The tulips of Holland are an obvious stop for a gardening-themed cruise - but there will be some surprises, too.
Garden cruises are among the most popular themed cruises on offer (food, wine, music and golf are right up there too). Judy Vanrenen is the founder and co-owner of Botanica, an Australian company that runs guided tours for small groups of garden enthusiasts on river and ocean cruises.
Judy Vanrenen, founder and co-owner of Botanica.
Vanrenen established Botanica 15 years ago in partnership with APT's owner Geoff McGeary. It's grown from a tour to the Melbourne Flower Show in 2000 to a global business that employs renowned botanical guides and lecturers on tours and cruises in Europe, Asia, Russia, America, Australia and New Zealand. She has combined her many years of experience in the travel industry with her love of gardening and conservation, and has even found time to produce a glossy coffee-table book, Beyond the Garden Gate.
As Botanica marks its 15th anniversary with 15 new itineraries for 2015 and 2016, Vanrenen said, "Our guests want to see the amazingly different ways plants can be displayed; access private gardens that the public don't often get to see; learn about how plants are used and gardens designed from experts so they can take the ideas home to their own gardens; travel with like-minded people in small groups; and visit the destinations that they've spent many years dreaming about."
The Chelsea Flower Show, Japan in the cherry blossom season and Holland for its fabulous tulip displays are key destinations for those with green thumbs – but who knew that a train ride on the trans-Siberian Express could reveal the secrets of wildflowers in Mongolia? As well as offering garden-themed tours on ships and land, Botanica has branched out into art, history, music and gourmet-themed tours and cruises – and combinations of all interests. Heaven for culture vultures … see botanica.travel.
Voyager Sports Deck.
Travelrite is another Australian company that offers special-interest cruises and tours at home and overseas. Garden-themed cruises are hosted by high-profile experts such as Helen Young, Melissa King, Sue McDougall and Jane Edmanson. Upcoming itineraries in 2015 include an Asian cruise on board Legend of the Seas that takes in tropical parks and gardens in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia; and a cruise/land tour of the landscaped gardens surrounding historic villas, churches and town centres in Italy, France and Spain on a 12-night Nieuw Amsterdam cruise from Venice to Barcelona.
The company also offers cruises for movie-lovers, quilters, painters and architecture buffs. See travelrite.com.au
MEET THE CREW
Harumi Ota, Voyager of the Seas' financial controller.
NAME Harumi Ota, from Japan
POSITION Financial controller, Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas
MY JOB We have about 3400 guests and 1200 crew and my primary responsibilities are guest accounts and crew payroll. All guest accounts must be reconciled before they disembark so, as you can imagine, my busiest day is the end of a cruise. Another big responsibility is ensuring all the crew are paid correctly and on time.
Evergreen Tours Star Ship.
MY TYPICAL DAY First thing in the morning, I check the accounting reports for balancing purposes, secondary-check the previous day's Casino revenue and guests' cash payments at the front desk. Other activities for the day include attending meetings such as cabin inspection and crew drill. I am also a division head so I am involved in the overall ship operation.
FAVOURITE CRUISE MOMENT Meeting people from all over the world and working with about 60 different nationalities on board.
FAVOURITE CRUISE PORTS Hualien in Taiwan; Aruba in the Caribbean; Palma de Mallorca in Spain; Vancouver in Canada; and Sydney Harbour in Australia.
Royal Caribbean is pushing its food and wine offerings.
TIP FOR PASSENGERS On a cruise you can relax all day, join a tour, see a show, join the activities – just come on board with an open mind as there are choices to suit everyone.
TIP Waterproof cases add underwater photography to your iPhone's functionality, and some cases also feature inbuilt solar chargers to extend the life of the battery. Check out the range of amazing iPhone and iPad accessories at waterproofiphonecase.com.au.
NEWS
Emerald star ships
When it sets sail in 2016, Emerald Belle will be the fifth river ship for Evergreen Tours, joining Emerald Sky and Emerald Star (launched last year), and Emerald Sun and Emerald Dawn (launching this year). The 'star ships' belong to Emerald Waterways, the Australian-owned Scenic Tours' sister cruise line. All five 182-passenger ships are identical and feature contemporary interiors, a 24 sq m heated swimming pool with a retractable glass roof that transforms into a cinema, 72 suites and 20 staterooms including two for solo travellers. Check out Evergreen's 2016 preview brochure for special deals. evergreentours.com
My Galley Rules
Fans of the popular TV series My Kitchen Rules will see Royal Caribbean feature in upcoming shows, in a move designed to whet the appetite of foodie-minded cruisers. In conjunction with its TV appearances, the cruise line is offering a new wine and dine promotion that includes a free drinks package worth up to $1026 and pre-paid gratuities for two passengers. During the 2015-16 season there will be four Royal Caribbean ships in Australia: Voyager, Explorer and Radiance of the Seas will cruise out of Sydney and Legend of the Seas will be based in Brisbane. royalcaribbean.com.au
Happy birthday, Queen Elizabeth
Cunard's Queen Elizabeth turns five in October and the venerable line is celebrating with a Big Band Ball on a five-day round-trip cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam and Bruges. A 14-piece band will perform swing and jazz hits from the 1940s after a traditional black-tie gala dinner in what promises to be a glittering occasion, leading up to the official birthday on October 4. Fans of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Count Basie will be in their element; vocalists will channel Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan and more. The cruise departs on October 2. cunardline.com.au
DEAL OF THE WEEK
Save more than $3000 a person with ecruising.travel's 20-night Alaska fly/stay/cruise package. Included are return flights from Sydney, a 14-night round-trip cruise on HAL's MS Statendam departing Seattle August 10, 2015, and a three-night stopover in Honolulu. From $6679; phone 1300 369 848, see ecruising.travel.
MORE DEALS
CRUISE 1ST Visit Thailand and Vietnam on a fly/stay/cruise deal that includes a seven-night round-trip cruise on Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas from Singapore to Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Flights depart Australia January 28, 2015. From $1499; phone 1300 596 345, see cruise1st.com.au.
TRAVEL THE WORLD Join HAL's MS Noordam on its first visit to Australia on a 14-night cruise from Honolulu to Sydney, departing October 10, 2015. The fly/cruise deal includes Jetstar flights to Honolulu and $US250 shipboard credit. From $2475; phone 1300 857 437, see traveltheworld.com.au.
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