Category Archives: Private Islands

Sometimes, a work of art hits our culture at just the right time, when it can transcend its medium and become something greater. Such events are exceedingly rare in video games, but we old folks remember Pac-Man Fever and Fred Savage in The Wizard playing Super Mario Bros. 3. More recently, video games have become spectator sports in large part due to StarCraft II, DotA 2,and Overwatch and similar genre game titles. None of those moments found humanity in a time of crisis, however, until Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched on the Nintendo Switch a year ago today. Across the globe, entire countries were in lock-down mode and nobody was quite sure what to do. Tom Nook hit the scene with his private island, and it was the escape we all needed. Today, let's look back on theyear in Animal Crossing: New Horizons during these defining times in history, and relive some of the triumphs along the way.Animal Crossing: Remembering The Early DaysIt's a little unusual for a game to launch on a Friday, but it was the perfect weekend time sink that then turned into a year-long obsession. That first weekend didn't have any big events, but millions of people got acclimated to island life, collected fruit, and explored randomly-generated islands. It wasn't until the following weekend that Daisy Mae, granddaughter of Sow Joan, showed up in town to sell turnips on the Stalk Market. We all got settled into our tents, and later houses, caught bugs and fish, dug up fossils, and just got away from it all. For those whose islands were in the Northern Hemisphere, spring was imminent. Island residents in the Southern Hemisphere were the first to witness the turning of the leaves into autumn.

Animal Crossing: New Horizonsmakes a point to celebrate many global major holidays. The first one to hit the game was Bunny Day, when Zipper T. Bunny came to town and asked residents to find six eggs that could be used in crafting recipes to make all kinds of themed decorations. Bunny Day will be the first ACNH holiday to happen for the second time soon. Holiday-themed events got bigger and bigger as the year progressed, and more island visitors made their way to island cultures worldwide, too. The May Day Maze made for a fun puzzle with treasures at the end of the road.

It wasn't all fun and games for Nintendo, however. Animal Crossing caught the eye of watchful Chinese censorsafter a Hong Kong protester created a "Free Hong Kong" themed island and welcomed visitors. While Nintendo had teamed up with TenCent for a Chinese release, the game never did launch in the country. There was also an actively-exploited item duplication bug that temporarily wrecked the in-game economy for some folks and spawned numerous eBay listings with duplicated bugs.

Year-end holidays hit the game at a fast and furious pace. Turkey Day on November 26 depicted an actual turkey cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Shortly after that came Toy Day, where all of the residents received and exchanged gifts. The New Year's Eve event was a real show-stopper complete with a giant countdown in the town plaza where everybody gathered to ring in the new year together. And of course, each holiday brought with it more items to buy and activities to complete.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons holds value beyond just the revenue that it earned for Nintendo. There's no doubt that ACNH was a lifeline to millions of people who were locked down in 2020 during a year of uncertainty and weight we all carried. In our house, the game still gets quite a bit of play. We bought three copies for three Switches, and my family routinely visited one another on our own islands, which further brought us together in good, clean family fun. For that, Nintendo definitely has our thanks.

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Happy Birthday Animal Crossing New Horizons! Year In Review For A Hall Of Fame Classic - Hot Hardware

Private islands in the Maldives to escape to post-vaccination and their plan to roll out a visit, vaccinate and vacation programme

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With vaccination programmes continuing apace, the prospect of having a vaxicationa term coined to describe the first trip people take after getting their jabsis closer to becoming reality. The Maldives is best placed to receive an influx of travellers as its border has been open to international tourists since July 2020 and its set-up allows for natural social distancing. The local travel industry has also been quick to implement protocols including rapid testing upon arrival and before departure as well as when transferring resorts.

(Related: 12 Luxury Resorts In The Maldives For Your Post-Vaccination Trip)

Apart from welcoming vaccinated travellers, it was recently reported that Dr Abdulla Mausoom, the Maldivian Minister of Tourism, has confirmed that theyre working on a 3V initiative, which stands for visit, vaccinate, and vacation.

It aims to offer travellers two doses of Covid-19 vaccines several weeks apart encouraging weeks-long stays in the island nation. The minister did highlight the shortfall in supply as a potential road bump and stressed that the countrys immunisation programme that began in February still prioritises residents with workers in the tourism industry getting inoculated first.

(Related: What are Digital Passports and How Can They Help Us Travel Again Amid the Pandemic?)

With this positive news, it surely doesnt hurt to daydream about lazing on a sandy atoll and there are plenty of new places to choose from. One is IthaafushiThe Private Island, the latest addition to the Waldorf Astoria Maldives resort, which at nearly 345,000 sq ft makes it the largest of its kind in the country.

In Dhivehi, the local language of the Maldives, its name means Pearl Island, which befits this crown jewel of Hiltons luxury portfolio in the region. The expansive private island has a two-bedroom overwater villa, a three-bedroom beach villa and a four-bedroom residence that together accommodate a total of 24 guests, who can spend their days relaxing by the myriad pools or snorkelling in the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean.

Ithaafushi - The Private Island has a 24-hour personal concierge and a separate wellness concierge to attend to every whim, from organising elaborate sundowner parties to arranging bespoke fitness training and spa treatments. Guests familiar with our Waldorf Astoria hotels have come to expect the most personalised service from our dedicated team of personal concierges each time they stay with us. At Ithaafushi - The Private Island, this is taken to a whole new level, says Nils-Arne Schroeder, vice president of luxury and lifestyle for Hilton in the Asia-Pacific.

(Related: Hotel Review: Tatler Checks Into...Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi)

Those staying at Ithaafushi also have access to the many amenities and restaurants of the main resort, including The Ledgea modern grill by Dave Pynt of Burnt Ends, the Singapore chophouse that ranked number five on Asias 50 Best Restaurants 2020 list. The private island is also a breeze to get to, only requiring a 40-minute yacht ride or 15-minute seaplane flight from Male Airport.

Come summertime, said to be the best season to visit the Maldives, travellers can choose not just a new resort, but a completely new hotel brand. Singapore-based Capella Hotel Group is opening the inaugural property of Patina Hotels & Resorts in a few months.

Patina Maldives is part of the Fari Islands archipelago on the North Male Atoll. The Fari Islands is comprised of four different islands, two of which will be home to other luxury hotel brands The Ritz-Carlton Maldives and Capella Maldives.

(Related: 5 Luxury Boutique Hotels to Visit Around the World Once its Safe to Travel Again)

The first-ever Patina hotel features 90 one- to three-bedroom villas and 20 studios designed by Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan of Studio MK27, who adhered to the principles of biophilic architecture resulting in spaces defined by a calming, natural feel. Guests can freely move to and from the various islands within the archipelagochoosing from the total privacy of their suite or heightened interaction at the nearby Fari Marina Village and Fari Beach Club. Only a 50-minute boat ride from Male, Patina Maldives is an ideal place for an extended holiday or a luxurious work-from-hotel arrangement.

(Related: 6 Nature-Inspired Hotels and Resorts with Elements of Biophilic Design)

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'Vaxication' in the Maldives: What to Know About Vaccine Tourism - Tatler Singapore

Scorpion Anchorage is once again welcoming visitors to the east end of Santa Cruz Island.

VENTURAConstruction of a new pier at Scorpion Anchorage is finished and is accessible again for all who want to visit.

Construction of a new pier caused this popular spot to remain closed for visitation for 18 months, but it is now accessible by personal craft or the Island Packer ferryboats. Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the five islands that make up the national parkAnacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel islandsit is the most visited as well.

During construction of the pier, neither ferryboats nor private craft were allowed to anchor at Scorpion or go ashore. Now boaters may use one of two ladders on the pier to drop off and pick up visitors. The Island Packer ferryboats are authorized to use the new lift ramp to land passengers. Private boaters may not use the lift as it requires park staff to operate the lift.

A fire broke out above Scorpion Canyon last fall, scorching about 1,400 acres. This area from Scorpion Valley to Smugglers Cove is open for hiking, as long as hikers stay on the marked trail, to help island flora to revegetate.

Camping is now open as well in Scorpion Canyon but currently limited to tent sites in the Upper Loop. The Lower Loop campground is undergoing tree and limb removal of damaged trees in the area. Crews are on-site to take care of any damaged trees and limbs and the park is expecting the campground to reopen in March.

Scorpion Anchorage is the most visited destination in the park, with about 65,000 people coming ashore each year to enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, picnicking, camping, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

Wildflower season has begun on the island with the amazing bright yellow blooms of the giant Coreopsis know as tree sunflowers coming to life. Other island native plants and trees are beginning to bloom as well. Its a great time to visit the east end of Santa Cruz Island.

For the latest information and status of the Channel Islands National Park, go to http://www.nps.gov/chis/parknews/newsreleases.htm

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The Most Popular Place to Visit the Channel Islands National Park has reopened for recreation The Log - The Log Newspaper

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Private Islands, Richard Vanhoff, has had diverse business background with his early career starting in the media working with one of Australias leading TV stations and then eventually moving to radio. Through these two major media agencies, Richard met the crme of international artists and personalities.

This provided access to the rich and famous, which brought with it a plethora of contacts that inspired the development of his real estate career with his wife Narelle.

Richard and Narelle lived on one ofAustralias best-known resorts, Hamilton Island, for over 17 years with the Beatles George Harrison as one of their neighbours on Hamilton Island. Richard again was introduced to some of the worlds best musicians and international celebrities. This furthered his and Narelles passion for sales and in particular islands and island resorts, using these well-established contacts over the last 20 years as a foundation of their client network.

Richard and Narelle have received many international and Australian awards for achieving the highest gross commission sales, which included the sale of Great Keppel Island, Pumpkin Island, Long Island & Bamborough Island just to name a few. As a single real estate agent, Richard can comfortably state that he has sold and negotiated the sale of some of themost exotic island properties in the Pacific.

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Private Islands Online Australia

We recently released our annual travel industry trends forecast, Skift Megatrends 2025. Because of the havoc that the pandemic triggered, we wrote Travel Megatrends 2025 as a vision of how travel industry dynamics could play out five years from now. You can read about each of the trends on Skift, or download a copy here.

Years after overtourism became a pressing issue, followed by the cruise-shaming trend that emerged post-Covid, crowds are back on megaships in 2025, and cruise lines returned to generating billion-dollar earnings. But the nature of the cruise industrys business model had to undergo major shifts to make that happen.

The worlds biggest cruise companies have been recouping their extensive losses up until this point by merging with other lines for greater efficiency. The result? Big ships offer roller coasters on their decks and additional outsized activities continue to surface to help drive up onboard revenue. Ports of call are fewer, as cruise lines reduce their dependence on them, and instead focus on the growth of their private islands, particularly in the Caribbean.

Why offer shore excursions when one can sail to ones own private beaches while keeping 100 percent of the revenue in cruise coffers? Besides, the lines still lure cruisers with the promise of safety bubbles on these private islands, and many prefer staying put at sea rather than venturing into multiple ports.

Destinations that were once heavily dependent on big ships are dealing with fewer port calls, and focusing on niche offerings from smaller lines. These niche cruise players emerged from the cheap post-Covid divestiture and sale of older ships that debuted in the 2000s. Its a repeat of what we saw in the 1990s, when there were some upstarts bringing on vintage ships and offering niche kinds of products, said Ross Klein, a veteran cruise industry expert and professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The travel bucket list isnt going anywhere port cities that faced overtourism pre-Covid continue to face the conundrum of whether to reject tourist crowds in 2025 after suffering a debilitating multiyear downturn. Theyre using innovative ways to control the crowds, such as higher day-tripper fees like the ones Venice approved back in 2020.

Whats for sure? 2025 is greener. More people are willing to be sensitive to environmental issues and not rebel at the notion that perhaps theres something wrong with cruising and it has a negative effect on the environment, said Jim Walker, a Florida-based maritime attorney who runs Cruise Law News. One of the biggest environmental fights that cruise lines continue to face in 2025 is their use of scrubbers, long found to cause cancer-linked discharge in ports, pollute waters, and otherwise negatively impact marine life.

Port citizens in North America and Europe, in particular, with localized movements and solid political partnerships, are making more headway in the passing of environmental legislation banning scrubbers. But the influence of broad-based coalitions such as the Global Cruise Activist Network, born during Covid, remains uncertain.

If past history is an insight, the activism will continue losing some of its potency, Klein said, explaining the power of the cruise industry to push back against these efforts. After all, Key West, Floridas big win against mass cruising back in 2020 resulted from decades of militant activism that began in 2003.

Meanwhile, 2025s headlines report that the cruise industrys major players are making financial gains. Those funds will come in handy for the heap of looming environmental bans and regulations, potentially signaling the beginning of the end of megaships.

Download Your Copy of Skift Travel Megatrends 2025

Skift Megatrends 2025 is made possible by our parters: Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Accor, and American Express.

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Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises crew source vegetables at a market in Mallorca, Spain. Windstar Cruises

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Travel Megatrends 2025: Cruise Lines Take Refuge in Their Private Islands - Skift

The MSC Grandiosa will set sail again in the western Mediterranean on Sunday, January 24th, following a month-long pause. The ship was the first to start operating in southern Europe last August, but was forced to take a break when the Italian government tightened travel restrictions in the pre-Christmas period.

As the number of active cases in Italy has declined in recent weeks, the government has loosened the rules again.

A press statement from MSC Cruises read: Following the latest ministerial decree issued by the Italian government and related updated health measures, the companys flagship will resume her planned weekly cruises leaving every Sunday from Genoa, Italy and calling on other Italian ports of Civitavecchia, Naples, and Palermo, as well as Valetta in Malta.

While cruises departing from North American ports have been suspended since March 2020, MSC was able to restart last summer with two Italy-based ships. The line worked closely with government officials to develop comprehensive health and safety protocols, both on the ship and during shore excursions.

READ MORE: Europe-Based MSC Cruises Plans Cruisings Biggest Expansion

The latest ministerial decree authorised the resumption of cruise operations under the protection of the unique health and safety protocol that had been developed with and authorised by the Italian health, transport and safety authorities last summer, the MSC statement added. Since then, MSC Cruises has safely welcomed over 30,000 guests on board its two ships based out of Italy.

As the worlds largest privately-owned cruise line and one with a massive expansion plan over the next several years MSC hopes to use the knowledge gained in Europe to streamline its North American restart once guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are finally made clear.

Were leveraging the fact that we were the first ones to start operating in Southern Europe to set the tone on how to operate a safe cruise, Ken Muskat, EVP and COO of MSC Cruises (USA) told Cruise Industry News.

It is expected that many of the initiatives MSC has taken, including universal testing, social distancing, closely-monitored excursions, and shorter itineraries, will be part of North American rules as well.

READ MORE: 15 Tips for Visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

When it can restart here, MSC will have three ships based in the Florida ports of Miami and Port Canaveral. Initial plans are for short cruises of three, four, and seven nights, with MSCs private destination Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve playing a key role. The line says the same health and safety protocols will be in place on the island as they are on its ships.

Unlike some other private islands, Ocean Cay, which opened in December 2019, features programming that extends late into the evening, adding diversity to the experience. As well as sunning, swimming, and water sports during the day, evening events including a Bahamian-style Junkanoo parade and a dazzling light show projected from the islands lighthouse.

READ MORE: MSC Cruises Releases Summer 2022 Schedule

Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is planning the largest single expansion in the industry, with a dozen ships on order from 2021-2027. These include four 5,400-passenger, liquefied natural gas-powered mega-ships, the largest ever for a Europe-based cruise line. The plan represents a massive investment of $11.3 billion dollars and will add nearly 45,000 berths to the lines fleet.

Late this year, MSC plans to begin sailing the MSC Seashore from Miami. The brand-new, 4,560-passenger ship promises the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest in the companys fleet.

MSC has suspended cruises from U.S. ports through March 31, 2021. At present, its first scheduled voyage is a three-night sailing out of Port Canaveral on April 1, with a stop at Ocean Cay.

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MSC Grandiosa to Resume Cruising Southern Europe on January 24 - Cruise Radio

The shuffling of diplomats around the UKs Caribbean territories rarely makes much of a splash. But Gus Jaspert ensured his last days as governor of the British Virgin Islands would be remembered.

In an emotional Facebook video post to the BVIs 30,000 inhabitants, he accused the countrys government of overseeing a plague of corruption, interfering in the criminal justice system and attempting to silence anyone who raised concerns about the misuse of funds, including 30m given by the UK to help the islands fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Jaspert claimed that the BVI government had deliberately delayed legal reforms and hindered local inquiries into a string of corruption allegations including 5m spent on a non-existent airline and nearly 1m on building a short wall around a school. Tens of millions more spent on a hospital and a cruise ship dock are in question. Citing concerns about organised crime, he mentioned $250m (180m) of cocaine seized from the home of a police officer last year.

Amid reports that the EU is getting ready to blacklist the BVI as a tax haven, the career civil servant who for a time served as private secretary to Britains former prime minister David Cameron had a message for BVIs citizens: Your voices have been heard. We have received the message loud and clear the people of BVI want better.

The allegations will now be examined in a commission of inquiry, a formal process overseen by a British high court judge. Jaspert is acting with the backing of Dominic Raab, the British foreign secretary, who issued a written statement saying the UK had a constitutional and moral duty to protect the interests of the people of BVI.

The surprise move has plunged the BVI into a constitutional crisis, and the coming months could determine whether these islands sever the last of their ties with the British crown.

The BVI exports rum and fruit, and hundreds of thousands of tourists disembark each year from yachts and cruise liners to bask on its white sand beaches, but more than half of government receipts come from the financial sector.

Around 400,000 offshore companies are registered in the BVI. While most ordinary citizens will never need to park money in a tax haven, the Panama Papers and successive data leaks have revealed just how widely used they are by the rich and famous. The anonymity they provide also appeals to shady oligarchs and corrupt despots.

BVI businesses are black boxes, with no public register of their owners and no duty to publish accounts or pay taxes. Many hold property. In London alone, the real estate held by BVI shells is worth billions of pounds.

The BVI is an overseas territory, where the Queen remains head of state and the judicial committee of the privy council in London is still the court of final appeal. Following recent clashes over UK legislation designed to limit its activities as a tax haven, the number of incorporations has plummeted and many on these islands are now calling for greater independence.

Is this a prelude on a pre-step to the United Kingdom coming in and taking over? Claude O Skelton-Cline, a well-known BVI talk radio host, asked last week. A paid government consultant, Skelton-Clines views are though to be aligned with many of those in the higher echelons of BVI politics.

His fears are not unfounded. In 2009 the UK suspended the constitution of the Turks and Caicos and assumed day-to-day control, after a commission of inquiry found widespread corruption.

Victor Bulmer-Thomas, a fellow at Chatham House and Caribbean expert, said the situation looks very much like a rerun of the Turks and Caicos crisis a few years ago and is a reminder of how vulnerable the overseas territories are to the actions of unscrupulous individuals.

He believes Westminster may have been prompted to intervene by reports that the EU plans to exploit Brexit by adding the nation to its list of tax havens. The sanction is largely symbolic, although banks could in future be reluctant to hold accounts for companies in blacklisted jurisdictions.

As Brexit continues to shake the foundations of Britains foreign relations, its ability to protect its territories from censure has been diminished. The onus is now on Raab to convince the EU that corruption will be stamped out.

Sir Gary Hickinbottom, whose experience includes a period as a supreme court judge in the Falkland Islands, has been chosen as the man for the job. He has already arrived on the main island of Tortola, where he gave a press conference on Friday. He has until July to make recommendations for action, including whether criminal proceedings should be brought against individuals.

For its part, the BVI government had been due to review its constitutional relationship with the UK later this year. Officials had talked of moving to a model of free association with the old colonial power, which would mean having a political alliance with the UK but more independent governance.

In 2018 a cross-party coalition of Westminster MPs led by the Labour politician Margaret Hodge and her Conservative colleague Andrew Mitchell won parliamentary support for legislation obliging the BVI and other UK dependencies to publish the names of shell company owners in public registers.

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Islanders took to the streets in protest, branding Hodge a modern-day imperialist. The slogans held aloft by the crowd made no bones about it: No imperial legislation; You chained us, didnt sustain us, now you constrain us; and Racist UK.

This weeks shocking revelations that corruption may be rife in the BVI are a shameful indictment of the tax haven model, Hodge said. It is clear that an economy based on secrecy and low taxes is a recipe for bad governance, corruption, and criminality.

In a statement, the BVI premier, Andrew Fahie, said he welcomed the commission of inquiry, but appeared to suggest local inquiries into the allegations should be completed before the Hickinbottom investigation can begin. It is only after these stages of the process are completed and investigations deemed inconclusive would the way be paved for a commission of inquiry. This has always been the process followed because it is the only process that allows for good governance to function in a manner that keeps the tenets of democracy sacred, he said.

Jaspert is being replaced this month by the governor of Bermuda, after four years in post. Signing off from his Facebook video address before packing up his bags in Government House, the official residence of the governor, he implored islanders to get involved with the inquiry. It will be your opportunity to shape the way things are done and help put things right for the next generation.

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British Virgin Islands at a crossroads as outgoing governor decries corruption - The Guardian

Jan. 23, 2021Updated: Jan. 23, 2021 11p.m.

The Islands of Rockport offers luxury waterfront living with views, amenities. Located on Estes Flats, one of the most famous fishing waters on the Gulf Coast and directly on the Intracoastal waterway, world-class fishing and boating is right outside residents back doors.Within proximity to the culturally rich downtown Rockport, The Islands of Rockport offers modern luxury.

At the Islands of Rockport, home-side private docks and wide canals provide residents instant access to the waters of Estes Flats/Redfish Bay. Located directly on the Intracoastal waterway and within proximity to the open waters of the Gulf, every home is custom-built with a southern coastal architectural design creating the casual, relaxed elegance of the community.

Spacious private boat docks, a clubhouse and pool are nestled in the serene gated community. Brought together by a common vision of the good life, residents of The Islands of Rockport enjoy living among water-loving neighbors who happily open their doors and docks to enjoy food and drinks as they share the days fish tales. Good neighbors become great friends, connected by water and brought together by the shared experience of living the coastal lifestyle in a gated community.

The Development was designed with the highest quality canal system, high property elevations and pristine water quality. A boating and birding paradise, Phase I is finalizing completion and in 2021 The Islands of Rockport is rolling out Phase II expanding the community.

Open seven days a week. Call 361-255-3223 to make an appointment for a private tour or visit http://www.TheIOR.com for more information.

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The Islands of Rockport spotlights modern luxury (Sponsored) - Chron

Northern Italy is home to some of Europe's most romantic cities and when it's safe for us to travel again, there's no place we'd rather fall in love with again than Venice.

For a fantastic return to Europe after lockdown, Country Living is inviting you to join us on a celebrity-led tour of the Italian city's cultural treasures, where you'll meet Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and ride the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

JOIN CL IN VENICE

During this adventure in late August 2021, youll explore some of Italy's best bits, with three unique experiences: soaking up the charm of Venice on a lagoon cruise, relaxing on the beautiful private islands of Lake Garda, and riding the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

What makes this delightful 12-day itinerary extra special is that in Venice youll be joined by celebrity designer Kevin McCloud for a tour of the city and a talk from the star about the inspirational architecture surrounding you.

Bringing together three different ways to travel in style, high-class cuisine and exclusive events, this is set to be the trip weve all been waiting for. Andiamo!

Italy has enchanted visitors for centuries with its unique canals, classical palaces and cobbled streets. On our exclusive trip, not only will you have the chance to get lost in the magic of the floating city, but youll be able to visit the islands of the Venetian Lagoon by boat.

As you tour the famous sites of Rialto Bridge and Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Kevin McCloud will be on hand to add extra insights from his knowledge of classical architecture and design. Hell also answer your questions.

Cruising Uniworld's S.S. La Venezia ship for seven nights, youll see the best of the Veneto region, including Venice and the nearby cities and colourful islands of Chioggia and Burano. Returning to the ship, there will be time to pamper yourself in the spa, or relax in the library, lounge and bar, with views that youll fall in love with straight away.

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A visit to Padua, Bologna or Ferrara wouldn't be complete without sampling iconic regional dishes, such as rag Bolognese, mortadella bigoli - fat spaghetti - with duck sauce, and cappellacci - a pasta shaped in the style of the hats Ferraras peasants wore.

Plus, on S.S. La Venezia, youll have the choice of three brilliant dining venues, all serving delicious fresh dishes.

Lake Garda is the next destination and offers a whole host of treats. Spectacular vineyards, ancient abbeys, glamorous private islands, charming villa gardens and family-run wineries are around every corner.

Youll experience them on exciting excursions, including a private visit to Isola del Garda and its villas exotic gardens, where youll meet the owners, and have a wine tasting at a family-run winery in the heart of Valpolicella.

Plus, youll have lots of free time to enjoy the fresh lakeside air and peaceful atmosphere of this irresistible Italian region.

Another highlight of this trip is the grand voyage back to the UK in Art Deco style - on the stunning heritage carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Youll enjoy sophisticated cuisine in the trains gorgeous dining carriages, and sleep in ornate cabins of polished cherry wood, with views of forests, lakes and mountains through the windows to make this glamorous journey all the more special.

Book your place on a dreamy 12-day tour of Northern Italy with celebrity architect Kevin McCloud.

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Join Kevin McCloud in Italy and ride the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - Countryliving (UK)