Cruise Holidays Chicago is a boutique leisure travel agency on Chicago's Magnificent Mile that specializes in cruise travel.
We don't try to be all things to all people. We focus on one thing: finding the perfect cruise for you! Our focus on cruises results in a level of expertise and product knowledge that is not easily matched. Our certified cruise travel specialists will make planning your cruise a breeze and especially enjoy helping first-time cruisers navigate the world of travel by ship. And unlike large call centers or general travel agencies, our team will provide you with the personalized service and attention that you deserve.
So if you like to travel well, but are tired of surfing the web for hours, trying to find the right cruise amongst all the options available, or not sure which review to trust, just give us a call. We have the expertise to guide you through the hundreds of ships, itineraries and cruises offered by all major (and minor) cruise lines around the world.
Good to know: our fares are never higher than those offered directly by the cruise line - but our service levels are! And as part of the Cruise Holidays network, we offer additional amenities and lower fares on many sailings.
Our cruise travel agency serve guests from Chicago and Chicagoland such as the surrounding suburbs of Evanston, Oak Park, Wilmette, Schaumburg and Naperville, but many of our clients hail from other areas of the United States and Canada, as well as Europe and Australia.
For contact details, directions and opening hours, see our "Contact Us" page.
Accreditation and Qualifications
We are an official member of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Our Cruise Travel Specialists hold certifications including Master Cruise Counsellor (MCC), Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC) and Luxury Cruise Counsellor (LCC). In addition, we are certified by many of our cruise line partners, such as Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Holland America Line and Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyages.) We are also a member of Cunard Line's Inner Circle and appointed Commodore Specialists by both Cunard Line and Princess Cruises.
Cruise Holidays International recognizes us as Certified Luxury Travel Experts and we are part of the Platinum Program: a select group of travel adivsors within the Cruise Holidays network that focus on luxury travel.
Awards 
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2012 - Cruise Holidays International - Best Marketing Promotion
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2011 - Cruise Holidays International - Outstanding Sales Award
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2011, 2010 - Cunard Line - Top Sales Award
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Cruise Holidays International "Knock Your Socks Off" Customer Service Award
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Cruise Holidays International - Operational Excellence Award
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Cruise Holidays International - Marketing Excellence Award
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Cunard Line Inner Circle Agency since 2008
Our Chicago Cruise Travel Experts
Rob Clabbers
President
Certified Master Cruise Counsellor & Luxury Cruise Specialist
Rob truly has travel in his blood! A hotelier by trade, Rob was born and bred in the Netherlands. He has since traveled to over 55 countries and lived and worked in the Caribbean, Asia, Europe and the USA. Rob's hotel education and over 20 years in the luxury travel industry help set the experience guests of Cruise Holidays in Chicago can expect - courteous service in a relaxed atmosphere.
Rob has been certified by the Cruise Lines International Association as an Accredited Cruise Counsellor (ACC), Master Cruise Counsellor (MCC) and Luxury Cruise Specialist (LCS). Rob is a member of the Franchise Advisory Board for Cruise Holidays International and served as the board liaison for the Cruise Holidays Luxury Focus Group, which evolved in Cruise Holidays' exclusive Platinum luxury cruise travel group.
Rob's favorite cruise destinations include Tahiti and the South Pacific, Asia, Alaska, the Mediterranean and the Northern Europe - the Baltic: Scandinavia and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Areas of expertise: luxury and world cruises, group cruise travel, Western Europe, Asia, Australia and Alaska.
Rob's cruise industry credentials include Cunard Commodore, Princess Commodore, Celebrity Special Agent, Royal Caribbean Expert Plus, Hurtigruten (previously Norwegian Coastal Voyages) expert, Disney Expert, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Expert and many other qualifications.
Kevin M. Grubb
Cruise Travel Specialist
Accredited Cruise Counsellor
With an education in theatre and numerous years of experience in the travel industry, Kevin is a people person. Originally from the Midwest, Kevin spent time in Alaska and traveled to Europe and throughout the Caribbean. He enjoys finding the perfect vacation for his guests and uses his experience and insight when crafting the perfect trip. Kevin's favorite travel destinations include the Caribbean and Western Europe.
Kevin was selected as Travel Agent of the Day by the executive team of Royal Caribbean International in April 2008. Kevin has also sailed on the largest cruise ship in the world, one of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas class of ships as well as Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2. Kevin was also awarded a top sales award by Cunard Line for three consecutive years.
Area of expertise: Alaska and Caribbean cruises, group cruises and family reunion travel. Kevin's cruise industry credentials include Cunard Commodore, Princess Commodore and Royal Caribbean Expert Plus. He is also certified by the Cruise Lines International Association as an Accredited Cruise Counsellor.
Kathy Palacios
Cruise Travel Specialist
Kathy was born in Northern California and came to Chicago for a family vacation when she was 5 - and is still enjoying her life long holiday here! She now considers herself to be a true Chicagoan and embraces the Windy City. Kathy too is a people person and she enjoys making a connection with others.
With over 20 years of experience in travel, including airline, corporate travel, leisure travel, groups and honeymoons, Kathy left the industry for a while to pursue other ventures, but her love for travel brought her back. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of travel, Kathy is a Board Member of the Yancey Chicago Boys & Girls Club of Chicago.
Kathy's favorite destinations include any place with a beach - so Antigua in the Caribbean makes the list as there is a beach for every day of the year! Other favorites include Costa Rica, Ireland and Mexico.
Areas of expertise: Caribbean cruises, wedding and honeymoon travel on land or at sea, Mexico, all-inclusive resorts. Kathy is a certified Cunard Commodore travel agent and a graduate of the training academies for Silversea, Crystal and Oceania Cruises. She is also well on her way to obtain her ACC accreditation by the Cruise Lines International Association.
About Cruise Holidays International
Founded in 1984, Cruise Holidays International is North America's oldest cruise-specialty retail franchise with locations throughout the United States and Canada. As our name suggests, our retail travel stores and home-based locations specialize in cruise travel, providing unparalleled expertise in matching clients with the cruise ships and destinations that are right for them. Cruise Holidays is one of the franchise brands within The Travel Leaders Group, Inc. (formerly known as Carlson Travel Network Associates, Inc. a subsidiary of the Carlson Leisure Group), one of the world's largest and most respected travel franchisers. Because of the size of the Cruise Holidays network, the proven expertise of its owners and agents and the unparalleled strength of its industry connections, Cruise Holidays is considered by many of the world's best cruise lines and travel suppliers to be a distribution system of choice. As a result, Cruise Holidays can offer its clients an amazing array of cruise vacations at highly competitive prices. And since Cruise Holidays agents can arrange travel on any cruise line in the world, the list of destinations seems endless. Cruise Holidays has locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia.
Although Cruise Holidays stores and their agents focus specifically on cruise travel, the network's service doesn't stop there. Cruise Holidays can also provide travelers with pre- and post-cruise travel arrangements and options like hotel packages, shore excursions and tours - all at competitive prices.
About Travel Leaders Group, LLC
With over 6,000 affiliated travel agency locations in the United States and Canada, Travel Leaders Group serves millions of individual leisure travelers, as well as select corporate clients and destinations. Travel Leaders Group also manages numerous leisure and franchise travel operations throughout the United States under a variety of diversified brands. Its brands include Cruise Holidays, Travel Leaders, Nexion, Vacations.com, Results! Travel®, All Aboard Travel, SinglesCruise.com®, Partners in Travel, Luxury Travel Network, Cruise Specialists, Fly4Less.com and CruiseDeals.com.