A top travel agent has shared how she sent two clients to China from Northern Ireland – without booking a single flight. 

Oasis Portfolio of Luxury Travel’s Julie-Anne Vaughan was named 2025 Luxury Travel Designer of the Year last month, having wowed the judges with her entry in the highly competitive category. 

The Northern Irish native, who said she “couldn’t stop smiling” after the win, was recognised for her client retention level, instigating the launch of the Portfolio Service and holding Green Champion status. 

It was Vaughan’s “exemplary customer service” that highlighted her commitment as a luxury advisor. From giving a client a 2am wake-up call to delivering Christmas presents, it seems no request is too much for the seasoned travel manager. There is one particular booking, however, that demonstrates Vaughan’s worthiness as a TTG Luxury champion more than any other.

At the beginning of 2025, Vaughan was tasked with an “unusual” travel challenge: a journey to Hong Kong from Northern Ireland – without any air travel. 

The clients, who were originally from China, wanted to return to their hometown for a family reunion after years of living in Northern Ireland. 

However, they were unable to fly to Hong Kong – a whopping 6,000 miles away – due to health reasons. To make the itinerary even more complicated, the clients also needed to be accompanied by a relative throughout the entire trip. It was a project that would send many agents running, but Vaughan, always up for a challenge, immediately sprung into action. 

“I’m thinking, ‘Ireland to Hong Kong without flying… let’s figure this out!” she tells TTG Luxury. “A paddle boat certainly wasn’t an option.” 

With planes off limits, Vaughan got creative to plan the route. It was clear that an ocean liner would be the main vehicle of transport, but she’d have to use other modes for the first leg of the journey. 

         “A paddle boat certainly wasn’t an option” 

With no direct passenger sea routes from Northern Ireland to China, it was decided that Cunard’s world cruise would be the next best thing. With Queen Anne making its maiden voyage from Southampton to the US in January, the first port of call would be to get to the south of England. 

“They initially had to travel from Belfast to Liverpool by boat, and then they got the train to Southampton,” Vaughan explains.

From here, the clients boarded Queen Anne for a seven-night sailing to New York. Once they’d arrived on American soil, they embarked on their next leg – an 18-night cruise to California. The voyage included five ports, including a transit through the Panama Canal, before finally docking in San Francisco. 

Despite having travelled more than 5,000 miles by this point, their journey was far from complete. The next stop would be Australia, involving a 23-night sailing with calls in Honolulu, Moorea, Auckland and Tauranga.

After arriving in Sydney, the clients began the final stretch after nearly two months’ travelling. Eighteen nights later, they docked at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong. 

“It was a real challenge, but Cunard was great and we had a lot of faith in them”

For each leg of this colossal journey, Vaughan had to ensure her clients were joined by a different family member. It was therefore necessary to organise their travel too, including their flights home. In many ways, this aspect of the itinerary was like a relay race – with a lot of jet lag. 

“For each Cunard section, we had to book the same cabin for the family members so they were always beside the clients,” Vaughan explains. “It was a real challenge, but Cunard was great and we had a lot of faith in them.” 

It was also crucial to organise everyone’s documentation, including visas and passports, and to constantly update family members on any changes. If even one piece of the puzzle got lost, the entire jigsaw could be ruined. 

Once she heard her clients had safely arrived in Hong Kong, Vaughan admits she was delighted to have successfully pulled off the trip. “I just said, ‘YES’! It was a slow boat to China, but it got them there!” 

The journey had taken 70 days in total, making it one of the longest in the history of Oasis Travel’s bookings. But for Vaughan, it was worth every second. 

“It’s in your blood, you have to love it,” she says. “I just love designing something and figuring it all out. It’s my passion!”