Meet the Team
Tom Drake
Tom Drake has been a sucessful stand-up comedian on cruise ships worldwide for many years. More recently, he has also hosts the popular daily podcast Tom Drake’s Daily Cruise and Travel News Podcast.
Tom has appeared as a headline performer on cruise lines such as Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Cunard, Princess, Holland America, and Carnival. His daily podcast offers all of the day’s cruise and travel news with a “bit” of Tom’s commentary. His world travels and experiences on hundreds of cruises earned him the title “Guru of the Seas.”
For the past twenty-five years, Tom has been married to Dottie Kulasa, a cruise director with years of experience and, for the past seventeen years, they have been together on the Ultra Premium cruise line Oceania Cruises.
Dottie Kulasa Drake
Born and raised in McKeesport, Pennsylvania (15 miles from Pittsburgh), Dottie celebrated 38 years in the cruise industry. She took her first cruise while studying at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and was hooked.
Before going out to sea, Dottie was the Director of Public Relations at McKeesport Hospital for seven years. In 1988, she began her career at sea as a Hostess and was promoted to Assistant Cruise Director after her first year. For the next 34 years she served as Cruise Director on ships sailing the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea, Alaska, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, Asia and Africa. Dottie said “What’s not to like? I have traveled the world, made many friends, enjoyed special times, and got paid for it!”
She retired on March 3, 2026 after spending 17 years with Oceania Cruises. She has now joined Best at Sea Tours and will make sure that every guest joining us on our hosted cruises will have “the vacation of a lifetime”. Come sail with us!!
James "Jim" Lorden
After a successful career in the restaurant and real estate business, James “Jim” Lorden had his feet up and was relaxed when a comedian friend called. His friend Tom Drake was launching a travel agency and needed someone with a solid business background and excellent organizational skills to keep Tom on the straight and narrow!
So, Jim put his feet down and agreed to help his crazy comedy friend. Jim will ensure you have the proper paperwork on time and all the information you need to enjoy your stress free holiday vacation.
Words Jim never wants to hear are “My travel agent never told me.”
Come and Join the Party
Best at Sea Tours was launched in 2024 to establish itself as the premier hosted cruise agency. The company was founded by Tom Drake, a stand-up comedian and popular podcaster with three decades of experience as a headline performer in the cruise industry.
Tom and Dottie have entertained thousands of guests globally across various cruise lines, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Oceania Cruises. In addition to his current engagements, Tom has performed on prestigious cruise lines such as Crystal, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, and Carnival Cruise Lines. Given his extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of cruise lines and brands, Tom is uniquely positioned to lead Best at Sea Tours in delivering exceptional cruise experiences. Best at Sea Tours is a full-service travel agency specializing in cruises. If you cannot join us on one of our hosted cruises, let us help you find the perfect cruise for you.
