Damar Travel & Cruise

Damar Travel & Cruise, formerly located at 1837 Homer M Adams Parkway in Alton, Illinois, operated for over two decades before its permanent closure. Founded by David and Marsha Schuman, the agency grew to include a team of over 50 specialists and expanded its reach with a headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, and representatives across the country. The company positioned itself as an expert in a wide array of travel services, including personal, business, and group incentive travel, with a particular emphasis on being "All-Inclusive, Cruise, Honeymoon, and Destination Experts." Despite its long history and stated commitments to value and service, the agency's legacy is mixed, reflecting both highly positive experiences and significant service failures that prospective clients should be aware of when considering travel agencies with similar profiles.

Service Strengths and Specializations

Throughout its years of operation, Damar Travel & Cruise garnered praise for its friendly and knowledgeable staff. Several clients reported positive interactions, highlighting the team's helpfulness and efficiency in the travel planning process. Reviews mentioned that booking trips was handled with ease, suggesting that for straightforward travel arrangements, the agency was a reliable partner. The staff's expertise was a key selling point, with the company claiming its agents had firsthand experience with the destinations and cruise lines they recommended, ensuring they could match client expectations with reality. This hands-on knowledge is a critical asset for any travel agency, as it allows agents to provide nuanced advice that goes beyond what can be found in a brochure.

The agency was known for its broad range of offerings, from all-inclusive vacation packages to complex corporate travel arrangements. They formed partnerships with major tour operators like Apple Vacations and Globus, which enabled them to offer special pricing and a wide selection of pre-packaged trips. This business model is common among travel agencies and benefits clients looking for convenient and cost-effective travel deals. Furthermore, Damar Travel & Cruise developed a notable and commendable niche in accessible travel, specifically organizing escorted cruises for the visually impaired. This specialization earned them media coverage from NBC and demonstrated a commitment to serving a broader community, a unique aspect that set them apart from many competitors. Their work with the American Council of the Blind (ACB), though it eventually ended, showed an initiative to make international travel more accessible.

Reported Deficiencies and Criticisms

Despite the positive feedback, a significant blemish on Damar's record comes from a detailed account of a major service failure. One prospective client seeking assistance with a customized honeymoon package to Morocco in 2008 reported a deeply frustrating experience. The client had already booked airfare and required help with itinerary planning and logistics for a destination that was not a typical package tour location. According to the review, after the agency realized they couldn't simply book a pre-existing package, they ceased communication entirely, ignoring the client's calls. This occurred even after the client explicitly offered to pay for the agents' time and expertise, understanding the custom nature of the request. This incident points to a critical weakness: an inability or unwillingness to handle bespoke travel planning that fell outside their standard, commission-based offerings. For travelers seeking unique or complex itineraries, this suggests the agency prioritized volume and ease of booking over providing comprehensive, client-centered service.

The Challenge of Custom Itineraries

The negative review highlights a common dilemma in the travel industry. While many travelers benefit from the convenience and value of vacation packages and cruise deals, others require more personalized services. The best travel agents are those who can adeptly handle both. The failure to engage with the Morocco honeymoon request suggests a business model that may have been overly reliant on supplier commissions from packaged tours. When a request required significant independent research and coordination without a clear, upfront commission structure, the agency allegedly faltered. This is a crucial point for any consumer to consider when selecting a travel consultant. It is essential to inquire about their experience and fee structure for custom trip planning to avoid a similar situation where communication breaks down once the request proves to be non-standard.

Business Operations and Closure

Damar Travel & Cruise held an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), yet it was not a BBB Accredited business. This means that while they maintained a positive record in terms of complaints filed with the BBB, they had not sought the additional layer of vetting and commitment to the BBB's standards that accreditation entails. The eventual permanent closure of the business means that former clients and prospective customers must now seek services elsewhere. The reasons for the closure are not publicly detailed, but the competitive nature of the travel industry, the rise of online booking engines, and the potential operational challenges reflected in customer feedback could have been contributing factors. The company's relationship with the American Council of the Blind also ended when Damar unilaterally canceled their agreement, a move that was regrettable to the ACB community who had enjoyed the specialized cruises. This decision, made by the principal partners, suggests a shift in business focus or capacity that may have preceded its eventual closure.

Final Assessment

In retrospect, Damar Travel & Cruise presented a dual image. On one hand, it was a long-standing community business with friendly staff, capable of efficiently booking standard travel like all-inclusive resorts and cruises, and it commendably ventured into the specialized market of accessible travel. On the other hand, it demonstrated a critical weakness in handling complex, custom travel requests, failing to provide service when it couldn't rely on pre-packaged solutions. For potential travelers, the story of Damar Travel & Cruise serves as an important case study. It underscores the necessity of vetting a travel agency based on your specific needs. If you are looking for straightforward cruise deals or resort packages, an agency focused on volume and supplier partnerships might be perfectly suitable. However, if your plans involve intricate, multi-destination, or unconventional international travel, it is vital to select an agency that explicitly welcomes and has a proven track record with bespoke travel planning.