Client Testimonials

We have been thrilled with the wonderful travel guidance and assistance Shawn Power has provided to us since we located his agency on the internet in 2021. We read his detailed accounts of his adventures on his website and knew we had located a travel agent with first hand knowledge of various cruise lines as well as an experienced traveler all over the globe. His written and photo accounts provided us with details on what to expect with various ocean, river and land adventures as well as what various cruise lines provide. We appreciated Shawn’s thorough accounts and contacted him for an initial telephone introduction to see if he would be the travel agent we would like to work with in planning our retirement travels. We quickly saw we had located “our” travel agent!  We imagine every client feels the same way — Shawn is their own personal travel agent too!  

We’ve been clients of Shawn Power since 2017 when we took our first river cruise.  We always appreciate his expert guidance and his exceptional attention to detail.  Our first river cruise was in France and it was one of the most memorable trips we ever experienced – that is until the most recent trip we planned with Shawn which was a river cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia.  It was a mind-blowing and life-changing experience and Shawn was there to guide us every step of the way. He followed up with us numerous times to make sure we had the proper Visas and travel insurance coverage.  It is also very reassuring to know that Shawn has traveled to many of the places he promotes to his clients and can share first-hand knowledge.  Finally, Shawn is just a really nice person which makes working with him an absolute pleasure.

Centered around a 1-week cruise on the Mekong, Shawn’s helped us plan the longest and most complicated trip we ever attempted. Shawn provided outstanding guidance, planned our itinerary and made sure all the logistics made sense. Leading up to the departure date he responded quickly to any questions we had, and with his help, the trip was everything we hoped for.  He is already working on our next two cruises!

Shawn is the consummate travel professional. Shawn has arranged several trips for us over the years and his attention to detail is amazing. In addition, wherever we travel in the world, if we have a question or need assistance, Shawn is on it within minutes…super responsive.  We could not be happier with Shawn and how he makes traveling a pleasant experience by taking care of all the details.

We are so happy that last year when we were looking for an escape from the Midwest in February, that we contacted Shawn. We said we needed most of the month and someplace fun! Little did we know that we would head off to Antarctica. Words cannot explain the raw wonder and beauty. We loved the Insignia- the staff, the food, and the new friends we made. We were lucky enough (due to Shawn’s help) to be in a penthouse suite. Plenty of space and we were so well cared for by very professional staff. We have used Shawn’s expertise to find the perfect cruise for us for almost 10 years. We will continue to rely on his experience and great advice for years to come. 

We just returned from our most recent trip to Portugal and Spain with AMAwaterways, organized by Shawn.  This is our third trip and we could not have been happier with the service we received from Shawn.  He is on top of every detail and full of good and helpful suggestions for planning out trip from insurance to flights and specific suggestions about cruise lines and tour companies.  He reminds you about deadlines for payment, confirms flight information properly aligns with insurance dates, and checks in prior to departure to make sure all is well and on track.  As if that were not enough we heard from him to be sure we arrived without difficulty and all the transfer arrangements worked as planned.  Finally, he checked in when we arrived home to see how we enjoyed our trip.  So much of this is above-and-beyond what we have come to expect from previous travel agents.  This was our third trip arranged by Shawn and we look forward to our upcoming trip to India that he has also booked for us.  Travel is wonderful but can be complicated with logistics and arrangements in far-flung places.  Shawn has taken the stress out of making these arrangements and has left us with the joy and enlightenment that travel provides.  For that we are so grateful and we look forward to working with Shawn on our increased travel program now that we have retired.

We began cruising in 1993 and have used many different travel agents over the years with various levels of satisfaction.  Fortunately, we discovered Shawn in 2016 for both an ocean and a river cruise and have been extremely satisfied ever since.  We usually do 2 cruises each year and ALWAYS use Shawn!  His responsiveness to our questions has always be amazing!  And his knowledge is unsurpassed since he has actually done the cruises himself.  We often tell him where we want to go and when and he knows the best cruises to recommend.  We have never been disappointed with his advice and helpfulness.  He is the best in his field in knowledge, customer service and price!  Top of the class, 10+, and we will never consider using anyone else!

So, where to begin?  Our second Viking river cruise, the Danube Waltz, was equally as perfect as our first. Of course, much of that was due to the beautiful and historic European cities we visited. But another big part was the attention we received from Shawn both before and after our trip. He is the most attentive agent I have ever worked with – answering every inquiry in a timely way (even when he was on his own vacation). He offered perks that were available and followed up on our return to make sure we arrived home without incident and also that we had a good time. 

We have used Shawn several time for trips with Oceania cruises and Tauck Tours. He is really the ultimate go- to guy not only for handling the bookings, but for his knowledge of his destinations. I appreciate that he has always been there for answering those pesky  question before and during trips. Once, on the last day of a trip I had a  concern about our next day flight from Istanbul. Knowing that I would not be able to reach the airline or the airport, I e-mailed Shawn 6800 miles away. Within a few minutes he replied that the situation was normal and everything was ok. That gave me peace of mind. Everything was smooth the next day. If ever I see Shawn on a trip I will buy him a beer. You should too.

For almost a decade now Shawn has been our Cruise Expert, helping us plan sailings on Oceania, Regent & Silversea. As always, we were very pleased with our Suite’s location and the arrangements that Shawn made for us on our most recent trip on Oceania Riviera! We’ll for sure continue booking our vacations with Shawn for years to come!

We joined a group of 4 other couples for a  Silversea maiden voyage on Silver Nova, sailing from Venice, across the Adriatic Sea, to the Dalmation Coast, departing on Aug 14, 2023.  One of the couples had prior experience with Shawn, we did not.  We quickly learned to appreciate Shawn’s insights, prompt replies, and his attention to detail.  Shawn helped us schedule our pre-cruise arrangements, our air travel, and settle on the right suite locations for our group.  In our case, we missed the connecting flight from Seattle to Venice via the Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport, due to delays with our departure from Seattle and delays navigating the long lines at CDG.  Though 6 time zones away, Shawn receive our call for help and made sure our transportation arrangements at Venice airport were informed of our new flight plans.  The rest of the trip was very enjoyable, and memorable for our group.  We would certainly use Shawn again for a major travel experience!

Thank you Shawn!

We have worked with Shawn for a number of years to arrange cruises and trips for us. What do we like best is his knowledge of the travel industry, and how he is right on with advising how to manage a trip.  We value how he always responds to us in a very timely fashion. We never have to wait to hear back from Shawn. Thank you for everything.

In 2018 we were looking for a turnkey vacation, one that did not require us to do anything other than show up and enjoy the trip. Our neighbors referred us to Shawn.  Since then, we’ve booked through Shawn on multiple cruises (6) and we are planning on a land trip to Italy.

From our first booking, Shawn has been responsive and provided us with helpful tips. In fact, on our first cruise, some of the other people we met inquired about how we knew how to do certain things, like getting snorkeling equipment after boarding, to avoid lines, etc.  We shared that Shawn told us what to do!  Shawn also provided special ship credits that are greatly appreciated.

We recently completed an Oceania Japan cruise.  We also have an Alaska cruise scheduled in June with family (a total of 6 of us).  The specialty restaurants reservations for the June cruise were due when we were on our Japan trip.  Shawn came through for us and made the reservations when they opened.  Not only did he make the reservations, but he was able to reserve the seating times we wanted for 6.  This was above and beyond excellent service.  I shared with Shawn how this allowed us to enjoy the Japan trip without having to worry about logging in when the reservations became available to book.

I had been looking at a trip to the South Pacific for a long time. As I was investigating, I came across Shawn Power’s website. After reviewing his various videos on his trips, we decided to book a cruise to Tahiti, Bora Bora and other islands. He helped us every step of the way and always answered emails and phone calls promptly. He really helped us to understand and pick from Oceania’s 3 for 1 options on our cruise. He assisted us in getting insurance (which we thankfully didn’t need) and suggesting hotel accommodations. 

We were fortunate to be put in contact with Shawn a few months ago when we decided to make inquires about River cruising. We had never taken a cruise of any sort. In no time at all Shawn explained our options and we were able to book a 14 day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest with Tauck. We have just returned and the experience was outstanding. Everything aboard the ship was first rate with special kudos to the excellent crew. Friendly and an absolute pleasure to be around. Have nothing but good things to say about the experience and we are fortunate to have been put in touch with Shawn. He really looks after you and has a quality one rarely sees these days. He really cares about you and the experience you are hoping to have. Can’t say anything else that could mean more.  Ron and Andree.

Shawn gets customer service! If you value competence, organization, and expertise in a travel advisor, then he is your man. My wife and I are just getting into cruising after putting our kids through college, and we have booked two cruises and a land excursion through Shawn. He patiently and quickly answered our many questions ranging from trip insurance to hiking trails in Ketchikan Alaska. He checked in with us before, during, and after our cruise to make sure everything was going well. We look forward to working with Shawn for many trips to come!

Shawn is our go to guy for our travel bookings and advice. We just returned from a cruise around the Hawaiian islands. We saw many breathtaking natural sites from a tour of Oahu, Whale watching, Road to Hana, Sacred waterfalls, Waimea Canyon, and the magnificent Na Pali coast. We have had Shawn arrange trips to the Greek islands, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, Peru, French wine river cruise, the European Christmas markets, a Mediterranean cruise and many more. Shawn is a true professional and gives us great advice. Please see a few photos of our adventures attached.

Shawn has been arranging fabulous trips for us since at least 2015. We are avid travelers and have been to all 7 continents. I thought I was good at planning trips, but Shawn fills in details I would have never thought of.

He also gets us the best price and if we have a problem, he’s a master at getting it resolved.
Beyond that, he knows how we like to travel-how he knows is a mystery to me, but he knows. He will actually dissuade us from taking a trip he believes won’t suit us even though he loses out on the commission.
 
We have referred many friends and family members and each has been just plain shocked at how perceptive, informative and knowledgeable he is.
 
Thank you Shawn! We are looking forward to the 3 week Seabourn cruise from Miami to Santiago in 2024, Tauck’s land and sea journey in the Spring, Kenya and Tanzania in the fall and 3 months on Seabourn circumnavigating the continent of Africa in the winter. The only being who doesn’t appreciate Shawn is our poor dog!!

It’s been several years now since we have had the pleasure of Shawn being our travel advisor. For many years, I coordinated all our travels myself, but I soon learned the benefits of having a professional. Shawn repeatedly demonstrates his expertise, but more than that, he has been our savior several times while we’ve been in foreign lands.





Most recently while we were cruising towards Istanbul, I reached out to Shawn to inquire if it was safe to be in the old town mosques in Istanbul, in view of the recent war between Hamas and Israel. He reached out to a source in the area and advised us there had been no issues which should concern us. Our visit was uneventful. This outreach had been an email to Shawn, where it was almost 10 PM in his time zone. He responded within half an hour at which time I told him to stop working and get to bed. This quick response is typical for Shawn.





Previously, my partner had arrived before me at our designated hotel in Reykjavík, Iceland, to be told there was not a reservation for us. She texted Shawn who proceeded to contact the travel organization who in turn contacted the hotel. Eventually the problem was resolved. Shawn’s immediate response to my partner was comforting for her while she waited for a resolution and for me to show up.





I have referred Shawn to several of my friends and believe without hesitation he is the best travel advisor around.

Hi Shawn.  We were super happy with our cruise.  I personally wouldn’t go on a cruise without talking to Shawn first.  He took time to figure out the type of people we are and recommended a smaller ship   He found us a very good deal on the Seabourn Odyssey to Alaska.  Room was in a super location and Shawn made sure we had everything in order before we left. We booked with him last minute so was a bit of a rush.  But everything went perfectly.  Always answered my questions quickly which I really appreciated as we don’t cruise that often.  Thanks for everything Shawn

I can’t imagine making a trip or cruise without Shawn’s expert advice and help. He answered every question we had and did it promptly. Shawn is available by email and phone constantly. We went on an Oceania cruise and ran into friends on the same cruise. Their travel agent hadn’t helped them as much as Shawn had helped us and it makes a big difference.  We couldn’t ask for more.

We chanced upon Shawn about eight years ago when we were looking for a travel agent that would and could actually help us!!  We lucked out about 8-9 years ago when we started cruising and found Shawn.  As novices we came to regard Shawn as a friend as much as a guide and trusted advisor.  Especially in these tumultuous times, with cancellations and uncertainty his advice has presented us with simple solutions we would not have known were available to us.  We ALWAYS recommend him to fellow travelers with complete confidence.  Most notably, if we have an issue he is back to us immediately and we know we can trust his advice.  His attention to detail is consistently remarkable- even when he is on a trip!

I wholeheartedly recommend Shawn Power as a travel advisor for these reasons:

1. He is abundantly knowledgeable since he has done so much traveling himself.

2. He keeps in touch, not only with his prompt replies during your planning and traveling process, but also throughout the year with reviews of trips he has taken.

3. Shawn is able to communicate quickly with land and cruise companies, so you don’t have to wait for answers. Amazing!

4. Shawn helped me most recently make some decisions about a fabulous trip to Scandinavia. He pointed out the plus and minus sides of options I had in mind. This helped me tremendously in my booking process.

USE SHAWN POWER – YOU WILL BE HAPPY YOU DID.

Shawn Power has been our go to Cruise Travel Consultant for over 10 years.  He is extremely knowledgeable about the Cruise Industry and has valuable insights into all of the destinations we have selected.  He is very organized, keeps track of when payments are due and is always available.


We will continue to use Shawn for all of our cruise travel needs and have recommended Shawn to all of our friends.

hom and I have utilized several travel agents over the years.    Shawn consistently provides a level of service that goes beyond anything we had experienced previously! We’ve relied on him for several cruises, both River and Ocean Cruises, and have never been disappointed!  He always finds us good cabins and great amenities. He even provides input on elements of our trips he is not handling, like flights and medical  requirements.

Many thanks to Shawn Power for his assistance in booking our travel plans with Tauck for the Hidden Galapagos and Peru trip!  His communication and recommendations were so efficient and helpful, answering all our questions quickly and completely! We were totally happy with everything about our travels. Booking early and getting the extra night free was such a positive in adjusting and preparing for the busy days ahead. Thanks to Shawn for everything, as well as Tauck Tours. We saw so many amazing sites from Peru, Machu Picchu, and Galapagos Islands making a treasure of memories! This is our third trip to book with Shawn and look forward to planning ahead for another!

We are just back from a wonderful Viking cruise in the Great Lakes. The excursion ship Polaris was just the right size with 378 passengers and 256 crew members. We have booked 4 cruises though Shawn and he has been extremely helpful in guiding us to the right cruises and staterooms. He promptly responds to our questions and shares the knowledge he has gained having traveled on over 75 cruises. While on board our Great Lakes cruise we booked an additional Viking cruise through Shawn. It will not be our last.

We have worked Shawn since 2017 to arrange our cruises on rivers and oceans. He has always been there for us. He has shared his valuable insights and experiences to help us select the best rooms in our price range. He also helped us understand the offerings of various cruise lines and cruises. Finally, he has always been prompt in replying to our questions and making sure any confusion on our part was resolved. We wholeheartedly recommend Shawn as The Best in Travel Agents. Thank you Shawn!

Hi Shawn,

Shawn is the best! His expertise in the travel world is unsurpassed. We have booked many ocean cruises and a few river and land tours through him over the years. He offers up the best tours/deals that suit our interest and needs. He is very thorough, very prompt with response and very much a delight to deal with. Having sailed many of the cruise lines and visited so many places, we like it that he can give us his hands-on experience. He goes above and beyond. Highly recommend him. You won’t be disappointed.

Shawn is extremely knowledgeable and very responsive. He offered terrific advice for our first time cruise. In addition to knowing the world of cruising and land tours – he offered insights regarding ground transportation and insurance. We benefited greatly from his insights. We have already recommended his services to others.

Without a doubt, Shawn Power is the absolute best at planning cruises. He is knowledgeable, thorough, prompt, and always  a pleasure to deal with.

With four Azamara cruises, a couple of river cruises, and a couple of land tours planned with Shawn, we have yet to be disappointed. He answers all questions relative to our travels, thoroughly and patiently. On several occasions, he has gone above and beyond what is necessary to satisfy our needs.

We wouldn’t trust anyone else to work with us to plan our next adventure!

Shawn’s knowledge about the world of travel is vast. He enthusiastically shares his experiences and insights so that your next trip will be a success. We have planned with Shawn several cruises and a land tour and have always felt comfortable with the process. I appreciate his thoroughness, promptness and research and am confident I work with one of the best travel agents out there. 

Hi Shawn, thank you for planning the most amazing river cruise for our group. I’m not sure we can ever just go in a regular cabin after the first class service from Tauck. We will definitely go again on another adventure and I would recommend you to all my friends. The scenery, the tour directors and tour guides to the wait staff the very best. 

The mean side of me doesn’t want to share Shawn, but the world should know that he is the BEST. He listens, is available and responds immediately. 

Hello Shawn,

I would like to mention that I am remiss in telling what a spectacular time we enjoyed on our European trip with your recommendation to Tauck.  This is simply the best level of travel we have been privileged to enjoy and thank you for your kind encouragement. The flights went well, the hotel was spot on set in the heart of the city in Prague, an easy walk to the copious historical sites and museums; it was perfect.  The hotel staff was quite nice, helpful and we enjoyed our stay in Prague tremendously.  Wow did we need more time to visit as there is so much we wanted to see and explore.  Next time perhaps?  The local tour guides were well chosen and truly enjoyed their jobs and our many questions.  The amazing constant tour guides we had, Monica, Kamilla and Sineade were fountains of information, marvelously skilled in managing a group visit and we loved each day with them. From (we personally found too little, we will be smarter next time!) time in Prague and onward toward the river we found the coaches with top notch drivers and great comfort, truly delightful.  

Our time on the Danube River trip aboard the Savor was simply spectacular, everything a person could hope for and more.  What a magnificent boat it is!  Every smiling face was a pure joy to meet each day and the arrangements were simply deluxe. From the moment we boarded we were beset with broad smiles, treats, fresh towels, an aperitif, what ever, it was there and always a delightful surprise!   Our expert captains kept us safe and comfortable the entire time and we tip our hats to them!  There was only 4.5 meters of water beneath us in Budapest and we did see a fleet of larger, heavier boats tied up at the docks along the way.  Lucky us, Onward we sailed and we thoroughly enjoyed the visits and tours planned along the way, the itinerary was delightful and we never missed a guided tour at all.  Our learned guides kept us well informed and in great spirits.  The breadth of history is simply awe inspiring and we felt quite small in this world.  

Our local guides in each place and especially Budapest were top level and a delight to spend time with.  Our 12 days literally flew past!

The very capable crew wined us, dined us, entertained us, danced with us and we enjoyed it all as well as they, it showed.  We were thrilled with our third deck cabin and found it delightfully comfortable in every way, we found not a single thing to wish for. Fortunately, we are not fussy people but we are quite appreciative of fine accommodations and fine care so thank you deeply to all involved.  The level of guests traveling with us was quite lovely, all were smart, conversational,  polite, accommodating and fun to spend time with.  We made so many new travel friends whom we hope to see again on other tours.

I do believe we are now Tauck-ees for life and Shawn, you are our agent, always. Your expertise, ease, immediate answers to our many questions put us completely at ease and we thank you deeply.

Most Sincerely,

“As more and more information is available on “the web” for travel advice, the more complex travel can be. Whose opinion do you trust? Who has actual hands on experience in the trip you are looking to take? Who understands your budget, your expectations, are thinking about things you should be thinking about that you haven’t thought about?

Our solution for travel ease came when we found Shawn (and Nancy) Power. They ask probing questions to be sure they recommend the best options. They work within your timeframe for travel, since we are still working a long cruise currently can’t be fit into our schedule.

Our current 2016 trips, seamlessly planned by Shawn are: Silversea Expedition to the Galapagos Islands and an Avalon Waterways River cruise from Paris to Normandy and the beautiful Paris countryside. Two totally different types of travel. As we were planning both of these Shawn was there answering questions, even when he and Nancy were off enjoying their own travel experiences. No question is too simple, he has always given us the peace of mind to make the right decision.

I don’t easily recommend but in this particular case I can emphatically and passionately say, for your cruising needs go to Shawn and Nancy Power!”

“We met Shawn and Nancy last year as fellow travellers on Tauck Tour’s A Portrait of India trip (fantastic trip, by the way!). As we chatted along our adventures together, it became immediately clear how well-traveled and informative they both are. It was amazing, actually, to learn the extent of their travels and how well informed they are about the cruise and travel industry and how willing they are to share their knowledge and expertise. We were very impressed.

Once home and thinking about our next trips, we thought we’d give Shawn a ring to see how he could help. We wanted to book an Alaskan cruise, a Panama Canal cruise and a safari in South Africa. He guided us patiently through our options, the pros and cons of the various cruise lines and companies and which would best match our requirements and preferences. We booked all three trips with him and just returned from our Alaskan adventure. It was great!

Shawn is so responsive to emails and phone calls and so knowledgeable about so many destinations because he and Nancy have no doubt already been there. He is also a straight shooter, honest and lets us know what is good value and what is not. In addition to all his expertise and help, he is able to get discounts and credits that we would not get otherwise. We will ALWAYS call Shawn when planning a trip. Do not hesitate – you will not be disappointed!”

“Shawn and Nancy are heroes!

Workaholic here… I realize many people don’t approach their travel this way, but this is my testimony ☺

I randomly found Shawn and Nancy’s website while researching the endless vacation options out there. I confess, I never liked travel agents so it was odd that I even called. However – Shawn is not like the others. He is amazing! Outside of work related issues I was incapable of making a decision. He listened to me babble and knew exactly how to guide us. Sure, there may be others who have experience – but Shawn does more than just provide information. He’s like the travel doctor! A good doctor listens to the patient, diagnoses the problem and determines the best solution to bring healing. This is what Shawn did for me by expertly “prescribing” the perfect vacation. AND – to sing his praises even more – he got us a better deal on a suite class cabin than what I could have found for a balcony!

My focus for over 10 years has been on NOTHING but running my business. Any attempts at a vacation were unsuccessful. I always ended up working. I was beyond burned out. A mental ward was looking like my perfect vacation. Finally, with perhaps just 1 or 2 brain cells left, I was turning it over to a new owner. My husband and I desperately needed the perfect vacation to help us transition into a normal life. Where do you even start?

I contacted Shawn at the end of December and wanted to travel the 2nd week of February. He “prescribed” a 14 night cruise that started in Hong Kong and ended in Singapore. I am a skeptic by nature. Shawn VERY patiently explained anything and everything as often as needed. Even when he was traveling overseas he made himself available. I am now a believer. I always thought that people could do their own research to find the best deals. NOT TRUE! The right travel agent can do better. I would 100% recommend Shawn and Nancy and can’t wait to book through them again!

Pic of me and my husband (haha – just kidding)”

We were thrilled to “stumble upon” Shawn as a travel agent for our river cruise trips. We found him through the AMA Waterways website and we were lucky enough to start using him for our travel needs. He is consistently “on top” of the travel details including insurance, documents, visas, or any other detail. If we ask him a question, he always answers that day. Due to his vast experience and connection with AMA Waterways, he has been able to find us numerous discounts.  Because of his extensive travel experiences, he can steer us towards trips that he knows we would enjoy. I have recommended him to friends and wouldn’t even consider using anyone else. 

Thanks to Shawn, we had the privilege of taking a Tauck tour to northern France, ending with a private evening visit to The Louvre!

“Last year we were planning a cruise to the Mediterranean and the Dalmatian Coast when our daughter referred Shawn Power to us. We booked that trip on Azamara and Shawn got us a great deal and guided us through the process, including travel insurance. The first time I spoke on the phone with him, I knew this was the agent for us. While on board the ship, there was a discrepancy as to on-board credits and I emailed Shawn. He quickly replied that it was just a timing issue and that he had contacted the ship to clarify the situation. Sure enough, two days later, everything was properly accounted for. This year we booked a cruise to Bordeaux on AmaWaterways with him, and again he got us an excellent deal and gave us some great advice. Our flight to begin a pre-cruise extension was changed by the airline at the last minute, and we were to arrive very late at night causing us to miss the initial meeting with the cruise director. From the airport I emailed Shawn, and within 20 minutes he answered with the name of the cruise director and what time we needed to be ready for the next morning’s tour! Shawn is simply the best! We’re already planning next year’s trip.”

“Hello Shawn and Nancy,

Once again, your travel advice was right on regarding our recent Maritimes Tour with Tauck; eleven days in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island with tour director, Tom McCarron, and driver, George Green. They were professional with every detail planned for our enjoyment, caring…available and listening, and fun (see attached photo when we were at the Anne of Green Gables location).

We didn’t particularly plan this trip to coincide with Canada’s 150th birthday, but were glad to celebrate with them where it all began in P.E.I.

Thank you for promptly responding to all and any of our concerns, and making timely suggestions on aspects of the trip. It was truly one of our best adventures!”

“Thanks to Shawn and Nancy for another great cruise – this time a Panama Canal Crossing on Celebrity. I found Shawn through another website and have been taking advantage of his excellent service since then. I had used several very large agents before, and the delays in response time were particularly frustrating. Shawn has booked both ocean and river cruises for us. The first time I booked a river boat cruise. Shawn recommended a different line than I had been looking at because they had better prices for better rooms. He has been a great source of advice and information over the past 4 years since that first booking. And he has given great prices and perks on a number of cruises. I also like that he is not pushy or aggressive – too many agents these days are. We have 5 cruises on various cruise lines coming up over the next 18 months, all booked with Shawn’s agency.”

“Shawn provided us much needed advice when it came to selecting our first river cruise for a milestone anniversary. No matter how many times we posed questions, he responded quickly with valuable answers about accommodations, included tours, and many other details that we wanted to dive deeply into in order to feel comfortable making the right choice. The videos of the stateroom categories he pointed us to were tremendously helpful. We felt at ease making our choice and enjoyed our travel experience thoroughly.”

I just return from my 8th Tauck tour that Shawn helped book for me.  I used to book all of my trips myself, but since I found Shawn, I book all of my trips with him.  He has a lot of knowledge about so many places and tours, and he is able to recommend specific tours that fit individual interests.  I have come to depend on him when I am planning my trips each year. He thinks of every detail that I may overlook and he is conscientious about the timing and the costs. He promptly responds to emails, no matter where he is in the world, and as a solo traveler, it helps to give me the confidence to go anywhere.

“We have always planned our vacations on our own. Figuring if we took our time doing research online we would put together the best trip for our budget, time, & desired activities. That is until we decided we wanted to try out river cruises and discovered Shawn Power.

Having personally been on 60 cruises, Shawn knows the itineraries & ships of all the major ocean & river cruises. He has been able to match our travel objectives with the best deals available. His insights and deep knowledge of the industry has been super helpful.

Whether it’s advice about itineraries, cruise lines, best deals, staterooms, or excursions, Shawn knows it all. With 60 cruises under his belt, he’s probably “been there – done that” and loves to share his knowledge & insights via phone or email. His turnaround time to respond to questions is always short, even when he’s on vacation! Shawn’s responses are invariably helpful & accurate.

On a recent Mekong River cruise with AMA Waterways, Shawn was able get us a great deal AND a free upgrade to a suite for us. It made an amazing trip even more special.

When our vacation involves a river or ocean cruise, working with Shawn Power is a must for us.

Thank you for making our dreams come true, Shawn!”

“My husband and I were ‘anti-cruise travelers’ until we booked an Alaska cruise on Regent last summer as recommended by Shawn.

And surprise! We LOVED it – and just booked another Regent cruise for next spring. We have come to trust and appreciate
Shawn’s knowledge and experience in finding us just what we are looking for. Give Shawn and Nancy a call to plan your next cruising adventure.

We highly recommend them.”

“We had a fabulous time on our France river wine cruise! We would never book a river cruise with anyone else. He is beyond patient with all our questions, and is extremely knowledgeable. Thank you Shawn for everything you do for us.”

“We’ve both traveled a lot in Europe, both for business and pleasure, both through travel agents and on our own. River cruises sounded like they might be very special. So should we try one?

Enter Shawn and Nancy. It was love at first phone call. Their knowledge of cruise lines and destinations is personal as well as professional. With their guidance, we booked a Fall Danube tour of Eastern Europe with AMA Waterways on their beautiful ship Sonata, starting in Bucharest and ending in Vienna.

Shawn offered great ideas, responded instantly to every question or issue, arranged and later re-arranged travel plans to suit our changing needs, and always made himself available before, during, and after our wonderful journey. We would recommend him in a second to anyone contemplating any form of cruising because he and Nancy are genuine cruise specialists.

Without question, they are the finest travel agents we have ever dealt with. Personable. Knowledgeable. Practical. Creative. Responsive. And nice! Just like personal friends. You won’t be sorry when you engage them.

Looking Forward to Our Next Power Trip!”

“Nancy & Shawn did such a good job guiding us through our first cruise that we’ve turned to them for several more since. They answers all our questions and give us great advice about how to make the most of the cruise. We got great deals and have recommended them to friends and family. They even helped me decide what to pack and what to leave at home!”

“Smooth sailing with Shawn at the helm . . . After making our own booking with Regent, we decided that working through a travel consultant would be a real value added. We found Shawn online through Avoya Travel, and he was a perfect match for our needs. Shawn gave us remarkably rapid responses to all of our questions, calmed our nerves when we had concerns, and through various promotions significantly increased our shipboard credit and determined that we were eligible for a post-cruise bonus. When he and Nancy were going to be away, he provided names and numbers of his back-ups in various locations; so we never felt that we couldn’t get answers when we needed them. He was extremely knowledgeable about all things Regent but also checked with individuals within the company to confirm which we greatly appreciated. Shawn is personable, organized, and attends to every detail with care and good cheer. He is definitely the travel consultant that we will call in the future.”

“It was so great to meet you on our Azamara Cruise. Our good fortune! You are both so knowledgeable and well traveled. And so professional. Thank you…

… The Oceania cruise you recommended & booked for us was spectacular. The best cruise ever. The food was extraordinary. We actually got tired of all the lobster. Went to the buffet because some folks we met said we just had to try it. UNBELIEVABLE. The best ever. The four specialty restaurants, what can I say. WONDERFUL. The grand dining room, again, what can I say. WONDERFUL. The decor was bright and airy. It was a pleasure not to be hounded by photographers, not to have waiters marching around the dining room waving their napkins at the end of the cruise. The very first cruise where I actually liked the art work. The ship was beautiful in every way. Can’t wait to go again in January.

Had lunch today with some tennis friends and raved about the cruise and you and Shawn.”

“Hi Shawn,

Just wanted to send a review about our two latest cruises.

Cruise on the Duoro in Portugal October 2018

This was our second cruise with Uniworld and again it was amazing. Everything went off again without a hitch. Thank you so much again.

We were delighted that we had the same cruise manager – Kirsten – on this cruise as on our first one on the Rhine.

We loved Portugal and thoroughly enjoyed the day in Salamanca in Spain.

Cruise on the Nile May 2019

This was definitely a bucket list trip for me and it exceeded all expectations. From being met as soon as we got off the plane by a Uniworld rep who walked us through and obtained our visas for us to being delivered back to our plane on departure by the same rep, the experience was all we could ask for.

We saw so much and thanks to our Egyptologist – Sameh- learned so much.

The first picture is sunrise over the Nile from a hot air balloon. The second is us outside the Sandeman winery near Porto.

Again Shawn we thank you and want you to know that we will refer you to anyone we know that wants to take a river cruise.
Your expertise and help make river cruise travelling so easy and so enjoyable.”

“I found Shawn and Nancy’s website when researching Nile River cruise reviews. In addition, I came across Shawn’s name when researching ocean cruises. I could tell from reading their reviews, and then from speaking to Shawn by phone, that we were like-minded, when it came to travel styles and preferences.

I didn’t hesitate to ask Shawn to give me a quote on Uniworld’s Provence cruise. I was spending time at Disney’s food and wine festival when he sent me a Labor Day Special. The price was great, so I booked it while on vacation.

About 5 weeks before embarkation, Shawn called me urgently, and when he couldn’t reach me, sent me an email. Our cruise had been cancelled. We talked through the options that Uniworld provided him. Neither was a good fit for us, as we already had airfare booked, and our vacation time couldn’t be changed. Shawn quickly checked the Paris Normandy itinerary, and grabbed the final two cabins. Uniworld agreed to allow us to “jump ship,” so to speak. Shawn continued to work endlessly as time passed, getting us an upgraded cabin. When our docking location changed, he was quick to send an email to us, and confirm we received it. He checked on us while on the cruise, and again on our return.

In addition to this one completed cruise, Shawn has provided invaluable information regarding different cruise lines, times of year to travel to certain destinations, and has watched our booked cruises for fare drops, and taken care of getting us those lower rates.

Shawn and Nancy truly enjoy what they do, and clearly love sharing their love for travel with their clients.”

“We had a wonderful trip! Starting with two nights in an overwater bungalow at the Tahiti Intercontinental. The overwater bungalow stay was a bucket list stay. As Shawn suggested, we went to the Polynesian show at the Intercontinental the night before we boarded the M/S Paul Gauguin. The next day, transfers to our ship went seamlessly. The rooms Shawn suggested had very nice balconies and as he predicted, away from noise. There is plenty of room for storage, a good size bathroom with a full tub. There are 3 restaurants on the ship, the main one for breakfast and lunch is the La Veranda. There is outside seating available. The theme changed daily, Italian, Asian, American, etc. For dinner, we went with Shawn’s suggestion of reservations the restaurant Le Grill on the evenings we were overnight in Bora Bora and Moorea. Le Grill has a great menu, alfresco dining on the deck. On Polynesian night they even had lobster on the menu. Some of our excursions were the 4×4 tour of Huahine where we went out to a Pearl farm. We went on “LeTruck” tour on Bora Bora and the Lagoon tour where we were able to snorkel with Sharks, Rays and tons of colorful fish. On Moorea, we went on the E-Bike tour to Belvedere. All of the tours were amazing! We took Shawn’s suggestion and went to a store for Tahitian Pearls on Moorea. Pai Moana on Moorea had a great selection and offered really great deals on their Pearls. We have worked with Shawn on 3 trips so far, his knowledge of tours have been indispensable. We have followed his recommendations and look forward to many more adventures.”

“Just returned from our Uniworld River Cruise on the Douro River in Portugal with a pre-Cruise trip in Madrid, it was wonderful and surely the most beautiful scenery we have ever seen!

Shawn Power arranged our trip, as he has for our last 7 trips and 2 more upcoming. He is so thorough and makes sure every detail is covered. He even responds to emails while on vacation as he did recently while on a Safari in Africa (didn’t realize he was gone) and arranged a trip for us that had limited reservations left, in about half an hour. Now that’s what I call exemplary service!”

“Shawn & Nancy,

We just returned home from one of the most memorable vacations we ever experienced. The towns, locations and other activities that were chosen for river cruise was much more than we ever expected. I’ve been to Europe several times but we discovered places that I could never dream of. We could not be more satisfied with the Avalon crew and the guides that escorted us through our trip. One night a lock door was broken and delayed our arrival at the morning’s destination, but due to the expert handling of the situation by our cruise director and other crew members, the day was completely saved and we didn’t miss out on a single planned activity. We could not have asked for anything more on any trip.

We like to thank you for the prompt responses to our questions and concerns even when you were away on your own trip you always replied within a few hours. It has truly been a pleasure and we are looking forward to booking another trip with you in the future.

I have hundreds of photos from the trip but two that really impressed me was the Eiffel Tower at night and one from the American Cemetery in Luxemburg of General George Patton’s grave which I am attaching.

Thank you again for everything.”

“Hi Nancy,

I am finally getting around to writing you and Shawn this note to let you know just how much we and our friends loved the Windmills & Tulips Uniworld River Cruise.

The river boat was beautiful, our stateroom was comfortable and inviting, the food delectable and the ship’s staff couldn’t do enough for us to make sure every aspect of our vacation on and off the boat met or exceeded our expectations. Uniworld takes river cruising to a new standard of quality.

Working with Shawn to plan this special trip was a delight for us to experience his level of professionalism, efficiency and warmth.

Because of his broad knowledge and cruise experience he answered all of our questions and gave us practical insight to get the most enjoyment out of our cruise.

I have attached 3 photos/memories of our marvelous trip.

Warm regards,”

“Shawn is such a pleasure to work with. He was our agent through Avoya Travel. He provided outstanding customer service with rapid response to my telephone calls, e-mails and any questions about our Italy Po River Cruise with Uniworld. He is extremely professional and it is evident that he is knowledgeable and highly experienced in cruise planning, which benefited us greatly. We appreciated his keeping us apprised of discounts and bonuses, and recommendations about the trip that would serve us well. He was highly attentive to all of our needs. Moreover, he and Nancy are organized, detail-oriented and provide excellent follow-through to their customers. Often, he would contact me, keeping me apprised of trip details and information, rather than my having to contact him. Everything went smoothly and we had a most pleasurable and memorable trip. We would definitely recommend Shawn and Nancy Power to anyone seeking outstanding travel consultants.”

“Our Castles on the Rhine river cruise was great. Shawn and Nancy did an exceptional job of arranging everything we asked for. They were quick to respond to our questions throughout the planning process and kept in contact with us before, during and after the cruise. We highly recommend them.

The cruise took us from Amsterdam, up the Rhine through Germany, ending near Basel, Switzerland. We saw many lovely sights including, of course, the castles.”

“We just returned from our river cruise on the Danube River with Avalon Waterways. Shawn arranged everything from transfers, insurance and the cruise. We had a wonderful time and loved the tours, great food and meeting people. We would recommend both Shawn and Avalon for their help and service.”

“Shawn,

Connie and I would like to thank you for helping us plan our river cruise with Avalon from Amsterdam to Budapest. Everything went perfectly from our flights to our extra days in Amsterdam. The cruise was relaxing without being boring, we did a few extra excursions but the included excursions were wonderful. We would totally recommend the Night Lights of Budapest for anyone doing this cruise. The cruise director on the Avalon went out of his way to make this trip truly a wonderful experience. We met a lot of really wonderful people and made some new friends. We do have one complaint, we both gained some extra pounds as the food on the Avalon was top of the line. Thanks again Shawn we will definitely be using you for our next vacation.

Thanks,”

Shawn,

“Shawn,

Thank you for all of your help to make our trip so memorable. We appreciate the great job you did getting us the best price possible. When Uniworld canceled the initial cruise , you stepped up to the plate and got us even a better deal on a most memorable itinerary.

We also want to thank you for your communications. Whenever there was a any kind of change you made sure we were in the know. That is so important, especially when traveling out of the country. It was great hearing from you during the trip to make sure everything was going well.

Again, thanks for your help and support.”

“We just returned from our cruise which Shawn set up for my husband and I, along with 2 other couples. He was so helpful and professional throughout the process of booking until we left on our trip! I would highly recommend Calling Shawn for any cruise you are looking to take. He can answer any questions you may have and get you booked on your cruise voyage with great ease!”

“Shawn,

Dan and I just returned from the HAL 14-day Alaska cruise, and I want to give you a big THANKS (!) for recommending the balcony room for Alaska. You were right: there is a gorgeous view nearly all the time out our stateroom window. And I could watch Hubbard Glacier go by without competing with the chatter of 500 people out on the decks for a good view. The weather was sunny almost every day and our captain said that this was the best Alaska cruise, weather-wise, that he’s ever seen. (Unfortunately, this itinerary will change for next year, and the Amsterdam will be sent elsewhere.) Thanks for helping make this our best vacation ever!!!”

“Thank you Shawn and Nancy for your patience and assistance in setting up our first Uniworld River Boat cruise starting in Basel, Switzerland, and continuing up the Rhine and Mosel Rivers for 13 nights to Luzembourg, to Cologne and ending in Amsterdam. The room you helped us select, Shawn, was an excellent choice. We had a wonderful time and met many pleasant and enjoyable people on the cruise, including Lucian and Bruno, the two crew members in the picture with us. There were many other crew members who went above the normal call of duty to make sure we had a wonderful time. The food and staff members were incredible on the cruise. Even while I had a cold, they went out of their way to help me feel better. We highly recommend you, Shawn Power of Powerventures Travel Services, Uniworld River Boat Cruises and the River Queen for anyone who would like to take a River Boat Cruise.”

“Here we are on the Celebrity Constellation in Barcelona, relaxing on our balcony.We want to thank Shawn and Nancy for making our cruise an unforgettable experience.

We definitely recommend having Shawn and Nancy use their experience and expertise to book your next cruise. Shawn and Nancy have lots of cruise experience which makes booking with them a very pleasant and hassle free experience.

We have another cruise booked with Shawn and Nancy for Christmas and New Years In the Caribbean.

Thank you Shawn and Nancy for all your help in making our cruise experience memorable and smooth.”

“Ann and I cannot say enough good things about the way Shawn and Nancy Power took care of us before, during and even after our river cruise up the Danube. We were given every possible kind of information about the cruise beforehand, and every single one of our questions – no matter how frivolous – were answered promptly and with great good humor. We couldn’t have been better prepared for this wonderful trip. We even got an e-mail along the way asking how things were going and if we were having a good time! We had more than a good time – it was, indeed, the trip-of-a-lifetime and the Powers surely helped to make it so.

You asked for a photo – this is one of the Roman arches that led into their camp in Regensburg. This was one of our favorite tours along the way.”

“Our Rhine river and castle cruise was awesome! Shawn was very helpful in getting us a good rate on a great cruise-line. We really appreciate all that he did and especially knowing that he was available to help as we went along. We did reach out for him once while abroad and he was very prompt and helpful with his response. Thank you, Shawn, we look forward to using your service again in the future.”

“Uniworld took us off the beaten path in the wine country of Bordeaux to see barrels being made from French Oak at Saint-Denis-de-Pile. We loved that. Shawn booked a wonderful tour for us—in record time and at a great price. We were wowed by his expertise and by the river cruise. We got just what we wanted, and we’ll be calling for more.”

“Cuban Cigar Factory…HAPPY people… An eye opening experience made possible by Nancy and Shawn. We have taken many cruises over the years but our cruise to Cuba was flawless. We even signed up for another cruise to Asia in 2019.”

“This was a first time cruise experience and I was fortunate to have a friend refer me to Shawn. I had already picked out the basic parameters, but Shawn made it all happen, didn’t try to get me to waste money on unnecessary upgrades, did set me up with good travel insurance, and otherwise facilitated the whole process. For a new cruiser, he was an extremely valuable resource, and I would recommend his help and would use his services again in the future, Thanks Shawn!”

“We had a great time on our Crystal Cruise and appreciated all the attention to detail that you two provided. Shawn was always available and eager to answer questions, and he made sure that all our credits were applied as promised. We would use your services again.”

“Dear Shawn and Nancy,

Barbara and I have recently completed our second Silver Seas Cruise and are pleased to say that it was as excellent in every respect to our initial 2013 experience, thanks in no small part to the timely and professional services provided by your firm. Those services have included serious 24/7 emergency assistance I doubt would have been provided us by any other travel group

Having been extensive international travelers for decades, it is our opinion that the organizations efficiency of Silver Seas are to be applauded and the efficiency, friendliness of every staff members on both cruises have been truly remarkable.

We look forward to working with your firm for many years to come and we will be pleased to be a reference source for you at any time.

Sincerely,”

“Dear Shawn and Nancy,

I want to thank you for your expert advice in our vacation planning. I love to travel but I always procrastinate about doing the research and making the arrangements. When my friend referred me to you with a stellar recommendation, I figured it was worth a call. Within minutes of speaking with Shawn, I could tell he knew everything there was to know about cruising. He steered us to the cruise line that fit our schedule the best, offered us discounts and promotions I didn’t know existed and advised us on appropriate accommodations. I felt very comfortable contacting you with additional questions and you got back to me promptly despite the fact that you were away on your own vacation. We had a fabulous time and hope to plan another cruise with you in the future.

THANK YOU!”

“Hello Nancy: Sorry it took so long to answer your e mail. we have had a crazy busy time since we came home. Our Azamara trip was OUTSTANDING. WE could not have had a better trip. The Azamara Quest, the fabulous staff, especially head maître D “Allan” were wonderful. It was a true delight working with you and Shawn in booking our cruise. You folks could not have been more professional in handling booking. Thank you very much. Attached is a picture of Pat and I taken on the cruise. Again thanks for being great travel agents.”

“Dear Shawn,

The Oceania cruise in the Baltic with our family was a very successful celebration event and we appreciate your organization and guidance of our planning. This was the first time that we used an agent instead of working directly with the cruise company and we were most pleased with our choice. The discounts and incentives that you arranged were well appreciated and there were no difficulties with the cruise ship honouring them. So, a great thank you for your help. In particular we appreciated your responsiveness to our questions and your advice and suggestions. We will plan to use your services in the future as our travel plans evolve. By the way, this was our third cruise with Oceania and, as usual, they did a fabulous job. We highly recommend them and you!”