CONTRIBUTED

Cheryl Darwell has announced that her Cruise Planners/American Express franchise in West End-Seven Lakes has placed in the top 10 of all new franchises in the country.

Cruise Planners is a member of both the Moore County and Fayetteville Chambers of Commerce, and supports clients throughout the Pinehurst and Fayetteville areas.

Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Services representative, is the largest home-based travel agent network in the cruise industry with more than 700 franchise owners across the country that independently book cruises and associated travel.

Cruise Planners/American Express, headquartered in Coral Springs, Fla., has achieved the highest industry awards year after year. Notable mentions include Agency of the Year from American Express, Royal Caribbean International Home-Based Partner of the Year, Norwegian Cruise Line Home-Based Agency of the Year, Viking River Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Top Producer, and many more.

Cruising has become one of the fastest growing methods of travel.

"More and more people are taking cruises every year," Darwell says. "The cruising trend has changed and cruisers are more adventurous and youthful.

"There's also been the emergence of multigenerational cruisers - families that take their cruise vacations together. Cruises offer the most satisfying, convenient and value-oriented way to travel. Cruise Planners has "Top Producer" status with virtually every cruise line, which enables me to provide my customers with the best prices along with my expertise and personalized service."

Cruise Planners/American Express also sponsors "Voyages for Veterans," a fundraising partnership with Royal Caribbean and the Fisher House Foun-dation.

This charity provides no-cost housing to families of veterans undergoing extensive medical treatment at VA medical centers across the country.

As an American Express Travel Services representative agency, Cruise Planners offers Mariner Club sailings, which means their customers receive exclusive benefits such as a complimentary host, private cocktail party, shore events, additional shipboard credits, and more, adding value to the vacation.

Customers can now use their American Express Reward Points to cover all or part of their vacation, although they do not need an American Express card to take advantage of their Mariner sailings or special group rates.