The fare is the same
You pay the cruise line's fare, same as booking direct — I'm compensated by the cruise line. If a trip ever calls for a planning or group service fee, you'll know the amount before you commit to anything.
Melbourne, Florida · Sailing worldwide
Life is in adventure — sea it in style.
Independent cruise planning from someone who has walked the decks, toured the cabins and stood in the ports. You get the trip you pictured, without the hours of research.
Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady · Grand Turk
Meet your advisor
I plan the cruise I would want to be on.
SOST — it rhymes with coast, which is exactly the point.
I'm Valerie Scope, and I built Sea Our Style Travel around one simple idea: the person planning your cruise should have firsthand knowledge of the ship and the destination.
So I tour ships when they're in port. I sail the itineraries. I walk the cabins. That way, when you ask me a question, you get a real answer instead of a brochure description.
Alaska is where that started, literally. I'm a military brat, born at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage. We moved back to New England when I was two, but Alaska has a way of pulling you back — I grew up in Chugiak/Eagle River until I was 17, then lived in Anchorage until 24. So when a client asks what the weather really does in May, or which port is worth the early morning, that isn't research for me. It's the place I grew up.
Most of my work is cruise — family sailings, milestone birthdays and anniversaries, Alaska, Europe, river cruises and luxury lines. I also help clients with all-inclusive resort escapes when a beach week is what the moment calls for.
What my clients tend to mention most is the part that happens behind the scenes: the research, the price drops I catch, the transfers that are simply there when they land, and the documents organized before they've even packed. That's the job.
— Valerie Founder · Sea Our Style Travel LLC
Why book with me
You can book it yourself. Here's why clients don't.
One of my best clients is an accountant. He asked me point blank what the benefit was of booking through me instead of doing it himself. Fair question — here's the honest answer.
Perks you won't find online
Onboard credit, group amenities, upgrade promotions, prepaid gratuities. I chase the offers that never make it onto the booking page — and I catch price drops after you've booked.
I've seen the ships
I tour vessels in port and sail the lines I sell. When you ask whether a cabin category is worth the upgrade, you get a real answer instead of a marketing description.
Every detail, handled
Hotels on both ends, transfers, excursions, insurance guidance, luggage tags, organized documents — and air when it's packaged with your trip. One person to call if something goes sideways: me.
Where we sail
The trips I know best.
Every sailing is planned around your people and your pace — but these are the waters I return to again and again.
Grew up there
Alaska
Glacier days, White Pass by rail, whales off the balcony. I was born in Anchorage and grew up in Chugiak/Eagle River — so I'll tell you which side of the ship to book, which month actually suits you, and why the shoulder season is quietly the best value.
Europe
Mediterranean & river
Italy, Greece, the Adriatic — plus Rhine and Danube river sailings with pre- and post-nights built in.
Caribbean
Family & big ships
Multi-generational sailings where teens, toddlers and grandparents all get their trip.
Milestones
Celebration sailings
Big birthdays, anniversaries, girls' trips. Group space, dining reservations and surprises arranged.
Luxury & adult-only
Premium lines
Oceania, Virgin Voyages, Celebrity and beyond — when the ship is the destination.
On my wish list
Fall foliage, New England & Canada.
There's no better time to trade the everyday for a deck chair and a front-row seat to the most spectacular scenery in North America — fiery coastlines, charming harbor towns and fresh lobster at every stop.
At the top of my personal wish list: Québec. A little piece of Europe on this side of the Atlantic — and the city where my grandmother was born.
- Last-minute space may still be available this season
- Next year's itineraries are open — ideal for a group of family or friends
- Bar Harbor, Halifax, Saint John and Québec City in one sailing
Land vacations
Not every celebration happens at sea.
Sometimes the answer is a beach, a swim-up suite and absolutely nothing on the schedule. I plan all-inclusive escapes across the Caribbean — Turks & Caicos, St. Lucia, Jamaica and beyond — with the same attention I bring to a sailing.
Favorites my clients ask for by name: Sandals for couples and Beaches when the kids come along, plus Secrets and Breathless when adults-only is the whole point. They're not interchangeable — the right one depends on whether you want quiet mornings or a pool with a DJ, and that's the conversation I'd rather have before you book.
Plan a beach week
Guided & escorted travel
When you'd rather not plan a single thing.
I also book escorted tours — and I want to be clear about how that works. I don't build these itineraries myself. They're crafted by the suppliers who have spent decades perfecting them, companies like Tauck and Collette.
They do it exceptionally well. Every must-see is accounted for, the pacing is thought through, and the logistics that eat a self-planned trip alive — transfers, entries, guides, luggage — are simply handled.
Where I come in is the match. Sea Our Style Travel holds relationships with these suppliers, so I know the difference between their tour styles: which run at a gentler pace, which are better for first-time travelers to a region, which include the meals and excursions you actually care about, and which one fits the way you like to travel. Picking the right company is most of the work.
Find my tour
In their words
100% of clients recommend working with me.
"As an accountant and a small business owner myself, I asked Valerie point blank what the benefit was of booking through her versus doing it myself. She jumped right on it — not only handled the booking, but found perks and upgrades I didn't know existed, including a steeply discounted room upgrade with a butler for our 10 days on board. Every transfer, every connection, every detail was handled seamlessly from London to Copenhagen. We've since booked two more Oceania trips with her. Give her a chance and you won't be disappointed."
A. & S. Whitaker
Indian Rocks Beach, FL
Oceania · MS Marina · Southampton to Copenhagen
"You were exceptional in every way. Our Alaska cruise was truly one of the best travel experiences we have ever had. Every document you provided was helpful and well organized, and the travel package and luggage tagging kit made embarkation effortless. Your attention to detail gave us complete confidence before we even left. Because of your preparation, we were able to simply relax and enjoy the incredible scenery, wildlife and unforgettable experiences Alaska had to offer."
A. & P. Friend
Melbourne, FL · July 2026
Celebrity Edge · Alaska
"Valerie Scope did it again! Bob and I gave Valerie the particulars of what we wanted, and she found us a fabulous cruise. Thank you, Valerie, for all your hard work researching, calling, emailing and coordinating. Valerie is detail-oriented and really listens to her clients — in fact, she's already helping us with our next cruise. I would definitely recommend Valerie Scope for your travel needs. She makes it happen."
R. & B. Davis
Boynton Beach, FL · 2020
Rhapsody of the Seas · Royal Caribbean
Travel protection
Let's talk about travel insurance.
It's the least glamorous part of planning a trip and one of the most important. Here's how I handle it, in plain language.
Why I always bring it up
Travel plans change unexpectedly — that's the whole reason coverage exists. I'll always recommend having protection in place, then leave the decision to you.
Your health plan may stop at the border
Many U.S. insurance carriers typically do not cover medical expenses for illness or injury outside the country. For international sailings, that alone is often the deciding factor.
How pricing actually works
Rates are based on your age and the total cost of your trip — so a third-party policy can look higher than the cruise line's. It's not apples to apples; the coverage usually isn't either.
If you'll add flights or hotels later
Carriers like Allianz and Arch RoamRight make it easier to modify a policy as your trip grows, so your coverage stays seamless across every piece instead of leaving gaps.
An important note: I am not licensed to sell insurance. I can present policy options and explain how they generally work, but for specific questions about what a policy does and does not cover, the insurance provider is the right and only reliable source. Always read your policy before you purchase.
Protecting your travel investment buys peace of mind — and keeps those travel dreams on track, no matter what surprises come your way.
Good questions
Before you reach out.
For most bookings, nothing extra. You pay the cruise line's fare, the same as booking
direct, and I'm compensated by the cruise line — so the research, the negotiating and the
follow-through come with it. If a fare drops before final payment, I go after it on your
behalf. Some trips do take significantly more work — large groups and complex
multi-destination itineraries, for example — and those may carry a planning or setup fee.
If yours does, I'll tell you the amount upfront, in writing, before you commit to anything.
It's my favorite kind of client. First-time cruisers have the most to gain from guidance —
cabin location matters more than people expect, and so does ship size, itinerary pace and
dining style. We'll talk through what you actually enjoy on vacation and work backward from
there.
Yes — groups are some of my favorite work. Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, girls' trips,
family reunions and multi-cabin family sailings. Group space often unlocks amenities that
individual bookings don't get, and I manage each cabin's payments separately so nobody has
to chase anybody.
I always recommend having coverage, and I'll walk you through the options — but I'm not
licensed to sell insurance, so for specifics on what a policy covers you'll want to go
straight to the provider. Two things usually decide it: cruise deposits become largely
non-refundable past a certain date, and many U.S. health plans don't cover illness or injury
abroad. There's more detail in the travel protection section above.
For Alaska, Europe, holiday sailings and anything with a group, 9–18 months out gives you the
best cabin selection and pricing. That said, last-minute space does open up — if you're
flexible, tell me and I'll watch for it.
Cruise is my specialty and the bulk of my business, but no. I also book all-inclusive resorts,
supplier-created escorted tours through companies like Tauck and Collette, plus hotels,
transfers, excursions and pre- and post-cruise stays. If you're not sure whether a ship, a
resort or a guided tour is the right fit, that's exactly the conversation worth having.
I sell air when it's packaged with your trip — that's often the smoothest option, since the
cruise line or tour operator then owns the connection if a flight goes wrong. I don't sell
air on its own. For standalone flights I'll usually recommend you book direct with the
airline, which gives you the most control over changes and cancellations. Either way, I'll
make sure your flight times leave enough room for customs, passport control and a
stress-free embarkation day.
Set your course
Let's chart your next trip.
Tell me roughly what you have in mind — even "somewhere warm, next spring, six of us" is plenty to start. I'll come back with real options, real pricing and honest recommendations.
Start planning
No obligation, no pressure. I'll reply personally within one business day.
Thank you. Your request is on its way to Valerie. You'll hear back within one
business day — often much sooner.
Sorry, that didn't go through. Please try again, or email me directly at
vscope@seaourstyle.com.