Plan your perfect trip with this travel counsellor serving Fife, Falkirk and Dundee – cruises a speciality

Anthony Marshall is a self-confessed travel enthusiast and cruise ship fantatic, and is now ready to share his professional and personal expertise and experiences to make both your cruising and holiday dreams plain sailing.

His first holiday to Switzerland at the age of seven sparked his wanderlust, and after his first cruise he was hooked on life at sea.

“It’s a different way of holidaying, with so much to see and do on a ship and an incredible way to see the world. The holiday begins the moment you step on board – it takes the stress out of everything,” he says.

According to the Cruise Line Industry Association UK cruise passenger numbers rose by 5 per cent last year to hit a new record of 2.4 million (forecast to hit 40m by 2027), whilst the average age dropped to 54.3.

Anthony says his experience backs this up, with cruises becoming more popular with younger people and families too, as well as solo travellers, singles, couples and groups. And there are options to suit all demographics and budgets, he says, from the high end luxury cruise ships to more affordable experiences, which offer great value for money when you take into account their all-inclusive offerings.

Anthony spent several years in Southampton, the UK hub for cruise ships, where he both studied and worked in the industry as a cruise consultant. Having visited countries around the world and sailed the seven seas, he is now back on home turf in Dundee where he grew up, and it’s from here that he is running his Travel Counsellor franchise.

“The benefits of using a travel agent and tour operator cannot be overstated. We have the knowledge and the contacts to tap into and, if plans do go wrong then we can be on it in a flash and take the strain off the customer, unlike when you book it yourself,” said Anthony. “We are not computers, we’re human beings, so whilst we have the technology there, we always have that human touch.”

Here’s five reasons why booking with bespoke independent consultant Anthony, is your best bet for a hassle-free holiday.

1. Global expertise – local contact

Backed by parent company Travel Counsellors, the business gives clients the benefit of a personal service and the convenience of dealing with a local agent, with all the backing of a larger organisation and its contacts, back up support systems and financial security.

2. Your personal concierge

Whether it’s a bucket and spade holiday to Spain, a bucket-list holiday of a lifetime, an adventure off the beaten track, or a cruise around the UK or the world, then Anthony is your man. He will take time to understand your tastes, your requirements and your budget and, using his expertise, personal experience and the wealth of knowledge from Travel Counsellors, will then be able to advise and devise holiday options and itineraries for you – and they’re usually comparable, or cheaper, than big-brand options and with his regular deals, you could even bag yourself a bargain.

3. Peace of mind

You have total choice and control over how you like to make your travel arrangements and keep up to date – whether that’s by email, personal phone call or via websites or the interactive real-time app. All clients are given access to the myTC app, which includes all itinerary details and options and is a great way to keep up to date with all your travel plans.

4. Here for you – wherever and whenever

Core business hours for holiday or cruise enquiries and bookings are Monday to Friday 9-5, but Anthony’s flexible work life means he could be working any day or any time behind the scenes to finesse your holiday plans. He would be available in an emergency, and if for any reason you could not reach him, there is 24/7, 365 day support from the parent company Travel Counsellors. It holds ATOL protection and also holds all money in secure Travel Counsellors Trust so you know your deposit and your booking is safe and guaranteed.

Your satisfaction guaranteed

Once you get in touch with Anthony, you can relax, safe in the knowledge that he will want to curate the best holiday experience he can for you and be there for you right through your journey.

“Because it’s independent we have a lot of scope to find just the right thing and be a complete tour operator for clients, looking after every detail,” he said. As a one-man business he relies on his reputation and professionalism for your custom now and in the future, and for word of mouth recommendations, so will always go the extra mile. “With the backing of the parent company too both the customers and I can be assured we have everything covered.”

Find out more

Visit the website here. Call Anthony on 01382 916721 email him at [email protected] and make sure you follow his Facebook page here for all the latest news, deals and holiday ideas.