Oceania Cruises introduces new beverage packages

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: More News More News

Published: 07 December 2011 07 December 2011

Oceania Cruises will introduce two new beverage packages on voyages beginning in 2012. The new wine, beer and spirits beverage packages were designed to enhance the culinary experience for guests while at the same time offering additional convenience and value.

All Oceania Cruises guests will continue to enjoy unlimited complimentary soft drinks, bottled water, specialty coffees and teas on every sailing.

House Wine and Beer, priced at $29.95 per guest, per day, includes house wine by the glass and beer with lunch and dinner in any dining venue or via room service. House wine options are from a selection of red and white wines that change daily.

The second option, Open Bar, priced at $49.95 per guest, per day, includes beer and premium house wine by the glass and most beverages on the bar menu. Guests can also order spirits and beer through room service. Premium house wine options are from an exclusive selection of featured red and white wines that change daily.

"Our new beverage packages offer guests a convenient and affordable way to further enjoy the finest cuisine at sea," said Kunal S. Kamlani, the line's president. "By paying one set price, guests can enjoy a wide variety of wine, beer, spirits or even a nightcap at a terrific value."

The new beverage package prices include gratuities and can be pre-booked online or through a reservations representative. They can also be purchased onboard at any time during the cruise, with prices prorated for the days remaining. Guests can upgrade packages during the sailing.

Norwegian revamps guest loyalty programme

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 07 December 2011 07 December 2011

Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian) is announcing enhancements to its guest loyalty programme. Renamed Latitudes Rewards, the new programme better recognises Norwegian’s valued loyal guests. Key changes include new ways for members to earn points, additional on board recognition and benefits, and access to online account tracking.   

Current Latitudes members will automatically be enrolled in the new Latitudes Rewards programme and will remain in the same tier or will be upgraded to the appropriate higher tier, depending on the total number of cruise nights and stateroom categories sailed.

“The satisfaction and loyalty of our guests is very important to us,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s president and chief executive officer. “Our new Latitudes Rewards programme demonstrates our commitment to delivering the highest levels of guest satisfaction while rewarding our loyal guests with enhanced benefits. We are dedicated to making sure our guests have the best possible cruise experience and look forward to welcoming them back on board again and again.”

Latitudes Rewards members earn rewards points in four different ways, making it faster and easier than ever before to move up to the next tier. Members now earn one point per cruise night, providing an opportunity to gain more points the longer the guests sail. Additional points can be earned when booking a suite or any accommodation in The Haven by Norwegian, booking nine months or more in advance, or when taking advantage of the exclusive monthly Latitudes Rewards Insider Offers.  Latitudes Rewards tiers are based on the total amount of points earned: Bronze members are classified as guests with one to 19 points; Silver members are 20 to 47 points; Gold members are 48 to 75 points; and Platinum members are those with 76 or more points.

In addition to current member benefits such as priority check-in, members-only cocktail parties and access to an on board programme representative, new benefits have also been added to the programme.  For cruises departing on or after December 5, 2011 the new loyalty programme includes special on board perks, based on the guest’s tier level, such as chocolate covered strawberries, ship pins, nightly treats and discounts on packages in the photo gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Caribbean International offers seven new dining packages

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: More News More News

Published: 07 December 2011 07 December 2011

Royal Caribbean International has announced seven new dining packages for guests to enjoy the variety of speciality restaurants available onboard Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas. Guests can take advantage of the new speciality dining packages, which range from $50 to $120 per guest, and save at least 25 per cent compared to the sum of the individual restaurants’ cover charges. 

 

“These packages offer our guests the chance to enjoy the unique variety of speciality dining options at a great value while onboard our globally acclaimed Oasis-class and newly revitalised ships,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Hotel Operations, Royal Caribbean International. “We’ve expanded some of the most successful concepts, including dining, that were introduced onboard the Oasis-class ships to the rest of our fleet. This is part of the ongoing revitalisations of Royal Caribbean International’s fleet to ensure that we are delivering guests the most innovative cruise ships, exciting itineraries to compelling destinations and friendly and engaging service.”

 

Onboard Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, guests have a choice of three dining packages:

 

• The Central Park Dining Package, at $65 per guest, includes ‘Giovanni’s Table’ Italian Trattoria, ‘150 Central Park’ fine-dining restaurant and ‘Chops Grille’ steakhouse, all located in the ship’s Central Park neighbourhood – a real outdoor park with plants, trees and relaxing open spaces.
• The Chef’s Dining Package, at $120 per guest, includes the five-course, gourmet ‘Chef’s Table’ and wine pairing, ‘150 Central Park’ and ‘Chops Grille’.
• The Choice Dining Package includes ‘Chops Grille’, ‘Giovanni’s Table’ and a choice of ‘Izumi’ Asian cuisine or ‘Solarium Bistro’ onboardOasis of the Seas ($50 per guest) or ‘Samba Grill’ Brazilian steakhouse aboard Allure of the Seas ($55 per guest.)

 

Guests onboard Radiance of the Seas may choose from:

• The Radiance Dining Package, which includes ‘Chops Grille’, ‘Giovanni’s Table’, ‘Izumi’ and ‘Samba Grill’ for $70 per guest.
• The Radiance Chef’s Dining Package adds the ‘Chef’s Table’, offering an opportunity to experience every onboard speciality dining venue at $120 per guest.

 

Splendour of the Seas also offers a Chef’s Dining Package for $105 per guest, which includes the ‘Chef’s Table’, ‘Chops Grille’ and ‘Izumi’.

 

Additionally, guests can join special reservation-only parties onboard Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, the two ships that share the title of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ships:

• In the evenings, guests can enjoy ‘Rita’s Fiesta’ in ‘Rita’s Cantina’ on Allure of the Seas’ Boardwalk, which features the restaurant’s most popular dishes and up to three non-alcoholic beverages for a $10 cover charge per guest, or $20 for up to three alcoholic beverages.
• The ‘Surf’s Up Party’ in the ‘Seafood Shack’ on Oasis of the Seas’ Boardwalk also features the restaurant’s most popular dishes and three non-alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $15 per guest, or $25 per guest for up to three alcoholic beverages.
• Allure of the Seas also offers guests a 1920s-themed ‘Prohibition Party’ on every fifth night in the ‘Jazz on 4’ lounge in Entertainment Place . Guests are invited to don their favourite 1920s outfit and step back in time. This event is only open to guests aged 21 and older and has a cover charge of $35 per guest, which includes alcoholic beverages.

 

 

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 22 innovative ships, calling on more than 270 destinations in 72 countries across six continents. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska , Canada , Dubai , Europe, and Australia and New Zealand .

 

 

Top Italian chefs, Carlo Cracco and Benedetta Parodi join forces to combine traditional, creative festive menus at Costa

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 07 December 2011 07 December 2011

Costa Cruises, Europe’s number one cruise company, is offering two exclusive menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, specially devised by two of Italy’s finest chefs and popular personalities, Carlo Cracco and Benedetta Parodi.

An estimated 70,000 passengers who have chosen one of Costa’s sailings in the United Arab Emirates or the Mediterranean during the festive season will be treated to the special dishes, but as the recipes will be made available online, non-cruisers will also be able to try them out for themselves in the comfort of their own homes.

Carlo Cracco and Benedetta Parodi are both exceptional interpreters of the country’s inimitable culinary culture, based on simple high quality ingredients combined in original ways. The choice also reflects Costa Cruises’ determination to export the very best Italian excellence around the world on board its 15 ships. The Christmas and New Year’s Eve meals on Costa Cruises’ fleet will be supervised by   Costa Cruises Executive Chef, Stefano Fontanesi, who is responsible for ensuring compliance with quality standards that are the distinguishing feature of the cuisine on offer on all of Costa Crociere’s ships.

The festive menus are particularly special because, while consistent with Italian tradition, they are a superb blend of Cracco’s creative flair and the wholesome flavor and practicality of Parodi’s approach to the culinary arts. Classic Italian staples for the holiday season like cotechino, a fresh pork sausage traditionally served with stewed lentils, has been reinvented as a starter with a truffle fondue, while the lentils will be used to garnish a lobster salad together with sprouts, celery and a bisque (thick cream shellfish soup). There are also traditional Christmas dishes on the menu, such as guinea fowl and panettone.

The menu will be accompanied by a selection of fine wines produced by Aneri, an excellent quality label that has become one of Costa Cruises’ partners. Highly recommended wines for the Christmas and New Year’s Eve tables are the Leda Bianco doc 2009 Aneri, the Pinot Nero doc 2008 Aneri and the much sought after Prosecco di Valdobbiadene doc “Aneri” N° 1.