| Face to Face: Julie Denovan Director Business Development, Australia & NZ, SeaDream Yacht Club

Welcome to Face to Face, where we chat to cruise industry leaders.
How did you get into the cruise industry?
Like many good things in life, it was a happy accident. I had spent many years representing a luxury hotel group.
A friend went to the SeaDream launch, loved the product and thought I would too. He was right!
What is the key to your success?
SeaDream is a small company and everyone is committed to exceeding guests’ expectations. We don’t
advertise so we rely on “word of mouth”, and happy clients are the key to our success. Their enthusiasm for our
niche “yachting not cruising” concept has been infectious!
How many cruises have you been on in the past five years?
Seven, which is simply not enough!
What is your favourite destination, and why?
The Mediterranean – it is just made for cruising and SeaDream I & SeaDream II can visit small and interesting ports
and avoid the crowds.
What was your most memorable moment on a cruise?
Sailing into Valetta harbour in Malta at sunrise. The Captain said it was one of the world’s most
impressive harbours and it did not disappoint.
How do you spend days at sea?
SeaDream offers a full day in port, and as most ports we visit are small, you do really have time to explore and get a “sense of place”. Usually I
walk the port in the morning, or maybe take one of the SeaDream bikes for a ride. I am back on board for a late lunch and then find a nice quiet
spot on deck to read, before a massage in the Spa. Then I am ready for cocktails around the pool, and dinner “under the stars”.
What is the next “hot spot” in cruising destinations?
Croatia has been “warm” for a while and is a great country to explore by sea. Itineraries to this region that also include ports in Albania and
Slovenia are popular.
What do you think is the most underrated aspect of cruising?
The freedom!
What is something you wish more agents and consumers knew about cruising?
There is a great array of product out there and there is a cruise to suit everyone. I think many men in particular, equate cruising with a type of water
torture. They think they will be controlled and not free to spend their holiday as they wish. Nothing could be further from the truth onboard SeaDream.
Describe your perfect cruise in 25 words or less.
A good mix of like-minded passengers from various countries, the weather is perfect, and my email volume is light!
What advice would you give other people who want a job like yours?
Be passionate about what you do and opportunities will come your way.
Julie’s Cruise Favourites!
Ship: SeaDream I and SeaDream II
Ship Activity: Sipping a cocktail on a balmy night off the Amalfi coast
Shore Excursion: A day in Tunisia with a visit to Carthage
Favourite region: Anywhere in the Med.
Port: Montenegro
Onboard Food/Drink: Champagne and caviar, of course!
Perk of the Job: Enjoying what I do. Introducing a skeptic to cruising and having them re-book onboard makes my day!