Regent's Dining Enhancements

Express breakfast and lunch options, new wine additions and improved menus are just a few of the latest enhancements to be made to the already all-inclusive food and drink offerings with Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

The line continually strives to find new ways to improve and enhance its onboard offering to further benefit guests’ overall experience and these are the latest initiatives to be rolled-out across the fleet.The new updates include:

· New Canyon Ranch Balanced Menu Selection
The award-winning legendary spa experience, Canyon Ranch, on board all Regent ships, provides a spectacular setting for passengers to restore resilience, serenity and feel fantastic. Guests can now discover just how good ‘Good For You’ tastes with the line’s delicious, healthy cuisine – the Canyon Ranch Balanced Selection available at each meal, in The Compass Rose restaurant.

· New Express breakfast and lunch options
In Alaska and the Baltic, with so much to see ashore, Regent’s new “express breakfast” and lunch options enable guests to eat well before heading off into ports with lots of shore excursions.

· New dishes to reflect the destination during key regional seasons

Ingredients sourced locally that typify the country being visited that day have seen introduced to the menu during sailings in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Alaska.

· New wines added to the complimentary wine selection and Connoisseur wine list
Sancerre, Pouilly Fuissé and Chateau Neuf-du-Pape are a few of the new wines the line is adding to their complimentary pouring wine selection. Other French wines are also being added to the complimentary list in The Compass Rose. The Connoisseur wine list, a selection of wines available to purchase, has also been enhanced.

· Expanded lunch and dinner menus in the main dining room, The Compass Rose
An additional appetizer, two main courses, side dishes and three-course vegetarian option have been added to the lunch menu while an appetizer, side salad, main course and side dishes are being added to the dinner menu.

Other new enhancements include freshly-prepared smoothies and milkshakes by the pool, individual teapots for afternoon tea, new varieties of breads, bagels and muffins available at breakfast and new Kosher food and wine selections.

For more details, visit www.rssc.com or contact the luxury cruise experts of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Oceania's Marina: The first ship built for Epicureans

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina, which makes its debut later this month, looks poised to set new standards for culinary excellence at sea with no less than TEN dining venues, six of which are gourmet restaurants and offer culinary excellence at no supplement.

The 1,250-guest ship has been designed for food and wine lovers, with the aim of offering dining experiences comparable to the very best shore-side restaurants.

Oceania’s president Bob Binder explained: “Marina is the first ship purpose-built for epicureans. Unlike many lines, all of our meals are cooked to order, a la minute. We are committed to serving cuisine that rivals some of the world’s very best restaurants.”

Here's how this phenomenal array of deluxe dining choice will be offered.

Continental Cuisine, Asian Fusion & American Favourites

Marina will offer six, open-seating gourmet restaurants, two private-dining venues and two casual eateries. The décor of each is distinctive, yet a common design thread is evident in the extensive use of rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and supple leather. There will be no less than eight no-charge dining venues and two exclusive additional options:

1. The Grand Dining Room (above)– Tuxedo-clad wait staff serve a six-course menu in a classic setting reminiscent of a five-star restaurant at one of Europe’s grandest hotels. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Toscana – Three illuminated etched-glass panels provide a dramatic backdrop to savoury specialities, many of them family recipes handed down from Oceania Cruises’ staff and crew. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

3. Polo Grill – Plush and supple leather upholstery, a rich palette of crimson, gold and green, and gold-edged mahogany wall panels evoke the glamour of a vintage Hollywood steakhouse. Fine cuts of Prime, dry-aged beef, as well as chops and fresh seafood, are featured. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

4. Jacques – The first-ever restaurant at sea for its namesake, internationally renowned chef Jacques Pépin, draws inspiration from fabled brasseries of Paris and his hometown of Lyon. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

5. Red Ginger – Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese flavours are showcased in a contemporary setting that features three Buddhas carved from a single piece of backlit glass as a dramatic centrepiece. Open for dinner; reservations suggested.

6. Terrace Café – Shades of burgundy, burnt orange, gold and lemon create a bright and pleasant ambiance, or guests may dine al fresco. Regional delicacies and sumptuous buffets are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

7. Waves – This relaxed, open-air bistro serves gourmet burgers, swordfish, chicken and other grilled items and features a salad bar and home-made ice cream bar. Open for lunch (weather permitting).

8. Baristas – This coffee bar adjoining the Library is the place throughout the day to enjoy Illy espresso and cappuccino, homemade biscotti and coffee cake.

Optional Wine Dinners & the Ultimate Chef’s Table

9. La Reserve by Wine Spectator – La Reserve is an intimate venue that hosts wine tastings and seven-course pairing dinners with premium wines selected in consultation with Wine Spectator editors. Extra charge for wines; reservations required.

10. Privée – An exclusive private dining room that offers the ultimate Chef’s Table. Eight fortunate guests can create a personalised menu featuring such specialities as Kobe beef, Brittany lobsters, foie gras, caviar and truffles. Room charge is $1,000. Open select evenings; reservations required.

Marina also features a Bon Appétit Culinary Centre and full-service Canyon Ranch® SpaClub. Interior design highlights include a Lalique-designed grand lobby, luxurious suites designed by Dakota Jackson as well as Owner’s Suites furnished exclusively in Ralph Lauren Home.

To find out more about Oceania Cruises, visit http://www.oceaniacruises.co.uk/ or contact the luxury cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Celebrity New Casual Evening Dining service

By guest blogger Steve Newman

Celebrity Cruises is revamping its evening offerings in its “lido,” or primary casual dining venues. Moving away from a sit-down experience and towards an “international marketplace” approach, the offerings will blend classic and contemporary cuisine.

“Since the launch of our Solstice Class in 2008, our guests have shared a great deal of positive feedback about the flavours and variety offered in our marketplace-style Oceanview Café venues, so we are taking that concept to the rest of the fleet,” said Jacques Van Staden, Vice President, Culinary Operations (above).

The new evening casual dining service will present a flavourful array of authentic cuisine, including:

• A made-to-order curry station featuring Indian staples such as raitha, papadums and paratha
• A made-to-order pasta station enhanced with assorted breads and a salad bar
• Two fresh, made-to-order sushi stations
• Two made-to-order stir-fry stations featuring Asian-inspired ingredients and preparation
• A Mediterranean-inspired lineup of antipasti, olives, cheeses and assorted cold meats
• A carving station, with grilled meats such as pork chops, New York strip steak, chicken breast, and grilled fish
• Multiple fresh vegetables, a “loaded” baked potato station, and a variety of sauces such as béarnaise and gravies
• A made-to-order pizza station open until 12:30am, featuring fresh garlic bread and antipasti items
• Two dessert stations

Celebrity Cruises’ will no longer offer tableside service in a traditional “sit-down” style during its evening casual dining service. The evening lido dining service will begin at 6pm each evening and will be available onboard Celebrity Century, Constellation, Infinity, Millennium and Summit by the end of October. The changes will not affect Celebrity Xpedition, the 92-guest megayacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands.

More information about all of Celebrity Cruises casual dining offerings is available at http://www.celebritycruises.com/ or visit them at at The Cruise Show at the NEC Birmingham this weekend. For great deals, be sure to check out the Celebrity section of specialist agent The Cruise Line Ltd.

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