Celebrity Cruise Line Wants to Excite Your Senses

Celebrity Cruises' new lifestyle book, ""Excite the Senses"", has inspired a new series of food-and-wine-themed cruises that will offer guests a unique, behind-the-scenes experience and a rare opportunity to get to know the Celebrity culinary team through intimate demonstrations, tastings and dinners.

Celebrity's Master Chef and Vice President of Culinary Operations, Jacques van Staden says, ""Every Celebrity cruise is a modern luxury vacation, and a large part of that is the culinary experience. The culinary-themed activities at the heart of Celebrity's Excite the Senses cruises are designed to appeal to everyone from the novice to the sophisticated oenophile.”

Each sailing will be led by a member of the Celebrity culinary team, along with partners from the cruise lines’ wine and spirits program. Jack Daniel’s, Jackson Family Wines, St. Francis Vineyards and Marchesi Antinori. Enjoy a Meet & Greet event, a book signing, two demonstrations of recipes from the book, two hands-on classes, and a Food & Wine Pairing Dinner. Each expert will also incorporate elements of the sailing's ports of call.

The programming promises to be fun, interactive and memorable, providing an enriching experience that will extend beyond your cruise vacation. 2012 dates are as follows:

NCL Enhances Kids Club Fleetwide and Debut’s Spectacular Youth Area Aboard the Breakaway

As a parent I quickly discovered that my vacation experience would always be directly tied to my son’s vacation experience. That is to say, whether he was three years old or thirteen years old, if he was kept busy, engaged in age appropriate activities, and having fun with new friends, then it would be a great vacation for all of us!  These days, children’s programs no longer concern me personally, as my son is now a young adult.  However, as a cruise consultant, I am always happy to see cruise lines improving their programs for children, and that’s why I’m so excited about the enhanced youth and teen curriculum aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, particularly the soon to sail Norwegian Breakaway.

Splash Academy, the name for the Norwegian Cruise Line youth program, is divided into four age groups.  Guppies are age 2 and under, 3-5 year olds are called Turtles, Seals are 6-9 and Dolphins are 10-12. Entourage is the name of the new teen program for the 13-17 year old crowd. The program concentrates on creative and unique activities that focus on team building and assisting in developing children’s interpersonal and confidence building skills.

Both Splash Academy and Entourage will feature a different theme every day. It could be ocean-related, pirates, space, or jungle fever, to name a few. Creative arts, theater, improvisational acting classes, and participation in puppet shows are all available. Through the partnership with Hilario Productions Cirque du Jour (established by a team of performers from the famed Ringling Brothers), Norwegian is offering circus workshops for the whole family teaching a variety of skills such as balancing feathers, juggling, plate spinning and even stilt walking. There is also a family circus school performed in a circus ring, hosted by a ringmaster!

Monarch Steps Down From Her Throne

It’s been 20 years since I stepped aboard the regal Monarch of the Seas, my first Royal Caribbean cruise.  It was a trip that would change the way I would vacation in the future, and unknowingly influence my future career path. I remember being in awe of the glitzy and glamorous Centrum and elegant dining room. At 73,941 gross tons, Monarch was one of the largest and most innovative cruise ships in the world at time of its completion, but today she is considered merely mid-size!  So I was a bit sad to hear that on April 1, 2013, Monarch of the Seas will be transferred to Royal Caribbean's Madrid-based sister company, Pullmantur Cruises.  She will join her sister Sovereign of the Seas and the Empress of the Seas, leaving her home in Port Canaveral for the Mediterranean shores. Bon Voyage, lovely lady.

Norwegian Breakaway Reveals

Nothing causes as much of a buzz in the cruise industry as the “reveals” of exciting innovations in the design of a new ship.  The Norwegian Breakaway, launching in April 2013, will debut with a unique design that will add a whole new element to the line’s signature Freestyle Cruising concept.  Picture this…

Located on deck 8 of the ship will be The Waterfront, a quarter-mile-long ocean facing ""boardwalk."" The area will span both sides of the ship and feature eight outdoor dining and lounging options, including Moderno Churrascaria, Cagney's Steakhouse, La Cucina, Shaker's Cocktail Bar, Malting's Beer & Whiskey Bar, a gelato bar, as well as Ocean Blu, the cruise line’s first seafood restaurant.

The area will also include a yet-to-be-named entertainment venue. Although the Waterfront area is partly exposed to the elements, the ship's designers have determined that the location should not be particularly windy even when the ship is sailing at cruising speed.

The Waterfront will connect to the indoor entertainment hub of the ship called 678 Ocean Place, (as in deck 6, 7, and 8). The three-deck-high indoor complex will be home to additional restaurants, bars, entertainment and the casino. Indoor on deck 8 guests will find retail outlets, the photo gallery and Humidor Cigar Lounge.

 Deck 7 is home to the lavish Breakaway Casino with 300 of the latest slot machines, along with 26 gaming tables featuring poker, blackjack, roulette and craps. Also on Deck 7 will be Bar 21 (featuring video poker) and the two-story, New York supper club-inspired Manhattan Room restaurant.

 Favorites like O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Shanghai's Noodle Bar, Bliss Ultra Lounge, main dining rooms Savor and Taste, Mixx Bar, Teppanyaki and Le Bistro round out 678 Ocean Place. A three-story open atrium with an LED chandelier with light changing effects will serve as the centerpiece. The two-story video wall along with the Café and Bar at The Atrium adds to the mix.

Additional dining options and bars not located within 678 Ocean Place will be announced in late April. Entertainment venues located within 678 Ocean Place will be revealed later this spring.

Norwegian Breakaway will home port in New York City, sailing to Bermuda in the summer and the Bahamas, Florida and the Caribbean in the winter.  For rates and availability visit the Direct Line Cruises site dedicated to the Norwegian Breakaway.

NCL Expands Moderno Churrascaria Fleet-Wide

Due to popular demand and rave reviews, Norwegian Cruise Line is adding its signature Brazilian-style steakhouse, Moderno Churrascaria, throughout the fleet. So maybe you’re asking, what exactly is a Churrascaria?

In the early 1800's, European immigrants settled in the Rio Grande do Sul area of Brazil and became ranchers.  At mealtime they would gather together and start a wood burning fire. Once the fire burned down to golden embers they would skewer and slow cook large portions of prime meat to perfection. Using conventional knives, which they wore on their belts, they sliced thin and juicy pieces of meat onto each person's plate. This unique type of cooking is called churrasco.

Moderno Churrascaria has a long delicious salad bar filled with appetizers, gourmet vegetables, soups, and salads. Passadors (the name for these meat-wielding waiters) go from table to table serving generous amounts of various beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage, tableside. For a cover charge of $20 per person, guests can enjoy the salad bar, as well as an unlimited amount of the mouth-watering meats."

NCL Expands Moderno Churrascaria Fleet-Wide

Due to popular demand and rave reviews, Norwegian Cruise Line is adding its signature Brazilian-style steakhouse, Moderno Churrascaria, throughout the fleet. So maybe you’re asking, what exactly is a Churrascaria?

In the early 1800's, European immigrants settled in the Rio Grande do Sul area of Brazil and became ranchers.  At mealtime they would gather together and start a wood burning fire. Once the fire burned down to golden embers they would skewer and slow cook large portions of prime meat to perfection. Using conventional knives, which they wore on their belts, they sliced thin and juicy pieces of meat onto each person's plate. This unique type of cooking is called churrasco.

Moderno Churrascaria has a long delicious salad bar filled with appetizers, gourmet vegetables, soups, and salads. Passadors (the name for these meat-wielding waiters) go from table to table serving generous amounts of various beef, lamb, pork, chicken and Brazilian sausage, tableside. For a cover charge of $20 per person, guests can enjoy the salad bar, as well as an unlimited amount of the mouth-watering meats."

Direct Line Cruises Will Be At The NY Times Travel Show

Looking for something to do this weekend?  How about spending a day at the 2012 New York Times Travel Show, which will be held at the Javits Convention Center at 11^th Avenue & West 34^th Street in NYC! There will be almost 500 exhibitors, representing all segments of the travel industry, including Direct Line Cruises!  We’ll be partnering with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line at the event  (Booth 415) and we’d love it if you stopped by to say hello!

At one of the many scheduled stage events, Royal Caribbean and Direct Line Cruises will host a  “jeopardy” style trivia challenge with contestants randomly selected from the audience.  One of them could be you!  We’ll have prizes for the winners and we’ll be throwing t-shirts to the crowd!  Best of all, book ANY 5-Night or longer Royal Caribbean Cruise with Direct Line Cruises at the NY Times Travel Show and receive a FREE $100 onboard credit, FREE onboard savings booklet plus Travel Insurance!  It’s going to be lots of fun, so try to join us.

The New York Times Travel Show, the largest consumer event of its kind in the United States, will be held on Saturday, March 3^rd from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, March 4^th between 10 am and 4 pm.  See you there!"