Celebrity's New 'Suite Class' Experience

Celebrity Cruises have unveiled a new onboard experience that adds to the luxury element of their cruises by introducing the 'Suite Class.'

This will be rolled out in April 2015, with exclusive new benefits, including a suites-only restaurant, VIP lounge, complimentary premium drinks and more. Guests will enjoy incredible service from the moment they arrive, with their personal butler taking care of every detail.

In detail, the new Suite Class will include:

Private dining - A dedicated private restaurant reserved exclusively for all Suite Class guests will be available morning, noon and night. Each meal will feature unique menus that offer dishes not available anywhere else on board. Guests can also immerse themselves in the local culture, with specially crafted menus inspired by the local destination, from locally caught seafood, to the freshest pasta. The Suite Class chef can provide a tailor-made experience to suite guests and prepare a dish to their liking, and the Cellar Master will select from more than 450 wines to provide the perfect pairing.

Premium 'all in' benefits - Premium drinks, dining across all speciality restaurants, unlimited internet access and a private bar with water, soft drinks and beers will all be complimentary for guests staying in Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites.

VIP lounge - A private VIP lounge, Michael's Club, will be available to guests staying in Celebrity, Signature, Royal, Penthouse and Reflection suites. A dedicated Concierge service and unique food and beverage experiences by Celebrity's James Beard-featured chef will be provided to guests.

Celebrity President and CEO Michael Bayley explained: "Our guests are accustomed to exceptional quality and service and, for those wishing to further indulge in the very best while on board, we have launched 'Suite Class', designed to appeal to the most discerning holidaymaker. We know suite guests value privacy, personalised service, exclusive access and flexibility, and providing them with their own unique benefits, such as a dedicated restaurant with a dining experience like no other, is just another way we are significantly elevating their holiday with us." 

The Suite Class experience will also include a daily high-end afternoon tea service served in the guest's suite, plus stateroom amenities and benefits, like deluxe Bulgari bathroom amenities, plush robes, premium bedding and an indulgent pillow menu. A host of other extras will also be provided during the guest's stay, including reserved theatre seating.

More info: visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk or call 0844 493 2043.

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Food Heroes - The Video!

You've seen our blogs this week about the  'Food Heroes' promotion for P&O Cruises' forthcoming new flagship Britannia, now here is the video explaining more about it - and the great chefs involved.

The new onboard culinary programme features restaurants and hands-on programmes created by the likes of James Martin, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and 'Cake Boy' Eric Lanlard, as well as wine expert Olly Smith.

See yesterday's Time Spent at Sea blog for more on Britainnia, and just enjoy the video for the chefs in question...!

PS: Don't forget to check out our Saga Week online at the World of Cruising website, on this link: http://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/news.html

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Get With The Cooking Vibe With Europa 2

By Editor Simon Veness

 

Cooking and culinary schools at sea are all the rage, and it is hard to find a ship these days that doesn't include some kind of specialised kitchen that provides a learning or hands-on activity or three.

 

But the latest version of the idea aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' new Europa 2 is a real head-turner. And, on the recommendation of our Contributing Editor Gary Buchanan (who will also be featuring the ship in our new-look January edition), I decided to have a look at this phenomenon myself. Here's what I found...

 

The Miele Culinary School (above) combines cookery courses with entertainment so interested guests not only learn about the cuisine at individual destinations, they can also learn how to conjure up some of these wonderful dishes themselves. On special “Connoisseurs of Cuisine” cruises, renowned gourmet experts such as the Michelin-starred chef de cuisine at A-ROSA resorts, Sarah Henke, or also Wolfgang Otto of the Otto Gourmet mail order company will offer workshops in the Culinary School.

In the School itself, participants learn how to prepare a multi-course menu corresponding to the cuisine of the region through which they are travelling. Themed cookery courses are also held, focusing on foods such as sushi, truffles and foie gras. Designed for groups of up to eight, the courses are held during the morning on all cruises and can be booked as an alternative to shore excursions. Participation costs 80 euros per person and includes accompanying wines, a chef’s apron and recipes. 

Those on a family cruise can also explore Culinary School fun as, on one occasion during each voyage, children are invited to gather around the oven for the popular pizza-baking session. All of the children will help to prepare their own pizza - and then sit down together to enjoy it!

For the 7-night “Connoisseurs of Cuisine” cruise with Otto Gourmet, round-trip from Dubai to Khasab, Muscat, Mina Sulman, Doha and Abu Dhabi, sailing April 20, prices start from £3,641 per person, cruise only.

 

More info: call +49 40 3001 4580 (English-speaking hotline), e-mail salesteam@hlkf.de or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services.

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New Offerings For Oceania's Culinary Classes

Oceania Cruises has unveiled its new 2014 curriculum for the Bon Appétit Culinary Center on board its mid-sized luxury cruise ships Marina and Riviera. More than 20 different classes are offered, ranging from regional cuisines to the secrets of home-made pasta, with each session expanding guests’ knowledge and appreciation of local flavours.

Take your pick from these five voyages that all feature the new Culinary Center offerings:

French Classics: At the centre of the gastronomic sphere, French cooking methods and techniques are the benchmark for culinary standards worldwide. In this class, gourmands master several fundamental French techniques and prepare elegant dishes that can be recreated at home.

On Riviera, May 5, Historic Holy Lands; 10 Days, Istanbul to Athens

Italian Family Table: This class celebrates the cuisines and speciality dishes of the many regions visited by Oceania Cruises. Students learn techniques and recipes that have been passed down for generations and shared around family tables in the fabulous Italian destinations visited, which include Portofino, Amalfi, Tuscany and Sicily.
 

On Riviera, June 1, Venetian Revelations; 10 Days, Barcelona to Venice

Viva España: Guests are transported to the tapas bars of Spain, learning how to host a tapas party, complete with sangria and delicious, authentic Spanish dishes. Exciting arrays of tapas are prepared with recipes by Oceania Cruises’ chefs discovered on journeys to San Sebastián, Barcelona and Andalucía.

On Riviera, September 1, Flavours of Europe; 7 Days, Rome to Barcelona

Modern Nordic: The fresh, inventive dishes of restaurants including Copenhagen’s Noma and Geranium have changed the way the world views Nordic cuisine. Inspired by Oceania’s Baltic travels, the line’s chefs have developed a class devoted to favourite recipes of the region.

On Marina, June 7, North Sea Coasts; 7 Days, London to Copenhagen

Magical Morocco: With a special emphasis on tagine recipes, this class teaches guests the basics of Moroccan cooking, one of the most popular cuisines today. Highlights are the spices and ingredients of the Moroccan pantry and how to utilise them for flavourful dishes.

On Marina, September 24, Tapestry of Cultures; 10 Days, Lisbon to Rome

More info: www.oceaniacruises.com or call on 0845 505 1920.

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