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00:00You
00:17Pia you've taken me somewhere. I never thought I'd come on a luxury escape. That's right
00:24One of the most incredible places in the world filled with elemental beauty
00:34We're going on an adventure cruise. This is going to be a week to remember. I cannot wait
00:40I'm so pumped for it. And after that, I'm gonna take you to somewhere special to me an
00:46Experience filled with elegance in my hometown of London Mike
00:51This is going to be an epic luxury escape
00:57I am so excited to go on this luxury escape
01:01I'm traveling with Mike Reed and he is an incredible chef
01:04I'm gonna be traveling with Pia Miranda who's an Australian actress and she's an incredible travel companion
01:12I'm really looking forward to lots of fun lots of laughs and a little bit of cheekiness
01:16We're going to be exploring the dramatic landscape of Iceland aboard the incredible HX expedition ship the MS Fridtjof Nansen and then
01:25We're heading to one of the world's most elegant cities London
01:28This is definitely the kind of epic trip that makes luxury escapes the home of the world's best holidays
01:34I'm breaking the glass I'm gonna fall on the gas
01:40No way in hell you're gonna stop me
01:43I'm ready to go
01:45As a luxury escape society member my holiday really does start before I even leave my home
02:00I got a car to pick me up from my home to take me straight to the airport
02:04Our luxury escape then takes it up a notch with access to the silver Chris lounge before we board our Singapore Airlines flight
02:11The flight is comfy as always with a great selection of in-flight entertainment and complimentary Wi-Fi for suites
02:17First and business class customers and Chris Flyer members
02:21So I make good use of that
02:27We're starting this expedition cruise in Iceland in the capital of Reykjavik
02:32Sofia we're here now in Reykjavik
02:39Look around how amazing is this?
02:42I know this is the perfect place to start our Icelandic adventure
02:46We're about to go on an expedition cruise with one of the world's leading expedition companies
02:51And we're gonna see fjords, wildlife, volcanoes, it's gonna be amazing
02:55I cannot wait like what a treat
02:58It's gonna be the best
02:59We're going to be exploring Iceland on a HX expedition ship and that's really exciting for me because I've never been on an expedition ship
03:10And it feels like it's going to be like right up my alley
03:14So Mike and I head towards our amazing ship the MS Fritjofnansen
03:19Isn't she a beauty?
03:20Wow!
03:21When I'm looking at this gorgeous ship from the outside I notice it says hybrid on it
03:24So I absolutely love the fact that they're striving for sustainability through their practices
03:29The thing that I've really noticed about this ship is it's got that real Scandi modern feel
03:37It's very classy while still having that sort of earthy environmental kind of tone about it
03:43So I love that
03:44The ship has multiple restaurants
03:46A wellness centre and sauna
03:48And then there's a beautiful jacuzzi up on the top deck and a peter pool
03:53And all HX expedition ships have a science centre so that's really exciting
03:59And now it's time for us to check out our cabins and we're gonna look at piers first
04:03Oh, this is so gorgeous
04:16I love the wooden features like that's stunning
04:18This, look at the cabin tree
04:20It's beautiful
04:21How cool is all this Scandi vibe?
04:22I know
04:23It's really good
04:24They do it well
04:25How good is this?
04:27Wow
04:30Look at that view
04:31Isn't it great?
04:33I really love my Arctic Superior cabin
04:38It's perfect
04:39Beautiful view
04:40It's my turn and we head over to a suite
04:44I'm very happy that I've got a suite
04:46I'm not gonna lie
04:49Oh, this is nice
04:51How gorgeous is this?
04:58So elegant
04:59Isn't it?
05:00When you think of expedition cruising, you don't think of something this cool and...
05:04No
05:05Luxe, you know what I mean?
05:06Really luxurious
05:07Yeah
05:08Oh, look at this as well
05:10Little compass
05:11Oh!
05:12What an amazing keepsake
05:13Oh my gosh, I'm so excited
05:14Okay, let's go explore
05:15Come on
05:18Booking through luxury escapes meant I can enjoy something truly indulgent
05:21Dining at Lindstrom
05:23The ship's a la carte fine dining restaurant preserved for sweet guests
05:28It's time now for us to set sail from Reykjavik and we're heading north
05:32And I can't wait to get going
05:34I'm super excited about the week ahead
05:36The MSF Nansen has sailed overnight and we've docked at a small fishing village off the northwest coast of Iceland
05:47It's everything I thought Iceland would be in this gorgeous little town, you get to meet the locals, they're so friendly, it's really special
05:50Iceland's got a population of 400,000 people and most of them live in the capital
06:07The good thing about Mike is that he takes me to good food places, so we go to a hot dog stand called Maestro
06:14You know, hot dogs here, especially in Iceland, it's street food that is considered really, really good street food
06:23Dates with pickled jalapenos, things that you wouldn't necessarily expect in a hot dog
06:28But my word, it's delicious
06:30How good is that?
06:32So good
06:34Smoked sausage
06:36Oh, that is an authentic taste of Iceland
06:39Uh huh
06:40I've had a lovely time in town, but I'm really excited to go to Snifulls Yokul, it's gonna be beautiful
06:47So P, we're west of the fishing village, where are we?
06:51Well, we are just below an active volcano
06:54And we're about to go to the top
06:59This is so cool
07:01I know
07:02We're gonna use a snowcat
07:04A snowcat
07:06Oh my god, this is gonna be so incredible
07:10Every part of the environment is really different, so you can just see so much
07:16And it's really great, like looking backwards and seeing where we've come from
07:19But then you can look up and you see we're heading towards the crater, which is really exciting
07:23I honestly feel like I'm on top of the world here
07:26We are so high up
07:28I feel like you can see the whole of Iceland
07:30It's beautiful
07:31It's a bit snowy up here
07:33It's like we're in the clouds
07:35Wow Pia
07:37I know
07:38I mean, how high up are we here?
07:411500 metres above sea level
07:43Jeez
07:44I know, it's pretty high
07:45It's the highest I've ever been
07:47And you know, this is a glacier on top of an active volcano
07:50Actually, Jules Verne came and visited here once
07:53And because of all the lava tunnels under this volcano, he was inspired to write
07:58Journey to the centre of the earth
08:00Oh, I love that
08:01I know
08:02We're not just in an amazing place, but we're actually kind of standing on a piece of history
08:07Just being here in Iceland on a mountain on a volcano that's filled with snow so high in the sky
08:14This is an expedition
08:16As great as the view is, we're ready to head back down and head back on our ship
08:23How awesome was that?
08:25We made it! We're in London!
08:28Okay, wow, doesn't cut it
08:31This is amazing!
08:46It's our second day on board the HX expedition cruise around Iceland
08:49And today, Mike is leading the way by booking us into a shore excursion
08:54With every port, HX offers you so many different shore excursions to choose from
08:59This is what truly, for me, makes this a luxury escape
09:02Getting so much more
09:04We've travelled quite far north, haven't we?
09:06Yeah, we have
09:07We're actually in the largest northern city in Iceland
09:10And we are going to go somewhere truly special
09:13I'm going to take you to the waterfall of the gods
09:16Oh, that sounds incredible
09:18Yeah
09:19Alright, I'm into this
09:24So Mike's very excited to take me out into nature
09:27And he's like, look up!
09:29And I looked up and it is the most incredible waterfall
09:32Incredible
09:34Wow
09:38Wow
09:41Wow
09:42This is absolutely huge
09:44It's the best waterfall I've ever seen in my life
09:47I actually didn't realise that this stuff was real
09:51So this is the waterfall of the gods
09:53So, legend has it, a thousand years ago, Iceland was a pagan country
09:58And when it converted to Christianity, the rule of the time, Fogir threw all of his old statues of the pagan gods into the waterfall
10:07So it's taken its name from there
10:09I love how there's all these great folklore stories in this area
10:13Yeah
10:14It just, it adds to the magic of it
10:15Where I'm going to take you next, you'll really get to experience the water
10:19I hope it's not cold though
10:20So Pia, I think this is going to be right up your alley
10:28What are we doing?
10:29We're going to some of the local thermal baths, Baden Nature Baths
10:34Oh, I love a thermal pool! How exciting!
10:38It's going to be beautiful
10:41Walking into the water is like such a comfort, it's like a big hug
10:50So the water is naturally heated by lava
10:53Two and a half kilometres underground
10:56And the water's filled with minerals and silicates
10:59So it's really good for your skin
11:01And your hair
11:02I'm good
11:03Cheers
11:05Cheers mate
11:06It's just so warm
11:09And the water feels so different on your skin
11:12Almost creamy in texture
11:15It just feels healing
11:19Just when you think it can't get better, there's a bar
11:21I'm like, well, it's five o'clock somewhere
11:23So we have a little cheeky campari
11:26We're both so relaxed
11:28But now it's time to head back to the ship
11:30And explore one of the unique spaces on board
11:33We really want to check out the science centre
11:37And just see what that's all about
11:39Because it's a really big part of this expedition
11:41So the unique thing about HX expeditions
11:44Is they all have science centres
11:46And
11:47Wow
11:48Really special is they've all got working scientists on board
11:50I love that
11:51That's so practical and interesting
11:54It just turns your whole experience
11:56Into like a real beautiful learning journey
11:59Like it's not just a holiday, it's something really special
12:01Yeah, love it
12:02Let's go check it out
12:03I want to look at these fossils
12:09As we're looking around
12:10We notice there's a scientist working hard at his desk
12:14So we walk up to him to have a little chat
12:16Are there lots of whales around us here?
12:18Around Iceland
12:19Iceland's a great place for them
12:20Yeah
12:21Right across the North Atlantic up to here
12:23It's a great place to go out on the boat
12:25Yeah
12:26There are lots of whales
12:27I'm so excited for this
12:29I mean to be on a HX cruise
12:31Which has real scientists
12:33And you do expeditions to go and see real life whales
12:37I mean that's truly special
12:39We've crossed into the Arctic Circle
12:43And we are now in Hoosavik
12:45The main thing we want to do in Hoosavik
12:48Is go on a whale watching expedition
12:50So I'm super excited to see some whales today
12:52But you know it's always touch and go as to whether we will
12:55This is so exciting
12:56How amazing is it?
12:58We're literally going to go out and see whales
13:00Get away
13:01I'm super excited to be doing this
13:03Because this is the first time I'm actually ever going whale watching
13:07And out in the water in Iceland in the Arctic Circle
13:11I mean this is the stuff of dreams
13:14How cool, like I'm so excited, this is insane
13:17I did not expect this for this trip
13:19So thank you for bringing me
13:21We're going to see some whales P
13:23Yeah we are
13:24Do you know what?
13:26Neither of us looked our absolute best wearing those suits
13:30But I think orange was actually my colour
13:32It's very obvious that Mike pulls it off way better than I do
13:36He just really pops in a colour
13:38It's funny because it's so cold
13:40But you don't even feel the elements
13:42Because your just adrenaline is going
13:45Because you're on this treasure hunt to find a whale
13:48And then all of a sudden out of nowhere
13:51Like I can see just a spray of water coming out of the ocean
13:57Whoa!
13:59I'm not kidding
14:01The tail of the whale pops out of the ocean
14:05So close to our boat
14:07We all screamed like even our guide's excited
14:09He was like
14:10Yes!
14:11Yes!
14:13It's incredible
14:14Like it was just
14:15It was a surreal moment
14:16Like I can't believe that happened
14:18We were so lucky
14:20It was a moment that will live with me forever
14:23Talk about the elements
14:25Oh, how awesome was that?
14:27We were so humpback whales in the Arctic Circle
14:31There could not have been a more perfect way
14:33To finish off our Iceland trip, right?
14:35Yes, definitely
14:37And up next
14:38London!
14:40This is the end of our Iceland trip
14:42And what an incredible way to finish off Iceland
14:44Mike and I have loved Iceland so much
14:47On board the MS Fridjof Nansen with luxury escapes
14:50It's really been a special time
14:52Now it's my turn
14:54And we're off to London
15:07It feels so amazing to be back in London
15:11It's such a huge contrast to our experience in Iceland
15:15For our accommodation
15:16I've organised the tallest building in Western Europe
15:22The Shangri-La The Shard
15:27I've always wanted to stay here
15:29So this is pretty exciting for me
15:31Welcome in Shangri-La
15:32Hi, how are you?
15:33How are you today?
15:34I'm very well, how are you?
15:35Very good
15:36So this hotel gives you unparalleled views of London
15:39It's got London's highest infinity pool and sauna
15:43Four signature dining venues
15:45And is located close to many of London's iconic sites
15:50Everyone's really friendly
15:51And then we head up to check out Mike's room first
15:56Wow
15:58Gorgeous
16:00This is the iconic Shard Suites
16:03So great
16:04Okay, let's check out the bedroom
16:05Yeah
16:06This is beautiful
16:08You've got a good view from your bedroom as well
16:10Yeah
16:11I couldn't be happier with my room
16:13It's a beautiful space
16:15What I've organised for Pierre though
16:16Is something special
16:18I've used my Society Points to upgrade to the incredible Westminster Suite
16:22Which I'll graciously let Pierre have
16:24He says he's got something quite special for me
16:26And I'm sure I can't have a better room than he has
16:28Because his room's pretty good
16:30And then he takes me up to a suite
16:32Which is the Westminster Suite
16:33Oh
16:34Oh
16:35Wow
16:36Okay, wow, doesn't cut it
16:48This is amazing
16:50Pierre's reaction when we first walk in
16:52That's what I was looking for
16:54She's blown away
16:55Oh, my own Peloton
16:58That is awesome
16:59Hello
17:00Wow
17:01Look at this
17:02This is really nice
17:03The view's just as beautiful from the bedroom
17:05Yeah
17:06There's no way I'm shutting the blinds tonight
17:09I'm going to look out at that while I sleep
17:11So much room
17:14I'm going to have so much fun here
17:16I know
17:17I can't get over this view
17:19Well, you don't need to get over the view just yet
17:22Because we're going to go and sample the highest afternoon tea in London
17:27I love a high tea
17:29For me, this is one of the best reasons why I like to travel with luxury escapes
17:33It doesn't matter how much you think you're going to get
17:35We always end up with more
17:37I wasn't expecting this
17:39This is phenomenal
17:43Now that we've had a chance to settle into our rooms and check them out
17:46I wanted to start off with something quintessentially English
17:49I'm going to take Pia downstairs to Ting for their afternoon tea
17:57The food offering is brilliant
18:00Beautiful little finger sandwiches as you expect
18:03But most importantly, the pastries
18:06They are fantastic
18:08This is one of the most exciting things I've ever done
18:11That's a cheers if I've ever seen one Pia
18:13That is a cheers
18:15I've actually organised something
18:17Okay
18:18It's very English
18:19And very high
18:20Suspicious
18:23I'll tell you what, they don't have suspension
18:28It's completely immersive though, this is amazing
18:33I think this is my favourite city in the world
18:36Without a doubt
18:43Pia and I have had a great first night staying at the Shangri-La The Shard in London
18:47But this morning, she tells me she's organised something very English for us to do
18:52Is there anything more English than a man in a top hat and a suit called Rolf that's about to take us around London on a penny farthing?
19:02Good afternoon, like a Pia
19:04Welcome to London
19:05Are you ready to learn to ride a penny farthing?
19:08Yes!
19:09No!
19:11But I've got to
19:13I know I said I wanted an English experience but I'm not sure about this
19:18Hold on to the handlebars and step up onto the right peg
19:21Now slide yourself onto the saddle
19:24Okay
19:27Okay
19:28Pia was quite a natural on it
19:30Once she was up, she could actually balance the bike really well
19:33I actually get the hang of it
19:35Like, I'm actually alright at it and I'm really, really enjoying myself
19:38And I'm like, I'm good guys
19:40I could have done that all day
19:44I mean, it looks easier than it is
19:46First time I try and get on top
19:48Oh, it's not the easiest thing at all
19:51Gripping quite tight on the handlebars
19:53Yes
19:54My first few attempts of this
19:56You know what?
19:57They're pretty disastrous
19:58But, I've got thick skin and I'm gonna do this
20:02Oh, I tell you what, they don't have suspension
20:05Yeah, he is! Yeah, you are!
20:09Momentum is my friend
20:11If I go quick enough, it's not too bad
20:13Until I have to get off, that is
20:16Come on, we're in a hurry
20:17We're gonna go to our next activity
20:19Let's go to the next activity
20:21Whee!
20:25Well, that was a lot of fun
20:26I'm glad you could keep up with me
20:28Oh, you were a natural
20:29Thank you
20:30I'm surprised actually
20:31Well, it was fun
20:32But I feel like we might need to do something a little more relaxing
20:35Please
20:36So, you know I love art
20:37So, I'm gonna take you to a place called Frameless
20:40And it's a really cool gallery
20:42Kind of got a mix of classical paintings
20:44And some technology
20:45It's a really cool vibe
20:48We walk into Frameless
20:49And the very first thing that greets us
20:51Is this beautiful representation of a Rembrandt painting
20:55Called Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee
20:58So, it could make me dizzy
21:00It's completely immersive though
21:02This is amazing
21:03Yeah, I love it
21:04The transition between each different artwork is really beautiful
21:08You've got a Van Gogh, you've got a Monet, a Dali
21:12And you're right in the middle of it
21:13And there's music that goes along with it
21:15It's just a really beautiful, immersive art experience
21:19We've had such an amazing first day together in London
21:24It's been busy, it's been jam-packed
21:26So, we're gonna head back now to have a nightcap
21:28We're ending our day at Gong with a couple of drinks
21:32One of the many extras we enjoy as part of this luxury escape
21:36I mean, London has to be my favourite skyline at night
21:42I mean, it's just stunning
21:43Honestly, I think this is my favourite city in the world
21:46Without a doubt, definitely for me
21:49And look, you can even see Tower Bridge
21:51Oh yeah
21:52It's just, it's amazing
21:54So, I really feel like I've experienced the elegance of London today
21:58I feel very fancy
21:59And I'm really looking forward to tomorrow, so I can't wait
22:05So, we've woken up bright and early in the Shangri-La of the Shard in London
22:09I'm gonna head upstairs and I'm having a swim in the pool
22:16How's the pool?
22:17Oh, so good mate
22:18I'm so relaxed
22:19Yeah, I'm gonna go have a sauna
22:21Oh nice, enjoy
22:22I've organised something fun for us in about an hour
22:25Okay
22:26See you then
22:27Both the pool and the sauna have, of course, an amazing view of London
22:32Which is really relaxing
22:34So now, I'm gonna take her somewhere very special for lunch
22:38Where I'm taking you is Gaucho
22:41It's a restaurant very close to my heart
22:43It was my first head chef position
22:45I opened it over 18 years ago now
22:48Wow
22:49And it's also, it's where I met my wife
22:51It's an Argentinian restaurant
22:53And on a summer's day
22:55For me, it's one of the best locations in London
22:57Because we sit outside on the terrace
23:00In open air with the water right next to us
23:03It's beautiful
23:05Mike, this has been the best way to end our luxury escape
23:09Hasn't it?
23:10It's been so good
23:11We've definitely had the elements in Iceland
23:14And then we've ended at this beautiful, elegant place
23:18For me, P, like, it's been such a pleasure travelling with you on this luxury escape
23:23I mean, you've been the perfect travel companion
23:26We've had the best time
23:27Yeah
23:28We're really good travel buddies
23:29So much fun
23:30Here's to new friendship
23:31And a great luxury escape
23:32Cheers
23:33This trip, to be able to sum it up is almost impossible
23:42We've done so much
23:44We've seen so much
23:45From the feuds of Iceland
23:47Volcanoes
23:49To London
23:50It's been an absolutely epic luxury escape
23:54The HX expedition ship, the MSF Nansen
23:55Was a surprise for me, I think, in how much I loved it
24:04The sustainability, the sense of adventure, the beautiful food
24:07It was perfect
24:08The places we visited, everything just sung class
24:13It was world class, in my opinion
24:16My experience at the Shangri-La, the Shard in London
24:2010 out of 10
24:21It is an iconic location for a reason
24:25Mike and I are really great travelling companions
24:28The best thing about these luxury escapes is sometimes you can make a really great new friend
24:33And I've definitely done that
24:34It was so nice to finish this trip in London
24:38It was a homecoming for me
24:39To be able to do this trip with luxury escapes and finish here
24:43It was beautiful
24:45As a luxury escape and as an example of luxury escapes having the world's best holidays
24:50You can satisfy your heart's desires
24:52To book these luxury escapes and more
24:57Head to luxuryescapes.com
24:59And that is it for another season of Luxury Escapes
25:05Remember, you can watch all the episodes anytime on demand
25:13Like, in the comments.
25:15Like, you can see the people from the live event
25:20Just as well
25:21Let the stories from the world
25:22The view of the world
25:23The view of the mission is in the world
25:25And in the world
25:28There's a life that just has been the most beautiful
25:29And in the world
25:31The view of the world
25:33The view of the world
25:34The view of the world
25:35Is today
25:37The view of the world
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