Meet the Team
at Kimberley Cruise Escapes
With over 30 years of owning and operating one of the country’s leading travel offices, Betty Croft is an industry veteran and exudes the same passion for travel and new experiences as she did over 30 years ago!
Betty operated the “bricks and mortar” office for those years before launching the online 1300 CRUISE and the Kimberley Cruise escapes division as a response to the growing demand for specialist and informed cruise agents on the internet. Betty and her team have personally experienced over 120 global destination across many of the world’s major and leading lines such as Silversea, Crystal Cruises, (Yachts of) Seabourn, Cunard, Oceania, Orion and The True North, to name but a few. So when carefully assessing your cruise choices, ask for first hand recommendations as someone in the office would most likely have personally enjoyed the experience.
ROSS QUIGLY
Cruise specialist team member since 2007
After 6 years at sea between Crystal Cruises and The True North, Ross joined the team as an international luxury AND Kimberley expedition cruise specialist. Listing Antarctica on the same pedestal as he places the Kimberley, Ross loves nothing more than assisting folks to their “bucket list” experiences and takes the responsibility of ensuring it’s the best it can be-very seriously.
Ross’ favourite recent Kimberley moment: “So hard to narrow down. After dozens of Kimberley cruises, I can’t narrow down 1 specific sight. More so the feeling. For me, I love finding that by sitting on top deck once everyone’s in bed, and revelling in the fact it’s just me and the Kimberley starlit night. In a river “in the middle of nowhere”, I find that strangely spiritual”.
YVONNE SHAW
Cruise and travel specialist team member originating 2008
Having worked and managed in award winning agencies in both Australia and the United Kingdom, Yvonne’s 17 years’ experience in the travel industry has been broadly developed helping her hone a wide range of unique skills and experience. This has cumulated to now benefit her ever loyal and growing clients of which many of whom have become friends.
Yvonne traveled extensively around the globe and in particular Europe whilst living and working in the UK. However, Yvonne’s passion for cruising has led her to many cruise focused destination in recent years and experiences across a wide range of lines such as Seabourn, Crystal Cruises, Silversea, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean to name a few. With this depth of experience Yvonne is well placed to ensure she is recommending and advising people usually based on first hand experiences.
Yvonne offered this of her most recent cruise being an expedition cruise in the Kimberley: “Having have recently returned from a Kimberley cruise, and can honestly say, I think this is the best holiday experience I have ever witnessed! The scenery is truly magnificent and I can’t wait to return to the region again. We are truly blessed to have this in our own backyard.”
HEIDI BUTLER
International travel specialist team member since 2006
Heidi has been a travel specialist for 16 years and has always loved to travel from a young age. She has travelled extensively to many parts of the world spanning 5 continents and some 27 countries. You can confidently trust in her knowledge and experience. If there is a place she hasn’t been too she will soon find out about it and be able to present you with options to suit your travel requirements. Every client’s requirements are different and Heidi’s global expertise will ensure the perfect arrangements.
Heidi loves making travel dreams become a reality.
LISA UPTON
Your Cruise Team Specialist
Lisa Upton has experienced many and varying challenging roles within a variety of travel industry companies both nationally and internationally over the last 14 years. Lisa now enjoys teaming her global expertise with her wide ranging travel knowledge and, most importantly, her love for cruising as she assists her many loyal clients from 1300 Cruise.
Recognising her own interest to develop her career with a specialty in cruise travel, from 2010 to 2013 Lisa took on the role of Cruise Director aboard the small luxury super yacht True North and spent her time expedition cruising the remote destinations of The Kimberley, West Papua and Papua New Guinea.
Lisa’s vast travel experience combined with her acute attention to detail and customer service excellence ensures that she is a valuable asset to the 1300Cruise team.
GRACE BUDD
Reception and office administration
Grace’s happy and cheerful spirit shines through to everyone she speaks with as 1300 Cruise office support staff. Grace enjoys working with the team to ensure everything is in its place and no phone ever goes unanswered.