From a very early age, travel has been a huge part of my life, it’s in my DNA. From learning to walk on the cobbled streets of medieval Italy, backpacking around the world for a year aged 21, crewing on a round-the-world Whitbread racing yacht, has led me to a career in the luxury travel industry that has spanned over three decades.
Luxury cruise is my professional passion, and I’ve been lucky to work in sales and marketing roles for some wonderful cruise companies, such as Silversea, Crystal Cruises, Azamara, and Celebrity. Having visited over 80 countries now and cruised to six out of seven continents, I enjoy using my global destination knowledge for my cruise clients.
My personal passion for sailing, scuba diving, and generally enjoying being on or near the ocean is perfect for my Caribbean specialism at Audley, as these beautiful islands offer the optimum locations for my hobbies. My Mediterranean cruise port knowledge is enhanced by my love of the Classics, and when I’m not near the ocean, you’ll find me at an archaeological site deciphering Greek epigraphy.
Start planning your tailor-made trip with Sophie
-
617-223-4521617-223-4189
- Make an inquiry
Q&A with Sophie
Where would you love to travel to next?
I’ve managed to travel and cruise six out of seven continents, and Antarctica is the only continent I’ve yet to visit. A dream trip for me would be a luxury expedition cruise to Antarctica, to experience the magnitude and stillness of this vast space, view the wildlife up close, and take a Polar Plunge into the icy waters.
What tips would you give for people who want to visit your specialty destination?
When arriving in the Caribbean islands, it’s important to remember that life moves at a much slower pace. So, I would recommend that you embrace the ‘island lifestyle’ and adjust to a more relaxed and slower speed. The charm of these islands are the people themselves, and the warmth of their welcome, so don’t worry if things don’t happen exactly on time and be prepared to be flexible. Even a tropical downpour in the Caribbean is known as liquid sunshine, so savour their positive spirit and laid-back atmosphere.
Which book, film, or artwork captures your specialty destination the most?
As a Classicist, I would have to say Homer’s Odyssey inspired me to explore the Greek islands by yacht and cruise ship to discover the classical architectural sites and, in particular, Ancient Greek epigraphy. I’ve been lucky to experience many Mediterranean cruises during my career, and the countries and islands to be discovered by ship offer such a variety of history, culture, and scenery, and of course warm sunshine and delicious cuisines. But to paraphrase Ithaca from the poet Cavafy, it’s all about the journey rather than the destination… “full of adventure, full of discovery.”