Riviera Travel‘s sales development manager for the Midlands, Georgina Dawson, shares her love of river cruising and why Porto is a first-class destination.

Why is your cruise line the best?

Our ships and itineraries are designed solely for the British market and we offer the best quality-to-price ratio in the business. We have the youngest fleet of five-star river cruise ships and they’re all designed for Brits. Features like tea and coffee making facilities in every cabin help our customers start their day right.

If your cruise line was a famous person, who would it be and why?

I’d say Dame Judi Dench. She’s loved by everyone and really is the best of British.

How long have you worked for your cruise line?

I worked as a travel agent for 11 years and I’m now in my first year in a field sales role at Riviera Travel. I’ve always sold cruises, so I feel at ease selling Riviera to our travel agent partners.

What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you on the road?

It was after my first holiday show, at which point I’d only had my company car for a few weeks. I still had my black Audi A1 at home, which I’d been using at weekends. After the show, there was a black Audi A1 parked next to my company car and I spent what felt like ages trying to get into the Audi, before eventually realising it wasn’t mine. Luckily for me, the owner wasn’t around to witness it.

What’s your favourite ship in the fleet?

As my first Riviera Travel experience was on MS Oscar Wilde, that’s where my love for river cruising began. With 169 passengers, the ship is one of our largest and includes a second restaurant. The Bistro is just stunning, with an open kitchen and large panoramic windows to take in the beautiful views.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever been asked about cruise?

I was covering our on-board facilities at a recent agent-training event, discussing how guests have complimentary use of our bikes (bikes are available to customers to take off the ships at their own leisure). One of the agents was struggling to understand the concept and asked if we often had customers cycling around the top deck.

Which port would you prefer to disembark at and what would you do?

The city of Porto has so much to offer in terms of history and culture, all while enjoying the beautiful Douro. I’d probably admire the view with a glass of port and, of course, a pastel de nata – a traditional Portuguese tart.

And where would you opt to stay on board and why?

There isn’t anywhere I wouldn’t want to visit. The best thing about river cruising is the itinerary and, with Riviera’s excursions included in the price, guests can truly appreciate the destinations.

Which cruise is on your bucket list?

I’d love to experience the Maldives – snorkelling in the crystal blue Indian Ocean and relaxing on the white sandy beaches. I can’t think of anything better.

If you didn’t work in the cruise industry, what would you do?

If I ever left this industry, I’d love to live in India and work with charities that support young women and help advance their education.

Visit rivieratravel.co.uk for more information.