Lima couple launch Cruise Planners travel franchise

LIMA — Doug and Lynn Norton have spent years traveling around the world, and now they want to help Lima-area residents plan their ideal vacations.

Out of their home in Lima, the Nortons operate a Cruise Planners franchise — the nation’s largest home-based travel agent. Through their Cruise Planners franchise website, littlebirdtraveldeals.com, the Nortons offer travelers exclusive pricing on a wide range of cruise and destination wedding packages. They also offer private cruise sales, as well as cabin upgrades and special amenities such as shore excursions, discounted fares, travel gifts and more.

“Don’t let the name fool you — we are a full-service travel company,” Doug Norton said. “We provide bookings for cruises, land tours, all-inclusive resorts, guided European trips — pretty much any travel need you have, we can help you.”

On the franchise website, travelers can research destinations, pick arrival and departure times, find deals from various travel companies and book a vacation. The Nortons said they are also available to speak in-person or on the phone, which is something they believe sets them a part from other travel companies such as Expedia.

“You can go to Expedia and ask to speak with the owner about setting up a vacation for you, but they can’t do that,” Doug Norton said. “They can call up the owner of Cruise Planners and we’ll be there every step of the way.”

The Nortons said working with Cruise Planners is a “win-win” for local travelers, as the company can offer exclusive vacation deals at no cost to the client. The franchise owners are paid on commission from the company, based on the number of people they sign up for vacations.

“We’re doing all the leg work to keep them from spending hours planning trips, and we can give them discounted prices, so it’s a win-win for the clients,” Lynn Norton said.

When asked about the benefits of booking a vacation through local travel agents, the Nortons said their ability to personalize a trip for each individual is perhaps the most appealing aspect of working with fellow community members.

“There’s such an avalanche of information available online from big travel companies, so we felt there was a niche for something that could be a little more personalized,” Doug Norton said. “It’s the best of both worlds — the power of large-scale buying from a nationally recognized label combined with personalized service offered by individual agents who are a part of the local community.”

By John Bush

[email protected]

Reach John Bush at 567-242-0456 or on Twitter @bush_lima

Reach John Bush at 567-242-0456 or on Twitter @bush_lima