Chris Dikmen has been in love with cruising since 1978 when, at age 22, he took his first cruise aboard the S.S. Norway.

After many years as a successful software developer and independent businessman, Mr. Dikmen decided to combine his love for cruising with his technology skills. In 1998, Mr. Dikmen developed Online Agency, an Internet application that enabled travel agents to have an affordable web site. The company was an instant success and became the fastest growing network of travel agents in the world.

In 2001, Mr. Dikmen stepped down as CEO and President and sold his interest in Online Agency to start a new company. Recognizing that cruise enthusiasts enjoyed reading the experiences of other cruisers, he set out to create a new web site designed to collect and distribute this information. In 2002, CruiseReport.com was released. CruiseReport.com features an extensive database of ship information, itineraries, sailing dates, deck plans and maps, but the web site's main appeal is its database of consumer reviews and ratings of cruise ships. Editorial reviews written by Mr. Dikmen and Senior Editor, Rickee Richardson, are also featured on CruiseReport.com.

Today, Mr. Dikmen is President of PITA, LLC, and Dikmen Investments, LLC. He is a regular speaker at travel industry conferences where he teaches travel agents how to better utilize the Internet to market their services.

Anyone interested in scheduling Mr. Dikmen as a speaker should contact speaker@PerfectCruiseBook.com.