Working Together
This page covers the practical side of working with us: who we're built for, what we need from you, how much lead time it takes, and how we handle changes and communication. For the step-by-step of how a trip gets built, see Our Process.
Who We Work With
Our clients are groups who want more than just a cruise or a packaged tour, but don't want to coordinate everything themselves. A typical trip pairs a 7- to 11-day cruise with a week or two on land. The land portion might be before or after the cruise, in the same city as the port, or somewhere else entirely. We design all land extensions with the same level of care.
Multi-generational and multi-family groups with varying travel experience are our norm, not our exception. We're used to planning trips that need to work for a range of ages, interests, and comfort levels.
Not every group needs that level of planning. If a straightforward cruise or an escorted tour is the better fit for your group, we'll tell you so on the first call. We're happy to book that for you, and since there's no custom itinerary involved, there's no planning fee either.
What We Need From You
The planning process only works if we understand your group well: who's traveling, how everyone is connected, what matters most, what the budget is, and what's been tried before (and what didn't work). The more candid you are early on, the better the outcome.
We use sample itineraries as conversation starters, not blueprints. Every trip we plan is built specifically for the group in front of us.
Lead Time
Group travel at this scale requires more runway than most people anticipate. The best cabin categories, group amenities, and pricing tiers go early. Private accommodations on land that can comfortably house a group of this size also need to be secured well in advance.
Twelve to eighteen months out is ideal. We can work with less, but we'll always be upfront about what's realistically available given the timeline.
Decisions and Revisions
Getting a group aligned takes time, and we plan for that. We'll lay out options clearly and flag anything time-sensitive, but we don't pressure decisions. In return, we ask for the same.
Revisions before booking are part of the process, and there's no charge for them. Once we've started confirming arrangements such as cabins, accommodations, guides, and transfers, changes become more complicated. Group bookings in particular involve supplier deadlines, held inventory, and coordination across multiple vendors. Because of this, changes requested post-booking will be billed at $100 per hour. We will always discuss what a change entails before proceeding.
When Things Don't Go as Planned
Travel has many moving parts, and we're not infallible. When something within our control doesn't go as planned, we address it directly and do what's needed to make it right.
Communication
Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern Time. We reply within one to two business days. We're happy to schedule calls when that's more efficient than email.
We work exclusively with vendors vetted through our host agency, many of whom we've worked with directly. You'll travel with their contact information in hand, so you have a direct line to the people on the ground.
Have a question we haven't covered here? Our FAQ page has answers to the ones we hear most. Or you can submit a question at Contact Us
Getting Started
If this sounds like how you want to work, we're ready to hear about your trip.
No pitch, no quote. We will ask about your group, talk through budget honestly, and both decide whether this is a fit.
Planning a family trip to Europe? Timing matters more than you think.
Family cabins and connecting hotel rooms in cities like Rome and Paris get booked up faster than most people expect. This guide breaks down exactly what to lock in at 18, 12, and 6 months out, so you're choosing from the good options instead of whatever's left.
You'll also get an occasional note from us about planning group trips to Europe. Unsubscribe whenever you like.