By Patty Roy

Whether you yearn for fun in the sun, the cultured capitols of Europe or discovering a hidden gem off the beaten paths, TNT Cruise Planners is the agency to consult.

TNT (which could stand for its franchisees Tom Hansen ‘n Ted Goulet, but doesn’t) is the largest home-based travel agency in the world for 18 years running,  according to Ted. They are celebrating 10 years in business this year and during that time have lived through the heady days of the cruise ship vacation boom and weathered the travel shut-down we all remember as Covid.

And they’ve emerged with a full range of vacations for many destinations and price points. Family vacations, birthday celebrations, bachelor/bachelorette parties and group adventure, Tom and Ted have something for you.

“With a name like Cruise Planners, we do a lot of cruises, but the majority of travel for our clients is land,” Ted said. “So, of course, we will show you the ocean boats, river and small boats for cruises, but we have a lot of other trips we book.”
What has changed from their early days is that many vacations are now multi-generational.

“It’s the grandparents, kids and grandkids – we’re doing a family trip. We’re all going to Italy; we’re all going to France. We’re all going on a safari.  We’re all doing this magnificent cruise,” he said.

That works for big friends groups vacations, too, he said. “You’ve got seven or eight couples who want to rent an island? This is what you pay.”

The increase in small group travel is a difference from 10 years ago, Ted and Tim said. They are currently working with a Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce group visiting Ireland later this fall.

Group trips can be very reasonably priced, he said. A booking agent can help you wade through the details of booking package vacations – are excursions included, do you have to take a bus for twohours to get to Rome, is there a wine-tasting included?

River cruises may detour depending on whether the water levels run low or high and TNT Cruise Planners can help you with that. They are totally familiar with all the variations of planning. Planned travel can easily move you from one boat to another if river conditions make it so your boat cannot safely travel under a bridge.

That’s what a travel planner does for you – can your schedule accommodate changes? Are you looking for a big Cadillac and is this tour squishing you into a Volkswagen?

These days, Alaska is a very popular destination. And TNT may have space on popular lines that cruise the Caribbean when they appear to be sold out,

“Every month with various travel parts, whether it’s land or sea or rivers, we always have some sort of exclusive and special offer that’s going on,” Ted said.

This might be a percentage off or a free night on land. There might be a value added kind of deal,” he said. These could be round-trip transfers or an extra night.

Most people are used to doing things online, but the cruise guys will do Zoom meeting or meet up locally with their clients.

“We like to get to know our clients,” said Tim.
He and Tom agreed that the biggest regret that they’ve met among clients “we didn’t vacation as much as I wanted,” he said.

There are “bucket list” travelers as well. Nobody ever said they wish they had spent more time in the office, they agreed.

“They’re traveling retirees and they’re taking the trips they’ve always wanted.” he said.

People who haven’t traveled a lot before can best be assisted by TNT. 

“people are more conscientious about the environment. They don’t mind receiving things electronically – they’re more used to it now.”

TNT will still provide their clients with documents “in hand”  because “what if my phone dies?” Ted suggested.

For a family vacation, the dream of a lifetime or long-awaited couple or group sojourn, call tntguys.travel.com