Craig Bowen | Managing Director
Co-founder and Managing Director of Cruise Traveller, Craig uses his 38 years experience in the Tourism, Travel & Hospitality industry to continually develop the most exciting boutique cruise product range and the highest possible standards of friendly and professional service from the team of cruise and voyage specialists he has the pleasure of working with.
Destinations Visited: The Kimberley, Argentina, Chile, Fiji, USA, Italy, France, Turkey, Greece, United Kingdom, Wales, Morroco, Spain, Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Antarctica, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Japan, China, Switzerland, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Philippines, Germany, Myanmar (Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan), Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Bahrain, Egypt, Monaco, Cambodia, South Africa, Zambia, Bermuda, Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Churchill, Hudson Bay, Canadian Arctic & Baffin Island), Vanuatu, Macau, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City, Greenland & Iceland, Barbados, St Kitts, St Barts, Dominica, St Vincent, Ireland, Scotland, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, Mexico, Spitsbergen, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Namibia, Indonesia, Amazon, Galapagos, Peru, Ecuador, Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Portugal & Maldives, South Korea.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Europa 2, Fairstar, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Seabourn Spirit, The World, True North, Oceanic Discoverer, Orion, Princess Jeannie (Yangtze), Pandaw, River Cloud II, Star Clipper, Minerva, Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), Fjords Explorer, Silver Spirit, Fram, Aegean Odyssey, Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, Radiance of The Seas, Silver Explorer, Azamara Journey, Stella Australis, Queen of the Mississippi, M/S Expedition, Pride of the Zambezi, MS Europa, L ‘Austral, Aqua, Rhapsody of the Seas, Pacific Pearl, Safari Explorer, M/V Vrinda, Queen of the Galapagos, MS Serenissima, Regent Seven Seas Explorer, Queen Mary 2, Crystal Symphony, Sanctuary Ananda, Ocean Endeavour, Victory II, Windstar Star Legend, Victory II.
Joseph O’Sullivan | Director
Joseph originally with sales and marketing experience outside the Tourism Industry has spent the past 25 years in partnership with his brother Donal as joint founder and owner of a Cruise GSA and wholesaler, Joseph’s contacts and cruise sales expertise have been instrumental in the development of the Cruise Traveller portfolio.
Destinations Visited: Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Monaco, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Arctic, Canada, USA, Mexico, Bermuda, Kenya, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, New Caledonia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Greenland, Nunavut, New Zealand, Croatia, Montenegro, Crete, Gibraltar, Vatican City, Greece and Australia!
Cruise Lines/Ships sailed with: Royal Viking Sun, QE2, Vistafjord, Sagafjord. Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Safari Endeavour, SS Legacy, Quantum of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Grand Princess, Dawn Princess, Diamond Princess, Pacific Pearl, Pacific Sun, Pacific Dawn, Oriana, Silver Shadow, Seabourn Legend, Seabourn Spirit, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Sojourn, Celebrity Solstice, Carnival Spirit, Carnival Legend, Carnival Ecstasy, Crown Dynasty, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Breakaway, Sea Adventurer, Europa 2, Star Virgo, Veendam, Reef Endeavour, Reef Escape, The World, Coral Princess 2, Roylen 2, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation, Variety Callisto, Katerina Line, Tauck MS Emerald, MS Amadeus Provence.
Donal O’Sullivan – Director
Donal has 27 years experience in the Tourism industry with an involvement and passion for cruising from the beginning. Joint founder and owner of a Cruise GSA and wholesaler together with his brother Joseph for the past 21 years, Donal brings a wealth of personal and practical cruise experience to Cruise Traveller.
Destinations Visited: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary, Czech Republic, Croatia, Greece, Malta, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tahiti, USA, Mexico, Brazil.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Spirit, QE2, QM2, Royal Viking Sun, Vistafjord, Cunard Crown Monarch, Europa 2, Royal Clipper, The World, Anthem of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Galaxy, Silver Shadow, Safari Endeavour, Safari Voyager, Orion, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Pacific Pearl, Pacific Sun, Veendham, Carnival Spirit, Norwegian Star, Reef Endeavour, Reef Escape, Murray Princess, AMA Amalyra, Amadeus Symphony.
Vikki Rabe | Operations Manager
Operations Manager, Vikki has worked in Tourism and Travel industry for over 20 years before joining Cruise Traveller team in 2016. Vikki brings with her a wealth of experience from management and digital roles with several Australian destination marketing organisations, travel wholesalers and a cruise travel company.
Destinations Visited: All Australian states/territories, Germany, New Zealand, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Isle of Man.
Favourite Destinations: Bathurst Island, Northern Territory – such an amazing destination – remote and a unique pristine environment catching (and releasing) big barramundi. This has of course completely ruined me for any fishing since. Doubtful Sound, New Zealand – A beautiful and tranquil destination which felt like the end of the earth.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: KD Rhine River Cruises, Pacific Aria, Real Journeys/Fiordland Navigator.
Rejana Gerards | Boutique Voyage & Cruise Specialist (Res Supervisor)
After completing her bachelor degree at university, Rejana worked in hospitality before travelling to Japan to work as an English language teacher.
Whilst travelling throughout Japan she gained experience in the culture and traditions of the country and discovered she really wanted to pursue a career in the travel industry. Rejana started with Cruise Traveller in 2008.
Destinations Visited:
Bali, Canada, Caribbean, Croatia, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Greece, Japan, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USA.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with:
Aegean Odyssey (Adventure Canada), Crystal Symphony, Minerva, MV Discovery, P&O, The World, National Geographic Endeavour, Silver Whisper.
Favourite Destination:
Cape Town, South Africa – Beautiful, diverse and unique sites such as the Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, The Waterfront and Jeffery’s Bay garden route. Plus cheap shopping!
Kirsten Wise | Boutique Voyage & Cruise Specialist (Senior)
Kirsten worked in the hotel industry for nearly 15 years before joining the Cruise Traveller team in 2008. Her background in tourism and dedication to guest services rounds out the team’s experience and skill base.
Destinations Visited: Canada, USA, Mexico, Hawaii, Fiji, China, Thailand, Malaysia, New Zealand, Greenland, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Macau, India, Bhutan, Argentina, Chile, Antarctica, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Croatia, Italy, France, Monaco, Cuba, Jamaica, Maldives, The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Sea Adventurer, RV Jahan, The World, Mahaabahu, Hebridean Sky, Katarina Line, Aegean Odyssey, Pacific Aria, Safari Endeavour, Celestyal Crystal, L’Austral, Regent Seven Seas Voyager, Crystal Debussy.
Favourite Destinations: Queenstown, New Zealand – It’s not only a spectacularly beautiful area but the town has a great vibe, fabulous restaurants & of course delicious Central Otago wine. The Maldives for its impossibly blue, clear waters & show stopping perfection. But there’s really nothing comparable to Antarctica – the light, vast space & size is just WOW.
Del Faragher | Boutique Voyage & Cruise Specialist
With just over 30 years in the travel industry, Del has recently returned to the Cruise Traveller family after an 18 month sabbatical.
Destinations Visited: Spitsbergen (European Arctic), France, Italy, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenija, Austria, Germany, Greece, Norway, Spain, England , Scotland, Wales, Monaco, Vatican city, Russian Far East, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Borneo, Sth Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Brunei, Bali, India, Fiji, Noumea, Vanuatu, Tonga, New Zealand, Kimberley, Broome, Tasmania, Northern Territory.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Cunards Queen Elizabeth, Europa 2, MS Expedition, Ponants Le Soliel, G adventures MS Expedition, Kimberley Quest, P&O Fairstar, P&O Dawn, Celebrity Solstice, Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas.
Favourite Destination: This is always a hard one to answer. I was born is Salzburg, who doesn’t love “The Sound of Music”, so its close to my heart. Seeing the Taj Mahal in India for the first time bought me to tears. But then I was able to see the Polar Bears in their natural habitat in the European Arctic. That was my David Attenborough moment. More recently though, I was fortunate enough to experience The Kimberley on board the fabulous Kimberley Quest. Names like Mitchell Falls, Prince Regent River and Horizontal falls were names of places that I had heard people rave about, but it meant nothing until I was able to see it for myself. Particularly my favourite, Montgomery Reef, that as the tide goes out, makes me think of a submarine rising out of the depths of the ocean and then submerging again when the tide comes back in. It is a truly spectacular experience.
Louise Bowen | Boutique Voyage & Cruise Specialist
After 15 years of working in the airline industry, Louise has been instrumental in developing the Cruise Traveller reputation for exceptional service. Louise started with Cruise Traveller in 2004.
Destinations Visited: The Antarctic Peninsula, the Mekong from Vietnam to Cambodia, Phuket, Myanmar (Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan), Sri Lanka, India (Rajasthan, Kerala & Assam), The Kimberley, Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Madang, New Britain, New Ireland), New Zealand, Amalfi Coast, Lord Howe Island, Africa (Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Rwanda, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar), Similan Islands, Malaysia (Langkawi), Hawaii (Maui, Big Island, Kauai), Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay, Saigon, Hoi An) Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Churchill, Hudson Bay, Canadian Arctic & Baffin Island), USA (Alaska, Inside Passage, N.Y., Mississippi River), Greenland, Iceland, The Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, The Shetland Islands, UK, Chile, Argentina, Cape Horn, Brazil, the Amazon, Galapagos, Ecuador, Peru, Cuba, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Portugal, Maldives, Japan, South Korea.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Pandaw, Seabourn, Oberoi Houseboats (M/V Vrinda), True North, Oceanic Discoverer, Silversea (Silver Shadow, Silver Wind, Silver Spirit, Silver Explorer), Star Clipper, Minerva (Swan Hellenic), Azamara Journey, The World, Queen of the Mississippi (American Cruise Lines), River Cloud II, Orion, Princess Jeannie (Yangtze), Fram (Hurtigruten), Safari Explorer (Un-Cruise), Stella Australis, G-Adventures (M/S Expedition & Queen of the Galapagos), Pride of the Zambezi, M/S Europa (Hapag Lloyd), M/V Aqua, MS Serenissima, Regent Seven Seas Explorer, Queen Mary 2, Crystal Symphony, Sanctuary Ananda, Ocean Endeavour, Victory II, Winstar Star Legend.
Favourite Destination: Antarctica – “Watching penguin chicks hatch! and “Alaska with Un-cruise – being able to get so close to watch Humpback whales ‘bubble-net feed’ was an experience I will cherish forever! The preceding eerily beautiful whale song, the silence, then the birds going crazy, the noise of the big mammals bursting into the air with mouths open, the excitement & commotion of this natural phenomenon, absolutely amazing.”
Nicolette Spencer | Guest Services & Documentation
I kicked off my 12 year Retail Travel Career with Flight Centre after returning home to the Gold Coast from working & living abroad in Canada, Scotland & Ireland. Nicolette started with Cruise Traveller in 2015.
Countries Visited: France, Spain, Italy, UK, Ireland, Canada, Tahiti, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Indonesia, South Africa, UAE, Mexico, USA, Hawaii, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Zealand.
Favourite Destination: Dublin, Ireland – Hands-down because of The People, The Culture, The Story Telling, The History, The Landscape, The Accent… & the pure ‘Craic’
Linda Dempsey | Office Administration Manager
Linda has worked in management and administrative positions overseas for over 20 years and brings a wealth of knowledge and travel experiences to Cruise Traveller. Linda manages the provision of corporate travel services as well as the back office. Linda has been with Cruise Traveller since 2006.
Destinations Visited: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei/Borneo, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Fiji, England, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Greece, France, Hungary, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Canada, Caribbean, USA, Mexico and Cook Islands.
Favourite Destination: Buenos Aires, Argentina – love the electric feel of the city, the food, the tango, the architecture, the history. And Budapest……the way the Danube winds through the city, the gypsies and goulash! And Paris…..the art, architecture, culture and pastries!
Karen Revell | Key Partnership Manager (QLD, WA, NT)
With over 27 years of experience in the Travel and Tourism Industry, moving from New Zealand to Australia in 2004, Karen’s experience and passion comes across to all those she meets. Karen started with Cruise Traveller in 2004.
Destinations Visited: Antarctica, The Canadian Arctic, Greenland, South America, The Kimberley, USA, Canada, The United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Thailand, Alaska, France & Croatia.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: MV Voyager, P & O, Silver Shadow, The World, Orion, Minerva (Swan Hellenic), Sea Adventurer (formerly Clipper Adventurer), Ponant aboard L’Austral, Safari Endeavour with UnCruise Adventures, Riviera Travel River Cruises – MS Lord Byron & Peregrine Adventure Cruising – Peregrine Dalmatia.
Favourite Destinations: Antarctica: Without a doubt, the MOST amazing experience, sitting around in the zodiac when the engine has been cut, with penguins and leopard seals swimming around you. Being amongst the most gorgeous icebergs, all different colours was just simply spectacular. Arctic: Meeting the Inuit people of Greenland, being welcomed was into their villages was a very special time. Plus mention has to go to the beautiful Polar Bears – breathtaking!
Julie Donaldson | Key Partnership Manager (NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS, SA)
Julie – Barging in the South of France.
Julie has worked in the travel industry for over 20 years including; sales, wholesale and as an industry trainer under the CLIA banner. Julie started with Cruise Traveller in 2013.
Destinations Visited: New Zealand, Cook Islands, Alaska, Canada, UK, Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Hawaii, Vietnam, China, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Reunion, Norwegian coastline, Mauritius, Madagascar, Cambodia, Dubai, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Barbados, Tobago, Grenada, Ireland, Egypt, Puerto Rico & Antigua.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Back-Roads Barging, MSC Celebrity Solstice, Katarina Line, Orion, Princess, P&O, Pacific Jewel, Princess, P&O, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Un-Cruise Adventures, Voyages to Antiquity.
Favourite Destination: Alaska. The beauty of Alaska, cruising in secluded bays and being feet away from the magnificent glaciers, paddling with whales next to you, wildlife in their natural habitat, just amazing.
Sam Patton | Product Manager
Samantha Patton joined Cruise Traveller from a background of personal and professional travel experience. After working for 10 years as a retail and wholesale travel consultant, Sam decided to move into a product and marketing role in 2008. The thrill of creating the perfect holiday package drives her every day and she is excited to use her talents with such a dynamic company.
Destinations Visited: Greece & the Islands of Santorini, Ios, Mykonos & Rhodes; Venice; Paris; Bern; Nice; Monaco; Dublin; Cork; London; Liverpool; Manchester; Dubai; Fiji; Bali; Maldives; Thailand; Vietnam; Hong Kong; Singapore; Brunei; Vanuatu; New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Mammoth Mountain; Las Vegas; Grand Canyon; Jamaica; Mexico; Grand Cayman; Haiti; Prince Edward Island; Nova Scotia; Jasper; Edmonton; Great Barrier Reef; Adelaide; Melbourne; Cairns, Malaysia, Cambodia, Remote Indonesia, Kimberley, Provence (South of France), Cologne, Belgium.
Cruise Ships/Lines sailed with: Princess, Royal Caribbean, P&O Australia, Costa, Silver Discoverer (expedition), ms Lord Byron (Riviera Travel River Cruises)
Favourite Destination: The Kimberley, Australia – words cannot describe…
Melinda Chivers | Marketing Coordinator
Our newest team member Melinda joined the Cruise Traveller team in August 2018.
Melinda brings to the role a wealth of media and marketing experience, having held multiple sales and marketing roles in newspapers, radio and digital.
Destinations Visited:
Bali, Belgium, England, France, Hawaii, Holland, Ireland, New Caledonia, Spain, Vanuatu.
Favourite Destinations:
Margaret River, Western Australia – Pristine beaches and world class wineries – what’s not to love! Barcelona, Spain – Amazing architecture, food and culture.