Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Wynkoop.
Hi Bonnie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love of travel began at an early age and eventually led me to a career in the airline industry, where I discovered not only a passion for seeing the world, but also for helping people feel confident as they traveled. Later, I became a credentialed teacher working with junior high students who needed extra support. Teaching reinforced something I had already discovered; I genuinely enjoy breaking things down into practical, manageable steps that help people feel more confident.
After retiring, I combined those two passions by creating Bon Voyage Cruise & Travel. Like many people starting something new, I had to learn an entirely different set of skills, including filming, editing, scripting, blogging, and building a business. That experience reminded me that learning never really ends, no matter your stage of life.
Today, I create practical cruise and travel content designed to help people feel prepared rather than overwhelmed. I share honest cruise reviews, destination guides, and planning tips, with a special focus on travelers who may be cruising for the first time, traveling solo, or simply looking for the confidence to explore more independently. My goal has never been to simply showcase destinations. I want viewers to feel informed, capable, and excited to take the trip they’ve been dreaming about.
Looking back, each chapter built naturally on the one before it. The airline industry taught me how travel works, teaching taught me how to communicate clearly, and YouTube has allowed me to bring those experiences together while continuing to satisfy my own curiosity about the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s what has made the journey meaningful. When I retired, I wasn’t stepping into something I already knew how to do. I was entering an entirely new world of technology, content creation, and digital business. There was a steep learning curve, from filming and editing videos to understanding YouTube, blogging, affiliate marketing, websites, and social media. At times, it felt like learning an entirely new language.
My daughter was incredibly helpful in encouraging me to get started and embrace new technology, but much of the journey has been figuring things out one step at a time. I’ve watched tutorials, attended travel conferences, asked countless questions, made plenty of mistakes, and gradually built confidence through experience.
One of my biggest personal challenges wasn’t learning the technology,it was learning not to compare myself to other creators. The online world can be incredibly competitive, and it’s easy to measure yourself against people who are at a completely different stage of their journey. Over time, I realized that comparison takes away the joy of creating. Instead, I’ve learned to focus on serving my audience, staying curious, and improving a little with every video.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned, it’s that retirement doesn’t have to mean slowing down, it can be the beginning of an entirely new adventure. You’re never too old to stay curious, learn new skills, and discover abilities you never knew you had.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through my YouTube channel, Bon Voyage Cruise & Travel, I specialize in cruise travel, solo travel, and independent destination guides. I create travel content to help people travel with confidence. My background in both the airline industry and education naturally shaped the way I approach my work today. Rather than simply showcasing destinations, I explain what travelers can realistically expect and answer the practical questions that help them decide whether an experience is right for them.
My videos focus on real experiences, honest reviews, and practical advice, from navigating ports and transportation to choosing excursions and understanding what life is really like onboard. My goal is to help viewers feel informed before they leave home, rather than overwhelmed when they arrive.
What I’m most proud of isn’t one destination or one video. It’s having the courage to become a beginner again after retirement and build something meaningful from the ground up. Every project has challenged me to learn new skills, from filming and editing to websites, blogging, and digital marketing. That learning process has become one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.
I think what sets me apart is my perspective. I’m not trying to create the most cinematic travel videos, I create videos that teach. If someone finishes watching one of my videos feeling more confident about taking a trip, navigating a destination, or even traveling solo for the first time, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is helping people discover they’re capable of more than they think. I meet many travelers who assume they can’t travel independently because they’re on their own, or because their spouse simply isn’t interested in traveling. One of the most rewarding things I see is how much confidence people gain once they take that first step and realize they’re more capable than they imagined.
That’s one of the reasons I create my videos, to make those first steps feel less intimidating and to help people realize that travel is possible for them too. If someone finishes watching one of my videos feeling more confident about taking the trip they’ve been dreaming about, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
Travel has taught me that growth often happens just outside our comfort zone. Every unfamiliar airport, train station, or destination reminds me that confidence is built one experience at a time. That’s the lesson I hope to pass on to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: bonvoyagecruisetravel.com
- Instagram: @bonvoyage1_
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonvoyagecruisetravel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BonVoyageCruiseTravel
