Our national marketing consortium, Ensemble Travel Group, a member-owned agency organization, has come up with a way for cruise clients to make a difference in the global community.  Launched this year, Ensemble's Leaving Your Legacy program is a series of world cruise shore excursions designed to let customers connect with the local culture.

For example, one excursion on the Queen Elizabeth visited a school for young painters in the Bali village of Kamasan. As part of the Leaving Your Legacy program, Ensemble donated painting materials on guests' behalf.

And last month during the Regent Seven Seas Voyager's world cruise, guests visited a school in Boralesgamuwa located outside of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Again, Ensemble made a donation to the school.

"We introduced the giving-back program in 2011 with six exclusive world cruise events and have been pleased with the feedback from the hosts and guests so far," said Ensemble Travel Group's Susan Gannon, senior director of marketing and development for cruise products.

"When people are sailing around the world and experiencing so many diverse cultures, this type of personal encounter really helps them not only connect with the local community, but also allows them to leave something of themselves behind to make a positive difference in the area they're visiting."

Details are being finalized for the 2012 Leaving Your Legacy series, which will be offered to Ensemble clients on the following world cruises: Seabourn's Seabourn Quest, Jan. 5 departure from Fort Lauderdale to Venice; Silversea Cruises' Silver Whisper, Jan. 6 departure from Fort Lauderdale to Monte Carlo; Holland America Line's Amsterdam, Jan. 6 sailing roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale; Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, Jan. 10 sailing from New York to Southampton, and Crystal Cruises' Crystal Serenity, Jan. 18 voyage roundtrip from Los Angeles.

Ensemble Travel Group member Pamela Montgomery, who served as the Ensemble host on one Leaving Your Legacy excursion, said she was moved by the experience.

"For the first time in my life, I really felt that I made a difference in someone's life, and that's pretty powerful stuff. Judging by guests' feedback, I know they felt the same way I did," Montgomery said.

According to Gannon, these types of cruise vacation "enhancers" are what many consumers are looking for in their travel experience.

"It has the ability to really elevate the agent-client relationship to a whole new level," she said. "The client walks away thinking, 'My agent cares enough to connect me with something very meaningful -- something where I can make a difference.'"

Founded in 1968, Ensemble Travel Group has about 800 member agencies in North America. Cruising, Holidays & Tours by Travel Gallery is proud member of Ensemble.