Meet Mandy Goddard, Cruise Specialist & Owner of Cruise By Mandy LLC
Mandy Goddard is the owner of Cruise By Mandy LLC, a cruise-focused travel agency based in Prosper, Texas, serving travelers throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and nationwide. A full-time cruise specialist since 2012, Mandy helps travelers navigate the many choices in ocean, river, expedition, luxury, small-ship and yacht-style cruising.
Mandy’s love of cruising began with her first cruise in 2000. Since then, she has sailed more than 100 cruises, spent 700+ nights at sea, experienced nearly 30 cruise lines and more than 85 ships, and visited 200+ ports around the world. Her firsthand travels span Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Australia and beyond.
That firsthand experience is central to the way Mandy works with clients. She continually cruises, participates in ship inspections, explores destinations and completes professional cruise industry training. Rather than simply booking a ship and itinerary, she helps travelers understand the differences among cruise lines, ships, staterooms, destinations and onboard experiences so they can make informed decisions about where to spend their vacation time and travel dollars.
Experience Backed by Professional Education
In 2025, Mandy was inducted into the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Hall of Fame and was named CLIA Elite Cruise Counselor of the Year. She holds CLIA’s Elite Cruise Counselor (ECC) certification as well as the Certified Travel Associate (CTA) designation. Her additional education includes a Master of Education (M.Ed.), WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and PADI Open Water Diver certification.
Before becoming a full-time cruise travel advisor, Mandy spent 12 years as a middle and high school mathematics educator and also taught at the junior-college level. Her background in education continues to shape her approach to travel planning today: research the options, understand the differences and help clients make informed choices.
Finding the Right Cruise for You
There is no single “best” cruise line or ship for every traveler. Mandy works with first-time cruisers, couples, families, multigenerational groups, solo travelers, experienced cruisers and groups to determine which cruise experience best matches their travel style, priorities, interests, budget and expectations.
That may mean a family-focused Royal Caribbean vacation, an Alaska cruise or cruisetour, a European river cruise, an intimate yacht or small-ship sailing, a luxury cruise, or an expedition to a remote part of the world. The goal is not simply to sell a particular cruise line—it is to understand the differences among them and help match each traveler with the experience that fits.
From selecting the cruise line, ship, itinerary and stateroom to navigating dining, beverage packages, shore excursions, transportation and pre- or post-cruise stays, Mandy helps bring the individual pieces of a cruise vacation together.
For Mandy, being a cruise travel advisor is about much more than making a reservation. It is about combining decades of personal travel experience, ongoing professional education and extensive firsthand cruise knowledge to help clients make informed decisions—and building relationships that continue from one cruise adventure to the next.
Our Booking Process
Step 1: Cruise Consultation
First, connect with us! After that, we will set up a time to go over a questionnaire you will be sent. In this meeting, we'll discuss exactly how you imagine your perfect cruise vacation.
Step 2: Sailing and Package Selection
Once we know what you're looking for, we will hand-pick the perfect combination of ship/destination/excrusions just for you and your family.
Step 3: Cruise Reservation and Deposit
Get excited because it's official; you're sailing away! All booking and confirmation information will be sent to your email, then it's smooth sailing from there.
Step 4: Sailing Preparation
In the weeks leading up to casting anchor, we will be sending you emails to ensure you're ready to hit the waves. They will include information like packing lists, excursion information, reminders, and more.
Step 5: Set Sail!
It's cruise vacation time! We will make sure you're set to go with flight information and confirmation numbers via email, and remember--we're always a phone call away!
More than a Career -A Life of Travel
For Mandy, cruising has never been simply about getting on a ship—it has been part of how she experiences the world. Cruising has taken her family to new destinations and cultures, created opportunities to learn together, and provided countless memories along the way. Travel is even part of Mandy and her husband Curt’s own love story: they were married on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2003.
Their two daughters grew up traveling and have now spent more than 200 nights cruising themselves. From cruising with young children to traveling with teenagers and young adults, those years have given Mandy a firsthand understanding of how family travel changes as children grow—and how the right ship, stateroom, itinerary and experiences can look very different at each stage.
Before Cruise By Mandy, Mandy built her career in education. With a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, a Master of Education, and experience teaching students from middle school through junior college, she learned how to take something complicated and make it easier to understand. That same skill remains at the heart of her approach today: helping travelers sort through an overwhelming number of cruise choices, understand the differences, and make informed decisions with confidence.
More than two decades after her first cruise, Mandy is still sailing, exploring and learning. Every new ship, cruise line, destination and experience adds to the firsthand knowledge she brings home and shares with her clients.
Awards
Cruise by Mandy is honord to have been awarded the following awards for our contributions to the cruise and travel industry.
Other Travel Certifications
Let's Get in Touch
Mandy Goddard
Elite Cruise Counselor
Cruise by Mandy, LLC
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