Cruise Specialists
Cruise Specialists is a Seattle-based, privately held luxury cruise travel agency founded in 1987 that books world cruises, grand voyages, expedition cruises, river cruises and destination cruises through 40+ partner cruise lines for affluent individual and group travelers, earning commissions on bookings, and operates as a subsidiary of Internova Travel Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cruise Specialists does
Cruise Specialists is a privately held, Seattle-headquartered luxury cruise travel agency founded in 1987 and operating as a subsidiary of Internova Travel Group. The firm functions as an intermediary between affluent travelers and a curated roster of 40+ cruise lines spanning Premium, Upper Premium, Luxury, River and Expedition tiers (e.g., Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Seabourn, Viking, Crystal, Orient Express, Aman at Sea, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Explora Journeys, AmaWaterways, HX Expeditions). Its core services are World Cruises and Grand Voyages (multi-month itineraries priced from roughly $14,000 to $99,999+ per cabin), complemented by destination-specific offerings for Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, Scandinavia, Canada/New England, and Mexico, plus River and Expedition cruises.
The company differentiates through hosted-cruise group programs with dedicated voyage hosts, exclusive shore tours, shipboard credits and group pricing, and through Virtuoso membership, CLIA certification and BBB accreditation. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via a phone sales line (800) 544-2469) staffed by cruise consultants, a website with cruise-search and destination pages, weekly email marketing, and earned-media relationships with Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Wall Street Journal and Forbes. There is no proprietary technology platform; the technology stack is a standard content/booking website.
The business model is commission-based: Cruise Specialists earns transaction fees on bookings made through partner cruise lines, with pricing set by the underlying supplier (per-cabin pricing tied to cruise length, ship and destination). The customer base is concentrated in affluent individuals and groups seeking complex, high-value itineraries, with markets served including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. Headcount is in the 11–50 range, and the founder, Janet Lanterman, is identified in the leadership data.
Cruise Specialists firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cruise Specialists
- Legal name
- Cruise Specialists
- Website
- https://cruisespecialists.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cruise Specialists is a Seattle-based, privately held luxury cruise travel agency founded in 1987 that books world cruises, grand voyages, expedition cruises, river cruises and destination cruises through 40+ partner cruise lines for affluent individual and group travelers, earning commissions on bookings, and operates as a subsidiary of Internova Travel Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cruise Specialists industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Cruise Travel Agency
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury & Expedition Cruise Specialists (THAKAKAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cruise Travel Agencies & Specialist Cruise Consultants (THAEAFAB), River Cruise Specialists (THAKAKAF), Ocean Cruise Specialists (Mainstream/Contemporary) (THAKAKAG), Luxury Expedition Cruise Specialists (Sales & Distribution) (THAEABAJ), Cruise Shore Excursion Operators & Port Services (Agency-led) (THAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Cruise Specialists is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cruise Specialists business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Travel Agency/Booking Commission: Cruise Specialists acts as an intermediary between cruise lines and travelers, earning commissions on bookings. They provide cruise consultation, booking services, and added-value services such as hosted cruises with dedicated hosts, exclusive shore tours, and group pricing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | World Cruises - Starting from $14,087 to $99,999+ |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Grand Voyages - Extended regional exploration |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | River Cruises - Starting from $4,030 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Expedition Cruises - Varies by destination and ship |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Hosted Cruises - From $4,319 to $29,999 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Alaska Cruises - Starting from $698 to $10,300 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Caribbean Cruises - Starting from $209 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Canada/New England Cruises - Starting from $989 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Europe/Mediterranean Cruises - Starting from $573 |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Scandinavia/Northern Europe - Starting from $2,295 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cruise Specialists product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cruise Specialists is a Seattle-based luxury cruise travel agency that acts as an intermediary between cruise lines and travelers. The company books world cruises, grand voyages, expedition cruises, river cruises, hosted cruises, and destination-specific cruises (Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, Scandinavia) on behalf of clients, earning commissions from cruise line partners. Service includes personalized consultation with cruise experts, single-point booking for complex multi-destination voyages, and value-added hosted group cruises with dedicated voyage hosts and exclusive shore tours.
Product overview
Cruise Specialists is a luxury cruise travel agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of cruise booking services. The core offering centers on world cruises and grand voyages, complemented by destination-specific cruise services including river cruises, expedition cruises, and regional routes (Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, Mexico, Scandinavia). The company differentiates through hosted cruises with dedicated group hosts, expert cruise consultants, and exclusive shore tour programs. The business model connects travelers with partner cruise lines across premium, upper-premium, luxury, and expedition segments rather than operating its own cruise vessels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- World Cruises Extended global voyages typically lasting 80-250+ days, visiting dozens of ports across multiple continents with a single booking and one unpacking experience. Offered through cruise line partners including Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Cunard, Silversea, Princess, Seabourn, Viking, Azamara, Crystal, and Explora Journeys.
- Grand Voyages
- River Cruises
- Expedition Cruises
- Hosted Cruises
- Alaska Cruises
- Caribbean Cruises
- Canada/New England Cruises
- European Cruises
- Mediterranean Cruises
- Mexico Cruises
- Scandinavia/Northern Europe Cruises
Companies that use Cruise Specialists
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cruise Specialists technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cruise Specialists partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered parent company, core and minor.
- Internova Travel Groupparent companyParent company of Cruise Specialists. Internova is a travel company network that provides operational support, technology, and resources to member agencies. Privacy policy and terms of use links redirect to Internova's corporate pages.
- VirtuosocoreLuxury travel network membership providing exclusive access to luxury travel suppliers, preferred partner status, and credibility in the affluent traveler market. Virtuoso members provide exclusive offers, amenities, and special perks to clients.
- Condé Nast TravelerminorListed as a trusted brand recognition partner, indicating consumer trust and credibility association with top travel publication
- Travel + LeisureminorListed as a trusted brand recognition partner
- Wall Street JournalminorListed as a trusted brand recognition partner
- CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)coreOfficial travel agency partnership with the cruise industry's trade association. Provides industry certification and credibility as Official Travel Agency for the Cruise Industry.
- ForbesminorListed as a trusted brand recognition partner
- Better Business BureauminorBBB accreditation for business credibility verification
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cruise Specialists competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Altour: Corporate and luxury leisure travel agency with a dedicated cruise division. Comparable as a Virtuoso-affiliated luxury travel agency serving affluent clients with complex cruise itineraries.
- Vacations To Go: Large US-based cruise-only travel agency offering discounted cruise bookings across all major cruise lines. Directly comparable to Cruise Specialists as a cruise-specialist agency, though focused more on discounted mainstream cruising than luxury/expedition.
- CruiseDirect: Online cruise-focused travel agency offering cruise deals across mainstream and luxury lines. Comparable in that it is a cruise-only agency, though it competes more on price transparency than high-touch luxury service.
- Protravel International: Luxury travel agency and Virtuoso member specializing in high-end individual and group travel, including cruise booking. Closely comparable to Cruise Specialists as a luxury-focused Virtuoso affiliate with curated cruise expertise.
- Frosch: Luxury travel management company and Virtuoso member serving affluent leisure and corporate clients. Comparable as a high-touch luxury travel agency selling premium cruise experiences alongside other luxury travel products.
- Travel Leaders: Large US travel agency franchise network with cruise specialists across many offices. Comparable in selling cruise vacations through a network of advisors, though broader in scope beyond just cruises.
- SmartFlyer: Luxury travel agency and Virtuoso member specializing in curated, high-touch travel experiences including premium cruise bookings. Comparable in serving affluent travelers with personalized service and exclusive amenities.
Emerging players
- Lindblad Expeditions: Expedition cruise operator (National Geographic partnership) selling directly to consumers. Comparable via overlap in the expedition cruise category, though Lindblad is a supplier/operator rather than a pure agency.
- CruiseCompete: Online marketplace connecting cruise shoppers with competing travel agents. Comparable as a cruise-focused booking channel, though it operates as a lead-generation platform rather than a direct booking agency.
Broad incumbents
- American Express Travel: Large incumbent travel agency with a dedicated cruise desk serving Centurion and Platinum cardholders. Comparable as a luxury cruise booking channel with extensive cruise line partnerships, though broader than a cruise-only specialist.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cruise Specialists social profiles
Digital presenceCruise Specialists financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cruise Specialists leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cruise Specialists funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cruise Specialists M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cruise Specialists
What does Cruise Specialists do?
Cruise Specialists is a Seattle-based luxury cruise travel agency that acts as an intermediary between cruise lines and travelers. The company books world cruises, grand voyages, expedition cruises, river cruises, hosted cruises, and destination-specific cruises (Alaska, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Europe, Scandinavia) on behalf of clients, earning commissions from cruise line partners. Service includes personalized consultation with cruise experts, single-point booking for complex multi-destination voyages, and value-added hosted group cruises with dedicated voyage hosts and exclusive shore tours.
Is Cruise Specialists a public or private company?
Cruise Specialists is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cruise Specialists founded?
Cruise Specialists was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cruise Specialists based?
Cruise Specialists is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cruise Specialists make money?
One revenue line is on record: travel Agency/Booking Commission.
Who are Cruise Specialists's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Altour, Vacations To Go, CruiseDirect, Protravel International, Frosch, Travel Leaders and SmartFlyer. Emerging players are Lindblad Expeditions and CruiseCompete. American Express Travel is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cruise Specialists have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cruise Specialists.
What industry is Cruise Specialists in?
Cruise Specialists's product category is Luxury Cruise Travel Agency. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAKAE, Luxury & Expedition Cruise Specialists, with a secondary code of THAEAFAB, Cruise Travel Agencies & Specialist Cruise Consultants. Its NAICS code is 561520 and its SIC code is 4400.