Cruise Direct Online/Travel Direct VacationsReviews of traveldirectvacations.com

Darren is a true professional, personable and a delight to have worked with. This was not an easy time providing customer support while Viking was dealing with low water issues and offering vouchers. Darren was very responsive with communicating changes that were happening also. We are looking forward to Darren's assistance in our future bookings with Viking!

Darren made my travel plans seem less and was quick to respond to calls and emails. I highly recommend him for your travel plans.

"I have always booked all of my travel myself, so I have incredibly high standards when it comes to trip logistics. However, when I wanted to join a group of friends on a cruise that was already booked up, I reached out to Darren.He went above and beyond, monitoring the availability weekly for months until a cabin finally opened up. Not only did he secure my spot, but he also handled every single detail seamlessly and went out of his way to get me on my preferred airline. Darren's persistence and dedication turned what could have been a missed opportunity into a flawless vacation. I cannot recommend him enough!"

Darren was so helpful in booking our trip! He helped us pick the perfect trip for our summer vacation. He even helped us by answering all questions that we had about booking flights, Viking cruise procedures, etc. I highly recommend this company and I recommend Darren especially!

Darren was the best, he was honest and it was the best trip we ever took. He really made sure that we had everything and told us what to look out for. Thank you and i will use him again

This was my first cruise, and the booking process could not have smoother. Many thanks and kudos go to Darren Trencher our agent. He answered all question, offered suggestions and was prompt in all his responses to our queries. It is partly his professionalism that we have already made reservations on our second cruise with Viking.

I did extensive research before booking my Viking European cruise. Right before I submitted my payment, I wanted to speak with a Viking representative to ask a few final questions. That's where my problems began. I later learned that independent cruise agents can create "co-branded" websites that closely resemble Viking's official website while directing customers to the agent instead. I didn't realize I was dealing with an independent agent rather than Viking directly. My agent, Darren Trencher, answered my initial questions and then told me I had to book through him and provide him with all of my financial information. My mother and I were traveling together. Despite repeated requests, he never included my mother in any emails or other communications. From that point forward, he provided little to no assistance with any aspect of our cruise. The biggest issue involved the booking incentive. Darren promised we would receive a $200 credit for booking through him in addition to Viking's promotion. When the credit never appeared, I emailed him twice to remind him. Instead of applying it as the promised shipboard credit, he didn't send a check until after we had already departed on our vacation—making the credit useless during the cruise. When I returned home, I deposited the $200 check. It was returned for insufficient funds. Not only did I not receive the promised credit, but I was also charged an NSF fee by my bank because the check bounced. When I contacted Darren, he acknowledged that he already knew the check had been returned. He told me, "Oh, I saw that. They took the $200 from my account and then refunded me. Very strange." He then asked for my Venmo information and eventually sent the $200 electronically. While I did receive the money in the end, it came only after multiple reminders, a bounced check, and unnecessary stress. This entire experience was frustrating, unprofessional, and completely avoidable. I expected honesty, clear communication, and follow-through. Instead, I experienced poor communication, broken promises, and a bounced reimbursement check. I plan to contact Viking directly to report my experience because no customer should have to go through this when booking what should be an enjoyable vacation. I strongly recommend verifying that you are booking directly with Viking or with a reputable travel advisor before providing your personal or financial information.

Darren is responsive to inquiries and always helpful. I trust him to be there when I need him and keep me informed about any changes. I don’t plan to travel without him in the future.