Condé Nast Traveler, the world's premier travel magazine, has awarded its coveted "World's Leading Large Ship Specialist" to CruiseCenter President Tom Baker. Selected from thousands of cruise specialists, Tom's knowledge of ships and their details as well as his vast cruising experience across the globe put him at the forefront of the travel industry as Condé Nast Traveler's choice for this prestigious honor.
One of the cruise industry's foremost experts on all aspects of cruising, Tom is a 24-year cruise industry veteran. With over 150 cruises under his belt, he is passionate about the variety of experiences cruise vacations bring to today's consumers. He started his career at the early age of 5 with an ocean crossing on Norwegian America Line's legendary Sagafjord and spent most of his childhood and young adult vacations cruising. Tom joined the travel business in 1984 at the former Ask Mr. Foster Travel Agency in Woodland Hills, California, where he was fortunate to be trained by one of the industry's renowned travel specialists, "Foster Girl" Charlotte Hunt.
Tom Baker at the dedication of Holland America's new ms Eurodam, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, July 2008.
Check out Tom's Photo Tour of ms Eurodam.
Tom was hired in 1986 by Holland America Line as District Sales Manager for greater Los Angeles. He relocated to Texas and joined Atlas Travel, Houston's most distinguished travel agency, in 1996. Shortly thereafter the company created its CruiseCenter division. CruiseCenter has been privately owned since 2003 by Tom and his partners, Ariel Leibovitz and Ellen Kalish.
CruiseCenter has enjoyed rapid growth and has won numerous top cruise industry awards including Crystal Cruises' highly prized "Top 10 Producer in the World" annually since 1996 and Holland America Line's "Centurions Agency" –Top 100 Producers in the World—annually since 1997.
Tom has led many CruiseCenter group departures, hosting thousands of travelers on cruises and cruise tours worldwide.
Tom and his team are travel experts! These vacation specialists know the ships and the deals and they're also group cruise experts. Cruise travel is their business. Whether it's for a group cruise for friends and family or a special occasion celebration, they'll suggest the perfect cruise or cruise tour vacation. CruiseCenter has great deals and special discounts on over 10,000 cruises and cruise tours. Make them YOUR online discount cruise authority.