Jo Ann Buening
Jo Ann Buening
Alaska, Luxury, River & Ocean Cruise Expert
For Alaska, Cruising (River or Ocean) or Luxury Travel, you have found the source for your best vacation. Knowledge is power and since entering the industry in 1985, I have earned many travel certifications. What defines a GREAT travel agent is a commitment to learn and the passion to exceed clients' expectations. Please check out my bios, stories, photos and - most importantly - testimonials from just a few of the thousands of happy, repeat clients I have helped to realize their dream.
My Travel Specialties
My Areas of Expertise
CERTIFICATES & AWARDS
My Travel Stories
Viking Ocean Cruising – the Best of Both Worlds!
My opportunity to experience a Viking Ocean ship came recently, from December 7-17, 2016 as I sailed the beautiful 930-passenger ship, Viking Star, round trip from San Juan. This was my 25th cruise and once I stepped aboard, I could already tell this was going to be a great experience. The ... Read more from my Viking Ocean Cruising – the Best of Both Worlds! story.
Jo Ann Buening Honored with National Award
Press Release from October 30, 2015 La Crosse Travel Agent Honored with National “Employee of Excellence” Award from Travel Leaders Jo Ann Buening Named Among Nation’s Best at 2015 Travel Leaders National Meeting ChampionsGate, FL (October 30, 2015) — Today, a La Crosse travel agent was singled out from thousands of ... Read more from my Jo Ann Buening Honored with National Award story.
Cruise Ships I've Sailed or Inspected
During my many years in the travel industry and through my various CLIA (Cruise Line International Association) certification processes from Accredited Cruise Counsellor to Master Cruise Counsellor to Elite Cruise Counsellor, I’ve sailed on and inspected many ships. To give you an idea of the breadth and width of my personal ... Read more from my Cruise Ships I've Sailed or Inspected story.
A Great Partnership!
The advise and recommendations were excellent
Viking Grand European River cruise
She is excellent in searching out the answers to all questions, and providing good advice, both from a personal and a professional perspective. We absolutely would not travel without Jo Ann's knowledge and expertise to guide us. We cannot speak more highly of her!
Clients like you are why I LOVE my job!!
Great trip
My dream family vacation that didn’t happen
Thank you for your kind words. You are right, it was tough. But, we did gain a friendship thru the process.
Totally awesome trip
I'm happy you enjoyed it. Thank you!
One of our favorite trips!
Thorough and very helpful! Would highly recommend her services, the best we’ve dealt with!
Thank you!
Jo Ann and Oceania Cruises are both fantastic!
We planned to book our own airfare with points but Jo Ann still offered us good advice on certain airports and airlines to avoid. This would turn out to be extremely valuable as we heard horror stories from other passengers who were delayed, lost bags, and missed connections on those same routes we avoided!
The peace of mind we had in booking with a professional was priceless and our cruise was absolutely amazing. We wouldn't change a thing. If you are looking for a guiding hand with a lot of experience, give Jo Ann a call.
Thank you so much for the review!
The Best Travel Advisor
Wonderful ports of call!
Jo Ann is aweseom
Great Travel Guide!
Bucket list trip
Our first visit to Italy:
she has guided us through numerous trips, from Cape Cod to Italy to Australia. Modes of transportation have been various cruises both river and ocean. Her advice has been invaluable.
Yes, you have gotten to see much of the world. It's been my pleasure to be part of it!
River Cruise
She also planned a trip to Peru for us, researching when the best time of year to go and found great airfares for us. She is my go to person when planning a trip!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I've enjoyed booking trips for you as well as traveling with you as a group.
China
She has always been available to help us even when we were out of country. The day we were to leave Cairo Egypt in 2010 was the same day all European airports closed due to an eruption of a volcano in Iceland. There was a lot of confusion in Egypt about how we were going to get home. The communications systems in Egypt was not the most efficient. We were eventually able to fax JoAnn from Cairo and within an hour she replied with specific instructions for our return. She kept in contact with us until we were safely back home.
GREAT SERVI
A Joy to Work With
Thank you for your kind words. I enjoy working with your group as well!!
Viking River Cruise
Trip of a life time
We could tell some stories!! Loved helping you to Alaska a few times.
Excellent Cruises Planned by Jo Ann
Jo Ann for all our travel.
Jo Ann is Absolutely the Best!
During the last 7 years, Jo Ann has helped us plan and carry out many “trips of a lifetime”; we are deeply grateful for her wonderful help. She is much more than a travel agent. She is a trusted friend who goes above and beyond to make our dreams come true! Jo Ann is helping us plan our second Disney family cruise in June 2017. In hope we could get a reservation on one of the few “double dipping” (twice at Castaway Cay) cruises before they sold out, she came into the office several hours early to begin calling to secure our booking. She was successful after being on hold for nearly two hours, arranging cabins near each other for the thirteen of us. Jo Ann makes all of this planning look effortless on her part, but the truth is, she is an expert - a pro, and her work is the result of years of training and doing and listening to her clients. She is just the best, and we are so thankful for all of her help in planning the next in our long list of upcoming adventures!
Your Efforts Are What Made This Trip Fantastic
Dear Jo Ann; There are not enough words, nor enough ways that we can express our gratitude for the work you did to provide us with a nearly perfect trip. (You could not make some of the other guests adopt preventative measures to stop the spread of germs!) Everything, and I mean everything could not have been better. Avalon is a tremendous company and provided a first-class experience. We feel, however, that your efforts on our behalf were what made this trip so fantastic. From the moment we first started the process, until our pre-departure session, we never had a concern because we knew you had worked on our behalf and had taken care of every little detail. You equipped us with all the information we needed to go off and not be anxious, because there were no unknowns. Other passengers were so impressed with you, but we knew that indeed you are truly 'the best.' Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! We are so grateful!
Wonderful Planning and Service
We just wanted to thank you for the wonderful planning and service you gave us on this trip again. We had a great time and know it was because you had taken care of all the details for us. What a wonderful job you are doing for us! This is trip #3 and we couldn't be happier. Thank you again…
Everything Was Wonderful!
JoAnn, Again, thank you for planning our wonderful cruise on Viking. Perfect, fantastic and beautiful; all these words apply. Soooo relaxing AND entertaining! And EVERYTHING was taken care of in such great detail. Patty and I shall remember and cherish forever. Great memories for all. Fabulous!!
Terrific Anniversary Trip!
Dear Jo Ann; Wow! Thank you so much for making our anniversary trip so terrific! We had a fabulous time. Going first class all the way was truly wonderful. Both my husband and I felt SO pampered.
A Fabulous Grand European River Cruise!
Dear Jo Ann; Where do we begin? We have just returned from our fabulous Grand European River Cruise with Viking. Every single thing was absolutely wonderful! Your pre-trip preparations for us anticipated every and all situations, and we marveled at how much your information to us, prior to leaving, surpassed that of our fellow travelers. Your thoroughness, once again, is so appreciated. Viking is an absolutely wonderful company for traveling. They smoothly and seemingly effortlessly guided us every step of the way of our 15-day cruise. Their schedule was on time - to the minute. Extras were included as wonderful discoveries ... like special lectures, cooking demonstrations, musical programs and bringing a glass blower on board for a demo. We would recommend this trip to anyone and we hope to travel with Viking again in another part of the world. Again, Jo Ann, thank you so much for your wonderful professionalism in guiding and preparing us for this adventure!
The Work You Do Matters!
What a FABULOUS cruise! It could not have been better. The service, the food, the opportunities, the cabin --everything was superb and completely delighted us. It was just the medicine we needed ... and we came home with lifelong memories. So, again - thank you. The work you do matters and you do it so well! You touched our lives in a most positive and healing way.