Pasadena, Texas, 4/22/02 - If you have a disability or know someone who does, you can understand how difficult it is to plan a vacation, whether it is by car, train, plane, bus or ship. There are only a handful of travel agents in the United States who specialize in this often-overlooked segment of society.

"Enough is enough," says Pasadena native Tracy Cross. After 20 years as a Graphic Designer, he has traded in his computer for a new occupation, bent on helping the disabled experience the joys of travel. Having multiple disabilities himself, Tracy understands why many disabled people are reluctant to explore the avenue of travel. Tracy was born with a rare bone condition, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (brittle bones), which has confined him to a wheelchair for most of his life. Tracy, however, is an experienced traveler having visited most of the states west of the Mississippi and traveled by cruise ships throughout the Caribbean.

After reluctantly taking his first cruise in 1995, Tracy realized that cruising is the ideal vacation choice for people with mobility problems. Tracy said, "There is so much to do on a ship and everything is close. There are many on-board activities with varying stress levels, from golf to bingo, swimming to rock wall climbing. You can choose to do as many or as few of the activities as you want."

While some older ships are not completely barrier free, the new mega liners are ADA compliant. Passengers enjoy a smooth, safe ride, and amenities are accessible to all.

Tracy recently joined with Connie George, of Connie George Travel Associates. Connie has been in the travel industry for over 20 years. She commented, "Our commitment to understanding the needs and working out the details for people with special needs has made us a leader across the US in handling cruise vacations for this market." Connie George Travel Associates has been mentioned in "Open World", "Emerging Horizons" and "Paraplegia News"; all magazines geared toward people with varying mobility levels.

Connie added, "We're very excited to have Tracy Cross associated with our agency. I'm very picky about the agents that we take on to arrange travel for people with disabilities. Handling what's required for this market isn't something all agents can do well. Tracy is extremely dedicated to handling the details, works tenaciously with the suppliers and cares about each vacation as if it were his own. He's an excellent addition to our team!"

Tracy is available to answer your cruise questions and make travel arrangements, whether you are disabled, considering a cruise for the first time, or a seasoned traveler eager to go again. Tracy can be contacted at 713-473-2958,

Toll free 1-800-577-1785 access code 00, or on-line at tracy@cgta.com.