Cunard has announced three of wine’s biggest names as the headline speakers for the second annual ‘Voyage Du Vin’, on board Queen Victoria, setting sail this September.

​As one of three famed wine experts on the voyage, Oz Clarke is one of the world’s foremost wine connoisseurs. Clarke has written several award-winning books, and is generally regarded as leading Britain's wine revolution in the 1990s and 2000s. Clarke has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, including Food and Drink, the long-running BBC Food show.  He said: “Whether you’re an existing wine buff, or simply have a love of fine wine, fine holidays and good times, the Voyage du Vin 2019 is sure to delight.  I’m already looking forward to joining Queen Victoria in September.”

Joining Clarke, is award winning columnist and broadcaster Will Lyons, who will bring his trademark humour and down to earth style to the voyage. For more than a decade Lyons has published a weekly column on wine, formerly in The Wall Street Journal and now The Sunday Times. His humorous, informed, down-to-earth writing has been recognised in both the Glenfiddich and Roederer wine writing awards.

Supporting them will be Charles Metcalfe, the International Wine Challenge’s co-chairman. One of the best-known, most spontaneous and amusing wine critics in Britain, Metcalfe presented drinks and occasionally food items for 12 years as one of the Richard-and-Judy team on the ITV programme, ‘This Morning’.

Along with talks from the experts, guests will experience daily wine tastings, pairings and fine dining, featuring over 400 wines from 23 countries.

The much anticipated Voyage Du Vin 2019 will depart from Southampton on 6th September, returning 14-nights later. 

​George and Amal Clooney were at home in the 18th century Villa Oleandra on Lake Como, although the invitation to pop in for a Nespresso must have got lost in the post.

​Lake Como is bordered by high mountains, creating spectacular lake and mountain scenery, a bit like the Norwegian Fjords but with the temperature turned up and the prices turned down. No wonder it attracts the rich and famous.

​I took a villa-spotting cruise and whilst chez Clooney is a lovely place it’s not as imposing as some other properties on the water’s edge. A few are open to the public. Villa Balbianello was purchased in 1974 by  Count Guido Monzino. He carried out many expeditions to far-flung lands, culminating in leading the first Italian expedition to climb Everest. He overhauled the villa’s interior and filled it with treasures from his journeys, including his sleigh from his 1969 expedition to the North Pole. The villa featured in a number of films, including Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II. As with other Italian villas, the gardens get as much attention as the building itself and Villa Balbianello’s lovely grounds are no exception.

​My cruise included a short stop at a small island, Isola Comacina. It’s home to a restaurant, a collection of archaeological sites and the three artist houses. There is also a small bar with lovely views, where a large glass of wine cost me just three euros and included a bowl of crisps. You really don’t need a film-star income to enjoy the hospitality here.
 
Villa Carlotta was also on my visit list. Built in the 17th century it contains many treasures and has famous botanical gardens with over 150 species of rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, plus old cedars and sequoias. It provided a shady interlude on a hot afternoon and the museum exhibitions were beautifully presented. They include Antonio Canova’s Palamedes and The Muse Terpsichore, Eros and Psyche by Adamo Tadolini and Franceso Hayez’s The Last Adieu of Romeo and Juliet.
 
The villa was a few minutes’ walk from my hotel, the Britannia Excelsior, in the village of Cadenabbia. My room was large, comfortable and the balcony provided a shady spot to sit and admire the view over the lake. And what a view it was, as good if not better than that offered by any of the villas I had seen; sorry George.

​Across the lake from the hotel is Bellagio - the hotel in Las Vegas is named after it. The old buildings, shop-lined cobbled steps, boutiques, cafes and formal gardens put Bellagio on the ‘must see’ list for visitors. The composer Franz Liszt lived there for a while with Marie d'Agoult and their daughter, Cosima, went on to marry Wagner.
 
Lunch at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni overlooking the lake was a memorable experience. The hotel is owned by the Swiss Bucher family and contains many of their personal art treasures. They live on site but keep out of the way of guests. Visitors have included JFK and Winston Churchill who have suites named after them.

​I also strolled through the manicured gardens of Villa Melzi which line the shore of the lake, once again proving that, in this part of Italy at least, impressive gardens are as important as the imposing villas. Belllagio is certainly one of the most romantic spots on the lake.
 
My visit flew by in a haze of boat trips, villas, gardens, stunning scenery and glorious sunshine but it was soon time to leave this delightful spot. Not surprisingly, George and Amal decided to stay on for a while.

Over one million visitors enjoyed the vibrant parades, show-stopping costumes and unmissable dance performances at this year’s deep-sea themed Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

​The internationally renowned carnival, which is the Canary Islands’ largest and the second biggest in the world after Rio, attracted a record number of attendees across the 27 days of celebration. The final night saw over 400,000 revellers gathered under the stars for a musical extravaganza of concerts and dancing.

A total of 55 events took place during the month-long celebration, including the Carnival Queen Election Gala which is considered by many as the highlight of the festivities. Priscila Medina was elected as Tenerife´s new Carnival Queen following a colourful three-hour gala, which was attended by over 5,000 people. Her stunning dress, called “La Nuit”, was created by Tenerife based fashion designer Sedomir Rodríguez.

One of the highlights of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ new 2020/21 ocean programme is its inaugural 14-night D2101 ‘Authentic Japan’ fly-cruise, from Tokyo in January 2021, aboard Boudicca. 

Ports of call are Tokyo, Japan (overnight stay) – Nagoya, Aichi, Japan – Kobe, Hyogo (overnight stay) – Hiroshima, Japan – Beppu, Oita, Japan – Nagasaki, Japan – Keelung (Taipei), Taiwan – Hong Kong (overnight stay). Prices start from £3,349 per person, based on two adults sharing a twin-bedded Interior Room, and accommodation, all meals and entertainment on board, plus port / airport taxes, flights and transfers.

Plus, as part of exclusive launch offers, all guests who book by 31st May inclusive will have their gratuities covered by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, with this cruise also qualifying for the ‘Three Cruises for the Price of Two’ offer. For more information on Fred Olsen cruises, click here.

Le Boat is the No.1 provider of boating holidays on Europe and Canada's beautiful inland waterways, with the world’s largest fleet of over 900 self-drive boats. The award-wining campaign capitalised on their involvement in the Channel 5 television series ‘Celebrity 5 Go Barging’ and the hugely popular Channel 4 show ‘Great Canal Journeys’, in which stars Timothy West and Prunella Scales enjoyed a spectacular Le Boat river cruise along the Marne-Rhine Canal in Alsace and Lorraine.  For more information on Le Boat, click here.