After working for three years as an outside agent, Mary Ann opened Custom Cruises LLC in September of 1998. Early on she realized she wanted to be associated with a consortium that would provide the contacts and professional marketing materials that would give Custom Cruises LLC the professional image and the ability to provide ‘the best travel experience’ for her clients. After researching her options she joined GIANTS in November of 1998. She quickly became an active member of the organization and in 2000 participated on a panel on the topic of ‘GIANTS SELECT Success Stories’ at the National Conference. In 2002 she was invited to become a member of the National Marketing Committee. In 2004 GIANTS changed its name to Ensemble Travel and in 2005 Mary Ann was invited to participate at the organizations second International Conference as a panel member on ‘Marketing Success Stories’. She continues as a member of the National Marketing Committee and also serves on the Regional Marketing Committee for the Mid West Region. Mary Ann has also taken advantage of the many educational seminars offered by CLIA and has attained her ACC accreditation.

 

       Travel is knowledge for any travel consultant and the experience is vital to be able to recommend and plan travel for others. Mary Ann was fortunate to have traveled extensively before she became involved in the industry. She has visited almost every state and major city in the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. She has visited every continent except Antarctica (which she plans to visit soon). And has sailed on most of the oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes throughout the world.

 

       In North America she has visited Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. While sailing in the Caribbean, she has visited Aruba, Curacao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Antigua, Barbados, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Blas Islands, Bahamas, the Turks and Cacios and Bermuda. In South America she has visited Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay. In Africa she has visited Egypt, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia,  South Africa and the islands of Mauritius and Madagascar. In Asia she has visited India, Turkey, Oman, UAE, Muscat, Bali, and New Guinea. She has visited Australia and New Zealand. In Europe she has visited England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Greece and many of the Greek Isles, Malta, the Netherlands, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Monaco Hungary, and Slovakia.

 

       In most countries she has visited the capitols or major cities including: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Oxford, Paris, Berlin, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Rome, Gibraltar, Frankfurt, Munich, Budapest, Vienna, Marbella and the Costa del Sol area, Madrid, Seville, Lisbon, Monte Carlo, Istanbul, Athens, Dubai, New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Luxor, Cairo, Cape Town, Livingston, Durban, Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Cairns, Darwin, Auckland, Queenstown, Christchurch, and Singapore.

 

       Extended visits to Europe have included skiing in Italy, weeks in Oxford and London and Paris, extended visits to Germany, its villages, and the German countryside, a motor tour of Spain and an excursion from London to Innsbruck on the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.

 

       Mary Ann and Jerry took their first cruise in 1990 from New York City to Halifax round trip for her Mother’s 80^th birthday celebration on the Queen Elizabeth 2. (It was also the 150^th Anniversary sailing for Cunard!). Since then they have both cruised throughout the world. Those cruises, cruise lines and ships were:

• 1992-Athens to Istanbul-Renaissance-Regina Renaissance (this ship is now with Clipper Cruise Line as the Clipper Odyssey)
• 1994-Rome to Copenhagen-Royal Viking Sun-Royal Viking Sun (this ship is now with Holland America Line as the ms Prinsendam)
• 1995-Ft. Lauderdale to Lisbon-Holland America Line-ms Maasdam (this transatlantic cruise included stops in Bermuda and the Azores)
• 1997-Rome to Athens-Crystal Cruises-Crystal Harmony
• 1997-Memphis to New Orleans-Delta Queen Steamboat Co-American Queen
• 1996-Southampton to New York City-Cunard-QE2 (this crossing included accommodations in the Queen’s Grill Suites and was preceded by a pre crossing flight from NYC to London on the Concorde)
• 1997-San Juan, Puerto Rico RT-Celebrity Cruises-Galaxy
• 1998-Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires-Silversea Cruises-Silver Cloud (this cruise included post cruise tour to the Falls of Iguazu in South America)
• 1998-Portland, OR RT down the Columbia River to Idaho-Queen of the West Steamboat Company-Queen of the West
• 1999-Brownville to Galveston on Texas Inland Waterways-American River Barge Co- ms River Explorer
• 1999-Mumbai to Athens-Silversea Cruises-Silver Cloud (this cruise included a pre cruise tour of India and extended land tour in Egypt during the cruise)
• 1999-St. Paul to St. Louis-Delta Queen Steamboat Co-Mississippi Queen
• 1999-Millenium Cruise RT out of Ft. Lauderdale to the Eastern Caribbean-Holland America Line-ms Volendam
• 2000-Sydney to Bali-Silversea Cruises-Silver Cloud (this cruise included a pre cruise tour of New Zealand)
• 2000-Vancouver to Seattle-Norwegian Cruise Line-Norwegian Sky (this was a 2 night inaugural sailing and we were guests of Norwegian Cruise Line)
• 2000-Toronto to Chicago-Great Lakes Cruise Company-Le Levant (this was a wonderful relaxing cruise and great way to see the interior waterways of our great country!)
• 2000-Boston RT-Holland American Line- ms Amsterdam-(this was a 2 night inaugural sailing and we were guests of Holland America Line)
• 2001-Miami RT-Norwegian Cruise Line-Norwegian Sun & Norwegian Star-(this was a 3 night inaugural sailing, we spent one night on the Star and two nights on the Sun. It was the first time that two ships were christened at the same time. We were guests of Norwegian Cruise Line.)
• 2001-Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town-Silversea Cruises-Silver Shadow (this Southern transatlantic cruise included stops at Ascension Island, St. Helena’s Island and Walvis Bay, Namibia)
• 2001-Phildelphia to Norfolk-Coastal Voyager-Cape May Light (this cruise of the Chesapeake Bay included wonderful stops each day in historic ports. This wonderful little cruise line went into Bankruptcy shortly after as it was part of the Delta Queen Steamboat company)
• 2002-Panama Canal Cruise, Costa Rica to Aruba-Radisson Seven Seas Cruises-Radisson Diamond
• 2002-Barcelona to Venice-The World of ResidenSea-The World (this was the inaugural sailing of the new ship that is a ‘home away from home’. All the accommodations are apartments that are owned as permanent or second homes. We were guests of the cruise line in a two bedroom apartment. The ship is magnificent!)
• 2002-Port Canaveral RT-Disney Cruise Line-Disney Wonder (this was a 3-day cruise we took with our grandchildren)
• 2002-Ft. Lauderdale RT-Holland America Line-ms Zuiderdam (this was a 2-day inaugural sailing, we were guests of Holland America)
• 2003-New York to Bermuda RT, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises-Radisson Navigator- We were the Ensemble Hosts for this cruise.
• 2003-Ft. Lauderdale RT-Holland America Line-ms Oosterdam-(this was a 2 night inaugural sailing, we were guests of Holland America Line.)
• 2004-Ft. Lauderdale to the Panama Canal RT-Cunard-Queen Mary 2- We were escorts for the Ensemble Hosted group on this 10 day cruise aboard this new and magnificent ship.
• 2004-New York City RT-Cunard-Queen Mary 2-This was a three day Mother’s Day cruise and we had accommodations in the Queen’s Grill. It was a wonderful experience with my Mother who was 94. It turned out to be her last cruise and seemed fitting as my first cruise with her was also on Cunard. That was 14 years earlier and with all the family for her 80^th birthday.
• 2004-Vancouver to Seward-Radisson Seven Seas Cruises-Radisson Mariner-We were the escorts for the Ensemble Hosted group.
• 2004-Ft. Lauderdale RT-Holland America Line-ms Westerdam-(this was a 2 night inaugural sailing, we were guests of Holland America Line.)
• 2005-San Diego RT to the Mexican Riviera-Silversea Cruises-Silver Shadow-We hosted a golf group on this sailing.
• 2005-Port Liberty RT-Royal Caribbean Cruise Line-Enchantment of the Seas-We previewed this ship on a 2 night sailing while I attended an Ensemble National Marketing meeting. We were guests of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
• 2006-New York City RT-Holland America Line-ms Noordam-(this was a 2 night inaugural sailing, we were guests of Holland America Line.)
• 2006-Boston RT-Royal Caribbean Cruise Line-Freedom of the Seas-We previewed this ship on a 2 night sailing while I attended an Ensemble National Marketing meeting. We were guests of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
• 2007-Banff to Vancouver-Rocky Mountaineer-Gold Leaf Service-We previewed this train and service after I attended an Ensemble National Marketing meeting. We were guests of Fairmont Hotels and Rocky Mountaineer.
• 2007-Copenhagen to Stockholm-Silversea Cruises-Silver Shadow-We were escorts for the Ensemble Hosted group on this 7 day cruise. We spent 3 days docked in St. Petersburg and flew to Moscow for one of the days.
• 2007-Miami to Tampa-Azamara Cruises-Quest-We enjoyed a Penthouse Suite and a five day cruise to Mexico in October on this new Celebrity cruise line. Orginally we were to return to Miami, but because of Hurricane Noel we were diverted to Tampa.
• 2008-Anchorage,  Alaska-Holland America Line-We were invited to attend the start of the 2008 Iditadrod on March 1. We flew into Anchorage on February 28 and visited the Hilton Hotel where they are upgrading all the accommodations. In the evening we attended the 'Mushers Banquet' with 2400 people from around the world! On Friday we took a motorcoach to Seward and spent the afternoon sailing in the Kenai Fjords seeing whales, sea lions, sea otters, eagles and more! That evening we had dinner on top of the mountain at the beautiful Alyeska Resort. Early Saturday morning we visited all the dogs and mushers on the streets of Anchorage before the race started. We had lunch at the Sheraton Hotel and were given a tour of all the renovations they will be doing to the hotel this year. Following the tour we visited the Native American museums. It was an exciting and fun three day visit! We returned home on Sunday.
• 2008-Monte Carlo to Rome-Sea Dream II-We enjoyed a wonderful vacation on the delightful small 'Yacht' with 104 other guests. An all inclusive ship, we visited small villages along the coast of Italy. We swam in the Mediterranean off the back marina of the ship and met interesting people from all over the world. We spent one night in beautiful Monte Carlo before embarkation and one night in Rome before returning home.
• 2009-Mauritius to Cape Town, South Africa-Silversea Cruises-Silver Wind-We were thrilled to co-host with the Freeburgs, the first 'Jewels' series of Ensembles' Inspired Journeys with Susan Jacques; CEO of Borsheims Jewelry & Fine Gifts. Susan spoke on the 'Jewels of Africa' and her native homeland.  The cruise included two complimentary excursions; Madagascar & Cape Town, three onboard lectures and private dinners and parties with Susan and her husband, Gene Dunn. Our trip included a stopover in Dubai, Mauritius, a private safari in Pinda, and overnight in Cape Town, a journey on the Blue Train and a visit to Victoria Falls with two nights at the Royal Livingston Hotel in Zambia.
• 2009-Budapest to Passau-UNIWORLD-River Beatrice-As a member of the Ensemble National Marketing and Luxury Advisor Committe, we were invited to preview this new riverboat where we held our annual spring meetings during our seven day cruise on the Enchanting Danube River. We were guests of the Budapest Corinus Kempinski Hotel, UNIWORLD, and Starwood Hotels. We were hosted on very special excursions by our On Location suppliers in Budapest and Vienna. We enjoyed tours of Budapest where we visited the Lazar Equestrian Park, dined at the famous Gundel Restuaurant,  and visited the Great Dohany Street Synagogue and the State Opera House. In Vienna we had a tour of the city and in the afternoon visited the Schonbrunn Palace. Before dinner we were taken by horse drawn carriage to the Elmayer Dancing School where we were given lessons on the famous Viennese Waltz! After our waltz lessons we dined at the famous Imperial Hotel. Our itinerary also included stops along the river in Bratislava where we visited the Bratislava Castle; Durnstein and Melk where we visit the Babenberg Castle which later became the Benedictine Abbey; Linz which included a tour of Salzburg with a walking tour of the old town, the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for the Sound of Music; and finally Passau the beautiful city where our cruise ended.
• 2009-British Isles-Round Trip London-Silversea Cruises-Silver Cloud-We were happy to be back on our favorite Silversea ship! After two nights in London at the magnificent hotel, The Milestone, we set sail from the London Tower Bridge. Our ports of call included Leith, Scotland where we toured St. Andrews and Edinburgh; Invergordon where we visited the Dornoch golf course, the lovely town of Dornoch and the Dunriobin Castle where we enjoyed a falconry demonstration. On to Oban, Scotland and then to Dublin where we enjoyed a wonderful Ensemble Experience with our guest hosts, Lisa and Tad Freeburg. We visited the famous Jameson Distillery, toured the city of Dublin and stopped at Nancy's, a typical Irish Pub where we enjoyed tea with delicious scones while watching Irish dancers. In Cork, Ireland we had another wonderful tour (in a downpour!). Our last stop was in the charming seaport of Fowey where we took a train into the countryside. Our cruise ended back in London and we returned home in Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic, the only way to fly to London!
• 2010-St. Thomas to San Juan-Sea Dream Yacht Club-Sea Dream II-we were thrilled to once again host an Inspired Journey cruise with Susan Jacques of Borsheims: the 'Jewels of the Caribbean'. Sailing on this small yacht (it's yachting, not cruising) is a wonderful way to visit the small and intimate islands in the Caribbean that the large ships can't visit. Each day was spent tenderend off a picturesque island where guests could swim and play in the aqua waters of the sea. Each day was a new adventure, after departing St. Thomas, we visited Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, BVI and the Bitter End Yacht Club; Gustavia, St Barth, FWI; Little Bay Montserrat; Charlestown, Nevis; Marigot, St. Martin, FWI where we enjoyed our special private excursion with Susan, and our last stop was at White Bay, Jost van Dyke, BVI where we enjoyed the weekly Champagne & Caviar Splash and BBQ on the beach. Our perfect week ended in San Juan where we flew home to snow, ice and cold again!
• 2010-Arctic Adventure-Round trip Copenhagen-Regent Seven Seas Cruises-Voyager-We were delighted to be the hosts for this fabulous Ensemble Hosted Cruise to the North Cape and Arctic Circle! After a night in Copenhagen we set sail and visited beautiful ports and cruised the fjords along the Norweigan coast. We stopped in: Bergan, Hellesylt, Geiranger, crossed the Arctic Circle, Longyearbyen (Spitzbergen), cruised the Magdalenefjord and the Ice Barrier; returning south we stopped in Honningsvag, Harstad, Gudvangen, Flam, Stravanger and Oslo before returning to Copenhagen. Our exclusive excursion was in Honningsvag where we visited a Christmas home, Crab farm and saw how people lived above the perma frost. It was truly a fasinating voyage! We highly recommend it, it is always a special sailing and the cruise lines who travel that far north only do this cruise once every year.
• 2011-Buenos Aires to Valparaiso-Silversea Cruises-Silver Whisper-Once again we were aboard Silversea Cruises where we passed our 100 day mark on this cruiseline! This was a vacation, as we were not hosting a group. We went from summer hot weather to winter cold weather and back to very hot summer again. We flew int Buenos Aires a day early to enjoy the city and beautiful Alvear Palace Hotel. One evening we took in a regional favorite, the tango show! Sailing our of Buenoa Aires we visited Punta del Este, Montevideo, Puerto Madryn and had a wonderful experience in Port Stanley and the Faulkland Islands were we saw colonies of penguins and even saw striped cows! We spent a number of days cruising the Chilean Fjords as we sailed through the Straits of Megellan to the west coast of South America. We visited Punta Arenas and Laguna san Farael, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt, all facinating ports. In Valparaiso we disembarked and took a day trip to Santiago where we flew home that evening. It was an interesting year in that we experienced the Arctic Circle in June and the tip of the Southern Hemisphere in January! 
• 2011-Ensenada to Honolulu-Celebrity Cruises-Century-In November we enjoyed a relaxing cruise over a calm Pacific Ocean for 5 days before visiting the beautiful islands on Hawaii. Our cruise ended in Honolulu where we spent Veterans Day on 11/11/11. Visitng Pearl Harbor, the Pineapple Pentagon, and other military sites was a high light of our trip!
• 2012-Round trip Ft. Lauderdale-Holland America-Nieuw Amsterdam-Hosted the fabulous Redhot & Blue Cruise with Yale's oldest Acapella group. Enjoyed the beautiful Caribbean with the students, their families and friends.

In 2006 Custom Cruises LLC added ‘Travel’ to its name to better describe all it can offer it clients. The company is now doing business as ‘Custom Cruises & Travel’ and continues to grow. We invite you to preview our associates featured below as they can offer you expert service too. Ensemble Travel continues to play a major role in the company’s success. With the Ensemble Lifestyles Magazine, On Location contacts, Hotel & Resort Collections, Ensemble Experiences & Hosted Cruises, Custom Cruises & Travel has the ability to offer its clients unparalleled opportunities and adventures.

 

 

Raised on a farm in the 50’s, the furthest thing from Marcia’s mind was travel. The farthest she had ever traveled until she was 19 was to Missouri and everywhere else seemed outside the imagination. Not to mention, geography was her least favorite subject while in High School. Marcia started her work career in the late 60’s in Omaha at Gibbs, Hill, Durham and Richardson, an engineering firm where she was their Administrative Assistant while at the same time continuing her studies part time at UNO. In a time prior to the large influx of travel agencies, Marcia set up a block ticketing account and went to school with United Airlines in order to handwrite airline tickets for the firm. Thoroughly enjoying this aspect of her job, it was then she took her first flight to Southern California and she was hooked! 

 

In 1981 Marcia moved to Saudi Arabia with her husband. Following six weeks of major culture shock, Marcia turned the lemons of desert and this strange way of life into lemonade and a whole new cultural experience. Returning home after one year, Marcia wanted to start a business in the area where she grew up, returning something to the community where she lived as a child. In 1984 Mardic Tours and Travel, a full service travel agency was born and the county seat of Plattsmouth was to be its home. She changed the name in 1990 to marcia’s tours and focusing more on group travel. For each group tour, Marcia researches, plans and writes the brochures depicting each of her major tours.   For the last 23 years, Marcia, and her husband John have escorted thousands of clients from 12 states, to over 30 countries and all 50 states. With everything from their ever-popular one-day Mystery Tours to 16 day European extravaganzas, they offer something for everyone.

 

Marcia’s belief in the Golden Rule has proven well over the years. She provides the same type of service that she herself expects and her clients have experienced this well over the years. With no signs of slowing down, 2008 has some of the most exciting tours to date coming up, including her 33^rd trip to New York City, an Italian Lakes and Mediterranean cruise, the best of Branson’s Christmas and a number of the favorite Mystery tours!

 

Marcia’s desire has always been to not only give her clients what they pay for, but more – a wonderful experience and a truly good return on their investment! Please call her at 402-296-3356 anytime for more information on these special tours!