Santa Clarita franchise partner Francis James has opened a new Expedia CruiseShipCenters location at 26512 Bouquet Canyon Road, in the Bouquet Center Shopping Center at the corner of Newhall Ranch Road in Saugus.

Planning a vacation has just become a lot easier for families in Santa Clarita.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters – part of the Expedia group family of brands – offers cruise vacations and much more through its more than 250 locations across North America.

Customers are able to choose from numerous vacation possibilities over land, sea and air, including customized trips, coach & rail tours and insurance – all at Expedia prices.

In addition to the research and booking features available on their local website, James and his team offer personal vacation consultations in person, through email or over the phone, so customers always have the freedom to book when, where and how they choose.

“We look forward to working with the community to help them find the cruise or vacation that is a perfect fit for their needs,” James said. “The Internet can become overwhelming when trying to plan a vacation. With so many options available, customers really want to speak to an expert. Our team of knowledgeable vacation consultants is passionately committed to helping our customers plan their next big adventure, and it’s this level of exceptional service that sets us apart.”

Expedia CruiseShipCenters vacation consultants are provided with extensive training and marketing support which allows them to become navigators of spectacular vacation experiences, even with no travel experience.

“We are actively recruiting Vacation Consultants to work full-time or part-time from our retail center, or as a home-based agent,” James said. “Our agents have the freedom and flexibility to build their travel business on their own terms with the power of Expedia behind them.”

James is an Air Force Academy graduate and military veteran, having retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves. He is also an MBA graduate of Chapman University with more than 20 years as a finance professional, most recently in the medical device industry.

In recent years, James maintained a desire to establish his own business in Santa Clarita where he and family have resided for 19 years.

Always having a passion for travel, James is now excited to merge business with pleasure as he helps Santa Clarita residents explore the world.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry shows no signs of slowing down, with more than 25 million passengers expected to sail in 2018, a dramatic increase from 15 million just 10 years prior. CLIA notes member cruise lines are scheduled to debut 26 new ocean, river and specialty ships in 2017 for a total investment of more than $6.8 billion.

In addition, travel agents are experiencing a higher demand for cruise travel – a recent study reveals that travel agent usage hit a six-year high in 2016.

For more information or to research vacation options, visit www.cruiseshipcenters.com/900210 or call 888-802-4421.

About Expedia CruiseShipCenters
Expedia CruiseShipCenters provides exceptional value and expert advice for travelers booking cruises and vacations through its network of more than 250 retail travel agency franchises. As part of the Expedia, Inc. family of brands, the company’s 5,000 vacation consultants sell a wide range of vacation products including cruises, flights, hotels, vacation packages, tours, excursions and more. The company has been navigating spectacular vacation experiences for customers across North America for 30 years. For more information on Expedia CruiseShipCenters, visit www.expediafranchise.com.