My name is Margaret Owen. I began my career as a travel agent in 1990. For many years, I was a generalist, planning all types of trips, from a simple car rental or a hotel reservation to a detailed independent tour in Italy to a cruise that might take you just about anywhere.
Having taken over 30 cruises, that experience given me the expertise to now specialize in cruises and make them into a complete vacation. I collaborate with you to plan the cruise vacation that fits your lifestyle, interests and individual needs. It is not a matter of ‘one size fits all’.
I will plan your cruise from the small ship that accommodates less than 100 passengers to the largest carrying 6,000 passengers…from tropical Hawaii and Tahiti to scenic Alaska, from the beaches of the Caribbean to the architecture of Italy, from the casual, soft adventure of the Galapagos Islands to a lovely cruise down the rivers of Europe.
Let me, Margaret Owen, Cruise Pro, share with you my wealth of knowledge and attention to detail to plan the cruise vacation you have dreamed of and make it a reality.
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I have taken and continue to take many workshops and seminars to increase my knowledge of the world and the travel industry. I am particularly proud of the MCC and CTC certifications as described below:
The Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) designation is conferred by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) upon dedicated travel professionals who have completed an extensive program of classroom training, cruise experience, ship inspections and a combination of video training and attendance at industry events. A CLIA Certified Cruise Counsellor is your best resource in choosing a perfect vacation. I have sailed on 31 cruises on 14 different cruise lines. In addition, I have inspected over 30 cruise ships.
The Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation is conferred by The Travel Institute upon travel professionals who have completed a rigorous two-level certification program, exemplify the highest standards of professionalism, demonstrate advanced knowledge of business, industry and global issues necessary for expert practice, and possess at least five years of travel industry work experience.
In order to keep my CTC certification, each year, I attend seminars and workshops on destinations and travel products.
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How I came to be a travel agent:
I had been a bookkeeper since I earned an AA Degree in Accounting at Chabot College in Hayward, California in 1971.
In early 1989, my son was getting ready to go to college and had the Chabot College course catalog sitting on the dining room table. I picked it up and flipped through it and noticed they had a two-year program in Travel Careers. I very unconsciously commented that I should take that course, put the book down and forgot about it.
Then a couple days later, the idea came to me that maybe I should go through their program. I had taken my first cruise in November, 1986 and another in 1988 so my interest in travel had grown a lot. So after completing the program in May, 1990, I was hired by Carlson Wagonlit Travel in Castro Valley, California.
Here is my office–now you know where I’m at when we communicate.
If you want more info: Margaret’s Travel Info
Margaret Owen, Master Cruise Counsellor
(510) 582-0540
Margaret (at) owentravel.com
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