Culinary Queen & Cricket Great to team up with Cunard
Karen Martini and Brett Lee to Headline Cunard’s Australian Themed Voyages in 2024. Cunard has announced two exciting new themed voyages for its 2024 Australian homeport season. Celebrity chef Karen Martini will headline the second edition of the hugely successful Great Australian Culinary Voyage, whilst legendary former fast bowler Brett Lee will spearhead the inaugural Voyage of Sporting Greats. The 7-night Great Australian Culinary Voyage and the 7-night Voyage of Sporting Greats will celebrate Australian culture through the lenses of food and sport. Karen and Brett will captivate Queen Elizabeth’s 2,081-guests through engaging activities, talks and events aboard the ship, and carefully crafted themed shore experiences. Cunard’s Commercial Director for Australia and New Zealand, Katrina McAlpine, said she was pleased to be expanding on the success of Cunard’s 2023 themed voyages: “Our first Great Australian Culinary Voyage which only just returned to Sydney was a resounding triumph. This really is testament to our guests and their desire to discover extraordinary experiences, something Cunard constantly seeks to create and deliver on. “To cater for our guests’ craving for premium culinary events, we are going to offer a raft of highlights and creative talent during the 2024 culinary voyage. Karen Martini is the person to lead the way, with her food including the most delicious blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines with Australian influences. Cunard Sporting Greats Cruise “Having Brett Lee join us for our very first Voyage of Sporting Greats is quite the coup, he has had such an illustrious career in cricket so no doubt he will have many inspiring stories to tell. Sport is very much embedded in Australian culture, and we look forward to working with Brett and further sporting greats to be announced soon to bring it to life on Queen Elizabeth next February.” Cunard’s Great Australian Culinary Voyage Award-winning chef, restaurateur, author, and television presenter Karen Martini is confirmed to headline the 7-night Great Culinary Voyage. While on board, Karen will take over Queen Elizabeth’s premium dining venue, The Verandah Restaurant, for three exclusive fine dining events. Karen’s food will also appear in the Britannia Restaurant with a selection of her dishes offered throughout the sailing, and guests will be able to hear her speak in the Royal Court Theatre, too. “I can’t wait to sail on-board Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth next January and share my dishes and food inspiration with guests. I’ll be bringing on some of my favourite fresh Australian produce and ingredients to create a bespoke and memorable food experience, along with sharing food anecdotes and tips I’ve gathered throughout my career,” Karen Martini said. Karen is best known for her restaurant Hero in Melbourne’s iconic ACMI building at Federation Square, and her roles as founding chef at both the Melbourne Wine Room and Icebergs Dining Room and Bar in Sydney. She has authored nine cookbooks with her most recent, COOK: The Only Book You Need in the Kitchen released in late 2022 to huge acclaim. Karen is also a regular fixture on Australian TV screens as resident chef on Better Homes and Gardens. She also writes a regular recipe column for Good Weekend Magazine. Departing Melbourne on 5 January 2024, the Great Australian Culinary Voyage will see Queen Elizabeth chart an itinerary to Adelaide, Hobart and back to Melbourne over seven nights. Karen will be joined by additional exciting food, wine, and drinks talent to be announced in the coming months. |
Australia’s first Voyage of Sporting Greats
An absolute legend of the game, Brett was an international cricketer for Australia and is widely regarded as one of the best fast bowlers to have ever graced the cricket pitch. These days, Brett is best known for his role as a cricket commentator, but for Cunard he will swap his seat in the commentary box for a different kind of gig. While on board Queen Elizabeth, Brett will regale guests with tales from his impressive career through insightful Q&A sessions and an exclusive activity to be announced shortly. “It will be great to get on-board Queen Elizabeth to talk to sport enthusiasts and share some legendary memories from my time on the pitch. I’m also really looking forward to cruising, it will be my first time and I’m keen to make the most of the ship with everything that’s on offer.” said Brett Lee. Departing on 13 February 2024, Cunard’s inaugural Voyage of Sporting Greats will sail a roundtrip from Sydney to Tasmania and back over 7-nights, with calls in Hobart, Port Arthur and Melbourne. Brett Lee will lead the line-up of Australian sporting icons, with more popular sporting talent to be announced shortly. At 90,900 tonnes, Queen Elizabeth is the second largest ship ever to sail in Cunard’s fleet. She is home to just over 2,000 guests and 1,000 crew and features more than 10 restaurants and cafés, a Games Deck including paddle tennis, croquet and bowls, a two-storey library, a ballroom, and the Royal Court Theatre featuring West End style entertainment. To read more and to book, please visit https://www.cunard.com/en-au/cruise-types/event-cruises#2024 |