New & Next -Travel
Education is my grind.
It’s the early wake-ups, the caffeine-on-a-direct-IV, the inspiration from industry pros, the laughs with my peers, the motivation, the occasional tears, and the collective thriving that keeps me going.
I recently attended my very first Dream Vacations conference—yes, the same Dream Vacations that I work for, as you already know if you’ve been hanging out on my website. Seven full days of information from suppliers like Princess, Carnival, Viking, Funjet Vacations, Delta Vacations, Sandals, and Europe travel partners.
If you read my previous blog, you’ll remember I spent two days on land in Fort Lauderdale before boarding the gorgeous, barely-a-month-old Star Princess. But this post isn’t about Fort Lauderdale, and it’s not even about the ship (that blog is coming soon—promise!).
This post is about education.
What I learned, what I’m excited about, what’s new, and what’s next from some of my favorite suppliers.
Princess Cruise Lines
If you missed the memo, Princess has a brand-new ship: the stunning Star Princess (blog coming!). They are the ultimate “Love Boat,” and next year they’ll begin stopping at Celebration Key, Carnival Corporation’s newest private island. And trust me—they really want your Alaska cruise business!
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival is rolling out three new Excel-class ships, each featuring a roller coaster (yes, a roller coaster!) and 20 dining options. Up next is their new ACE-class ship, which will have over 1,000 connecting rooms. Anyone traveling with older teens knows how sacred personal space is. They’re also adding more 5–6 passenger staterooms, and some of their private islands are getting major upgrades.
Royal Caribbean
A fan favorite for good reason.
What’s new? Their biggest ship in the world will sail out of Galveston in 2026 and 2027—much closer for my Midwestern travelers!
What’s next? Two brand-new Royal-exclusive stops in Nassau and Mexico, both private island experiences.
Viking Cruises
Viking may dominate the European river cruise market, but did you know they also sail oceans and the Great Lakes? Their final payment window is usually tight, but here’s a pro tip: if you have multiple Viking bookings, you get a six-month payoff window.
What’s next? A whole fleet of new ships on the way!
Sandals Resorts
You may have heard about Hurricane Melissa tearing through their region. The Sandals team is incredibly fast at rebuilding. They expect to be up and running by the middle of 2026. The airport only experienced about 10% damage and is already flying in passengers.
Resorts will bounce back quickly—local homes will need more time.
If you’d like to help support the community, here are a couple trusted places to donate:
- sandalsfoundation.org
- supportjamaica.gov.jm
But honestly, the best way to help is to visit. When you book a trip, you support gardeners, farmers, drivers, tour guides—everyone who keeps their beautiful country running. So… let’s get you booked (shameless plug 😄).
Why Education Matters to Me
This week reminded me that the travel industry is one big supportive community. Everyone cheers each other on, learns together, and genuinely wants to help travelers make incredible memories. As advisors, we’re trusted with people’s once-in-a-lifetime experiences—family trips, honeymoons, getaways with friends—and we take that trust seriously. We ask personal questions because we care.
What’s Next for Me? Specializing.
I’ve already specialized in several hotel brands, Disney, Universal, Carnival, Norwegian, Viking, and multiple Caribbean islands. Next on my list? European travel and group travel.
Education never stops—specializing doesn’t mean I know everything. It means I’m eager to keep learning so I can stay on top of what’s new and what’s next… for your memories.
