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From river cruises throughout Europe,  immersive ocean voyages around the world, or deep polar exploration, every detail is carefully curated so you can travel seamlessly, confidently, and exceptionally well.

Where Adventures Begins

Bespoke Cruise & Travel Experiences

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Proudly stationed in the vibrant city of San Antonio, TX. With a passion for exploration and a keen eye for crafting unforgettable experiences, I am here to transform your travel dreams into reality.

As a seasoned travel advisor, I have immersed myself in the world of travel, constantly seeking out the latest trends, hidden gems, and unique destinations to ensure that your cruise is nothing short of extraordinary.
 
Whether you dream of sailing the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, exploring the historical treasures of Europe, or embarking on an expedition to the polar regions, I am committed to curating a journey that exceeds your expectations.

Your Gateway to Tailored Adventures

your dedicated travel advisor

I'm Emma,

At A Passport to Travel, I know planning a vacation can be time-consuming, daunting, and downright overwhelming at times. Your trip can quickly go from a once-in-a-lifetime trip to an epic disaster in one fell swoop.

It shouldn’t be that way.

Your vacation time is precious. If something goes wrong, you want someone you can trust to pick up the pieces and put them back together. Pronto.
 
With A Passport to Travel, you get a vacation that is meticulously planned by an expert with over 25 years of experience in the travel field. My vacation planning services include:
 
  • Cruise planning.
  • Hotel reservations.
  • Transfers, private-guides, tours, activities, and more.
  • A beautiful in-depth day-to-day itinerary.
  • City and country guides packed full of suggestions of places to visit and things to do prepared exclusively by myself.
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With the Distinctive Voyages program, our goal is to make every cruise you book as unique as possible by providing you with complimentary amenities you’ll find nowhere else. With over 540 annual departures, there is something for everyone: From river cruises to ocean voyages and even world cruises, the world is at your fingertips.

Distinctive Voyages

HOSTED CRUISE COLLECTION

12- Night Best of Japan - Golden Week Cruise with Celebrity Cruises

Join Me

A Journey of Adriatic Beauty and Aegean Enlightenment with Explora Journeys

May 31st, 2027: A 7 night Journey through Adriatic sailing from Venice to Athens with ports of call in Rovinj, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Corfu and Milos.
• SOLD OUT • SOLD OUT • SOLD OUT
May 2nd, 2026: Ports of call include Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nagasaki and Shimizu for Mt. Fuji. Our complimentary shore excursion is in Busan, South Korea.​​
  • Services of a distinctive voyage host.
  • Invitation to a private welcome reception.
  • Exclusive shore event that will truly connect you to your destination.
  • Private car and driver.*
  • Surprise and delight amenity on sailings of 14 or more nights.*
  • Culinary Collection – culinary-themed sailings for food and wine enthusiasts.*

*On select voyages

What's Included In A Distinctive Voyages Departure?

Ocean and river cruises are unbeatable for culture, history, and seamless travel between destinations. Expedition cruises unlocks a whole new world —  Polar ice fields, remote archipelagos, and untouched wilderness — with every comfort still waiting for you back onboard after a long day of exploration.

Explore Cruises

Explore

Cruises

OCEAN CRUISES

The mere mention of the word cruise can send grown men running while their wives happily pack their suitcases. What once felt like a prison with strict rules for dining and limited entertainment options has now become the ultimate getaway where the mantra “something for everyone” has never been more accurate. Flexible dining times with an array of options from sushi and teppanyaki to French bistros, steakhouses, and Argentinian churrascarias are the norm. World-class Broadway shows like “Kinky Boots,” “Grease,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Jersey Boys” grace the stages of many of today’s most sought-after ships. Even the largest ships can feel small and boutique with concierge-level rooms, including “Suite Class,” “Aqua Class,” or “Haven” accommodations. Butlers, private sundecks, exclusive restaurants, and reserved seating at your favorite shows are inclusive features in these top-notch room categories.

Here are a few of our favorite ocean liners:

  • Silversea
  • Seabourn
  • Crystal
  • Regent
  • Oceania
  • Azamara
  • Cunard
  • Aqua Expeditions
  • Explora Journeys
  • Celebrity
  • Royal Caribbean
  • Norwegian
  • Atlas Ocean Voyages
  • Explora Journeys
  • Princess Cruises
  • Holland America
  • Windstar Cruises

RIVER CRUISES

If sailing the Seven Seas is old news, it’s time to change things up. With a river cruise, every detail is carefully planned out and executed to perfection. Enjoy the charming villages and medieval castles of the Rhine, the iconic imperial cities of Budapest and Vienna along the delightful Danube or the lavender peppered fields and Papal Palaces of Provence. Are you looking for something further afield? Explore Cambodia and Vietnam and the riches of the Mekong. Combine an African safari with a cruise along the Chobe River, a favorite watering hole for elephants, buffalo, and extraordinary birdlife. Adventure deep into the Amazon rainforest, the most biodiverse ecosystem in the world, and home to one-third of all animal species.

A few of our favorite river cruise lines:

  • AmaWaterways
  • Uniworld
  • Avalon River Cruises
  • Scenic Cruises
  • Emerald Waterway
  • Viking
  • Riverside
  • Riviera
  • Amadeus
  • Tauck
  • Celebrity *beginning 2027

EXPEDITION CRUISES

Set sail on a journey of discovery to the far ends of the earth. Immerse yourself in the profound silence and beauty of the Antarctic peninsula or admire the vast emptiness of the polar north, dotted with the melting sea ice and polar bears who call this land home. Alternatively, explore the Islands of the Galapagos with its endemic species of birds, reptiles, and natural beauty. A visit to any one of these locales will inevitably change the way you see travel forever. These cruise lines bring the true meaning to the word “expedition” with cozy warm parkas for polar exploration, naturalists, photographers, and oceanographers to share their wealth of knowledge. Reinforced ice-breaking hulls, zodiac boats, and the latest technology such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), underwater cameras, and hydrophones elevate your experience.

Your safety and enjoyment are paramount with these trusted names in expedition cruising:

  • Silversea
  • National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions
  • Ponant
  • Celebrity (Galapagos)
  • Hurtigruten
  • Seabourn
  • Atlas Ocean Voyages
  • Aqua Expeditions
  • Aurora Expeditions,
  • Atlas Ocean Voyages
  • HX Expeditions
  • Scenic Eclipse
  • Swan Hellenic
  • Viking
  • Quark Expeditions

YACHTS

Go on a journey, off the beaten path, and discover some of the oldest communities to have ever existed. Experience the rich history and exciting ports of the Adriatic coast or the abundance of natural and archaeological wonders of the Red Sea. Explore the crystalline waters of the Caribbean or the romantic beauty of the Mediterranean.

These ships offer exciting itineraries in small groups and unparalleled luxury:

  • Emerald Yachts
  • Scenic Discovery Yachts
  • The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
  • Four Seasons Yachts
  • Orient Express Sailing Yachts
  • Aman at Sea

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO TRAVEL - AND TRAVEL WELL

Because your vacation time is precious and if something goes wrong — and if you travel often enough, you know at some point it inevitably will — you want someone you can trust to pick up the pieces and put them back together. 

Because, like me, you enjoy giving back. When you work with me, a small — but meaningful — percentage of your vacation cost is donated to one of several social impact organizations I support. (Don’t worry, this is not baked into the cost, this comes from my pocket, not yours)

You work hard for your money and you don’t just want any old trip.

step one

Call

Let’s schedule some time to talk. I want to get to know you and your travel style. What is the purpose of the trip? What do you want to see and do – and how do you want to do it?

step two

Design

Based on your feedback, I will design and present you an itinerary. The itinerary will cover every aspect of your trip from flights to transfers, accommodations, maybe a cruise, as well as tours and activities. Once you are completely satisfied with the itinerary we move on to the next step.


step three

Reserve

Once you are happy and it all looks perfect, I will start to reserve all of the services.

step four

Experience

Go have fun and enjoy yourselves!

step five

Share

We will reconnect once you are safely back home (and recovered from jetlag!). I want to hear all about it. And don’t forget the photos!

5 Easy Steps

TO PLANNING THE PERFECT TRIP

Whether you’re dreaming of a private river cruise through Europe, an indulgent Mediterranean escape, or a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to the world’s most remarkable places, your time deserves thoughtful planning. Every detail is curated with care so you can travel beautifully, confidently, and without compromise.

Your Next Journey Awaits

begin your journey

Payne Family / Mediterranean cruise

"Emma found us the perfect cruise! She also surprised us with a private photo shoot outside the Vatican at sunset. We are very much looking forward to working with Emma again."

Lepeska / PARIS & ROME

"I cannot begin to recommend Emma enough. She is so knowledgeable about so many parts of the world and the travel industry. She is personable and makes every effort to make your vacation everything you had hoped for and more."

Todd & Emilee c. / ireland

"We trusted Emma with one of the biggest moments of our lives: our honeymoon. Every little detail was thought through so we didn't have a single bit of stress and were able to simply love our incredible trip. We will never ever plan a trip without her!"

Happy Travelers

Transparent Insights for Clear Travel Planning

Some types of vacations require hours of research and planning to make it absolutely unforgettable. While I do my best to minimize fees, sometimes it is essential, and I sincerely hope you respect my time, as much as I respect yours.

A Word About Fees

  • Cruise (including any ancillary services such as air, hotels, and pre/post-cruise packages) booked with cruise line: No fee
  • Cruise cancellation fee*: $100 per cabin
 
  • Airfare (booked with 3rd party): $50 per person
  • Hotel (booked with 3rd party): $50 per room
 
  • Complex customized itinerary with more than 3 Components: $350 flat fee per couple/family 

*Purchasing insurance will protect you from the cruise lines cancellations fees, this is my fee for submitting the paperwork to process the refund.

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