A few years back, Cunard Line celebrated the 100th anniversary since it became ‘the first cruise line to ever offer a world cruise.’
As the story goes, the voyage which set sail in late 1922 aboard Laconia, sailed around the whole world, marking the first time that a ship had offered such a cruise experience.
It makes for a great story. But as everything in history, there is more nuance than the PR headline suggests.
Years ago, when researching this voyage for one of our books, Rachelle and I discovered the nuance. Indeed, Laconia does have a claim to a world cruise title. She was the first northern hemisphere ocean liner to undertake a continuous world cruise, simply for pleasure.
But world cruises had been offered in the past. And by many shipping lines. Prior to Laconia, they required passengers to swap from one ship to another, and sometimes another and another… to make the circumnavigation.
It was not a simple affair.
Cunard’s Laconia was able to do the whole trip. And though she did not venture one nautical mile into the Southern Hemisphere for this trip (which makes me wonder how it can be a ‘world cruise’) she did make headlines.
And what we also discovered: this was not simply a Cunard venture.
Sure, Cunard’s ship and crew operated the voyage. But it was devised, marketed and sold as an American Express experience.
It was the American Express travel agency that came up with this idea, as a way to sell voyages at a time when cruising was still looked at with some skepticism. In fact, from the 19th century until the early years of the 21st century, travel agencies were key to any travel business’ success.
Yet in today’s AI-powered, Google enhanced, DIY world, it might seem like the days of using a travel agent are over.
For me, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Sure, it’s 2026 and I’ve made plenty of my own bookings direct with airlines, cruise lines, hotels and resorts. But there are times where I turn to a travel agent to support me in making the best possible booking.
This goes way back, to the days when I used to cruise on QE2. Back then, I’d occasionally travel with my grandad. Both of us were huge QE2 fans, and we enjoyed the chance to go to sea together.
My grandad (George as he preferred to be called as grandad made him sound old, which was not okay!) was a senior citizen and had to save up to sail aboard QE2. As for me, well I was saving every spare cent from my first job to go into a slowly growing QE2 fund.
But usually by the time we had enough money to book, all the affordable cabins were gone. So we’d turn to travel agents to help us find a cabin. Back in the day, it was National Seniors Travel, which George had access to.
But as my family became more and more interested in cruising, we realised that a dedicated, cruise focused travel agent, was essential.
My parents, for example, like to cruise on the QM2. They have a favourite cabin, a favourite dining venue, and a favourite airline to fly to and from the ship. And they found it a bit frustrating to have to tell the cruise line rep their requests each time.
But back in the 1990s, while sailing on the QE2, we’d met Dave Oakes. Dave was hosting a group from aboard the ship. He’d worked aboard QE2, in another life, but had transitioned to putting his unrivalled expertise into selling cruises. And he’s a bit of a legend among Cunard travellers.
So my folks turned to Dave, and have never had to mention their preferences again. And as I became more and more involved as a guest speaker for various cruise lines, I’ve also leant on Dave. Especially with my Cunard bookings.
You see, as a guest speaker I am provided with a cabin for the voyage. And I can usually bring one extra guest along with me. But when I want to travel with more than one person, well the extra cabin is for me to book and pay for.
On more than one occasion, I’ve booked rooms for my family to join me on lecture gigs.
And many of the routes I speak on are not standard cruise segments. For example the whole segment might be Honolulu to Sydney but I am only booked to speak on the Auckland to Sydney leg. So it’s nearly impossible to book these online.
But that’s no worries for Dave.
He’s been able to secure cabins on these shorter segments, cruises that aren’t even showing on the official Cunard website. This is just one example of the benefit that comes from booking with someone who has years of experience, and who has built up the right contacts at the cruise lines.
Today Dave is part of the Travel Masters team. And I still see him aboard the ships. He’s loved by his customers and known well by the Cunard crew.
That’s why earlier this year, I became an affiliate of Travel Masters and The Travel Studio, meaning you can book with the very same travel agent I use. And as a bonus, at no cost to you, I get some commission.
This is an extra help for me, as I’ve had more requests for ‘what’s the best way to book a cruise’ from my YouTube and website, chriscunard.com than I can count over the years, and now I had someone to refer you to!
But… there was a problem.
Most of you aren’t Australian like me and Dave. So I started looking for a global agency that could help all my US, UK and global readers.
It was as if it was ‘meant to be’, that at exactly the same time as I started looking for an international agency I can trust, I received a message from my friend Emma LeTeace.
You’ll probably know Emma from Emma Cruises. It’s one of the most popular cruise channels on YouTube. Emma co-founded The Cruise Globe with Matt Jones, who like me, has a cruise story that starts with QE2… turns out no matter where I go, all roads lead to QE2… this was a good omen!
Emma gave me a tip… reach out to Matt. He has some exciting news. So I did…
The Cruise Globe is launching a travel agency offering! Would you like to be an affiliate?
What timing!
Saying yes was even easier as I’d worked alongside Emma and Matt for years, as an affiliate of The Cruise Maps. I’ve known Emma for a long time now. I know they both love cruising. And, importantly, I know Emma is one of the most reliable reviewers of cruise experiences that ever lived. If she’s put her name on The Cruise Globe, it means she believes in it!
So as of this week, I am also an affiliate of The Cruise Globe, meaning that you can book your cruise or land based holiday, wherever you live, and get access to some of the most knowledgable people in the industry.
And as a little bonus (for me at least), at no cost to you if you book with either Travel Masters or The Cruise Globe, I get a small commission.
Which makes the world of difference as I build my Substack and YouTube channel.
If you’d like to enquire or book…
… just choose your region below, to be redirected to our preferred travel agents:
🇺🇸 United States of America
We are an affiliate of The Cruise Globe.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
We are an affiliate of The Cruise Globe.
🇦🇺 Australia
We are an affiliate of Travel Masters.
🌎 The Rest of the World
We are an affiliate of The Cruise Globe.
Important: By clicking these links, you will be redirected to an external website. Please note that these travel agents are independent entities: once you leave this site, you will be subject to their terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Disclosure: These are affiliate links. If you choose to make a booking through these referral pages, Chris Frame may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. This support helps us maintain our maritime history content and research work.
Who are The Cruise Globe?
The Cruise Globe is a new travel agency that was started by my friends Matt Jones and Emma LeTeace. Matt has a family connection with the QE2, my all time favourite ship, so we got along well since day one! He is also the founder of The Cruise Maps, and The Cruise Globe. Emma is the brilliant maritime mind behind @EmmaCruises, one of the most successful cruise YouTube channels in the world. Emma and I have been great friends for years, and have even caught up in person and virtually on Emma’s channel! When Emma and Matt invited me to become an affiliate of The Cruise Globe for UK, USA and Global cruise bookings, I couldn’t think of a team more passionate and committed to cruising and cruise ships!
Who are Travel Masters?
In Australia, it can be really hard to find the best global cruise deals. But when it comes to booking my own family cruises, I’ve turned to Travel Masters and The Travel Studio for years. In fact, Travel Masters agent Dave Oakes and I have known each other since I first cruised on QE2 as a kid! He doesn’t just navigate complex, long-distance itineraries; he has even secured cabins that many major booking engines can’t find! Travel Masters has been my secret weapon for many years, providing human expertise that I’ve never seen matched. I recommend them to friends and family without hesitation.
