In its dedication to protecting marine environments and preserving their habitats, Crystal Cruises has committed to serving only sustainable seafood aboard its award-winning vessels. Renowned for the sophisticated fare served in the Crystal Dining Room and specialty restaurants Silk Road and The Sushi Bar and Prego, Crystal is the first cruise line to publicly commit to such a policy.
Celebrity Cruises has introduced a new “Personal Concierge” program aimed at further enhancing the brand’s “Designed for you” reputation, by emphasizing the extraordinary customized onboard service that has long set Celebrity Cruises apart from its competitors. By individually communicating with guests to learn their personal preferences, tastes and needs, Celebrity’s new Personal Concierges deliver individualized attention – much like that of a personal assistant – for any guests who wish to heighten special occasions and create new ones.
When Cunard Line’s new Queen Elizabeth debuts in October 2010, the Line will introduce an original concept in theatrical entertainment at sea with the newly formed Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company. Guests will enjoy a brand new repertoire of shows premiered by the Theatre Company’s 29 singers, dancers, actors and musicians.
New shows will include the hit “Slice of Saturday Night,” a popular nostalgic pastiche of 1960s music which has been staged in London and toured extensively throughout the UK and US. Adapted especially for the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Company by its original writers, the Heather Brothers, “Slice of Saturday Night” features all of the Theatre Company members – the largest production show that Cunard has ever staged.
In Rob Reiner’s film The Bucket List, Jack Nicholson’s and Morgan Freeman’s characters meet in a crowded hospital room, having just been diagnosed with terminal illnesses and prognoses of less than a year to live. The two become unlikely friends, and set off together to climb the Pyramids, traverse the Great Wall of China, safari in Africa, and share all the things on their list before they “kick the bucket!”
With respects to legends Reiner, Nicholson and Freeman, and to those who have actually lived out final year bucket lists, I have to argue that this is the ‘old’ way about a Bucket List! The New Bucket List concept is quite different … and it’s ageless! First of all, very few of us are given one year’s ‘advance notice’ on our life expectancy, and then also have the time, resources and health, to knock off a list of 20 worldly pursuits in under a year.
In another first, Norwegian Cruise Line has announced an exclusive partnership with SVEDKA Vodka and Inniskillin ice wine to be introduced on board Norwegian Epic, its largest and most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship ever. As part of the partnership, this unique frozen bar will be called the SVEDKA Ice Bar and will feature specialty SVEDKA and Inniskillin ice wine drinks.
Oceania Cruises has launched a multi-million dollar initiative to update and enhance its award-winning fleet. The comprehensive “Pillars of Distinction” program – the most significant product investment in the company’s history – centers on the three hallmarks of the Oceania Cruises experience: comfort, cuisine and service.
The 684-guest Nautica, the first Oceania Cruises ship to undergo its Pillars of Distinction update, re-entered service June 4. Sister ship Insignia will incorporate Pillars of Distinction this November and Regatta in January 2011. All work will occur during regularly scheduled dry-docks.
On Friday, June 11th The Cruise Web celebrated the end of another hard work week with some bowling action. The company met at Annapolis Bowl in Maryland and promptly kicked-off the friendly competition. Pins rattled, players cheered and everyone had a great time.
Michael Harris, Manager at The Cruise Web, had this to say about the event: “The star of the night was The Cruise Web’s Senior Manager, Chris Roth, who broke the 250 mark. He was also the clear winner of the pizza eating contest, where Chris not only ate the pizza at his table, but moved on to a few other tables as well.”
The Cruise Web, headquartered in Landover, has been honored with the “Top 25” award from Ensemble Travel Group, one of the travel industry’s oldest and most respected affiliated travel agency organizations. The honor was presented to less than six percent of Ensemble Travel Group’s 425+ member agencies in the U.S. Selection criteria was based on members’ 2009 sales performance with Ensemble Travel Group’s preferred suppliers.
Furthering Royal Caribbean International’s commitment to providing guests with unparalleled vacation experiences, the global cruise line announced that it has formed a strategic alliance with DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA), the world-class animated film studio powerhouse, to bring the next generation of family programming and quality entertainment to the high seas. Vacationers of all ages will soon delight in interacting with some of DreamWorks Animation’s most beloved characters when a variety of new shows, activities and offerings are introduced on ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. The alliance will first come to life for guests to enjoy onboard Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship that will debut in December 2010 and will share the title of world’s largest and most revolutionary cruise ship with its sister ship, Oasis of the Seas.
Celebrity Cruises has long been recognized for offering award-winning cuisine, and in August, the brand will pair the top-rated megaship, Celebrity Solstice, with invitation-only events sponsored by Food Network and designed for culinary enthusiasts, through the first “Food Network at Sea” program.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with Food Network to offer such enticing and exclusive experiences,” said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. “This program is yet another demonstration of our ‘Designed for you’ brand platform, built around our longtime commitment to identifying and designing what our guests want. We know our guests enjoy cooking and great dining experiences, and many are followers of chefs such as those featured on this sailing, so this is a perfect pairing.”
