The destination is simply the backdrop. Relationships create the memories.

Hi, I’m Karen Holmes, founder of 189 Market Journeys.

I believe the most meaningful journeys aren’t measured by the number of countries you visit or the excursions you check off your list. They’re measured by the moments you share with the people you love, the conversations over dinner, the laughter on a balcony at sunset, and the memories that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

That’s why I created 189 Market Journeys.

Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday, planning an anniversary cruise, bringing generations of family together, or simply taking time to reconnect, my goal is to design journeys that feel thoughtful, seamless, and uniquely yours.

❤️ Bringing People Together Has Always Been My Calling

Long before I became a cruise travel advisor, I was the person behind the scenes making meaningful moments happen.

Throughout my career, I coordinated executive travel, organized corporate meetings and special events, planned employee celebrations, and helped create memorable experiences for colleagues and their families. Even outside of work, I found just as much joy planning weddings, birthday celebrations, and family gatherings for the people I cared about most.

Looking back, I realize those experiences weren’t simply about organizing events.

They were about bringing people together.

Today, that same passion guides every journey I design through 189 Market Journeys. Whether I’m helping a family celebrate a milestone birthday at sea, planning a reunion cruise, or creating a once-in-a-lifetime anniversary getaway, my focus remains the same:

Creating meaningful experiences that allow people to connect, celebrate, and make memories together.

❤️ Why I Chose Cruise Travel

Of all the ways to explore the world, cruising felt like the perfect fit for the way I believe people should experience travel.

A cruise gives families and friends the rare opportunity to slow down, leave the distractions of everyday life behind, and simply enjoy being together. There’s no rushing from hotel to hotel or worrying about where to eat next. Instead, every detail is thoughtfully woven into the journey, allowing you to focus on what matters most, sharing the experience with the people you love.

That’s what drew me to cruise travel.

Whether it’s watching a glacier drift by from your balcony, celebrating a birthday over dinner at sea, exploring a new European city together, or laughing with your grandchildren on a private island, those are the moments that become the stories families tell for years to come.

Helping create those moments isn’t just my career.

It’s my favorite part of what I do.

❤️ Experience You Can Trust

While meaningful relationships are at the heart of everything I do, thoughtful planning and professional expertise are what bring those journeys to life.

I’m committed to continually expanding my knowledge through industry certifications, destination training, and cruise line education so I can confidently match each traveler with the experiences that best fit their travel style, celebration, and goals.

As a Certified Wedding Specialist through Weddings Beautiful Worldwide, a Certified Bermuda Destination Specialist, and a holder of professional travel credentials including TAEC and CATA, I combine firsthand travel experience with ongoing education to provide trusted guidance every step of the way.

In addition to my professional certifications, I’ve earned specialist credentials with many of the world’s leading cruise lines and travel partners.

Whether you’re planning your very first cruise, celebrating a milestone with family, or embarking on the journey of a lifetime, these certifications and partnerships allow me to recommend cruise lines, destinations, and experiences with confidence, so you can travel knowing every recommendation is backed by both professional training and firsthand experience.

❤️ What You Can Expect When We Work Together

Planning a meaningful journey should feel exciting, not like another responsibility added to your list. When we work together, I take the time to understand who you’re traveling with, what you’re celebrating, and how you want the experience to feel.

Thoughtful Planning

From choosing the right cruise line, ship, itinerary, and stateroom to coordinating the details surrounding your journey, every recommendation is made with your travel style and priorities in mind.

Personal Guidance

You won’t be left to sort through endless options alone. I’ll help you understand the choices, think ahead to the details that are easy to overlook, and make decisions with confidence.

A Celebration Designed Around You

No two families, couples, or celebrations are exactly alike. Whether your journey includes a milestone dinner, a surprise for someone special, time for multiple generations to reconnect, or simply a peaceful escape together, I’ll help shape the experience around what matters most to you.

Support From Beginning to End

My role doesn’t end when your cruise is booked. I remain a trusted point of contact throughout the planning process, helping you feel prepared, informed, and cared for from our first conversation until you return home.

❤️ Why Travelers Choose 189 Market Journeys

Every journey begins with a conversation.

I believe the best travel experiences aren’t created by choosing the biggest ship or the busiest itinerary. They’re created by understanding what matters most to you and designing a journey around the people, moments, and memories you hope to create.

When you choose to work with me, you’re gaining more than someone who books cruises. You’re gaining a travel partner who listens carefully, thinks ahead, and genuinely cares about making your celebration as meaningful as the destination itself.

Whether you’re planning a milestone birthday, anniversary, family reunion, honeymoon, or simply time away with the people you love, my goal is always the same:

To make the planning feel effortless so the memories can take center stage.

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❤️ Let’s Create Something Worth Celebrating

Whether you’re planning your first cruise, celebrating a milestone, gathering generations of family together, or simply taking time to reconnect with the people you love, I’d be honored to help you create a journey that’s thoughtful, seamless, and unforgettable.

Let’s begin designing an experience you’ll be talking about long after you return home.

Karen L Holmes – Founder