Simone Edgar-Holmes

Simone grew up in New York City, Amsterdam, and Vermont, where striking historical architecture and stunning autumn foliage inspired her love for both natural and built environments. She combined these passions by approaching her studies of art and architectural history through an environmental perspective.

Simone earned her undergraduate degree in Art History from Middlebury College in Vermont and spent a year abroad at the University of Oxford, where she researched English garden design and Dutch marine painting. Her love of travel brought her back to the United Kingdom to pursue a master's degree at The Court auld Institute of Arts, where she focused on colonial cartography and the architectural history of the Dutch and British empires. Simone is convinced that personally experiencing historic spaces and exploring cultural sites are the best ways to learn about the past and develop a deeper connection with the present.

Aside from art and history, Simone holds a fascination with wildflower identification and botanical folklore. She is currently living in London, where she spends her free time volunteering at the Design Museum, singing in a folk choir, and joyfully dancing at Scottish group dances. On board, you can catch her browsing in the shipboard library and eagerly sharing book recommendations.