Back on track - better than ever!
Following on from a previous blog post - ‘How it all started’, which I wrote in January 2020 (how ironic!), I wanted to update my travel journey since that horrid couple of years when we were in lockdowns, and the world stopped - with cruise ships docked around the world and flights grounded, offices closing & people scrambling to find space to work at home, schools closing & working parents becoming full time teachers - it is hard to envision it all happening now.
Let’s start at the end of 2019, when I was ready to take the plunge and set up a retail location at Ashridge Garden Centre in Binfield. I named my shop Lorraine’s Cruise Boutique, and it was everything I had dreamed of. Unfortunately, like so many others, I couldn’t have predicted what was just around the corner. And by July 2020, my little shop had to close.
I loved my little shop - for the short time I had it
I was back working from home. For two years, nothing changed. Like many of my colleagues in the travel industry, who had worked so hard - with the turmoil of going in circles - having to cancel booked holidays, book new holidays, cancel holidays, fight for refunds for our clients, rebook holidays, etc - and all while earning no commission - I kept pushing forward, posting on social media, networking online, researching, getting further accreditations, doing what I could and hoping against hope that the situation would soon improve. I burned out.
Once we were safely out of lockdowns, time passed, and I found myself stuck in a cycle of stopping and starting, struggling to get my mojo back.
Then, in January 2025, a pivotal moment arrived. I had a Zoom chat with a networking acquaintance. We’d never really connected outside of the sessions, but this conversation turned out to be a game-changer for both of us. Nayan owns a Business Mums Networking Group - which I attend and love, but had also suffered since COVID - and she had booked 4 online business courses during 2024 that she just hadn’t got into starting let alone completing, so we gave each other the kick we both needed to move forward and rebuild our businesses.
But I didn’t want to just book any & every cruise, or cheap package holidays - lets face it - anybody is able to do that for themselves these days, with just a couple of clicks on a random website, you are (maybe - don’t get me started on that) jetting off somewhere warm. I wanted to offer more - an invaluable service for travellers craving fresh, exclusive experiences.
So, with that vision in mind, I rebranded my business, built a brand-new luxury cruise website, launched a fresh Facebook page and private group, and plunged back into networking with renewed vigour, reigniting my long-standing love affair with the cruise & travel industry - so I could start selling again.
Husband and I on Queen Victoria, on Azamara Onward, and enjoying gelato in Lake Como
Though I never stopped cruising or travelling - my husband and I took a few cruises & land holidays during this time - I just didn’t have the energy to run a business - yet. But now, I’m back to my roots - booking luxury cruises, and twin-centre - luxury hotels, unforgettable train journeys, private villas, exclusive cruise tours, and even safaris. Plus fabulous speciality cruises, longer itineraries, and amazing world voyages!
At just over 50 years old, with two adult children, a grandchild, and a business I am essentially starting over with - and loving every minute!
Here’s the thing, Just as not every hotel can be considered luxurious, not every cruise ship meets the standard of luxury - especially when “luxury” is a word that’s thrown around so casually in this industry. A few luxurious suites on a mega-ship does not make a luxury cruise. What does constitute a premium or luxury cruise is exclusivity, high-quality service, spacious accommodations, gourmet dining, and a refined atmosphere, often with all-inclusive options and a focus on personalised experiences.
What sets me apart? I focus exclusively on promoting premium luxury cruise lines. I specialise in premium products and high-end, luxury products that I trust and believe in. I’m spoiled, and selective in my own cruise holidays, and I refuse to sell anything I wouldn’t personally experience myself.
That’s my promise: I only promote and sell what I know and love—always.