How this travel advisor designed a “Tulip Time” river cruise with TV's Frankie Flowers

It’s nice when a travel idea starts to bloom.

Ontario-based travel advisor Pauline Blacoe of Shine Travel is taking AmaWaterways’ popular “Tulip Time” cruise on the Rhine to a new level with a special partnership with TV’s Frank Ferragine, aka “Frankie Flowers” – one of Canada’s most beloved and trusted gardening experts.

The seven-day river cruise from March 23-30, 2025, is a partial charter of 24 cabins aboard the luxurious AmaLucia, the newest (and twenty sixth) ship in Ama’s European fleet.

Over the course of a week, guests will glide through scenic Dutch and Belgian waterways and have multiple opportunities to interact with Ferragine, who’ll be hosting special events and sharing his top gardening tips.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting this unforgettable journey with AmaWaterways and Shine Travel and to share Tulip Time with you,” said Ferragine (who’s also a well-known weather presenter and personality on Breakfast Television) in a message to guests.  

VIPs on the Rhine 

It’s the first time that Blacoe, who’s affiliated with TravelOnly, has designed a river cruise with a celebrity host.

Speaking to PAX, Blacoe said she looks forward to treating her customers like gold.  

“Guests love feeling like VIPs,” she said. “We’re doing small things that set them apart from the regular guests on board that week. We’ll have special programs, like Garden Talk, one on ones with Frankie, separate buses for excursions (just our group), private dinners and, oh, buttons to designate their VIP status within our group. Something as small as a button really does make it work.”

READ MORE: AmaWaterways’ “Tulip Time” cruises promise far more than tulips

Other activities include a tulip and garden-inspired welcome cocktail reception on the day of embarkation, an afternoon at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens (known for its scenic walking paths, tranquil ponds and pavilions showcasing rare plants and exotic flowers), a gardening-themed trivia night (where exclusive prizes will be awarded), and other surprises.

A cruise beyond the blooms

From March through May, the Netherlands dazzles with its annual display of tulips and other flowers.

But Ama’s Tulip Time itinerary goes beyond the blooms.

Guests will also have opportunities to discover medieval buildings in places like Bruges and Ghent, taste the chocolates, waffles and cheeses of Belgium and see the canals of Amsterdam.  

The itinerary also includes a stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk, renowned for having the country’s greatest concentration of windmills, all dating from the 18th century, and tours of Antwerp and Rotterdam.

Know it to sell it

If there’s anyone who knows river cruising, it’s Pauline Blacoe.

The travel professional has been on 13 river cruises and has experienced several different brands, including AmaWaterways, Uniworld, Avalon, Emerald, Scenic, Viking and Riviera.

Having this firsthand knowledge has “certainly helped with sales,” said Blacoe, explaining how she’s able to qualify clients with the right brands.

This aligns precisely with her motto: “know it to sell it.”

Why did Blacoe choose AmaWaterways as a partner for her Tulip Time cruise with Mr. Flowers?  

“We have seen the successes that other agents have had with charters with them,” she said. “And, well, I think at this point, it’s certain to say, they are our favourite.”

Sometimes, you just have to ask

Partnering with Frankie Flowers was also a “no brainer,” Blacoe added.

“When we thought about who would be a good fit to co-host with us, it always came back to Frank. Him, combined with a Tulip Time cruise, seemed to be a no brainer. I’ve always admired him, he is so down to earth and such a nice guy. He’s someone I personally wouldn’t mind hanging out with for a week – and not just for his knowledge.”

Before working together, Blacoe didn’t know Ferragine personally (although, the two of them live in the same area and frequent his family business, Bradford Greenhouses).

“I certainly followed him both as a gardening expert and as a host on Breakfast Television,” Blacoe said.

How did she get Flowers on board as a river cruise host? Sometimes, you just have to ask.

Blacoe said she messaged Ferragine on LinkedIn “out of the blue one day” to see if he’d be interested.

“He got back to me almost right away, saying that he was intrigued. I later found out that he had hosted a river cruise previously, but not Tulip Time. It came together quite quickly,” said Blacoe, who has become good friends with Ferragine’s manager during the planning process.

“She may have other clients that would be interested in working with us on future cruises, so it really has worked out for the best,” Blacoe said.

Other travel advisors can sell cabins

Can other travel advisors sell cabins for this special trip? Absolutely.

“We have opened it up to other agents if they have clients that might be interested in joining us, because we are getting close to final payment (end of December) and we want to complete our allotment, as well as fill the rest of the ship,” Blacoe said. “If travel advisors have guests wanting to sail Tulip Time, we have the better rate.”

Blacoe invites the trade to contact her ASAP at shine@shinetravel.ca for more information.

Trends on the river

Celebrity-hosted river cruises are becoming more and more popular.

“I think it’s because it’s a smaller ship, and when guests book into such a hosted cruise, they feel special,” Blacoe said, reflecting on the trend. “People also love to be surrounded by famous people.”

Blacoe’s advice to other travel advisors who are thinking of branching out and selling river cruises is to “know it before you sell it.”

“The FAM rates are very decent,” she said. “Go and experience a river cruise – do as many as you can! Don’t pretend to know it. Ask a specialist for advice if you need to.”

“I am so glad we have experienced all the brands that we have because I would hate, for example, to put a Uniworld client on a Viking sailing without knowing the differences. I have dealt with a lot of ‘new’ clients who have come to us who have said that has happened to them previously.”

For more information about Shine Travel’s Tulip Time river cruise with AmaWaterways and Frankie Flowers, click here.

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