Thursday, February 7, 2008

Celebrity Unveils New Restaurants for Celebrity Solstice

Celebrity Cruises said its new Celebrity Solstice, set to sail on its first revenue cruise on Dec. 14, 2008, will feature 10 restaurants. The line unveiled its dining plans at an event at New York's Per Se restaurant. "The dining experience has always been central to our guests' cruise experience, and on Celebrity Solstice we'll present the extraordinary service the brand is know for in venues designed to perfectly complement the spectacular cuisine," said Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity's President and CEO. "The larger size of Celebrity Solstice allows us to offer more options for our guests, with menus created by some of the best talent in the business." Celebrity Solstice will carry approximately 2,850 guests.

Celebrity said it has partnered with some of the best restaurant designers in the business to create the new restaurants onboard Celebrity Solstice, among them Adam Tihany, who has created such restaurants as Per Se, Jean Georges, Le Cirque, The Sea Grill and Osteria del Circo in New York; Aureole, Bouchon and Seablue in Las Vegas; and Monte's and the Mandarin Bar in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London. Tihany, in his first restaurant aboard a cruise ship, has designed the two-level Grand Epernay dining room; the classic steakhouse Tuscan Grille, and the Oceanview Cafe on the ship's lido deck. Grand Epernay features a two-story wine tower, similar to what Tihany created in Aureole in Vegas.

The new menus are being created by Jacques Van Staden, Celebrity's vice president of food and beverage, in conjunction with Celebrity's culinary consultant Blau & Associates. Van Staden was previously one of the top chefs and restaurateurs in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. Blau is credited with shaping the dining experience at Bellagio and Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, and is also developing the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Simon Kitchen and Bar.

Dining venues aboard Celebrity Solstice will include Grand Epernay, the main dining room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, featuring French cuisine and the two-story wine tower; Tuscan Grille, a combination of Mediterranean and California Napa cuisine; Silk Harvest, a casual specialty restaurant featuring Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese and Indian selections; Blu, which offers "clean cuisine" exclusively for guests booked on the new AquaClass category of accommodations, with healthy food options; Murano, a twist on the restaurant of the same name on Celebrity Century, blending classic and modern Continental cuisine in an elegant setting; Bistro on Five, a casual dining area where guests can eat or take out sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and other entrees; Cafe al Bacio & Gelateria, an upscale coffee house serving European cafe fare as well as gelato, signature coffees, teas, fresh-baked pastries and more; AquaSpa Cafe, a dining option for guests seeking lighter fare; Mast Grill & Bar, featuring comfort food in a poolside venue; Oceanview Cafe & Grill, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with food stations reflecting where the ship is sailing.

Seabourn's First World Cruise Opens for Sale

Seabourn Cruise Line has opened reservations for the 2010 inaugural World Cruise of the new Seabourn Odyssey. The 108-day voyage departs from Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 5, 2010. A 92-day, west coast alternative departs Los Angeles on Jan. 21. The voyage ends in Piraeus (Athens), Greece, on April 24, 2010, by which time guests will have visited 42 ports in 26 countries on five continents. It also represents the first time that any of The Yachts of Seabourn have undertaken a world cruise. "A world cruise is an exciting prospect for travelers at any time," said Seabourn President and CEO Pamela Conover. "And for any ship, there is only ever one first time. So when Seabourn Odyssey makes her maiden call at each port, it will be a special occasion that will never be repeated."

The full world cruise qualifies for Seabourn's Grand Voyage Savings of 50 percent, creating a range of per-person, double occupancy fares from $53,745 for a 295-square-foot Category A accommodations to $254,745 for a Grand Suite measuring 1,135 square feet with three private verandas adding another 301 square feet of outdoor space.

Seabourn has packed the voyage with value-added benefits and features for full World Cruise passengers. For those embarking in Fort Lauderdale, the voyage begins with a complimentary private-car transfer from their homes to any gateway airport within 100 miles. Upon arrival in Fort Lauderdale, full cruisers can attend a pre-cruise celebration and receive luxury accommodations the night before embarkation. Private car transfers at both ends of the voyage are included for all full-world cruise guests. Other complimentary ammenities include first-class roundtrip airfare, luggage shipping by Seabourn's Personal Valet and a $1,000-per-person shipboard credit. The voyage includes five shoreside events for full-cruise passengers in addition to six Exclusively Seabourn experiences to which all guests are invited. Commemorative gifts, gala balls and a full program of added enrichment programs and celebrity entertainment are also planned.

Three shorter "World Voyages" are also available -- a 69-day voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Hong Kong, a 53-day segment from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, and a 39-day cruise from Hong Kong to Piraeus. The Seabourn Odyssey will carry a maximum of 450 guests. Ninety percent of the 225 ocean-view suites have private verandas, and all feature full granite baths with separate tub and shower, Molton Brown products, a complimentary in-suite bar stocked to the guests' request, and a flat-screen entertainment system with movies, television and music. The Spa at Seabourn will feature a two-deck-high waterfall entry, gym with a Kinesis Wall, indoor/outdoor treatment rooms, a thalassotherapy pool and salon facilities. The ship will boast two outdoor swimming pools and six outdoor whirlpool spas.