£5999pp—Cunard cruise, Orient Express & royal butler event

This luxury deal package brings golden age of travel back to life. You'll experience Cunard's luxurious Queen Elizabeth and travel aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient Express in an original carriage. There's something extra special, too—an exclusive meeting with the former butler to King Charles III.

What’s included

• Outbound flight to Venice and return Eurostar from Paris
• Escorted transfers
• One night at the Four Points by Sheraton Venice Mestre, with breakfast
• A 7-night full-board cruise on Queen Elizabeth, in an Inside Stateroom
• One night at The Hoxton Florence, with breakfast
• Three nights at Solho Hotel Lake Garda, with breakfast
• An exclusive event at Villa Cariola, hosted by former royal butler Grand Harrold
• A 1-night, 2-day Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rail journey from Verona to Paris
• All-inclusive board on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, covering meals and drinks

When
Fly from London on 5 August, 2027.

For more information, see our partner's website.

Itinerary
After a night in Venice Mestre, you'll transfer to Trieste to board Queen Elizabeth. This ship was restored in 2025. Cruise Critic praises the airier Queens Room—the grand double-decker hall that hosts ballroom dancing and afternoon tea. A real highlight of cruising with Cunard is the Gala Dinner, when everyone dresses to the nines in black tie. On your week-long sailing, you'll call at:

• Dubrovnik... a city that needs no introduction. Wander the old walls for iconic views across the red rooftops to the Adriatic. For a birds-eye view of the Old Town, take the cable car up Mount Srđ.
• Corfu... the island's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is immaculately preserved, with Venetian-style townhouses and a historic Fortress.
• Kefalonia... this is the largest of the Ionian islands. Visit the crescent-shaped Mytros Beach. Or, book a trip to Melissani Cave, where sunlight creates the illusion of glowing blue water.
• Messina Strait... transit between Sicily and the Italian mainland. You'll have lovely views of the mountains on the Sicilian side, and hilly Calabria on the other. On clear days, Mount Etna smokes in the distance.
• Salerno... this pretty town is best-known to cruisers as the starting point for excursions to Capri and Pompeii. But it is very beautiful in its own right, with a seafront promenade, cosy trattorias, and a Duomo.

Disembark in Civitavecchia and transfer to Florence for an overnight stay en route to Lake Garda. You'll stay at Solho Hotel, a 4-star hotel that's around 5 minutes' walk from the lakefront. 

While in Lake Garda, you'll attend an exclusive event with ex-royal butler Grand Harrold. It takes place at Villa Cariola, a 15th-century estate in the hills above Lake Garda. He'll host afternoon tea, give lessons in etiquette, and talk about serving the royal family.

Finally, travel back to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. It launched in 1883 and was made famous by Agatha Christie as the most luxurious journey in the world. You'll stay in a beautifully-restored private cabin, with meals included. Dine in one of three luxurious dining carts and enjoy cocktails in the piano lounge.

Transfers & baggage
Escorted transfers and 23kg checked baggage included.