Larry Norman
Larry Norman
The Nationally Recognized "CRUISE COACH"
Your Retirement Beach Chairs Await You!
I have 35 years of experience in the travel industry and was given the name "the Cruise Coach" due to my enthusiasm for selling cruises and becoming a popular and nationally recognized travel industry trainer at almost every major cruise conference from 1988 to 2003.
I have been on over 300 cruises and have visited almost every major leisure destination in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and South Pacific Islands. I also, was the host of the weekly, two-hour Vacation and Cruise Club radio show in Miami, for eight years.
After a successful 12 year career as a Pacific Northwest banker, I opened my first travel agency in Evansville, Indiana, in 1986. Within four years my business had grown to a four state network of 14 travel agencies, with annual sales of $28 million a year.
My flagship operation was the "Miami Cruise Center" which annually sold over $24 million a year in cruises. My agency earned “Top Producer Awards" with Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal Cruises, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, Regent Seven Sea Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Lines. I have cruised extensively on all these cruise lines and can help you find the perfect cruise for your next vacation.
I also operate "Retire to Travel" Mentoring and serve as the "Head Coach" for people that want to learn how save money on their retirement travel. This new venture follows my long history of teaching travel agents on how to find the right cruise for their clients.
It has been estimated that I have trained over 30,000 travel agents over my 30 years as an educator. In 1996, I was honored by Travel Trade as “Travel Educator of the Year". I was also an early advocate of home-based travel agents and became known as “The Outside Sales Agent Expert.” after being asked to present 25 workshops on that subject, at Travel Trade/CLIA Cruise-A-Thons.
I look forward to answering any questions regarding your next cruise or better yet, how you can become a part-time travel agent and start traveling for less for life, as part of our "Retire To Travel" Mentoring program!
My Areas of Expertise
The cruises of my dreams
Grace, Thank you for your kind words, you are always a great addition to my annual group cruises.
Hawaii Round Trip
Lynn and Jill, Thank you for taking the time to share your kind words. Knowing how long you have both been traveling all over the world, your mean a lot to me. Larry
Sold On Cruising
Judy, Thank you for your kind words and even more thanks for continuing to cruise on one of my annual cruise groups. I always try to add some great surprises for my guests, Larry
Cruising...Man what we've been missing!
Chuck and Jackie, Thank you for your kind words and I am really am glad to hear that you and your wife had such a great cruise experience. You are right about the extra work takes to plan a great cruise for 60 people, but I enjoying doing it. Larry
I always get with Larry the cruises of my dreams.
Grace, Thank you for your kind words and for being such a loyal client. For that reason, I always work a little harder for you, to both find you the best cruise value and cabin location. Larry your "Cruise Coach"
Let Larry take Care of it All!
Claudia, Thank you so much for your kind remarks. Coming from someone that has traveled and cruised as much as you have is a real compliment. I look forward to helping you with some of your future cruises, as I will work just as hard to earn your business. Larry
Fall Foliage Cruise Montreal Canada to Tampa Fl
Anita, Thank you for your kind words and I am so happy that you enjoyed this special cruise. Thank you for being such a loyal client and allowing me to continue to help you and your sisters an you annual cruises. Larry
The Best First Luxury Cruise of our Lives!
Jim, Thank you for your kind review of your FIRST CRUISE. I'm glad you had a great time and I look forward when you cruise with me again in the future. Larry
Had great cruises with Larry
Arlene, Thank you for your kind words. It has been a pleasure being your tour guide on all your trips with us. I look forward assisting you again this year on our 15-Day Panama Canal trip this Nov 16th
A great, well-run, trip overall
Marilyn, Thank you for your kind comments. I enjoyed meeting you and your husband and I'm glad you enjoyed our group cruise. I look forward to hopefully cruising with you both, again someday. I promise to work just as hard to earn your individual cruise business someday. Larry
Parrotshead birthday cruise
George and Walter, I always try to hosts "good" cruises. Glad you both enjoyed this one too. Thanks again, for your continued business. Larry.
I have had all excellent cruises with him.
Thank you Arlene for your kind comments. I have enjoyed having you on our fundraising cruises. I am always glad to see you having such a good time. Larry
Excellent trip!
Maggi, Thanks for taking the time to submit this and even more thanks for already booking your next Holland America Cruise on Nov 26th cruise with me. I was pleased that I could find such a great cabin and special rate for you.
Great stay and will be back.
Milo, Thank you so much for your kind remarks. You are turning into a wonderful cruiser. I was so glad I could fine you such a great rate on your next cruise. So many people just book direct and don't realize what a experienced travel agent can do for them. Over my 35 years of helping clients get the best rates possible, I have learned a few tricks of the trade! Thank you again for becoming another valued repeat client! Larry "Your Cruise Coach"
MY Favorite Vacation
Cheryl, Thank you for your kind comments. I enjoyed meeting you both and want to thank you for your help and understanding on our cruise. Glad you enjoyed our PHUN activities. I hope I can help you with any future cruises you might consider. Larry
Excellent cruise
Colleen, Thank you for your kind remarks. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed our planned events. I hope I can plan another cruise for you someday! Larry
Phunnest cruise I was ever on!
Janet, Thank you for your kind remarks. It was a pleasure to work with you and Lora on this cruise. I hope we can cruise together again sometime. Larry
My 100th Birthday celebration
Cathie, Thank your for your kind words. You added so much to my enjoyment of hosting the fundraising cruise you went on!. Your positive spirit about life and your continued enjoyment of cruises was an inspiration to all of us. I very much look forward to cruising again with you in the future. Larry "Your New Cruise Friend"
Top Notch & CARING Travel Agent!
Dee Dee, Thank you for your kind remarks. I always enjoy working with experienced cruisers like yourself and will always work hard to continue to earn your repeat business! I am so sorry that Covid caused you to miss our planed cruise with your sisters and I was glad we could work things out.
The best cruise of my live.
Gloria, I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise with your friends! Even though I know you don't speak a lot of English, the fact this is your second cruise with us, speaks volumes. Thank you, Larry
Delivering our bucket list!
Paul, We enjoyed having you on our 2017 and 2018 cruises and I was pleased I could get your Neptune Suites right across from the Neptune Lounge, as you requested. I am really looking forward having you on this years 28-Day, Hawaii and South Pacific cruise.
The MOST FUN on any cruise we have ever taken.
My husband and I usually like to do our own thing on a cruise because we work so much and just want to get OFF the grid so to speak. But Larry desinged each activity so that I and my Husband actually wanted to be more involved. From Ball room dancing to tours on shore to meeting up and coming together with the whole group for activites..and we could not wait to go to dinner every night-most groups fizzel out by cruise ends..not this one 9 tables almost every night full. I can honestly say we had the MOST FUN on any cruise we had ever been on because of Larry's attention to detail. We appreciate all the pro-active work Larry did before and during this 7 day tour of Mexico. Can't wait to go again! And not alone-with a group!!
Karen, Than you for taking the time to submit such a detailed review of our USBC Fundraiser Cruise. As you are right, I try to make each group a lot of fun for everybody, while letting you do your own thing also. And even better, thank you for your loyalty and booking your NCL cruises with me. I look forward to cruising with you both in the future! Larry
Best organized trip EVER!
WOW, I am more than flattered to have you offer these kind words, knowing how many cruises you have booked over the years. Coming from someone that ended up not being able to go with the other 70 people in our group, is a HUGE compliment. I owe you and your sister a great cruise and look forward to helping you find the best value possible.
Cruising with a Purpose
Allen, Thank you for your kind comments. I enjoyed meeting you both and I hope I have a chance to earn any future cruises you might take. I look forward to cruising with you again sometime. Larry
An outstanding adventure !
Gary, Thank you for your kind remarks. Thanks to the understanding of almost everyone in our group, I was able handle the "unexpected" changes the cruise line gave us! If you ever need some help on a future cruise, I would be pleased to work just as hard to earn your business. Larry
great cruise!!
Patricia, Thank you for your kind comments! I really enjoyed cruising with you and your sister and hope we can sail with you both again in the future.
Excellent innitiation to our first cruise
Chuck, Thank you for your kind words, following your FIRST CRUISE with my annual groups. And, thanks for noting my 35 years of doing this has paid off. Larry
He made our whole trip the BEST!
Jackie, Thank you for your kind words. While I try to give the same professional service to all my customers, I wanted to make sure you and Marty enjoyed his special 90th Birthday. Larry
Very fun trip
Charlie, Thank you for your kind comments. I enjoyed getting to know you on our cruise and l am glad you enjoyed all of the events that I planned for the group. I look forward to cruising with you again in the future and having the opportunity to earn your business. Larry
Very fun filled trip. We will do it again.
Evelyn, Thank you for your kind comments and was glad to know you and your husband enjoyed our cruise. I promise to be just as sensitive to your needs, if given a chance to earn any future cruises you might be considering. Larry
Best first cruise ever!!!
Will I go again - YES, Will I use Larry to book my cruise again - YES.
AJ, I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your first cruise so much. We all enjoyed having you join us, especially your father! A cruise is always a great way to spend some quality time with a family member and have the time to reconnect. So happy for both of you. Larry
Wonderful Trip with Exceptional Service from Larry
Thank you for your kind comments. I enjoyed visiting with you and watching you both have such a good time! I look forward to cruising with you again in the future. Larry
Holiday Cruise
My next cruise will be booked through Larry.
Milo, Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad to hear that you appreciate me as YOUR "Cruise Coach" and I look forward to helping you with all your future cruises.