(44 Reviews)
100% Recommended

Karen Malone

Victoria, MN
Cruise and Tour Specialist

My interests are many but one of my first loves in traveling is cruising. I have been on more than 40 cruises all over the world including river cruising and trans-Atlantic crossing. I hold two certificates with Cruise Lines International Associat...
Learn more about me.

Unique Worldwide Experiences at Sea

View of Parliament from the Danube
View of Parliament from the Danube

Cruising is my passion. i have been on over 45 different cruises  all over the world and I can share the pros and cons of each itinerary and ship with you. Whether your are new to cruising or have sailed as much as i have, there are so many changes and enhancements to ships, that it is nearly a full time job to keep up with all of it. Cruising will look a little different now that ships are beginning to start sailing again. I can help you navigate the new health protocols the cruise lines have in place for your safety.


I want to fit you to the right ship and the right vacation so you can experience the joys of cruising. Cruising in Alaska or the Caribbean can be a wonderful experience for the whole family.  And if you are thinking of sailing in Europe, there are so many options for new itineraries in that destination.


Of course if you want to really experience Europe in depth, I would recommend a river cruise.  I have sailed the Moselle, Amstel, Rhine, and Danube  Rivers for Tulip Time and Christmas Markets, among other times .  Each time I sail new and different experiences unfold.  Did you know there is a volcano in Germany?  I visited the museum in Mendig"s Volcano Park as part of the included river cruise shore excursion, when we docked in Koblenz. And in Amsterdam at the start of a river cruise, our guide walked us to an Atelier and I learned how to paint just like Van Gogh!  


As you can see from the picture, I was also able to sail on the Star Clipper a true sailing vessel.  We embarked in Malaga, Spain and because of our small size were able to dock in ports big mega ships could not. This picture is of our ship on Calve Corsica. Other ports of call were Bonifacio Corsica, Ibiza Spain and disembarking in Monte Carlo.  We never saw a big ship in seven days and with only 280 passengers aboard it was like sailing on our own private yacht.  Some of us even climbed to the crow's nest and hoisted the sails!


 


 

My Travel Albums

Clipper Ship Sailing Spain to France
Royal Clipper
Christmas Markets
Emerald Cruises: Amsterdam to Basel on the Rhine
Beautiful British Isles
Loch Fyne

My Travel Stories

Sailing the British Isles with Princess Cruises

I recently sail the British Isles with Princess Cruises, round trip from Southampton. This is the perfect way to explore various destinations in the region.  

Here's an overview of my Itinerary

Southampton:

  • Embarkation/Disembarkation: Southampton serves...Read more.
See more travel stories

My Reviews

80 of 137 people found this review helpful
Retired and Traveling!
Karen has been very professional, helpful and eager to share information about all our vacation destinations. She makes sure all bases are covered and all travel documents are in order. She always answers all our questions and we seem to have a lot. I would encourage anyone to stop in and visit with her for any travel questions or ideas. Karen has helped us with Viking Cruises, Globus Bus tours and other trips.
By  WBSB  from  Woodbury MN
Traveled to  Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Karen Malone responded:
Thank you for your kind words Wayne. It is always my pleasure to work with you and your family. I encourage you to continue to ask questions. This helps me make sure your trip is exactly what you anticipated Karen.

Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
50 of 78 people found this review helpful
A trip we will NEVER forget!
Our trip to SouthEast Asia was a beautiful and memorable experience due to the time and effort that went into the planning by Karen Malone. She was incredibly helpful. Her professionalism and expertise is unsurpassed! Also, she’s just such a wonderful lady as well!
By  CynRae  from  Mendota Heights, MN
Traveled to  Southeast Asia ~ East and Southeast Asia
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Karen Malone responded:
I'm so glad you had such a great time Connie. I will keep my eye out for Moon Palace specials.

Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
70 of 119 people found this review helpful
First trip to Europe
Karen did a great job helping us through our first time in Europe. We were so amazed how everything went so smoothly. She answered all our questions while booking, made sure all of our wants were met. It allowed us to focus on the experience! Thank you.
By  John + Rose   from  La Quinta California
Traveled to  Germany ~ Europe
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Karen Malone responded:
Thank you for those kind words John. I always try to remember my first experiences in Europe to help the new comers have a smooth trip. I'm so glad this worked out for you.

Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
77 of 133 people found this review helpful
Alaska
Very helpful, good attitude. She did a great job on our Alaska trip! I would
not hesitate to use Karen again or refer a friend to her. We had a wonderful
time with no worries, she had everything covered.
By  Jeanne  from  IGH, MN
Traveled to  Fairbanks ~ Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Karen Malone responded:
Thanks for the kind words Jeanne. It was my pleasure to serve you and i'm so happy this was a great experience for you two. Karen

Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
62 of 107 people found this review helpful
Fabulous trip
We were so lucky to find Karen as our travel agent. She has been a gift to work with from start to finish on our Alaska trip. Karen knows exactly what she is talking about and her follow through is stellar!!! We will be booking many more trips with Karen.
By  Marsha  from  Vadnais Hts MN
Traveled to  Alaska ~ USA
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends

Karen Malone responded:
Thank you so much Marsha for those kinds words! It was my pleasure to help you plan the trip to beautiful Alaska, one of my top ten destinations. I look forward to working with you in the future wherever your travels take you. Karen

Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
Go to my main profile

Destination Expert:

  • Europe
  • Australia
  • Danube
  • France
  • Rhine River

Travel Specialist:

  • Luxury Cruises
  • Small Ship Cruises
  • River Cruises
  • Christmas Markets
  • Culinary & Foodie

Top Travel Partners:

  • Avalon Waterways
  • Viking
  • Oceania Cruises
  • Regent Seven Seas Cruises
  • AmaWaterways

Certifications/Awards:

  • Master Cruise Counselor - CLIA
  • SNG Certified Accessible Travel Advocate

Connect with Me:

Industry Affiliations:

©  Travel Leaders Group