Owner of Vacation Architect

Christina Rockey

Travel should feel exciting, not overwhelming. I’m Christina Rockey, Owner of Vacation Architect LLC and an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor specializing in European travel, river and ocean cruises, Alaska, Egypt, and customized itineraries. I work with travelers who want the expertise and support of a professional travel advisor while still having a trip designed around how they personally want to travel.

My travel experience spans more than 40 countries and 50 cruises, giving me firsthand perspective that goes well beyond simply comparing itineraries on a screen. I have traveled extensively throughout Europe, sailed both European and Nile River cruises, experienced Alaska by land and sea, and explored destinations aboard ocean, river, and small-ship cruises. That experience helps me understand not only where you can go, but the differences that can determine whether a particular itinerary, cruise line, hotel, destination, or travel style is the right fit for you.

European Travel & River Cruises

Europe is a major focus of my work, whether that means a European river cruise, Mediterranean cruise, independent itinerary, or a journey combining several destinations. I help clients sort through the logistics of European travel while also considering the details that make an itinerary enjoyable: location, pacing, transportation, hotels, sightseeing priorities, and how all of those pieces work together.

River cruising is a particular specialty. I have firsthand experience sailing European rivers with AmaWaterways and Tauck, as well as the Nile in Egypt. I help travelers compare river cruise lines, ships, itineraries, cabin categories, included excursions, pre- and post-cruise options, and the overall experience rather than choosing a cruise based on price or itinerary name alone.

Alaska Cruises & Cruisetours

Alaska is another cornerstone of Vacation Architect. I plan Alaska cruises, land-and-sea cruisetours, and customized pre- and post-cruise stays, helping clients understand the significant differences among itineraries, ships, Glacier Bay access, Denali experiences, rail journeys, wildlife opportunities, and time spent on land.

Alaska is one destination where the itinerary matters every bit as much as the ship. My goal is to help travelers experience more than the ports by choosing the combination of cruise, land experience, and excursions that best matches what they hope to see and do.

Egypt & Nile River Travel

Egypt combines many of the things I personally love about travel: history, architecture, culture, and the opportunity to experience a destination from the river. My firsthand travel in Cairo and along the Nile gives me valuable perspective when helping clients evaluate Egypt itineraries, Nile River cruises, sightseeing, accommodations, and the logistics of traveling through this extraordinary destination.

Experience Beyond the Itinerary

My approach to travel has also been shaped by my background in architectural history. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, with a focus in Architectural History, from the University of Cincinnati. That perspective naturally follows me when I travel, particularly throughout Europe and Egypt, where understanding the history, architecture, art, and culture of a destination can add an entirely different dimension to the experience.

As the owner of Vacation Architect, I also remain actively involved in the professional travel industry. I am an ASTA Verified Travel Advisor and serve on the WorldVia Travel Network Brand Ambassador Board. Vacation Architect has been recognized within the WorldVia network as a Monarch Agency of Excellence, and in 2025 received World25 awards for Best Profile Site and Community Stewardship.

Those experiences, combined with more than 40 countries and 50 cruises traveled firsthand, give me a perspective that blends destination knowledge, professional travel planning, industry relationships, and the practical experience of being a traveler myself.

Thoughtfully Designed Travel

My approach is not about finding one “best” cruise line, hotel, or itinerary. There rarely is one. Instead, I look at the individual travelers, what matters to them, and how the pieces of a trip fit together.

Vacation Architect works with couples, families, solo travelers, and groups planning experiences ranging from European vacations and river cruises to Alaska adventures, ocean cruises, Egypt and Nile journeys, and culturally rich custom itineraries. Depending on the trip, that planning may include cruises, hotels, transportation, tours, excursions, travel protection, and the many smaller logistical details that turn individual reservations into a cohesive journey.

I founded Vacation Architect with a simple philosophy that still guides the agency today: great travel isn’t pulled off a shelf. It’s built.

Vacation Architect: Building Your Travel Adventures.