Page 18 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – September/October 2019

TRAVELER’S GUIDE
Donna Wellworth
Donna Wellworth visits The Byodo-In Temple at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kahaluu on O’ahu, Hawaii, with her nephew Nicky. She says it’s her favorite place
to visit in Hawaii.
Travel Agent Spotlight:
We sat down with Donna to learn more about her and her time as a Travel Agent.
AAA Every Day: How long have you been in the travel industry?
Donna Wellworth: I’ve been in the travel industry for more than 20 years and have never looked back. I saw an advertisement in the newspaper saying that they were offering a course to be a travel agent. I finished the course, and the company offered me a job. It’s a great career!
AED: What is your absolute favorite vacation spot and are there any special memories tied to it?
DW: Hawaii is one of my favorite vacation spots; I started going to Hawaii with my family back in the mid-1970s.
I have traveled to Maui twice and Oahu 10 times. Each island has its unique feature, but I think I fell in love with Oahu the first time we arrived. The sun, the surf and
the culture bring joy to my life. Cruising to Bermuda is another one of my favorites, as it is close to us on the east coast. I have flown over staying at the Elbow Beach Club and cruised to Bermuda eight times. The island is so easy to get around on buses and ferries. The people of Bermuda are so lovely and helpful. I sometimes think the best part of a trip is talking to the locals.
AED: How about any places on your bucket list?
DW: A travel agent without a bucket list would be funny. I keep adding on to the list. On the top would be Ireland, traveling the southern route but also adding on the Giant’s Causeway and Belfast. I’d also like to go on a back-to-back cruise, which is sailing on one itinerary and
staying on the ship for the next journey. I have had clients do a back-to-back-to-back cruise from China to San Francisco. When I retire, the ultimate bucket list item is a 30-day South Pacific roundtrip out of Los Angeles; just board the ship and travel the south islands.
AED: We hear your official title is a Master Cruise Counselor. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
DW: I started taking courses with Cruise Lines International Association when I first started in the industry. CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association with representation all over the world. I first earned my Accredited Cruise Counsellor; then I finished my Master Cruise Counsellor at AAA. I completed 130 credits of courses dealing with product knowledge, ship inspections, cruise experiences and stateroom sales. As I tell my kids, knowledge is power.
AED: Do you have any expert tips for people when they are planning their cruise vacations?
DW: Of course, book your cruise and vacations with
a travel agent. When booking an Alaska cruise tour, upgrade to the Tundra wilderness tour in Denali. When cruising to Bermuda, buy a Bus and Ferry pass. From the port, ferry to St. George and make your way back to the royal navy dockyard by bus with stops along the way.
AED: Before we go, what are a couple of things your clients might not know about you?
DW: I was nominated as Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas. I didn’t win, but just being nominated was an honor. I was on the U.S. Airways Advisory Board for a couple of years. I will be taking my four-year-old grandson, Elliot, on his first cruise this fall.
To book your next vacation with Donna, contact her at dwellworth@aaahv.com or 518-426-1000, ext. 2113.
18 I SEP/OCT 2019