & informal atmosphere - Included
Shore excursions - Included with ultra-luxury & river cruises
Premium alcohol - Included with ultra-luxury & river cruises

So, to round-up, you will be paying for all of this anyway, but you are paying in advance for better quality.

Total up the final bill you pay on the larger ships, then see the difference for yourself on a smaller ship.

LIMITED availability!Danube river cruise with Budapest extentionMunich to Budapest1st April 202610 day cruise including ...
15/01/2026

LIMITED availability!

Danube river cruise with Budapest extention
Munich to Budapest
1st April 2026
10 day cruise including 4 days in beautiful Budapest

Includes:
Return UK flights
All locally sourced meals onboard
FREE drinks package OR €300 onboard credit per couple
Choice of guided tours in every port
Gratuities

Prices from just £2895 per person for a balcony stateroom!

Contact me to book.

Check the link to the sailing on my website ⬇️

Why I love small-ship cruisingDay 3 - Number 3:Authentic & fine-diningThere is nothing worse than waking up on your ship...
15/01/2026

Why I love small-ship cruising

Day 3 - Number 3:

Authentic & fine-dining

There is nothing worse than waking up on your ship, heading to the buffet, and - the eggs are under cooked, the bread is stale, and the food is not great as a whole. Ugh. You find you have to eat in the main dining room every day, just to get a decent meal.

Instead, wake up on your cruise, head to the buffet, and be met with a vast array of freshly cooked food, fruit, cereals, bread, and more.
My husbands a veggie. he likes a fry up, but there were no veggie sausages. He asked, they cooked, and brought them to him. Each day after that, there were veggie sausages. This was on Azamara - an independent cruise line.

Not only breakfast, you'll find that each day brings a new theme - Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Indian, etc. And it's all really good food!

Every restaurant is amazing.
And that's before you head into the fine-dining specialty restaurants, which are just above and beyond.

Obviously, if you cruise on the smallest of ships, you may not have a choice of restaurants, but you will have authenticity. Farm-to-table/sea-to-table/market-to-table food will be served to you at every meal time. This includes the river cruises, where the food is always phenominal & fresly cooked - served with free-flowing local wines.

Check out the link to my website in the comments below to see which cruise lines I work with, and discover your next cruise ⬇️

Start packing!Across Oceans & Cultures: New Zealand to Asia27th March 2026‼️FREE upgrade from Inside to Concierge Verand...
14/01/2026

Start packing!

Across Oceans & Cultures: New Zealand to Asia
27th March 2026

‼️FREE upgrade from Inside to Concierge Veranda cabin

Look what's included:
Return UK flights
2 nights in a 5 star hotel in Auckland
21 nights cruise onboard Oceania
2 nights in a 5 star hotel in Singapore
All private overseas transfers

Cruise itinerary: Auckland - Bay of Islands - Sydney (overnight) - Townsville - Cairns - Darwin (overnight) - Komodo - Bali (Benoa, overnight) - Singapore (overnight)

Based on 2 adults sharing
Price from just £4,899pp

Contact me now to book this cruise!

Check the comments for a link to the cruise ⬇️

Why I love small-ship cruising.Day 2 - Number 2:Prime docking locations.As well as iconic ports of call, a smaller ship ...
14/01/2026

Why I love small-ship cruising.

Day 2 - Number 2:

Prime docking locations.

As well as iconic ports of call, a smaller ship can dock at those exclusive ports the larger ships just cannot reach.
Imagine being the only ship, or just one of a couple of small ships, docked at Monaco, Santa Margherita, or in Kotor Bay, or through the Panama Canal.

Also, larger ships often cannot dock, which means queuing, and waiting for tenders to get you from the ship to land & return.
The smaller ships often have prime docking location - just step off the ship, and walk. You have the whole day to explore.

Head away from the crowds - Cruise the smaller islands of the Caribbean, the Greek islands, and the Med - discover authentic living, little gift shops, local food & culture.

Check out the select cruise lines I work with on my website. The link is in the comments ⬇️

Our Oceania ship is docked in the harbour with the yachts in Monaco!

Why I love small-ship cruisingDay 1 - Number 1:No crowds!When I go on a cruise, I do not want to be travelling with 3,00...
13/01/2026

Why I love small-ship cruising

Day 1 - Number 1:

No crowds!

When I go on a cruise, I do not want to be travelling with 3,000 or 7,000 other people. That would be like travelling with everyone in my small town.

I like to have a deck chair with a towel by the pool

I don't like to queue on & off the ship

I don't want swarms of kids running around me. I'm OK with kids, I have 2 grown-ups & a grandchild, but there is a holiday - and then there is a holiday with kids

I go on holiday to relax & chill out

I don't want to tender at almost every port because the ship is too big to dock

If you want to explore the cruise lines I work with - selected by me as cruise lines I trust, have been on, and have sold - then check out my website. The link is in the comments ⬇️

Address

Wokingham

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441183177070

Website

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