Mary Jean Tully, of the Cruise Professionals, is theperfectconnections last stop when it comes to luxury travel.

She can verse off the perfect way to take a family cruise one minute, and co ordinate a group of high level captains of industry on a safari the next. Minute detail and a vast knowledge of all the product she sells keeps her on the cutting edge of her industry. Recently Travelzest purchased the Cruise Professionals for approximately $13 million, but you can still find Mary Jean in her beautiful, memento filled office, running the show.

When we sat down to catch up last weekend, I asked Mary Jean if she could tell me what things in her travels had made a difference to her personally. What vistas had she seen, and what above all else had stuck with her in her heart as well as her photo album.

Here is that list. Perhaps some of these will become part of your personal bucket list.

1. Watching the sunset in Botswana while out on safari, and sipping a glass of wine
2. A Safari in South Africa’s Kruger Park while staying at Mala Mala or Singita
3. Ankor Wat in Cambodia
4. Walking along the Great Wall of China when no one else is there
5. The Pyramids of Giza
6. Riding the sand dunes in Namibia on an ATV
7. Hot air ballooning over Cappadocia in Turkey
8. Dinner in the ruins of the Library in Ephesus with candlelight and music
9. Visiting the Temple of Karnak at sunrise in Luxor
10. The Taj Mahal at sunrise and sunset.

Mary Jean Tully, CTC Chairman and CEO, The Cruise Professionals.

Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Cruise Professionals, Mary Jean Tully is a hard working, vivacious woman with a savvy business sense. In 1987 she identified and seized the opportunity to target the luxury cruise market niche in North America. The Cruise Professionals have since grown from its initial staff of three to encompass 52 seasoned travel professionals. Sitting on the Board for Crystal Cruises, Silversea and Condé Nast Traveler, Mary Jean is celebrated in the industry for her knowledge of travel, hard work and determination. The agency has received numerous awards and recognition identifying it as one of the best luxury travel agencies in the world.

The World is a book and those who do not travel read only one page

- St Augustine