About “Mister Cruise” Peter Coloyan
Selling travel since 1972, a lifelong focus on cruising, and one goal: helping you become a Smart Traveler.
Get Up to 5 Free Cruise QuotesWho Is Mister Cruise?
Peter Coloyan, Sr. is President of Smart Traveler and the person behind MisterCruise.com. Peter has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, your request goes to cruise specialists who know the type of cruise you want — not a call center. Meet Mister Cruise →
Peter grew up in the business. His father entered the travel industry with TWA in 1935, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and in 1955 the family opened a travel agency in Melrose, Massachusetts, best known for its tours to Armenia. Peter sold his first cruise there, part-time, in 1972, and has worked full-time in travel since 1977 — cruising became his specialty. In 1986 he created a Super Bowl package that took more than 1,200 New England Patriots fans to New Orleans on charter flights, with more than 600 hotel rooms and game tickets.
By 1996 Peter owned four retail agencies in South Florida. He sold all but one and moved the business online — one of the first independently owned travel agencies on the internet — and by 1998 it was selling more than $10 million a year in cruises online. From 2001 to 2007 he owned a host agency that grew to 87 agents and $17 million in annual sales, mostly cruises, before he sold it to Expedia CruiseShipCenters. In 2019 his network’s websites had 112 million visits and produced more than 68,000 cruise leads. In 2023 he formed the nonprofit Best of the USA.
Today his focus is twofold: helping travelers get expert, unbiased cruise advice, and helping the travel-agent community get better prepared for the future.
Why Use a Cruise Expert?
A great cruise, on the world’s oceans or its rivers, is not cheap — and when you are spending hard-earned money on travel, you should have an expert on your side. There are more cruise lines, more ships, more destinations and more ways to book than ever. Ocean ships range from intimate yachts to “cities at sea” carrying thousands of guests; river vessels range from barges with a handful of cabins to riverboats carrying a few hundred. And what the fare includes varies enormously: most ocean cruises are à la carte, while river and luxury cruises tend to bundle excursions, drinks with meals, gratuities and more.
A cruise expert who asks you a few good questions can narrow those options quickly, and then find the best value among them. Experts also make sure you have the travel documents you need, and they are there if something goes wrong — which, when it happens, is exactly when you want a professional who knows how to fix it.
Peter’s point of view: “Cruising is not something you want to — or, in most cases, can — book well online. Especially if accessibility is an issue, please don’t try to do it yourself. Just talk to an expert.”
How We Work
Call it retro, or old-fashioned — and you would be right. Our service is a collective of true cruise professionals, overseen by Peter. When you submit a quote request, you are contacted by the cruise professional best suited to your trip, and they become your Cruise Counselor from planning, through sailing, to your return. That is why the quote form asks so many questions: your travel experience, budget and lifestyle tell us which lines, ships, itineraries and themes will fit you.
Our travel-insurance policy
Smart Traveler has required travel insurance on every cruise since 2002 — just after 9/11. It typically adds a few percent to the cost, depending on your age and the trip price, and it protects the investment you have made in your vacation. Quotes include insurance from highly rated third-party insurers, compared for your specific trip. Peter’s rule of thumb: avoid buying insurance from the same company that provides your travel — if that supplier fails, the coverage fails with it. If you already hold an annual travel-insurance policy, tell your counselor.
How you pay
Deposits and final payments go directly to the cruise line or travel supplier, not to your counselor, so every payment is applied straight to your reservation.
Talk to a Cruise Counselor
Share your plans once and get up to five free quotes from cruise specialists — no fees, no obligation.
Get Free Cruise QuotesGet in Touch
For cruise quotes, please use the free quote form so your request reaches the right specialist quickly. You can also reach Peter by email at peter@mistercruise.com.