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P&O Cruises’ Britannia to feature in UK food programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 September 2015 08 September 2015

Britannia, the new flagship of P&O Cruises, which is the UK focused contemporary market brand in the Carnival Corp &plc group, will feature in a food programme on British television, the cruise line said in a statement.

“Marco Pierre White is set to judge the cooking skills of celebrities including Alex James and Keith Duffy in competitive new travelling cookery show set at sea. P&O Cruises newest ship Britannia is to be the star of Battlechefs , from award-winning television network UKTV,” P&O Cruises said.

P&O Cruises is teaming up with Spark Media to bring the show to its flagship entertainment channel Watch. The show will see ten amateur celebrity chefs including Alex James (Blur), Keith Duffy (Boyzone) and John Partridge (EastEnders) board Britannia and take it in turns to command the kitchen. Their talents will be judged by British celebrity chef and P&O Cruises Food Hero Marco Pierre White.

Filmed over two Mediterranean cruises on Britannia, each itinerary will be host to its own self-contained competition featuring five celebrities, who will each assume the role of head chef and prepare a meal for the Captain and his VIP guests. In each episode, we follow the untrained chefs as the ship sails from port to port they discover charming and captivating stories about each location and the food that is grown and produced locally.

Using the new cooking techniques they’ve learnt, they will each try to impress the Captain with their skills. Their competitors will help prepare the meal, but as they also get a chance to score each other, will they play tactically as they fight it out to become Battlechefs Champion?

The new series was ordered by Dave General Manager, Steve North . In partnership with P&O Cruises, the show was brokered by UKTV’s Director of Commercial Partnerships, Sally Quick, Spark Media Partner founders Mark Baker and Steve Havers and P&O Cruises Marketing Director, Christopher Edgington.

UKTV Commissioning Editor Victoria Summer commented, “Travel, food and healthy competition come together in Battlechefs. It’s an energetic show which centres on challenge and good-hearted rivalry, which sits perfectly alongside Watch viewer favourites such as the hugely popular Masterchef Australia. Seeing whether our celebs can pull off the menus they’re given against the clock is going to be very entertaining.”

P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said, “We are very excited to be making Battlechefs on Britannia. Watch provides an ideal audience to encourage newcomers to cruising and will showcase our food ethos. Our cookery school on board provides the perfect backdrop for the show as the celebrities prepare speciality dishes from around the Med."

UKTV’s Sally Quick added, “We’re very excited to be announcing our first advertiser-funded programme for Watch. We work within the commissioning team to keep the brands really close to the action of making brilliant, must-watch TV. We are delighted to be working with P&O Cruises and Spark Media on this project, they both really understand how to make great content.”

Spark Media’s Mark Baker said, “Battlechefs is part travelogue and part game show. It’s a TV hybrid that features celebs who are passionate about food. They’ll be on Britain’s biggest cruise liner as it tours the Med in the world’s first floating cookery competition.”

Battlechefs will air on Watch in 2016. It joins a raft of new content coming to the channel including Singing in the Rainforest, starring well-known celebrities including Myleene Klass and the Happy Mondays, Nigel Marvin’s Cruise Ship Adventures, which travels to some of the world’s most exotic locations discovering incredible wildlife and top rating US acquisition Secrets and Lies .

Pandaw River cruises to expand Burma, India offerings and add Amazon

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 September 2015 08 September 2015

Pandaw River Cruises, the Singapore based company that is domiciled in England, will widen its range of cruises in Burma and India plus introduce a series of 14 night cruises on the Amazon.

The company, which traces its roots back to 1866, will add the River Salween to its Burmese river cruise programme. From October 2016 to the following march, the company will offer a series of seven night cruises on the longest river in Burma, of which only about 100 miles are navigable.

The programme includes land transfer from Rangoon to Hpa-An via the Golden Rock at Kyalktiko and a cruise from Moulmein to Hpa-An, with the downstream itinerary operating in reverse.

The company will also add a series of seven night cruises on the south coast of Burma to its portfolio, using a 12 passenger sea going yacht called Drenec. The itinerary will include Moulmein, Tavoy, Mergui and Kawthanung. And departures run from 3 February to 9 March next year.

In India, where Pandaw has already introduced a series of cruises on the Brahmaputra river, it will add a 17 night cruise between Kolkata and Varanasi on the Ganges, with departure on 15 October.

Pandaw will also include the Amazon its its programme by offering a series of 14 night fly cruise holidays that include three nights in Rio de janeiro, followed by flight to Iguacu Falls and then another one to Santarem, with four ports of call in the lower Amazonian region.

Pandaw River Cruises is the trading name of The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. Originally founded by Scottish merchants in Burma in 1865, it built a large fleet of vessels that traded on the rivers of the country, until Japanese invasion in 1942 forced it to scuttle its entire fleet of 650 ships. After the war, the company was not revived for a long time.

A Singapore based Scotsman with links to the company restarted it in 1995 and re-registered it in the UK. It currently owns 12 ships and operates a number of others through partnership arrangements.

Cruise Critic announces new virtual ship tours and multimedia cruise reviews

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 08 September 2015 08 September 2015

Cruise Critic, the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has announced two new photo products: virtual cruise ship tours – featuring thousands of photographs per ship, through a partnership with photography specialists Oyster.com – and new multimedia cruise reviews, collecting and showcasing photos directly from cruisers as part of the cruise review process. The products aim to give new-to-cruise and seasoned cruisers greater insight to help choose the right ship and prepare for upcoming trips.

Colleen McDaniel, managing editor of Cruise Critic, explained, "The new images bring the ships to life and give a real sense of what it will be like when you step onboard. Our aim is to provide a rich depth of content to help people find and plan the right cruise. Combining Oyster's photography expertise with new cruiser-submitted photos, we're able to deliver the best possible insights to help consumers feel more confident and informed when booking and planning a cruise."

Features of Cruise Critic’s new virtual tours include:

– Easy-to-browse, high-resolution photo libraries of thousands of images per ship

– Real-life, unaltered photos of every onboard nook and cranny, taken by Oyster’s photographers

– Categorised folders, including: Activities and Events, Cabins, Family Amenities, Pools and Sundecks, Restaurants and Bars, Spa and Fitness and Ports of Call

– Public spaces documented as they change over the course of the cruise -- for example: a bustling pool deck at night that becomes a tranquil scene when the ship is in port

– New 360-degree panoramic imagery to make it easier to perceive public areas and cabins

– Over 27,000 photos across 11 ships and six cruise lines, including Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Celebrity – with more ships and lines continuing to be added

Speaking on the partnership, Eytan Seidman, Co-Founder and General Manager of Oyster.com, said, "We share a common core principle with Cruise Critic to provide clear, unbiased information that will help people to choose the right vacation for their needs. Of course, cruise ships are a lot larger than the average hotel, so adapting the formula that has proved highly successful for hotels to cruise ships, meant lengthening the shoot, and taking more than five times as many images. It's a huge task but very rewarding, and we're incredibly pleased with the results."

Cruise Critic also launched photo collection as part of its cruise review process, enabling travellers to upload ship photos to create multimedia reviews and share their own first-hand views of the ships on which they've sailed. As the world’s leading cruise reviews site, Cruise Critic features more than 150,000 consumer reviews representing nearly 500 cruise ships.

Crystal Cruises unveils culinary concept for Crystal Esprit

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 September 2015 03 September 2015

Crystal Yacht Cruises, the upcoming luxury yachting experience from the world’s most awarded luxury cruise line, is sparing no measure of luxury, including the culinary offerings on the new vessel. Crystal has unveiled the culinary concept for the 62-guest Crystal Esprit, which focuses heavily on quality local ingredients of the Seychelles Islands and Mediterranean coast, and showcases many of the favorite dishes served on the line’s acclaimed ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. The yacht will set sail in December 2015 with an elegant and eclectic menu of globally inspired Michelin starred cuisine for its discerning guests, from extraordinary seafood cuisine on the al fresco terrace, to decadent pastries, snacks, espresso and wine in the quaint corner bar.

“The outstanding food and wine experience has always been a highlight of the Crystal Experience and will continue to be an integral part of the onboard experience aboard Crystal Yacht Cruises,” says Crystal President & CEO Edie Rodriguez. “With public spaces and dining areas that are more intimate, our superior culinary team will maintain – and even exceed – the standard of world-class, creative cuisine that travelers expect from Crystal.”

Crystal Esprit will offer guests an array of culinary choices at any time of day or night, from small bites and midnight snacks, to casual lunches al fresco and chic, multi-course dinners. “Local” versions of favorite Crystal dishes will also be served, using the freshest ingredients available in each destination and reflecting the local flavors. The onboard eateries include:

– The Yacht Club and its outdoor extension, the Patio Café restaurants will serve a selection of Crystal’s modern and classic specialties, with made-to-order omelets, waffles and pancakes and a health bar with fresh fruit and vegetable juices for breakfast; lunch options including made-to-order pastas and risottos, seafood and meat antipasti, and a raw and salad bar, plus an à la carte menu offering local dishes; dinner menus include a Modern Tasting menu and a Classic menu including local inspired dishes using the freshest ingredients found at the local markets, all served in a bright and immaculate setting with expansive windows and sea breezes;

– The Sunset Bar & Grill menu will feature burgers, wraps and locally inspired “global street food,” served tapas style and reflecting the destinations visited;

– The Pantry will serve as the 24-hour “go-to” spot for freshly baked light snacks and pastries, coffee and a self-service wine bar;

– Crystal Esprit Guest Suites also allow travelers to indulge in the plush privacy of their own staterooms, with available 24-hour stateroom dining.

AmaWaterways celebrates inaugural voyage of AmaDara on the Mekong

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 03 September 2015 03 September 2015

AmaWaterways, the world’s leading river cruise line, has announced the expansion of its Exotics division with the inaugural sailing of the new 124-passenger AmaDara. The line’s co-owners, Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst and Gary Murphy, met travelers in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the ship’s maiden voyage along the Mekong River.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the anticipated arrival of AmaDara on the legendary Mekong River,” said Kristin Karst, Executive Vice President and Co-Owner of AmaWaterways. “This new ship gives travelers the chance to enjoy the comfort and luxury of AmaWaterways, while having a truly authentic experience exploring one of the most incredible regions of the world.”

Now part of AmaWaterways’ Exotics division, AmaDara features an innovative design, boasting 62 extra-spacious staterooms and luxury suites, as well as a new specialty restaurant. Each well-appointed stateroom includes a private “Twin Balcony,” consisting of a French Balcony with a second full-sized step-out balcony. The ship’s interior is reflective of Elegant French Colonial décor, while inspired by Southeast Asia with authentic Mekong artifacts and accents.

Guests sailing aboard AmaDara will delight in an array of comfortable amenities including air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a spa, a fitness center and a refreshing sun deck with swimming pool. Complimentary unlimited wine is available with lunch and dinner; complimentary house spirits, local beer, soft drinks and bottled water are available all day.

Travelers seeking a unique, immersive experience on the fabled Mekong River can either travel upstream or downstream, as AmaDara will sail in both directions. Stops along the way will include Hanoi, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Tan Chau and Ho Chi Minh City. Pricing for the full 15-night cruise and land itinerary, which also includes Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, starts at $4,498 per person.* Cruise only pricing for a seven-night sailing onboard AmaDara starts at $2,299 per person. Travelers can also opt for a 10-night itinerary that combines the cruise with three nights in Siem Reap, starting at $3,098 per person.