Yellow Umbrella Travel was created by Cheryl and Shea Bailey, owners of Yellow Umbrella Events, one of the top group travel agencies in the United States, known for crafting seamless, all-inclusive experiences at Mexico’s best resorts. After guiding thousands of companies, couples, and families through international travel logistics, Cheryl saw a growing need among her clients. They were ready to explore beyond Mexico in more elevated and expertly organized ways. They wanted the same thorough, personalized service they had come to trust, but for a different kind of journey: the rivers of Europe and the remote coastlines of the world. That is how Yellow Umbrella Travel was born. A sister brand dedicated to river cruises and small-ship expedition travel, built on more than a decade of group travel expertise and a team of nine travel professionals who bring the same trusted approach to every journey. Yellow Umbrella Travel is based in New Braunfels, Texas, and serves group travelers from San Antonio, Austin, the Texas Hill Country, and across the United States.
Let us take the complexity out of planning, so you can focus on the journey ahead.
Tell us what you are celebrating, where you would love to go, and how you want the experience to feel. Intimate and cultural. Adventurous and wild. Luxurious and laid-back.
Using our deep knowledge of the world’s top river and expedition fleets, we match your group with the best-fit cruise line, ship, and itinerary for your group’s personality and budget.
From individual reservations to group room block contracts to international transfers and payment tracking, we manage all the logistics so you can focus on enjoying the journey.
WHY CLIENTS WORK WITH US:
Our unique, hyper-personal approach to destination weddings and special events gives our clients a seamless experience every time.
Because cruise lines sell cabins. We design experiences. We handle every aspect of your group journey, from choosing the right ship and managing contracts to coordinating guest bookings and transfers, so you can actually enjoy the trip, not manage it.
We plan both individual trips and group trips. Whether you are a party of 1 or 100, we would love to plan your river or expedition travel.
Our river cruise and expedition travel planning services are completely complimentary. You pay the same rate you would booking directly. The cruise line pays our commission. For advanced corporate or incentive travel itineraries, there may be a planning fee, which we will always communicate clearly before any work begins.
We strongly recommend it. River cruises and expedition sailings involve significant upfront payments, international travel, and itineraries that can be affected by weather, water levels, and other factors outside anyone’s control. We can guide you on insurance options as part of the planning process.
For most spring and fall European sailings, nine to twelve months gives you strong cabin availability and group contract options. For summer departures and Christmas market sailings, twelve to eighteen months is the right window. The earlier we secure your group contract, the more flexibility we have on cabin location, deck, and configuration.
The Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro, Nile, Mekong, Irrawaddy, Amazon, and Mississippi, among others. If there is a river with a ship on it, we can likely plan your group’s journey there.
