Serving Metro Knoxville · ASTA Member · CLIA Certified
Knoxville's Personal Travel Advisor for Cruises & All-Inclusive Getaways
Stop comparing 15 cruise line websites. Tell us what you want — we'll send you three hand-picked options within 24 hours, at rates you can't find online.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated 5.0 by Knoxville travelers · ASTA Member · CLIA Certified · Carnival Diamond Expert
Why Knoxville Families Book With Crestwell
Knoxville and the surrounding Farragut, Maryville, and Oak Ridge communities have a strong cruising and resort-travel culture — but also some of the most time-strapped vacation planners we work with. Between UT, the national labs, and the East Tennessee corporate base, our Knoxville clients tend to be people who know exactly what they want but don't have 20 hours to research ships, cabins, and resort categories.
That's where a good travel advisor pays for herself (and then some). We ask you four or five smart questions, come back with three genuinely curated options, and handle every detail from flight selection out of TYS to the specialty dining reservation on night three. And because we're ASTA-accredited and CLIA-certified, you get access to promotions and amenities the general public never sees.
No planning fees. No booking fees. Ever. We're compensated by the cruise lines and resorts, so our service is completely free to you.
Your Best Cruise & Vacation Departure Options From Knoxville
TYS offers direct service to Orlando, Miami, Tampa, and Dallas, plus solid connections through Atlanta and Charlotte — making Knoxville one of the easier East Tennessee cities to fly out of for a cruise or resort trip.
Closest Cruise Ports to Knoxville
Port of Mobile, AL
7 hrCruise lines: Carnival Spirit
Best for: Drive-to option — Western Caribbean value pricing
Jacksonville, FL
8 hr (or direct flight)Cruise lines: Carnival Elation
Best for: Short, affordable Bahamas cruises
Port Canaveral, FL
9.5 hr (or direct flight from TYS)Cruise lines: Disney, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC
Best for: Disney cruises — direct TYS-MCO makes flying easy
Tampa, FL
9.5 hr (or direct flight from TYS)Cruise lines: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian
Best for: Quieter port, direct flight usually wins
New Orleans, LA
8.5 hrCruise lines: Norwegian, Carnival, Royal Caribbean
Best for: Longer itineraries with a great pre-cruise city
Port of Miami, FL
Direct flight from TYSCruise lines: Every major cruise line
Best for: Newest mega-ships — always fly
Flying vs. Driving
Knoxville has excellent direct service from TYS to Orlando, Tampa, and Miami, which makes flying the easy answer for any Florida cruise port. The one real drive-to contender is Mobile at about 7 hours — doable for a family of 5+ with lots of luggage. For most other scenarios, fly.
What We Plan for Knoxville Travelers
Cruise Vacations
From 3-night Bahamas weekends to 14-night Mediterranean voyages — we match you with the right line, ship, and cabin.
All-Inclusive Resorts
Sandals, Beaches, Secrets, Excellence, Riu — we know the resorts, the room categories worth the upgrade, and which weeks to avoid.
Group & Milestone Travel
Corporate retreats, reunions, church groups, destination weddings. Groups of 10–200 with amenity points and group perks.
What Knoxville Clients Say
"Crestwell planned a 10-day Mediterranean cruise for me and my husband for our 30th anniversary. Every detail — the pre-cruise hotel in Rome, the balcony cabin, the shore excursions in Greece — was perfect."
Karen & Mike S.
Farragut, TN
"We took our three kids on a Disney cruise out of Port Canaveral. Direct flight from TYS, transfer to the port, everything handled. Best family vacation we've had."
The Bennett Family
Knoxville, TN
"Booked Secrets Akumal for a girls' trip. Our advisor recommended the preferred club section and it was completely worth it. Crestwell knows these resorts."
Jennifer L.
Maryville, TN
Free Download: The Knoxville Cruiser's Port Guide
Our free 12-page guide breaks down every major cruise port within driving distance of Knoxville — drive times, parking costs, hotel recommendations, and which cruise lines sail where. Plus a detailed comparison of flying vs. driving.
How It Works
Tell us about your trip.
Fill out our quote form or call us directly. Takes about 3 minutes.
Get three options within 24 hours.
Your dedicated advisor hand-picks three itineraries that match your style, budget, and dates — with transparent pricing.
Book when you're ready.
No pressure, no upsells. We hold your cabin or room while you decide.
We handle the rest.
Flights, transfers, excursions, dining reservations, travel insurance, price-drop monitoring, 24/7 in-trip support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the closest cruise port to Knoxville?+
The Port of Mobile, Alabama is the closest drive-to port at about 7 hours. For most Knoxville travelers, though, flying direct from TYS to Orlando or Miami is faster and often similar in cost.
Can you plan Smoky Mountain/Gatlinburg trips for visiting family?+
Our focus is cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and group travel to international destinations. For Smoky Mountain cabins and local Pigeon Forge stays, we'd point you to a local specialist.
Do you work with Knoxville corporate and university groups?+
Yes. We coordinate corporate retreats, team incentive trips, and group vacations for Knoxville and East Tennessee organizations. Groups of 16+ unlock amenity points and negotiated pricing.
Are you ASTA and CLIA certified?+
Yes. Crestwell Travel Services is an ASTA member (American Society of Travel Advisors) and CLIA-certified (Cruise Lines International Association), with Carnival Diamond Expert and Norwegian Master's Degree designations.
Do you charge a planning fee?+
No. Our services are free to you — we're compensated by the cruise lines and resorts.
Ready to Start Planning Your Knoxville Getaway?
Tell us what you're dreaming about. Three hand-picked options back to you within 24 hours — and there's never a planning fee.
ASTA Member · CLIA Certified · Carnival Diamond Expert · NCL Master's Degree · Florida Seller of Travel ST46414