To be honest, I never aspired to holiday on a cruise ship, let alone work on one. That changed when I was invited to host the wine program on Cunard’s Great Australian Culinary Voyage, a five-night food and wine adventure, in early 2024. Curiosity got the better of me. That, and the chance to collaborate with some of Australia’s top culinary talent.

If you’re planning on catching the 2025 culinary cruise, here are some helpful tips.

Arrive curious

I present what’s called the Lunch and Learn wine sessions, so arrive thirsty and ready to go beyond big, oaky chardonnays and ballsy reds. It’s going to be a fun and insightful exploration of emerging Australian producers and varietals – the type of stuff you won’t find on your average wine list.

Embrace the fun

The ballroom dancing classes reminded me of scenes from Dirty Dancing (not the sexy ones) and they’re a hoot. Same goes for the chef question-and-answer panels and cooking demonstrations. The beauty of a culinary cruise is the chance to mingle with the food talent. I’m still in touch with passengers from the last culinary cruise. What a fabulously engaged bunch.

Pack wisely

Dress to impress, especially for themed gala evenings. Ball gowns, over the top accessories … anything goes.

Check the themes before you pack your bags, or you might find yourself in a red frock amid a sea of black and white.

Accessories are available on board, but they’re limited, and you don’t want to be seen wearing the same mask on masquerade night as someone else, right? Oh, and pack formal wear, because the fancy restaurants demand it.

Book ahead

The line-up for Cunard’s Great Australian Culinary Voyage this year included chef Karen Martini and former MasterChef judge Gary Mehigan.

For the 2025 cruise, you’ll set sail with restaurateur, chef and TV host Matt Moran, Melbourne-based Torres Strait Islander and culinary force Nornie Bero, pastry maestro Darren Purchese, and former MasterChef champ Julie Goodwin. Each hosts special dining experiences during the voyage, which are announced well before the ship departs. The same goes for the wine sessions. If you don’t book ahead, you may miss out, so keep an eye out for announcements.

Indulge in a shore excursion

A great deal of effort goes into planning the shore excursions. Next year I’ll take wine-curious folk on a journey around Hobart and the surrounding wine country. You can, of course, explore a city at your leisure, but when the crew warns you to be back on the ship on time, they aren’t joking. The Queen Elizabeth waits for no one. Byeeeee.

Great Australian Culinary Voyage 2025 runs from February 6-11. cunard.com