Jenny Cookman
My expertise
I'm based in
Surrey
One step ahead so you can relax...
I’m a Travel Counsellors Cruise Ambassador, with a particular focus on river cruising, expedition cruises and luxury small-ship journeys. I also arrange tours and adventures worldwide.
Call: 07989 420702 | 01483 651044
Email: jenny.cookman@travelcounsellors.com
I help clients plan thoughtfully chosen, low-stress holidays, simplifying the options and guiding them to the right experience.
River cruising is a key area of my expertise. I have now been on 44 ships myself and love this serene form of travel with the opportunity to relax and explore. I help travellers who would like to explore Europe’s great rivers - including the Danube, Rhine, Rhône, Douro and Seine - as well as more far-flung waterways such as the Nile, Mekong, Ganges and Amazon. Each river offers a very different style of travel, and choosing the right ship, itinerary and cruise line can make all the difference.
I’m also an experienced advocate of expedition cruising, and as a qualified CLIA Expedition Cruise Champion, I help clients plan journeys to some of the world’s most extraordinary places, including Antarctica, the Arctic, Alaska, the Galápagos and other remote or warm-water destinations. These are trips where expert planning, the right operator and excellent preparation really matter.
I also arrange small-ship and yacht cruises, whether that’s relaxed sailing in the Mediterranean, island-hopping in the Caribbean, a French Polynesian adventure or other carefully curated itineraries worldwide.
I have expert team members who specialise across all areas of travel - from tailor-made touring and safaris to luxury villas, adventure travel and long-haul destinations. This means that whatever type of holiday you’re considering, we have the knowledge and experience to support you.
From our first conversation or email, through to supporting you while you’re away, I can look after every detail including flights, transfers, hotels and pre or post cruise stays and tours - so you can travel feeling informed, reassured and well looked after.
I take time to understand what matters most - your pace, interests and budget and shape your holiday around that. Every trip is bespoke, combining my own experience with the support and full financial protection of Travel Counsellors.
My role is to make the process feel clear and manageable, and to help you choose a journey you’ll really enjoy and will always remember.
Please get in touch when you’re ready to start planning your next journey…
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennycookmantravel
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennycookmantravelcounsellor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jentravelinspiration/
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Destination Spotlight: The Douro River
Porto is a colourful, vibrant place with the Douro running through the centre towards the ocean. The city is now one of the most popular destinations in Europe and is protected by UNESCO. Churches, plazas and colourful shop front facades are a few of the features of this historic gem. The beautiful Scenic Azur river ship was waiting for me, and I settled into my balcony suite, my home for the we
27 Jan 2023 5 min read
Five more reasons to try a river cruise...
Five More Reasons To Try A River Cruise.... Part 2, following on from my previous blog 'My five top reasons to try a river cruise'... 1. Be In The Heart Of The Action River cruise ships are relatively small compared to ocean ships, so when you’re in a city, you really will be ‘in’ the city. River cruise ships will tend to dock in the centre, so you can be right in the heart of things. You can g
23 May 2021 5 min read
My five top reasons to try a river cruise...
1. A room with an ever-changing view One of the reasons so many people love river cruise is the view outside your window, or from the deck. Not only have you always got a view (which many hotels charge extra for), it’s also always changing. You can open the sliding doors and settle down with a good book and watch the world go by. I love siting on deck with a drink, relaxing and taking it all in.
30 Jan 2021 5 min read
What’s better, a relaxing holiday or a cultural holiday? Both!
There are two very different camps when it comes to holidays. Some people want to relax and do nothing, while others want to have things to do and interesting places to visit. The difficulty comes when you’re a “relaxer” and your partner is a “doer”, or vice versa. The answer then, is to find a holiday that would give you both, and for me that’s a European river cruise. You can soak in the sunshin
19 Jul 2020 5 min read
Are holidays good for our mental health?
Going on holiday has some great health benefits. We can’t travel at the moment, but that shouldn’t stop us looking forward to taking a break when we can. We will explore more below as well as showing you some fun examples of how you can holiday at home, whilst you can’t get away. 1. Escapism from your everyday routine Do you sometimes feel weighed down by the everyday routine? We all have so mu
24 May 2020 5 min read
A river cruise stop in Rotterdam, Netherlands
A great advantage of river cruising is the ability to dock in the centre of the city. I watched the whole process from my cabin, and looked on at the backdrop of Rotterdam, wakening to a sunny autumn morning. It was then time to embark on an adventure round the city. I collected my ‘whisperer’ tour device – a useful gadget that keeps you in radio contact with the guide, and gives some interestin
25 Nov 2019 5 min read
Ten reasons to try a river cruise.
I have just returned from a 5-night Rhine cruise aboard A-ROSA Flora, disembarking at the annual Cruise Lines International Association River Cruise Conference in Amsterdam. It was fantastic, and I will be back on the river when I next get an opportunity. I’ve summarised some of my thoughts about river cruising in this blog. 1. It is very relaxing. There is something very calming about rivers. T
25 Nov 2019 5 min read
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Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
Tailor-made for you
Your holiday isn’t just a trip away. It’s a longed-for escape, time to reconnect with loved ones, or a dream adventure you never thought possible. That’s why I take the time to truly get to know you and understand your hopes and expectations, then use my experience, connections and passion for the destination to create a trip that makes those dreams a reality.
Personalised service. Always
When you plan a holiday with me, you’ll be given my personal mobile number from the very first call. I’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas like I would a friend and arrange accommodation, activities, and flights that are all personalised to you. And I’ll share my personal tips and recommendations, so you can experience the true beauty of each destination.
Stress-free travel, and more time for what matters most
I believe your time away should be stress-free, easy, and seamless from start to finish. So, I take care of all the details for you - from ATOL protection, insurance, and flexible payments to access to the myTC app, which keeps everything in one place.
Support when it matters most
If the unexpected happens, you can rest easy, knowing that I’ll handle any last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or disruptions before you even pick up the phone. So you always feel happy, carefree, and ready to make the most of every moment.
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