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Houston’s Concierge Travel Unveils Its First All-Gay Luxury Sailing Ship Cruise

Leading LGBT Travel Agency Expands Its Customized Vacation Line-up with Star Flyer Cruise to Costa Rica and Panama

Concierge Travel, the largest gay-owned and operated travel agency and tour operator in the state of Texas, today announced details on its first all-gay luxury sailing ship cruise to Costa Rica and Panama.  The full ship charter cruise will sail on Star Clippers’ elegant Star Flyer clipper ship March 6-13, 2011.

Founded in Houston in 1997, Concierge Travel entered the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) market a few years later.  In 2009, Concierge Travel expanded beyond its travel agent roots and began offering its own small ship cruise vacations – starting with a sold out Galapagos Islands cruise on Celebrity Xpedition – in response to a continuing demand in the market for intimate, small-ship experiences.

Today, Concierge Travel has grown its customized vacation offerings to include this once-in-a-lifetime sailing adventure in Costa Rica on the 170-passenger Star Flyer in March 2011, as well land trips in 2010 and 2011 to South Africa and Peru.

Kim Gustavsson, Concierge Travel
Kim Gustavsson of Concierge Travel

“We’ve gotten to know our gay and lesbian guests very well over the last 10 years,” said Kim Gustavsson, vice president of sales and marketing at Concierge Travel.  “We’ve traveled with them and listened to the feedback along the way.  More and more of them told us that they wanted more intimate, small-ship cruise options.  So we’re very pleased to be able to bring them an unforgettable seven-night adventure on the luxurious Star Flyer.”

Concierge Travel’s newest full-ship charter cruise sails from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica on March 6, 2011.  After a relaxing day at sea, the ship docks in Isla de Coiba, Panama, where guests can explore virgin rainforests or dive among sea turtles, dolphins and manta rays.  The cruise continues on to six more ports on Costa Rica’s sunny Pacific coast, with highlights ranging from archaeological ruins on Isla del Cano to powder white sand beaches and an astonishing array of wildlife in Quepos and nearby Manuel Antonio National Park.

Star Clipper’s 170-passenger Star Flyer is the world’s tallest sailing ship, with a mast that stands 226 feet tall.  Yet, much smaller than the massive, floating hotel mega-ships that dominate the cruise industry, Star Flyer’s smaller size enables it to visit ports often untouched by larger cruise ships, while offering passengers the activities, amenities and atmosphere of a private yacht.

Star Flyer offers spacious accommodations and expansive teak decks with two swimming pools.  The décor of Star Clipper and Star Flyer is reminiscent of the grand age of sailing, with antique prints and paintings and teak and gleaming mahogany rails.

Staterooms on this Costa Rica and Panama adventure start at $2,275*.  Rates are per person based on double occupancy and include all of Star Clipper’s deluxe accommodations and services in addition to Concierge Travel’s customized service, entertainment and activities.

“More and more gay and lesbian travelers are looking for relaxing, intimate and fun vacation options in the company of other like-minded individuals,” said Gustavsson.  “Our new customized, charter vacations fill a needed niche in the market and give more travelers the special kind of vacation that they’re looking for.”

Concierge Travel was named Houston’s “Gayest & Greatest Travel Agency” by OutSmart Magazine in 2010, an honor it has received each year since 2002. It was also named “Best LGBT Cruise or Tour Company” in 2010.

Reservations for the Costa Rica and Panama cruise as well as any other Concierge Travel vacation can be made by contacting Concierge Travel directly at 877.775.9616.  For more detailed information, please visit our newly redesigned website at  www.conciergetravel.cc <http://www.conciergetravel.cc/> .

* Transfers, gratuities and port fees are additional

About Concierge Travel
Founded in 1997, Concierge Travel is a boutique, gay-owned travel agency and tour operator that creates intimate, customized experiences for its LGBT guests on its own exclusive small-ship cruises and land tours.  Concierge Travel also provides a range of services and enhancements on the vacations that it books for its guests with other travel providers.  Voted Houston’s “Gayest & Greatest Travel Agency” by OutSmart Magazine every year since 2002 and “Best LGBT Cruise or Tour Company” in 2010, Concierge Travel also believes strongly in supporting the gay and lesbian community, and donates 20 percent of its total net travel revenue annually to important LGBT organizations.

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