About ÆRIA Cruises
Welcome to my corner of the web, where trips begin to take shape long before you choose your vacation dates.
This is where I share what I live and what I learn: honest breakdowns, experience-based advice, smarter travel strategies and reflections to help you plan a trip that genuinely matches what you want.
No useless jargon. No empty marketing. Just the real stuff.
About me
Hello there, I’m Yvan Junior Blanchette.
I’m a travel advisor and cruise specialist based in eastern Canada, and I help travelers turn a vague idea into a clear, structured and above all memorable travel plan.
I live inside itineraries, flight schedules, cabin categories, insurance policies and all the little details that prevent bad surprises.
My goal is simple: that you leave with peace of mind, well prepared, and with someone to call if anything unexpected happens.
How I got here
Before I became the person people call to ask “which ship does that itinerary?”, I was the traveler comparing endless options and hesitating, afraid of choosing the wrong one.
Over time, I found myself drawn to the parts of travel that felt meaningful rather than overwhelming: cruises, guided tours and turnkey vacations for people who want expert structure rather than stress.
Along the way, I built a way of working grounded in transparency. I tell my clients what is truly included, what isn’t, what’s worth your money and what you can safely ignore. My job is to make travel simpler, not more confusing.
My training and certifications
When someone trusts you with several thousand dollars of vacation, the least you can do is know your craft. I take that responsibility very seriously.
I’ve completed extensive training with major cruise lines like Norwegian, Princess, Cunard and Holland America, studied consumer protection through the OPC Travel Advisor Certificate, trained with insurers such as Blue Cross and Manulife, and earned the CLIA Certified Cruise Counselor designation. I’ve also completed certifications with most of the major tourism boards and tour operators including Globus, G Adventures, Tours Chanteclerc and Exoticca to name a few.
Also I’m a travel geek by nature. I read fine prints, track cruise updates, compare tour programs and analyze insurance policies so you don’t have to spend hours figuring out which terms actually matter.
My travel experience
I’m not just an advisor behind a keyboard. I’ve travelled extensively, tested products, taken notes and, yes, made a few mistakes so my clients don’t have to repeat them.
Cruises in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, sun destinations popular with north american travelers, and cultural capitals like Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Seville, Gibraltar and Reykjavik all shape the recommendations I give today.
Every trip becomes a lesson, which later becomes a guide, a suggestion or a personalized itinerary.
How I work
I don’t see my role as selling a trip. I’m here to help you make the right choices based on who you are and what matters to you. Budget, comfort, mobility, health, family dynamics, accommodation style… these factors shape what will actually work for you.
In practice, that means explaining what’s included and what isn’t, clarifying when a promotion is genuinely good or just clever marketing, helping you choose the right cruise line, ship and cabin, guiding you toward excursion options that fit your style, and even walking you through travel insurance choices.
It’s a human, simple and tailored approach.
Why book with me instead of online?
Because a search engine won’t ask you the right questions, won’t recognize hidden pitfalls in an itinerary that looks perfect on paper, won’t understand your needs around mobility, kids or connections, and definitely won’t pick up the phone when your flight is cancelled or your cruise itinerary changes overnight.
My job is to save you time, protect you from costly mistakes, filter the noise and simplify everything from the first conversation to the moment you return home.
And no, it’s not more expensive. In most cases, prices are identical. You simply gain the guidance of an expert.
How I can help
I can plan your entire trip : flights, cruises, hotels, insurance and excursions, or simply help you choose the cruise line, ship and cabin that make the most sense for you.
I advise on excursions, whether through the cruise line or reliable independent partners, and help you navigate insurance choices, family complexities, budgets and travel styles.
Soon, travelers will also have access to a premium concierge service through the my ÆRIA Altitude program.
Supporting my work
Independent, thoughtful travel content doesn’t appear by magic. Writing guides, analyzing plans, testing products and staying up to date across the industry takes dozens of hours each week.
You can support my work in many ways. Yes by booking your trips or excursions through me is one of them, using my affiliate links when they apply, but you can also become a supporter through my patreon account, subscribe to my page and share my work with your family and friends. A small merchandise shop and the concierge ÆRIA Altitude program are also on the way.
Your support helps me create content that stays honest, useful and independent.
Why subscribe?
Subscribing gives you full access to all posts, new and archived. Each new article arrives directly into your inbox, without ads or clutter, and the Substack app lets you listen in audio, comment and connect with the community.
This isn’t a one-way conversation. It’s a place to think about travel together, ask questions, share impressions and build a space where information stays clear, nuanced and genuinely helpful.
