Awaken Travels | First-Time Cruise Specialists
Your First Cruise,
Made Easy
Thinking about your first Caribbean cruise? Get the free First-Time Cruiser's Guide from the advisors at Awaken Travels and learn how to pick the right ship, the right cabin, and the right week to sail, with zero guesswork.
The First-Time Cruiser's Guide
Your first Caribbean cruise, explained. Yours free, instantly.
Ready to book? Tell us about your cruise →
Why a cruise is the perfect first trip
Easier than you think, and more fun
Unpack once, wake up somewhere new
The ship sails while you sleep, so you see a new Caribbean island every day without ever living out of a suitcase. For a first big trip, that is the easiest way to travel there is.
One price covers a lot
Your cabin, meals, most entertainment, and getting from island to island are largely in the base fare. It is simple to budget, which is exactly what makes a cruise such a comfortable first trip.
Something for everyone aboard
Pools, shows, dining, quiet corners, and kids’ clubs if you need them. First-timers are almost always surprised by how much is included and how relaxed it all feels once they are aboard.
Never been on a ship?
Take a quick look around one
Pools, places to eat, shows and quiet spots, all in one place. Every ship feels different, and helping you find the one that fits you is what we do.
Video: Star of the Seas Hyperlapse Tour, from the official Royal Caribbean YouTube channel.
Meet Awaken Travels
A team of advisors who love first-time cruisers
Awaken Travels is a team of independent travel advisors, and helping first-timers plan their very first cruise is one of our favorite things to do. No question is too basic. The right ship really is different for everyone, and helping you find yours is the fun part.
We are based near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and we work with travelers nationwide. We book Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, and more, and every quote comes with the pricing you get by booking through Awaken Travels.
Where a Caribbean cruise can take you
Several islands, one trip
A week on a Caribbean cruise usually means a few different islands, each with its own beaches, food and history. Our founder, Cindi Sanden, took these photos on her own trips.
Island photos by Cindi Sanden.
What's inside the free guide
Everything a first-timer wishes they knew
How working with us works
Simple, and it costs you nothing extra
Download the guide
It answers the big first-timer questions on your schedule, no pressure and no obligation.
Book a free 20-minute Planning Call
Bring your questions. Leave knowing the right ship, the right cabin, the right week to sail, and the real price.
We handle everything
The search, the booking, the details, the what-do-I-pack questions. We are your team if anything comes up before, during, or after.
The part most people don't know: our planning doesn't cost you anything extra. You pay the same price or better than booking direct, and you get an advocate who has done this hundreds of times.
In our travelers' words
Loved by travelers like you
Real reviews from real Awaken Travels clients.
"Awaken Travels has been fantastic! As a business owner/single traveller I have relied on them to coordinate trips/vacations overseas and domestic for me. I have been extremely pleased with their recommendations and the schedules they have arranged."Christie Nightingale
"Krystal is incredible! I waited too long to book a room for a Chattanooga wedding I'm attending and the prices had nearly doubled from the original block rates by the time I looked (and I had no luck when trying to call the hotels directly to ask if they would honor the block rate)."Aaron Fons
"Cindi Sanden at Awaken Travels planned our trip to Greece this summer. We hadn't been there in 30 years and had no idea where to start to plan our trip. She did an excellent job! The accommodations and tours were perfect and we had the best time. She also suggested some restaurants that were excellent."Georgia Contos
"We had a wonderful trip traveling along the Ocoee River thru the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. More fun when we arrived at the Mercier Orchards Apple Farm. Awaken Travels is my favorite get-away choice."Linda M
"Trip of a lifetime and Cindi with Awakens Travels was amazing! The trip was everything I had dreamed it would be and more. She made all the arrangements and each one was perfect. I will definitely be connecting with her for our next adventure! Thank you for making our dreams come true ❤️"Julie Ownbey
"Cindi and her team at Awaken Travels saved me so much time and she did an incredible job handling all the flights for our Agency Incentive Trip to Costa Rica. I needed 86 flights booked and she took the time to book each one of them and handle our guests' special requests."A Google User
Get your copy
Get the free First-Time Cruiser's Guide
Which line and ship fit you, how to pick a cabin, what's really included, what it costs, and the first-timer tips that make it all easy. Delivered to your inbox in minutes.
Already know you want to go?
Skip the guide and talk to an advisor.
Book your free First Cruise Planning Call →Good questions
Before you ask
Let's plan your first cruise.
Grab the free guide, or book a free 20-minute First Cruise Planning Call with an Awaken Travels advisor. No pressure, no obligation, just clarity.
Ready to book? Tell us about your cruise →
St. Kitts. Photo by Cindi Sanden