Emerald Star-ship on-board experience
The Blooms of Holland & Belgium River Cruise with Brian Cunningham will see passengers travelling on board an award-winning Emerald Star-ship, where comfort meets innovation. Your deluxe river cruise will dock right in the heart of Holland and Belgium’s magnificent towns and cities, providing you with the perfect base from which to explore.
You’ll be welcomed on arrival by the tasteful and modern decor of the three-tiered atrium as it opens up the centre of the ship, allowing natural light to pour in and illuminate the interior.
Dine with friends in the spacious Reflections restaurant, as a range of tables accommodate large or cosy dinners and simple, sophisticated decor accompanies each delectable meal. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the Horizon Bar & Lounge provide the perfect vantage point from which to enjoy the passing views.
The on-board accommodation has a mix of suites and state rooms for you to choose from. All are generously-sized, modern sanctuaries, boasting a wealth of sumptuous features, from luxurious toiletries in your spacious en suite bathroom to a flat screen HDTV, infotainment system and free wifi to keep you connected with loved ones. All suites include an ingenious all-weather system, transforming your balcony into the perfect place for you to enjoy the endless river views, regardless of the weather.
Your Star-ship features an indoor pool, which cleverly transforms into a cinema by night, and a sun deck with panoramic rooftop space, home to a walking track, putting green and games area, as well as deck chairs and sunloungers, perfect for sunny days in spring.
Yeppoon. Stay in a cottage or beach bungalow, where electricity is provided by wind and solar power, and rainwater is filtered for drinking. Gather enough friends and family together and it’s possible to rent the whole place for a reasonable rate; split between 34 people, a seven-night stay works out at £46 per night.
Also along the southern stretch of the reef, Wilson Island reopened to guests in late 2019. Only accessible from neighbouring Heron Island on a 30-minute boat ride, it’s a sleepy coral cay, no phones, TV or wifi.
There are nine luxury Reef Safari Tents hidden in an ancient Pisonia forest, with meals served in a central dining area. Follow nature trails and see turtles nesting and hatching. The island closes every year from February until April, to allow the resident bird population the peace and quiet they need to nest.
Elysian Retreat in the Whitsundays is the first fully solar-powered resort on the Reef, with 10 bungalows dotted along the beach.
Meals are prepared with a focus on health and nutrition, while wellbeing treats come in the form of daily yoga classes and massage treatments.
For a more hands-on experience, Daydream Island Resort in the Whitsundays has a man-made Living Reef, ideal for families to learn about what happens beneath the waves.
A coral lagoon wrapping 200m around the resort, it hosts more than 100 species
Lizard Island, one of Australia’s most idyllic tropical retreats, attracts coral reef researchers from around the globe. Guests staying in the island’s 40 beachhouse suites can take a guided tour of the Research Station. Visit lizardisland. com.au of local marine life. Resident marine biologists lead a range of activities, including tours of an underwater observatory and an interactive touch pool.
A collection of new raceways, tanks with an inlet and outlet enabling a simulation of tides, are also used for coral propagation.