I am exploring several exciting ideas for a hosted European group departure in September 2027, and I would love your help choosing which one to develop.
The six proposed holidays combine an escorted land tour with a cruise, creating a more complete European experience without having to organise every detail yourself.
Each option offers something quite different, from the familiar highlights of Italy to the fjords of Norway, the countryside of France and the lesser-visited landscapes of the Balkans.
I will be travelling with the group as your host, providing a familiar point of contact and extra support throughout the arranged holiday.
At this stage, these are proposed concepts rather than confirmed departures. Your expression of interest will help me choose which itinerary has the strongest genuine demand before I approach the operators to negotiate group space and pricing.
There is no obligation to book.
What Is a Hosted Holiday?
A hosted departure gives you the benefits of travelling as part of an organised group, with the added reassurance of having me travelling alongside you.
The land tours and cruises will continue to be professionally operated by their respective travel companies. My role will be to help bring the complete holiday together and provide additional support before and during the trip.
A Holidays Beckon hosted departure may include:
- assistance with planning and preparation before departure
- a familiar Australian travel adviser travelling with the group
- professionally operated land touring and cruising
- a small community of like-minded travellers
- help navigating the connections between each part of the holiday
- opportunities to share experiences without every moment feeling regimented
- one carefully planned itinerary rather than a collection of disconnected bookings
You can enjoy the company of the group while still having opportunities to explore independently.
The Proposed Hosted Holidays
The following itineraries are currently being considered for September 2027.
The destinations, durations, inclusions and pricing remain subject to confirmation.
Italy & Mediterranean Cruise
$10,000–$12,000 per person/twin
View Option 1
Scandinavia & Northern Europe Cruise
$10,500–$12,500 per person/twin
View Option 2
France & French River Barge Cruise
$12,500–$14,500 per person/twin
View Option 3
Balkans & Luxury Croatia Cruise
$14,500–$16,500 per person/twin
View Option 4
France & Premium River Cruise
$17,500–$19,500 per person/twin
View Option 5
Balkans & Luxury Aegean Clipper Cruise
$20,000–$22,000 per person/twin
View Option 6
Option 1: Italy & Mediterranean Cruise
Classic Italy followed by a Mediterranean cruise
Experience some of Italy’s most celebrated cities and landscapes before continuing along the Mediterranean coast by sea.
The escorted land tour would travel through Rome, the Bay of Naples, Assisi, Venice, Milan and Florence, before returning to Rome to join the cruise.
The cruise would then visit La Spezia, Genoa, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Ajaccio and Barcelona.
This option combines many of Europe’s best-known destinations with the convenience of unpacking once aboard the cruise.
Proposed duration: Approximately 22 days
Travel style: Escorted land tour and Mediterranean cruise
Indicative budget: $10,000 to $12,000 per person twin share
Proposed highlights
- Rome’s ancient landmarks and neighbourhoods
- the scenery and history of the Bay of Naples
- Assisi and the Umbrian countryside
- Venice, Milan and Florence
- the Ligurian coast
- the French Riviera
- Corsica
- Barcelona
Option 2: Scandinavia & Northern Europe Cruise
Scandinavian cities, Norwegian landscapes and dramatic fjords
This proposed holiday combines an escorted journey through Denmark, Norway and Sweden with a Northern European cruise.
The land tour would travel from Copenhagen to Oslo, Vrådal, Bergen, the Sognefjord, Lillehammer, Örebro and Stockholm.
The cruise would continue from Stockholm to Copenhagen, Warnemünde, Vik i Sogn, Eidfjord, Sandnes and Oslo.
It is an opportunity to experience both the cultural capitals and natural landscapes of Scandinavia, including Norway’s mountains, waterways and fjords.
Proposed duration: Approximately 23 days
Travel style: Escorted Scandinavian tour and Northern Europe cruise
Indicative budget: $10,500 to $12,500 per person twin share
Proposed highlights
- Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm
- Bergen and Norway’s west coast
- the Sognefjord region
- traditional towns and mountain scenery
- Vik i Sogn and Eidfjord
- a mix of Scandinavian cities and smaller ports
Option 3: France & French River Barge Cruise
An extensive journey through France with an intimate barge cruise
Discover the variety of France on an escorted land tour followed by a small-scale river barge experience.
The land tour would include Paris, Lyon, the French Riviera, Nîmes, Lourdes, Bordeaux, the Loire Valley, Mont-Saint-Michel and Deauville, before returning to Paris.
The barge cruise would travel from Paris through Évry, Melun, Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, Cannes-Écluse and Sens, before returning to the capital.
This option offers a broad introduction to France, combining major cities, regional landscapes, historic towns and a more intimate style of inland cruising.
Proposed duration: Approximately 20 days
Travel style: Escorted land tour and French river barge cruise
Indicative budget: $12,500 to $14,500 per person twin share
Proposed highlights
- Paris and Lyon
- the French Riviera
- Roman heritage in and around Nîmes
- Bordeaux and southwestern France
- the Loire Valley
- Mont-Saint-Michel and Normandy
- smaller French towns and waterways
- an intimate river barge experience
Option 4: Balkans & Luxury Croatia Cruise
Lesser-visited Balkan destinations and small-ship Adriatic cruising
Explore part of the Balkans on an escorted tour before joining a luxury small-ship cruise from Dubrovnik to Venice.
The land tour would travel through Skopje, Lake Ohrid, Berat, Tirana, Tivat and Dubrovnik.
The cruise would continue along the Adriatic, visiting Kotor, Monopoli, Korčula, Šibenik, Opatija, Poreč and Venice.
This itinerary combines historic cities, dramatic coastal scenery and destinations that many travellers may not have previously considered.
Proposed duration: Approximately 22 days
Travel style: Escorted Balkans tour and luxury small-ship cruise
Indicative budget: $14,500 to $16,500 per person twin share
Proposed highlights
- North Macedonia and Lake Ohrid
- Berat and Tirana in Albania
- Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor
- Dubrovnik
- the Croatian islands and Adriatic coast
- Puglia in southern Italy
- smaller ports not always visited by larger ships
- arrival into Venice
Option 5: France & Premium French River Cruise
Northern France followed by premium cruising along the Rhône
This proposed holiday combines Paris, Normandy and the château country of the Loire Valley with a premium river cruise through southern France.
The land tour would include Paris, Deauville, Mont-Saint-Michel and the Loire Valley, before returning to Paris.
The river cruise would then travel from Lyon to Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, Arles and Avignon.
This option is designed for travellers who place greater value on a more refined, inclusive style of river cruising.
Proposed duration: Approximately 20 days
Travel style: Escorted land tour and premium river cruise
Indicative budget: $17,500 to $19,500 per person twin share
Proposed highlights
- Paris
- Deauville and the Normandy coast
- Mont-Saint-Michel
- the château country of the Loire Valley
- Lyon and the Rhône
- historic Vienne
- the landscapes of Ardèche and Provence
- Arles and Avignon
- a premium river cruise experience
Option 6: Balkans & Luxury Greek Islands Clipper
A grand journey through the Balkans and the Aegean
This is the most extensive and premium of the proposed hosted holidays.
The escorted land tour would travel through Ljubljana, Lake Bled, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Tirana, Meteora, Kalambaka and Athens.
From Athens, the group would board an elegant clipper ship carrying only 166 guests.
The cruise would visit Milos, Chania, Santorini, Bodrum, Amorgos and Hydra, before returning to Athens.
This option combines the landscapes, history and cultures of the Balkans with a distinctive small-ship sailing experience through the Greek Islands and Aegean.
Proposed duration: Approximately 26 days
Travel style: Escorted Balkans tour and luxury clipper cruise
Indicative budget: $20,000 to $22,000 per person twin share
Proposed highlights
- Ljubljana and Lake Bled
- Zagreb and Plitvice Lakes
- Sarajevo and Mostar
- Dubrovnik and Kotor
- Albania
- Meteora
- Athens
- Greek island sailing aboard a 166-guest clipper ship
- Milos, Crete, Santorini, Amorgos and Hydra
- Bodrum on the Turkish coast
Understanding the Indicative Budgets
The budget ranges shown are preliminary estimates designed to help you decide which options are realistically suitable for you.
All estimates are:
- quoted in Australian dollars
- per person twin share
- based on current retail pricing
- inclusive of an allowance of approximately $3,000 per person for economy airfares from Australia.
Final pricing will depend on:
- the final itinerary and inclusions
- negotiated group arrangements
- international airfare costs
- your Australian departure city
- required transfers
- exchange rates
- room and cabin categories
- availability at the time of booking
Group pricing may reduce some of the current retail costs. However, the final package may also require additional transfers or services that have not yet been included.
Solo travellers are very welcome to register their interest. Solo rooms and cabins will be subject to availability, and supplements will apply.
Travel insurance and personal spending money are not included in these estimates.
Register Your Interest
Your feedback will help determine which itinerary has the best combination of genuine traveller interest, realistic pricing and suitable group availability.
Registering your interest does not commit you to booking or paying a deposit.
Those who register will be among the first to receive further details if their preferred option progresses.
What Happens Next?
Once the expressions of interest have been received, I will review:
- which itinerary has the strongest genuine interest
- the budgets travellers are realistically considering
- likely group size
- demand from couples and solo travellers
- supplier group conditions
- host costs and overall commercial viability
I will then approach the relevant operators to discuss availability, group pricing and booking conditions for the most viable option or options.
Travellers who register will receive further information before the selected departure is promoted more widely.
No booking commitment will be required until the itinerary, pricing, inclusions and conditions have been confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does registering commit me to booking?
No. This is an early expression of interest only. There is no payment or booking commitment.
Are these confirmed itineraries?
No. They are proposed concepts currently being assessed. Destinations, dates, duration, cruise schedules and inclusions may change.
Will all six holidays proceed?
No. The purpose of the EOI is to identify which option has the strongest genuine interest and is commercially practical to operate.
Are flights included in the estimated budgets?
The estimates include an allowance of approximately $3,000 per person for economy airfares from Australia. The actual airfare will depend on your departure city, airline availability and the final travel dates.
What happens if airfares cost more than $3,000?
The final package price would be adjusted accordingly. The current figures are planning estimates rather than confirmed package prices.
Can solo travellers join?
Yes. Solo travellers are welcome to register. Solo rooms and cabins will be subject to availability, and pricing will be provided on request.
Will you be travelling with the group?
Yes. My intention is to travel with the selected group as the Holidays Beckon host throughout the arranged program.
Will the group have to do everything together?
No. The land tours and cruises will have their own schedules, but there should still be opportunities for independent time. The aim is to provide support and companionship without making the holiday feel overly regimented.
Can I book this hosted holiday through my usual travel agent?
No. This hosted package is being specially curated and coordinated by Holidays Beckon, with the group arrangements and operator agreements managed directly through Holidays Beckon. As a result, bookings for this departure will need to be made through Holidays Beckon and cannot be transferred to or booked through another travel agency.
When will bookings open?
This will depend on the EOI results, supplier availability and the time required to negotiate group arrangements. Those who register will be contacted first if their preferred concept progresses.
Ready to Help Shape the Holiday?
This is your opportunity to help determine where the first Holidays Beckon hosted European group will travel.
Review the six ideas, consider the likely budget and let me know which one you would genuinely consider joining.
There is no obligation to book.
Meet Your Experienced Travel Advisor, Philip
I've always believed that travel isn't just about ticking boxes — it's about meaningful experiences that enrich your life. Born and raised in Darwin, I grew up surrounded by diverse cultures, big skies, and a strong sense of connection — all of which shaped the way I see the world. Read More
