About me

Lorraine, Independent Travel Agent & Cruise Specialist

Based in: Wokingham, Berkshire, England

My Journey in Travel

✈️ Where It All Began (1990-1991):

  • Discovered my passion for travel during a work experience week at Lunn Poly, Ascot

  • Spent my time stamping brochures—but I loved every second!

  • Enrolled in a Travel & Tourism course at Brooklands College, Weybridge

📌 Early Career:

  • Gained hands-on experience at Alec Bristol Travel, Chertsey, leading to my first job

  • Joined the Youth Training Scheme (YTS) and began my career as a travel agent

  • Worked at top travel agencies, including:

    • Thomas Cook

    • Lunn Poly

    • Going Places

    • Teletext Agency – Holiday Now

  • Balanced my career while starting a family

🌍 A Bold New Chapter – Canada (2007-2013):

  • Emigrated to Nova Scotia with my family for a fresh start

  • Began my cruise industry journey at Cruise Holidays travel agency

  • Became a cruise specialist—even before I had taken my first cruise!

  • Turned my dream into reality, both selling and experiencing cruises

🏡 Returning Home & Continuing My Passion (2013 – Present):

  • Moved back to the UK and continued working for Cruise Holidays

  • The company rebranded to Cruise & Travel Holidays, where I still share my passion for travel today!

Lorraine Mccowatt & her husband in a premium cruise ship restaurant

My Journey – From Setbacks to a Thriving Luxury Cruise Business

Taking the Leap – Opening My Own Travel Boutique (2019)

  • Opened Lorraine’s Cruise Boutique at Ashridge Garden Centre, Binfield – a dream come true

  • Unfortunately, the pandemic hit soon after, grounding flights and docking cruise ships

  • By July 2020, I had to close my shop but continued working from home, hoping for a turnaround

⏳ Two Years of Struggles & Burnout (2020-2022)

  • The travel industry remained at a standstill, leaving me and many colleagues burned out

  • Struggled to regain my passion, caught in a cycle of stopping and starting

What I Offer Now – Beyond the Ordinary

At just over 50, with two adult children, a grandchild, and a business I’m incredibly proud of, I’m proof that it’s never too late to follow your passion.

✔️ Luxury Cruises & Twin-Centre Getaways
✔️ Unforgettable Train Journeys
✔️ Private Villas & Exclusive Cruise Tours
✔️ Safari Adventures & Unique Travel Experiences

Lorraine Mccowatt & husband standing outside a premium river ship

💡 A Game-Changing Moment (January 2025)

  • A casual Zoom chat with a networking acquaintance sparked a turning point

  • We motivated each other to rebuild our businesses and move forward

  • I realised: I didn’t want to sell just any cruise - I wanted to curate truly extraordinary experiences

✨ Rebranding & Rebuilding with Purpose

  • Launched a brand-new luxury cruise website

  • Revamped my Facebook page & rekindled my industry connections

  • Reignited my passion for crafting bespoke, high-end travel experiences.

Which ships have I been on?

I have been very fortunate during my 16 years as a cruise specialist, to have experienced at least one ship from each cruise line - whether for personal holidays, or as part of an organised ship tour. During a ship tour, travel agents are given the opportunity to visit staterooms & suites, public areas, and to indulge in the ships fine dining, accompanied, of course, by free flowing wine. Along with consistent training, these experiences are how I became a specialist in my field - premium cruises, yacht cruises, tall ship cruises, and luxury river cruises.

Ocean ships

Azamara Onward

Cunard Queen Victoria

Cunard Queen Mary 2

Celebrity Eclipse

Princess Sky

Celebrity Summit

Royal Caribbean Adventure of the seas

Tradewind Voyages Golden Horizon

Crystal Symphony

Seabourn Ovation

Ocean ships

Windstar Star Breeze

Silversea Silver Spirit

Oceania Regatta

Oceania Marina

Holland America Eurodam

Princess Royal

Hurtigruten Fram

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the seas

MSC Poesia

Disney Magic

River ships:

Emerald Liberte

Uniworld Beatrice

Uniworld Antoinette

European waterways Panache

AMA Waterways AMACerto

Emerald waterways Sky

A’Rosa Stella

CroisiEurope Lafayette

About Cruise & Travel Holidays

🌍 A Legacy of Excellence in Cruise Travel

  • Founded in 1984, Cruise Holidays is North America’s oldest and largest cruise-specialty retail franchise

  • Over 7,500 agency locations across the USA, Canada, and the UK

  • Home to cruise professionals dedicated to matching travelers with their ideal ships and destinations

🇬🇧 Cruise Holidays in the UK

  • 2010: Global Cruising Ltd took on the Master Franchise for the UK, launching Cruise Holidays UK

  • A Trusted Franchise Network – Cruise Holidays UK grew with franchisees across the country

🚀 A Bold New Chapter – Rebranding to Cruise & Travel Holidays

  • 1st July 2023: Broke away from US counterparts and rebranded as Cruise & Travel Holidays

  • Still run by the same dedicated team, ensuring top-tier service and expertise

  • Committed to remaining the UK’s #1 cruise agency for service and commitment.

Logo with blue circle and stylized "C" followed by the text "Cruise and Travel Holidays."

🔒 Your Money is Secure

  • Operates a Financial Trust – ensuring customer funds are protected

  • Co-Operative Travel bonded bank account – your money is never used for daily business operations

Cruise & Travel Holidays continues to provide unparalleled expertise, trust, and exceptional cruise experiences. 🚢✨