Known for its fresh, gourmet cuisine, top-rated Celebrity Cruises is adding a new ingredient to its dining offerings. The line has partnered with Las Vegas-based Blau & Associates, a strategic restaurant planning and development firm, to serve as the line’s new culinary consultancy across the fleet.
Widely credited with transforming Las Vegas’ dining from ordinary 24-hour buffets to a top-tier culinary destination rich with Michelin-starred chefs, Blau & Associates was founded by the Cornell- and Georgetown-educated Elizabeth Blau, who has worked in the food service business for more than 23 years.
Among the noted dining establishments that have flourished due in large part to what many food critics call “the Blau factor,” are Osteria del Circo, Le Cirque 2000, restaurants within the MGM/Mirage and the Bellagio, and restaurants in partnership with Kerry Simon, including Simon kitchen + bar in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, named one of the best new restaurants in America in 2003 by Esquire magazine. More recently, Blau also partnered with Steve Wynn for the lauded opening of Wynn Las Vegas. In May 2006, she received the Gold Plate Award from the International Food Service Manufacturers, considered one of the most prestigious awards in the food industry.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Celebrity Cruises Posted by Michael on 06/19/07
Royal Caribbean International continues to work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities to determine the whereabouts of a 24-year-old male guest, from the United States, who was sailing on Freedom of the Seas with his family.
The young man was last seen by a family member and a friend at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Monday, while he was resting on his stateroom balcony. He was reported missing by the family at approximately 8:30 a.m. yesterday. During that period, Freedom of the Seas was sailing near the northern and eastern side of Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.
Coordinating the ship’s search for the young man with the Coast Guard’s, Freedom of the Seas returned yesterday to the location where the ship had been sailing when the young man was last seen. The ship has since retraced its track a second time. The Coast Guard has been conducting a parallel search by air, using two aircraft, and will continue to search the area today. Officials advised that the best and most effective way to conduct the search now is to do so by air, given the speed, wider visibility and greater access offered by aircraft.
A variety of onboard announcements and searches of the ship were made yesterday. Royal Caribbean alerted the U.S. Coast Guard, the FBI, and the Bahamian Maritime Authority and other vessels in the area. The company also collected and reviewed onboard records, videos and statements, and secured the young man’s stateroom. Members of the company’s Guest Care team continue to provide assistance to the family.
Freedom of the Seas will sail a revised itinerary for the remainder of its sailing, which includes port calls in Puerto Rico and St. Maarten, both part of the original itinerary.Royal Caribbean continues to focus on assisting the Coast Guard in the search for the missing young man and providing support for his family.
“Our most profound hope continues to be that this young man will be found and will be reunited with his family,” said Royal Caribbean International President Adam Goldstein.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Royal Caribbean International Posted by Michael on 06/19/07
Peter Deilmann Cruises is expanding the no-smoking restrictions on its European river fleet to include all areas inside the vessels without exception beginning in 2008. The policy will become effective at the start of the river cruise season in March 2008, the cruise line announced today. Peter Deilmann Cruises, which operates a fleet of nine river vessels, first extended the smoke-free areas on its ships in 2005 to include all cabins and corridors along with its no-smoking policy in the restaurants. Now smoking will only be permitted on the open decks.
“We are happy to have our river ships smoke free now that the laws in Europe are evolving to ban smoking indoors and we are adjusting our policy to reflect this shift in sentiment. The changing attitude in Europe helps us please our American guests even moreâ€, Ron Santangelo, Deilmann’s North America president, said in announcing the new policy.
“This change fits surprisingly well with the growing interests of the majority of Americans who seem to prefer non-smoking environments. Over the years, more and more of our guests have indicated such preferences and we are absolutely delighted to offer them a smoke-free restaurant, a smoke-free lounge for evening entertainment and smoke-free cabins and corridors,†Santangelo said.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Peter Deilmann Cruises Posted by Michael on 06/19/07
Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri have finalized the agreement for two new 1,260-guest mid-size cruise ships for delivery on September 30, 2010 and July 30, 2011, with an option for a third vessel to be delivered on May 30, 2012. The total value of the contract, including the option for the third ship, is $1.6 billion dollars. The ships will be constructed at Fincantieri’s Sestre Ponente facility in Genoa, Italy.
“I am delighted to have finalized the contracts for these magnificent ships and I am confident that Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri will set new standards with the new Oceania Class when they debut in just a few short years,†stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman and CEO of Oceania Cruises. Now that all technical specifications have been finalized, Oceania Cruises and Fincantieri will now move forward with detailed design work for the interiors. The world-renowned architectural firm of Yran & Storbratten has been retained to design the ships’ luxurious accommodations and dramatic public areas. “Fincantieri and Oceania Cruises share a legacy of innovation and superior product delivery, and I am certain that our guests and travel agent partners will find that the new Oceania Class will elevate our upper premium experience to new heights,†stated Del Rio.
Steve Martinez of Apollo Management commented, “We are extremely pleased with the expedient manner in which Frank and the entire team at Oceania Cruises have finalized the agreement with Fincantieri. Oceania Cruises has enjoyed tremendous success and we are confident that these spectacular new ships will further solidify their leadership position within the hospitality industry.â€
So what will the new Oceania Class look like? Click on “more” below for more information.
(0) Comments (Leave a Comment)Filed under: Oceania Cruises Posted by Michael on 06/19/07
It only takes $100 to reserve your stateroom on an upcoming MSC Cruises sailing.
North American residents who place a reservation anytime from June 18 through Aug. 31, 2007 need only place a $100 deposit per person, based on double occupancy; reservations made after Aug. 31 will require deposits of $250-$500 per person, depending on cruise length.
This special promotion is available for new reservations on all sailings and all lengths – including the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, South America and transatlantics – and all ships, from the classic to the contemporary, including the line’s new vessels – and all seasons, including holiday sailings.
It can be used with other rate promotions, including the “Kids Sail Free†(sailing with two full-fare paying adults in the same stateroom) and the “Sweet Suite Deals.â€
“This is a wonderful opportunity for guests who have their eyes on a specific stateroom tolock it in with only a $100 deposit per person,†says Richard E. Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises (USA).
For more information about MSC Cruises and this special promotion call us at 888-286-9827.
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