Meet Bernadette: Your Personal Cruise & Travel Specialist
I’m Bernadette, a dedicated travel professional based in North Lakes, Brisbane, where I live with my husband Quentin and our much-adored dog Fergus. When I’m not curating journeys for my clients, you’ll probably find me out bushwalking, at the beach, doing weekly Pilates & Zumba, camping, writing, or enjoying a slow morning coffee, or an afternoon cheese platter. Sharing stories and practical travel insights is a true passion. I’m also a regular travel writer for Travel Monitor and Cruise Monitor, where I explore what really matters to modern travellers.
My lifelong passion for travel began at 19, straight out of my Diploma in Travel & Tourism, with early days at Topdeck (Australia/NZ) and APT Tours. I honed my skills managing high-stakes corporate and event travel for iconic Australian brands like Supercheap Auto, BCF, and Rebel Sport, even organising logistics for the legendary Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars and national conferences. Later, I supported a global Fortune 500 engineering company, orchestrating business travel across Australia, New Zealand, and worldwide.
Today, as a Personal Travel Manager with TravelManagers, I bring all that experience directly to you, with a special focus on river cruises, expedition adventures, and ocean cruises. I specialise in crafting journeys designed for comfort, discovery, and those “you had to be there” moments, whether you’re travelling solo, with family, as part of a group, or simply hungry for new horizons.
My role is more than just bookings, it’s about being your trusted advisor at every step. From your first travel wish-list conversation to tailored recommendations, bookings, and those all-important ‘what if’ moments. I handle everything: detailed itineraries, special requests, accessible travel needs, travel insurance (including pre-existing medical), currency solutions, and if things don’t go to plan, I’m your safety net and point of contact.
I know first-hand how important this is. On a Christmas holiday in Canada, my husband suffered a knee fracture on day three of a three week holiday at Whistler. Our travel insurance made all the difference, covering emergency transfers and letting us return home in business class comfort, a gift that let us enjoy the rest of the trip, crutches and all.
These experiences shape the care I put into every journey I create, from fully escorted land tours to river, ocean, and expedition cruises, and all the little details that turn a holiday into a memory that lasts. I’m passionate about making travel accessible and meaningful for everyone: senior adventurers, women travelling together, families, solo explorers, and the young at heart.
If you have a dream destination or just need someone to help bring your travel ideas to life, I’d love to chat. Let’s start planning a journey you’ll remember, for all the right reasons.
If you’re ready to start building your next travel story, I’d love to chat.
Happy Travels,
Bernadette
Personal Travel Manager & Travel Writer for Travel Monitor
Traveller Safety & Wellbeing, Travel Insurance, Medical Insurance, Travel Protection.
