News

Viking Cruise Line’s Vision for Great Food

A bright star appeared in May. It had nothing to do with the summer’s ‘Star of Bethlehem’ phenomenon as Jupiter and Venus danced in the night sky; this was the first ship from Viking Ocean Cruises sailing on her pre-christening voyage from Istanbul. Viking Star exudes a healthy blend of meticulous design, peerless material quality

May 2016

Teas and Seas: Eric Lanlard at The Epicurean on board Britannia

Nothing could be more British than afternoon tea, says John Honeywell – even when it’s prepared on board ship by a brilliant (if slightly eccentric) Frenchman. Cucumber sandwiches are a centrepiece of the Queen’s Buckingham Palace garden parties; fondant fancies fill plates at country house hotels, and there is unlikely to be a resolution

May 2016

A Legend in the Kitchen: Chef Eddy Barretto on board Star Legend

Chef Eddy Barretto has moved from supervising 9,000 meals a day on the biggest cruise ships in the world to catering for just 160 passengers on one of Windstar’s luxury motor yachts. By Robin Maclear Star Legend was built in 1990 and designed by Peter Yran and Bjorn Storbraataen, whose prolific Oslo-based design group has

May 2016

NCL adds karting and hover craft bumper cars to its new Chinese ship

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed the flagship features of its new China-bound ship, Norwegian Joy, including karting, virtual reality experiences, and bumper cars. Currently under construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the new ship will be tailored specifically for the Chinese cruise market. It will include superior accommodation, international luxury shopping boutiques,

March 2016

P&O Cruises launches its biggest holiday programme for 2017/18

P&O Cruises will soon open up bookings for 2017/18 as the cruise line launches its biggest and most varied holiday collection yet. The 2017/18 itineraries offer greater choice with new destinations, more no-fly cruises sailing from the UK, more discovery cruise options, a 2018 world cruise collection, scenic cruising, special event cruises, new seven- and

March 2016

Behind the scenes in the countdown to Koningsdam

Holland America Line has launched a new video series entitled “Countdown to Koningsdam” touring behind-the-scenes of the forthcoming cruise ship. The videos are presented by Cruise Director Johnathan Rogers and provide a construction update on the ship which is currently under construction at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. Further video updates will be released in

March 2016

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines releases its 2017/18 itineraries

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has opened up bookings for its latest 2017/18 itineraries. Its fleet of four smaller, intimate ships – Balmoral, Braemar, Boudicca and Black Watch – will be visiting 220 destinations in 70 countries around the globe. Their ships will sail from a total of ten regional British departure ports: Southampton, Dover, Harwich,

March 2016

The Wave Awards raises £2,000 for Mercy Ships

A total of £2,000 was raised at this year’s The Wave Awards for the charity Mercy Ships. Attendees to The Wave Awards ceremony last month at Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London, donated £1,550 as part of the charity raffle. Real Response Media topped up the donation to £2,000. Prizes that had been donated to

March 2016

Captain and senior leadership team named for Seven Seas Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has named the Captain and shipboard senior leadership team for its forthcoming cruise ship, Seven Seas Explorer. Master of Seven Seas Explorer will be Captain Stanislas Gerard Jean Mercier De Lacombe. He will lead a senior leadership team including Franck Galzy, General Manager; Aurelien Dumeylet, Executive Chef; Luca Griggi, Chief Engineer;

March 2016

NCL names its new Chinese ship ‘Norwegian Joy’

Norwegian Cruise Line has revealed the English and Chinese names of its forthcoming ship, due to launch in Summer 2017. The ship, originally to be named Norwegian Bliss, will now be named Norwegian Joy, which translates into Chinese as 喜悦号 (Xǐ Yuè Hào). Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Chief Executive Officer Frank Del Rio said: “After

March 2016

Life on-board with John Heald, Carnival’s Brand Ambassador

Hello. My name is John Heald and for 29 years and counting I have proudly worked for Carnival Cruise Lines as a bar waiter, assistant cruise director, cruise director and now the company’s brand ambassador. When my friend Captain Greybeard (aka John Honeywell) asked me to write about ship life I thought about boring you

February 2016

Princess Cruises ships to be adorned with giant Sea Witch

Princess Cruises is the latest operator to start decorating the hulls of its ships. The company’s trademark Sea Witch is to be emblazoned across their bows in an way that outdoes P&O Cruises’ Union Jacks, and rivals the artwork on Norwegian Cruise Line vessels. The new look was unveiled today on Majestic Princess as the

February 2016

Captain Dino Sagani Named Master of Majestic Princess

Captain Dino Sagani has been named master of Majestic Princess, and Captain Craig Street has been appointed as relief Captain. Captain Sagani will lead a senior officer team with more than a combined 100 years of seagoing experience between them. He has worked for Princess Cruises for over 21 years having commanded a variety of

February 2016

Ponant partners with catering centre Ducasse Conseil

Luxury French cruise line Ponant has announced that it is joining forces with Ducasse Conseil, a catering centre of excellence run by Alain Ducasse Entreprise. In its quest for culinary excellence the cruise line has chosen to work with Ducasse Conseil, the Alain Ducasse Entreprise expert consulting arm. Established in 2000, Ducasse Conseil offers businesses

January 2016

Holland America Line’s Eurodam receives upgrades in dry dock

Holland America Line has released a series of photographs of Eurodam following a scheduled 14-day spell in dry-dock in the Bahamas. Lincoln Center Stage and Billboard Onboard are two new additions that complement the existing B.B. King’s Blues Club. Under the exclusive partnership with the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Stage showcases world-class

January 2016

There’s sex at sea on these steamy cruises

For most people, the idea of cruising has to do with fun in the sun, exploring new destinations and wining and dining shipboard. But for others, cruises are places where you can go … well … cruising. In a world where anything goes, charter companies book entire ships, or sections of ships, for couples seeking

January 2016