Waterford Jack provides spins fun and informative tales of Ireland’s past. Expedia travel consultants know how to hook you up with characters like Jack who can steer you away from tourist traps to off-the-beaten track pubs where the locals gather.

You’ve got places to go and things to see. A family roots trip to Ireland? Perhaps a South Seas sojourn to Tahiti, religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land or ascent to mysterious Machu Picchu.

Whatever your dream destinations, you have access and choices like never before. Problem is, you just don’t know about all your choices. That’s where Expedia travel consultants come in. They match your desires with just the right itinerary at pricing that will enable you to expand your bucket list.

How of they do it? By expertly navigating the massive inventory of the world’s largest travel company with your unique desires as a compass. And this concierge service is absolutely free. Actually better than free because Expedia’s buying power and relationships deliver the very lowest prices plus Expedia Extras, amenities such as shipboard credit on cruises and resort credit at hotels. In the past year, these extras alone have added up to more than $150,000 for customers of Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ Orange County office.

So what kind of expertise are we talking about? Expedia consultants are passionate travelers who have explored earth extensively. But nobody has been everywhere, so they also tap into the experience of more than 4,000 colleagues across North America and dozens of travel partners. You can spend hundreds of dollars for guide books and spend countless hours searching the Internet and not find preferred pricing, special access, expert guides and hidden gems they deliver.

Igal Zeevi brings 4,000 years of Israel’s history to life with his passionate and humorous story telling. Expedia travel consultants connect you with guides like Igal, who deliver the richest, most immersive experiences.

For example, on most 2106 Princess cruises, Expedia consultants will add prepaid gratuities and $150 shipboard credit to whatever other benefits Princess is offering new customers and past guests (through June 13, 2015). That’s hundreds of dollars in savings not available on the internet or by booking directly with Princess. Plus, they will make your entire vacation seamless with flight-hotel packages, transfers, travel insurance and whatever else you need.

(800) 745-4015 for information.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ Orange County  office was recognized as the top third-year location at the company’s annual conference in November.  The Laguna Hills center, the only one in Southern California, also was inducted into the company’s Presidents Circle of top-performing franchises.

Travel consultant Jane Shobe, of Laguna Hills, reached Diamond-level recognition in the company’s Navigators Club of top-performing consultants.

Susan and Chris Meyer sailed out of New York City on the Norwegian Breakaway for Expedia CruiseShipCenters’ annual conference.

The awards are based on travel booking thresholds for the 188 locations and 4,000 travel consultants across the U.S. and Canada. The Laguna Hills store has more than $3.3 million in bookings for 2014 — $1.1 million of that by Shobe.

1. Know the purpose of your trip.  Is it a multi-generational family reunion or a romantic getaway? The answer will inform where you go and which cruise lines you consider.

2. Know your destination. Cruising is a cost-effective, convenient and fun way to visit multiple destinations.  In some cases, mega-ships are one of the destinations themselves. In others, much smaller ships are floating boutique hotels that take you to ports less traveled where you experience a higher degree of cultural immersion.

3. Know how you like to travel. Whether you’re frugal, indulgent or any point in between, there’s a cruise to satisfy.

4. Know your budget.  Cruises are complex purchases that involve reaching the destination point, choosing a cabin and planning how to explore the ports visited. Knowing what you want to spend helps to clarify the choices.

5. Know the economics. We often are asked if booking early or late generates the best deals.  The answer is: It depends on supply and demand, which can be predictable or fickle.  Strong demand drives prices higher over time and leads to sold out sailings, benefiting early bookers. Weak demand can lead to price cuts or discounts on ancillary expenses such as airfare. When that happens, early bookers can typically get their fares reduced in accordance.

Chris Meyer was interviewed on Laguna Woods TV today to explain ExpediaCruiseShipCenters and how we can help people see more of the world with its:

– Call, click or come in model

– Unbeatable prices

– Extensive selection

– Professional service

Take a look at the video.