It could just be the most romantic Valentine’s Day ever – it will certainly be the most regal.

You can spend your special day aboard Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth during a luxury 13-night cruise to stunning New Zealand, which starts on Valentine’s Day 2022.

You kick off your holiday with a night in Melbourne and a complimentary stay in a four-star, city hotel with breakfast, followed by a cruise crossing the Tasman Sea and visiting some of the best attractions in New Zealand.

Imagine Holidays has a special offer for Cruise Passenger readers which includes a cruise through NZ’s stunning Fiordland National Park brimming with breathtaking mountains and wildlife, Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Auckland and Bay of Islands as well as free return flights to Melbourne. For those living in Melbourne who don’t need flights, you will get an onboard credit of $250 per cabin instead.

Prices start from just $2999 a person for sailing departures on 14 February 2022. This works out to be a bargain $214 per person, per day with all meals included during your cruise. All you need to do is to call Imagine Holidays on (02) 8313 5953.

And this is what you’ll get.

The holiday:

13-night luxury cruise to New Zealand on board Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth from Melbourne visiting Fiordland National Park, Dunedin, Christchurch, Picton, Auckland and Bay of Islands.
Departing 14 February 2022.
Prices start from $2999 per person.
Free flights.
Free hotel stay.
Call Imagine Holidays (02) 8313 5953 to book.

Your holiday starts with Melbourne, a fun city with a European ambience. Not only does it have a serious coffee-drinking culture, the city is also renowned for its markets, laneways, arcades and fabulous shops selling vintage clothes, fast fashion, stylish shoes and bespoke, luxury brands. You will not be bored in this vibrant city which also boasts some of Australia’s best restaurants and cafes.

The next day, you will board Queen Elizabeth, a graceful ship kitted out in art deco style to evoke a 1930’s elegance where you can play lawn croquet on the games deck and enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches served by white-gloved waiters.

One of the joys of travelling on a Cunard ship, is that you can always dance the night away at the ship’s ballroom after dinner.

You will be spoilt for choice when dining on Queen Elizabeth. From the main Britannia Restaurant, alfresco dining by the pool to The Verandah for some of the best steaks at sea. For a post-dinner drink try the Gin&Fizz for a chilled glass of bubbles or nurse a cognac at Churchill’s cigar lounge.

After two nights at sea, Queen Elizabeth arrives in NZ and you will cruise through the amazing Fiordland National Park where rugged mountains are reflected in mirror-smooth lakes. You will also watch waterfalls cascade down craggy cliffs and catch glimpses of dolphins and penguins frolicking in the water.

You will then visit Dunedin, which still retains its strong Scottish heritage. Visit Lanarch Castle, built by local businessmen with Scottish roots – it is the country’s only castle. Soak in Dunedin’s laid back atmosphere as you stroll around the city’s quaint harbourside villages.

Queen Elizabeth will then call at Christchurch, the biggest city in the country’s South Island which can easily be explored on foot. Take the hop-on, hop-off tram which has 17 stops from the River Avon to the heart of the city. You can also take the Christchurch Gondola, a scenic cable-car ride with fabulous views of the city and glide to the top of Mount Cavendish.

The cruise will next visit Picton, gateway to the South Island and inlets of Marlborough Sounds. This picturesque harbour town is home to great cafes and galleries. There’s also a floating maritime museum and aquarium. Check out the Queen Charlotte Track on foot or on a mountain bike.

The cruise will then visit the buzzing, urban hub of Auckland with its awesome rolling hills and stunning skyline of the city centre. The iconic Sky Tower has fabulous views of the harbour which is full of super yachts and lined with popular bars and cafes. Visit Mission Bay Beach which has a great seaside promenade and Matakana’s picturesque village with its superb farmer’s market for a day of food sampling and wine tasting. You can also climb One Tree Hill for panoramic views and discover Cornwall Park or visit Mount Eden where you will find the volcanic crater of Maungawhau.

Your final port of call is the Bay of Islands which comprises 144 islands between Cape Brett and Purerua Peninsula. It is known for its unspoilt beaches, big-game fishing and Maori cultural artefacts. It is a paradise for those who love the sea and the taste of salt. It is also home to the 19^th-century whaling port of Russell. You can go for a boat ride, charter a yacht or go kayaking. Chances are you will see penguins, dolphins, garnets and the famous Hole in the Rock, rising 148 metres out of the ocean and has a 16 metre-high hole, big enough to cruise through on a calm day.

After a night at sea, you will head back to Melbourne.

Imagine Holidays’ package includes cruise, a complimentary hotel stay with breakfast in Melbourne, return flights to Melbourne or an onboard credit of $250 per cabin if you are a resident of Victoria. But if you don’t need flights, you can opt for the onboard credit.