The TV gardener says exploring the islands' spectacular gardens is "like a holiday within a holiday" and reveals what guests can expect from his talks on board.
There’s something rather appealing about setting sail from an English winter with a coat and umbrella, knowing that, a few days later, you could be stepping ashore in Madeira in shorts and a T-shirt.
For David Domoney, though, the attraction of Saga's Best of the Canaries cruise goes beyond escaping the cold. With their extraordinary gardens, exotic plants and wildly different microclimates, the Canary Islands and Madeira offer a botanical adventure in their own right.
The TV gardener has filmed in both Madeira and Gran Canaria for ITV, and it’s the gardens that have left a lasting impression. Part of their magic lies in the extraordinary variety of plants they can support.
“The Canary Islands’ gardens are important for plant conservation, habitat protection, and scientific research,” David explains. Their diverse microclimates also mean they can support “an incredible range of plants”.
For anyone who loves gardening that makes exploring the islands rather special.
“It is a beauty to behold, with rare and exotic plants full of structure and shape, colourful foliage and mesmerising flowers,” he says.
And you don’t necessarily need to be on a dedicated garden tour to appreciate them. David says that even simply wandering around can reveal something unexpected.
“Embrace every opportunity to visit the gardens on the tours, but even when walking through the streets and parks, you will be immersed in beautiful plants.”
Perhaps that’s why his favourite memories of Madeira and Gran Canaria aren’t simply about individual gardens, but the feeling of stepping somewhere completely different.
“Visiting these gardens takes you to another world,” he says. “A visit is like a holiday within a holiday.”
David will be joining Saga on the cruise setting sail from Portsmouth on Sunday 6 December. On board he will be giving a talk based on his book Plants with Superpowers, exploring some of the remarkable abilities of plants, including a few you might already have growing in your own garden.
“We have plants that have memories, some that can even count,” he says. And it gets more extraordinary from there. Among the plant superpowers David will be revealing:
We’ve all seen Love Your Garden, but what happens when the cameras stop rolling?
David will lift the lid on life behind the scenes in his second cruise talk, drawing on his years working on shows including Love Your Garden, This Morning, 60 Minute Makeover and James Martin’s Saturday Morning.
“It’s a wonderfully entertaining show full of anecdotes and amazing pictures,” David promises, revealing the stories of “how the programmes are made, including how they go right… and what goes wrong.”
In other words, expect a few surprises.
There’s another attraction to heading south by ship at this time of year: you get to watch the weather improve as you go.
“At this time of year, it’s a great experience setting sail from England’s cold and rain, then feeling it become warmer as the ship sails south, right up to the first port,” says David.
And for David, there’s something particularly enjoyable about returning to places he already knows.
“I have visited these islands many times before, and the many enjoyable experiences I’ve had there are exactly why I am so excited to go back.”
David has plenty of experience of Saga cruising, and it’s the welcome back on board that he particularly enjoys.
“There are many reasons I enjoy Saga cruising,” he says. “The team on board are some of the friendliest, most helpful and most professional in the business.”
For David, it’s a feeling that goes beyond good service.
“When I come back on board, it’s like meeting old friends again, with such a warm welcome,” he says.
He also praises the standards on board, saying they make the trip “so smooth and comfortable”. The result, he says, is “such a pleasant and friendly environment” – a place to return to after a day exploring the gardens and landscapes of the islands.
Join TV gardener David Domoney on Saga’s Best of the Canaries cruise and discover the gardens, landscapes and plant life of the Canary Islands and Madeira.
As well as exploring the destinations, you’ll be able to hear David’s talks Confessions of a TV Gardener and Plants with Superpowers, packed with gardening knowledge, fascinating plant facts and behind-the-scenes television stories.
The 14-night Best of the Canaries cruise sets sail from Portsmouth on Sunday 6 December.
The cruise calls in at Madeira before taking in the four most popular most popular islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and La Palma.
Your chance to win cruise for two to Cádiz, Casablanca and the Canary Islands, worth more than £9,600.
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