Royal Caribbean has announced that the Cuban government has granted approval for the company to begin cruises to Cuba. The company said it plans to announce its first Florida-Cuba itineraries in the near future.
“Our guests have expressed real interest in having the opportunity to experience Cuba, and we look forward to bringing them there,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Our discussions with our travel partners indicate that Cuba is a destination that appeals to a new generation of travelers.”
Two RCL lines, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises, will provide guests with travel directly to Cuba for the purpose of providing people-to-people exchanges between guests and Cuban citizens and other travel permitted by current U.S. regulations.
The cruise itineraries will comply with U.S. Department of Treasury rules that permit travel companies to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in people-to-people activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Ocean Cruising Skills Not Needed For Viking River Cruises
Ocean cruise travelers often figure out rather quickly; regardless of the cruise line, many parts of the experience are common. The itinerary runs from port to port. Offered at each port will be a variety of tours for an extra charge. There will be a buffet and other included dining options along with some optional ones. The more we sail, the better we get at our ocean cruising skills, the difference between cruise lines is not all that important. But then, for one reason or another, we try the world of river cruising. That refocused effort usually brings up Viking River Cruises, the most popular and highest-rated river cruise company in the world. Very quickly we find that there are ocean cruising skills not needed for Viking River Cruises.
Formal Wear
There simply are no formal events. Period. End of story. Every night I can wear nice jeans and a shirt with a collar and fit in just fine with others dressed similarly. I’ll bring along a sport coat more out of habit than necessity.
Booze Smuggling Skills
If the fact that beer and wine are included with meals is not enough liquor, passengers can and do buy some of the best wine in the world at stops along the way and bring it on board. Not a problem whatsoever. The only word of caution: don’t get carried away on those shoreside purchases. You won’t be able to take it on the plane back home and odds are the next day is going to bring another wonderful place where equally wonderful buying opportunities exist.
Staying Hydrated
Viking provides bottled water before shore excursions and in your stateroom, replenished as needed. If that is not fast enough, both sparkling and still water are on tap at the conveniently located 24-hour coffee stations.
Hiding Skills
This is not a ship with thousands of passengers and thousands of crewmembers. On our sailing, there were 180 passengers and 50 crew. We got to know most of them. Bottom line: There is no place to hide. Don’t try. The dining room opens for dinner after an evening chat from the ship’s Program Director (like Cruise Director on ocean ships). We often sit with different people in the dining room every night and enjoy every single one of them.
Survival Skills
While a mandatory safety drill is performed before the ship sets sail, the stark reality sets in that there are no lifeboats on river cruise ships. There’s a reason for that. There are rarely more than a few feet of water under the ship. If it “sinks”, all the passengers just go up to the sun deck and wait to be rescued, usually by someone they can holler to on the shore.
Don’t get me wrong, there are some cruising skills you may have learned on ocean cruising which will come in handy. Travelers who buy into the onboard programming offered by an ocean cruise line and come back home feeling refreshed, renewed or a bit different as a person can do the same on a Viking River Cruise. Travelers who have attained expert status on in the world of ocean cruises, figuring out now not to be nickel and dimed to death will love this: On a Viking River Cruise, there are few opportunities to spend in excess of what you paid upfront. That really jumps out of the experience as different, in a very good way.
Six and Eight-Day Itineraries Visit Spectacular Destinations in the Caribbean
The Carnival Vista cruises at sea. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
PortMiami welcomed Carnival Cruise Line’s newest, largest and most innovative ship, Carnival Vista, when it arrived this past Sunday to kick off a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day cruises to the Caribbean.
To officially welcome Carnival Vista to its Miami homeport, Carnival Vista Captain Stefano Battinelli and PortMiami Assistant Director Fred Wong participated in a traditional maritime plaque exchange prior to the ship’s inaugural departure from Miami.
As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Vista takes cruising to new heights, introducing groundbreaking features such as SkyRide, a suspended open-air cycling experience; the world’s first IMAX®Theatre on a ship; Kaleid-O-Slide, the line’s first water tube slide, part of the ship’s massive WaterWorks aqua park; and the RedFrog Pub & Brewery featuring the first brewery on a North American-based cruise ship.
“Miami has been our home since our company’s inception in 1972 and homeporting the new Carnival Vista here not only provides consumers with a convenient homeport with renovated facilities and numerous operational enhancements but speaks volumes about our confidence in growing this important market,” and said Christine Duffy, Carnival’s president.
Guests onboard Carnival Vista participate in SkyRide, an opportunity to pedal hanging recumbent-like bikes around an 800-foot-long suspended track some 150 feet above the sea. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Vista Brewmaster Colin Presby pours malt into a mash tun located in the RedFrog Pub’s brewery house onboard the Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival Vista Brewmaster Colin Presby tends to fermentation tanks in the RedFrog Pub onboard Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Guests onboard Carnival Vista participate in SkyRide, an opportunity to pedal hanging recumbent-like bikes around an 800-foot-long suspended track some 150 feet above the sea. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Guests converse in Havana Bar aboard the Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Tropics-inspired Havana Cabanas on the Carnival Vista feature accommodations with private outdoor patios including a hanging chair. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
Guests dance in Havana Bar aboard the Carnival Vista. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
The Carnival Vista cruises at sea. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
A guest onboard Carnival Vista slides down Kaleid-O-Slide, a water tube attraction situated amid WaterWorks, the ship’s onboard water park. The largest and most innovative cruise vessel in Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet, Carnival Vista measures 133,500 tons, 1,055 feet long and has a guest capacity of almost 4,000 passengers. Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Line
The ship will also offer a combination of one-time voyages, including a five-day cruise departing Dec. 11 and seven-day voyages departing Dec. 17 and 24, 2016, that offer an exciting selection of ports including the Caribbean’s newest destination, Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic, as well as Mahogany Bay, Grand Turk, Belize, San Juan, St. Thomas and Cozumel, depending on the itinerary.
In addition to visiting breathtaking Caribbean destinations, guests can experience all the Carnival Vista has to offer – from the colorful Havana area with tropics-inspired staterooms and suites and Family Harbor with special accommodations and a new family concierge to delicious choices like Seafood Shack and new al fresco options at the Fahrenheit 555 steakhouse, Bonsai Sushi and Cherry On Top, featuring a mixed-to-order premium ice cream bar.
For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.
River cruising continues to gain popularity, drawing in fans of ocean cruises for a distinctly different travel experience. Gone are casinos, top deck attractions, a wide variety of dining options and other parts of cruising that travelers like about ocean cruises. A standard river cruise features more of an efficient learning experience, fueled by history, geography, and culture. There are a variety of sources to consider for details about itineraries, places that might be visited, dining ashore and other parts of a river cruise. Not so easy to find are some European river cruise features that might not be the most positive part of the experience but are common to international travel, regardless of how we do it.
Photo- Scenic Cruises
French Toilets
Let’s just get the most unsavory item on the list out of the way first. Toilets are a totally different animal in European countries as compared to North American destinations. It commonly takes €0.50 to use one, paid to an attendant or machine and having a supply of €0.50 coins is a good idea. In restaurants and bars, buy something and there is no charge. Hotels might charge, might not. Then there is France and their public squat toilets, which are used squatting rather than sitting.
This is probably one of the most distinct cultural differences the first time international travelers will experience along the way. Also called an Indian, Asian or Turkish toilet these things may use a water and technically be a flush toilet, or not and be a dry toilet which is not much more than a fancy hole in the ground. More shocking to comparatively shy North Americans, they may not be in stalls but open for all to see. On a river cruise, you will be on a motorcoach and will be at tourist destination long enough to for the need of personal relief to be a reality.
The Long Walk To Bag Claim
I have never had the occasion to ask questions of an airport planner but one such question would be to clarify the reason for the long walk from the plane after entering the United States. I suspect that security, customs, and immigration authorities are watching us on the way to the first point of contact, but that’s just a guess. Whatever the reason, when entering the United States from most countries in the world, the walk to the first contact is a long one. Long enough that those who have difficulty walking long distances should request assistance, even if they did not need it on the front end of that travel plan.
Stacked River Cruise Ships
When docked, river cruise ships commonly tie up to each other, sometimes 4 or more deep. That causes some passengers to walk through other ships to get to theirs. At ground level, river cruise ships can look the same, making finding your ship a bit of a puzzle. Compounding that mystery, while you were on tour the ships may have moved. One might have sailed off to somewhere else while a new one took its place. A very good idea: take a photo of the exterior of your ship, where the ship’s name is. As far as we know, that part does not change.
The Itinerary Is More Fluid
On an ocean cruise, it takes a weather-related issue or mechanical problem to modify the itinerary. Otherwise, ships go from place to place on schedule with that time in port advertised in advance. River cruises don’t list times in port because you might not be delivered to those places by ship at all. River water levels, the number of ships going through the many locks passed through along the way and other factors come into play.
Security Seems Lax
Compared to ocean cruise ships, the world of river cruising is comparatively lax. There basically is no apparent security at all. Passengers come and go as they please any time of the day or night. But security is not really as lax as it seems for one very big reason that is also one of the most distinct differences between ocean and river cruises: the number of people on board. While they don’t take your picture before boarding, they know who y0u are because there are usually less than 200 passengers along for the ride. Proof of that can be found by the end of the first day when everyone knows your name.
Photo- Chris Owen
While there are differences, there are similarities too. Shared with their ocean-going counterparts is a very good travel value, perhaps better than an all-inclusive Caribbean resort. Try pricing visiting 8 different European cities vs seeing the same places on a river cruise. The price of hotel rooms, dining, transportation and more that are included in the price of the river cruise stacks up very nicely. That’s probably one of the very best European river cruise features.
Cruise lines commonly send out a last-minute travel checklist just before sailing, reminding us of important details to take care of before leaving home. Paying attention to these helpful suggestions can make getting to and on the ship easy and may have an impact on our entire travel experience. Still, from time to time we need to update suggestions for smooth sailing and supplement the information sent by cruise lines. This travel checklist update should help with that.
Before Leaving Home
Newspaper Service Suspended – Better yet, make arrangements for a neighbor to pick up papers and/or circulars left on your front door that would indicate that you are out of town. This goes for paid subscriptions as well as publications that show up on your driveway without your approval.
Alarm Company – If you have an electronic alarm, notify the alarm company of the dates you will be out of town as well as your local law enforcement agency.
Mail on hold –Click here to notify the US Postal Service that you will be out of town. We suggest choosing the option to “have mail delivered” on your return (Rather than standing in line at the post office to pick it up)
Bank/Credit Card Company Notified that you will be out of the country and to expect charges outside of your normal spending pattern. This is important so your bank will know you are out of town. As a security precaution, most banks will deny charges made from outside your normal spending area. Check on any daily cash withdrawal/charge limits on your card too- you may wish to change them while you cruise.
Cash On Hand – A supply of $1 bills on hand for miscellaneous tips to porters and/or room service (we suggest $20-30 per person). Even on sailings in foreign lands, the ship’s crew will gladly take American currency. If traveling internationally, have the equivalent of $100 in the currency of your first country visited on hand. You can order this from your bank and will probably get a better exchange rate than at a convenient currency exchange company located at the airport.
Emergency Notification – Friends and relatives can call you directly on the ship. They will need your ship, sailing date, booking number and stateroom number to do so. The easiest way to accomplish this is to have them call your cruise line directly and say “I need to call someone on a ship that is at sea right now”.
Your Cell Phone Provider – Check with cell phone service provider; understand roaming fees or other charges for using your phone at sea. The easy way to eliminate surprise charges and still have a working cell phone with you to use internationally in case of an emergency is to just put it on “airplane mode” or “do not disturb”. If expecting a phone call and/or wanting to be in touch at all times, see your cell phone service provider for the best way to do that.
Smart Traveler – The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Click here to enroll now.
Boarding The Ship
You will need three things to board the ship:
Boarding Pass – Your boarding Pass printed
Identification – Approved identification ready- double-check on cruise line website
Form Of Payment – Debit or Credit Card to guarantee your onboard purchases. Cash is also accepted although not recommended.
About Your Luggage
Let the ship porters have your large checked luggage but keep your carry-on luggage with you.
Be Prepared Checklist
Identification – Copies made of identification and other important documents- if you are bringing your smartphone along on the cruise, take photos of your passport, cruise documents, and luggage just before leaving home. That way those photos can be found easily if needed while traveling
Back up Identification – Exchange a copy with someone else you are traveling with if possible. That way, if you lose your copy, another is close at hand.
Identification Other Than Your Passport – You will be required to have your shipboard identification card, issued by the cruise line, to get on and off the ship. At some ports of call, a government-issued photo ID is also required. We suggest bringing along your driver’s license or some other photo ID for this purpose. Leave your passport locked securely in your stateroom safe.
Safe Storage – Put them in the cloud- Another good way to provide this important redundancy is to take photos of these documents with a smartphone you are bringing along on the cruise. Also, be triple safe and store these photos “in the cloud” using your preferred cloud storage source or, if you do not have one, try Google Drive.
Prescription Medications – Cruise lines suggest bringing prescription medications in the original bottles they came in, if not a copy of the prescription itself. I suggest taking a photo of the original bottle and storing it in the cloud and on your smartphone. I have never been asked to produce proof of medication but there is always a chance customs agents might indeed ask about those. More likely: a medical issue on the cruise causes you to visit a shipboard doctor who will ask what medications you take.
Keep In Your Carryon Luggage
Prescription medications, cameras, electronics, jewelry, and other valuable items should be in your carry on luggage, NOT luggage you might check and have handled by others
A Change Of Clothing Handy: Also, a change of clothing is a good idea too, perhaps a swimsuit too. Luggage may be delivered to your stateroom late in the day.
Do be sure to consider recommendations from the cruise line as well. They have line-specific tips and tricks to make the entire process go smoothly.
Harvest Caye, the highly anticipated Caribbean destination experience in beautiful Southern Belize, recently welcomed its first guests. Located just one mile offshore, Harvest Caye offers Caribbean travelers an authentic Belizean experience that highlights the country’s beauty and nature, along with resort-style amenities including a sprawling pool and private luxury beach villas; a variety of eco-activities and interactive wildlife programs; and an exhilarating cross-island zip line. With its close proximity to the mainland, Harvest Caye also offers guests easy access to a wide variety of adventure excursions. This spectacular resort-style port of call, developed by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., is the ultimate tropical destination experience and the only port in Belize that features a cruise ship pier for guest convenience and comfort.
The Harvest Caye experience was designed to showcase all that Belize is known for, from native plants and trees that all play a part in the destination’s eco-system, to the indigenous hardwoods used in the destination’s buildings, and the warm and welcoming Belizean team members who greet guests upon arrival.
“Harvest Caye is truly the ultimate Belizean experience and we are delighted to welcome our first guests today,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
“We have worked closely with the government of Belize to ensure that that this spectacular destination was authentic for our guests, provided economic opportunities for the local community and preserved and protected Belize’s incredible natural beauty. We’re overjoyed with the results of this four year development project, and we look forward to seeing Harvest Caye and Southern Belize grow as we delight the many guests that will call on the destination.”
Guests onboard Norwegian Dawn, sailing from New Orleans, today were the very first to experience all that Harvest Caye has to offer, stepping off the ship and right into paradise. Colin Murphy, senior vice-president of destination and strategic development for NCLH led a ribbon cutting ceremony and official grand opening, where he was joined by the Honorable Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation for Belize, Honorable Edmond Castro, Minister of State for National Emergency Management for Belize, and Mrs. Kim Simplis Barrow, Wife of Belize’s Prime Minister Dean Barrow.
All cruise lines share a number of common qualities. The big three; unpack once and visit multiple destinations, the more inclusive nature of a cruise vs. land vacation and a comparatively wonderful value are pretty much universal. Big ships will also probably have a good children’s program, multiple dining venues, numerous drinking places, shore excursions for sale, a casino and a spa of some kind. Still, each line has its unique cruise features; elements of what they do that no other cruise line does.
Cunard Line’s Planetarium is the star of an October 2017 Transatlantic voyage that will feature a number of interesting speakers and also take advantage of an uncluttered top deck, perfect for stargazing. They also have kennels so you can bring your dog.
Royal Caribbean International’s Ice Skating Rinks have been thrilling cruise travelers for decades and remain a solid differentiating factor and top entertainment choice
Norwegian Cruise Line’s freestyle dining absolutely takes the formal out of dining, an attractive way to go especially for those who must dress up for work.
Costa Cruises lives in the Mediterranean while other cruise line simply visit there on a seasonal basis.
Are any one of these features good reason to sail with a particular line? Maybe, if these features are of particular interest or there is concern that some other element of the experience might be affected by unknown factors. The weather and the exact mix of other travelers come to mind. Even the best planned itineraries and our most diligent research can’t rule out disruption to onboard services due to weather. If we happen to book on a sailing that has a large group of passengers who all know one another, their mere presence onboard can affect our experience.
One reader told me recently that while other entertainment options were not exactly what they prefer, the ice skating show on their Royal Caribbean cruise is one option they can always count on. Another could care less what is offered in the dining room on their Carnival Cruise as long as they get their daily fix of Guy Fieri. One more missed lobster on formal night and always-available shrimp cocktail on their otherwise favorite cruise line but liked the new casual atmosphere and not having to dress up.
At the end of the cruise, we want to look back and say we had a good time. If one or more features unique to a certain cruise help deliver that great cruise experience, that’s a solid factor to consider when booking.
This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.
Matching the right cruise line, ship and itinerary with the right traveler supports the idea that there is a cruise experience for everyone. Make a good choice and great things happen. Fail, and what might have been a wonderful memory becomes an experience to avoid, or so it seems. Cruise addicts do their homework, consult travel professionals or just click around the internet, learning by trial and error. Still, some travelers think cruise travel is apparently ‘just not for them‘, ‘not what they expected‘ or ‘not what it used to be‘. In most cases, some unfortunately common cruise mismatches have occurred, all of which are totally avoidable.
Flickr photo- Ida Myrvold
Cruise Mismatches: I Smoke/Don’t Smoke And Want To Enjoy My Travel Doing/Avoiding That
We’ll start with the easy one. It’s not a matter of speculation, we know smoking kills. But that’s not really the issue here. Even the most tolerant non-smokers don’t want any part of it. Still an option on cruise ships, smokers find themselves doing so in designated areas that seem to be getting smaller all the time, to the delight of non-smokers. Among cruise lines, some are more tolerant than others. Still, a non smoker with a smoker in balcony staterooms side by side is a match made in somewhere other than heaven, for either side.
Avoid This Cruise Mismatch: Fan or foe, an easy situation to avoid either way by specifically asking “Is smoking allowed? If so, where?” Informed decision now possible.
Cruise Mismatches: I Got A Great Deal But The Cruise Was Lousy. Never Again!
Avoid This Cruise Mismatch: Take a good hard look at who we are considering for that personal recommendation.
Cruise Mismatches: I Remember The Old Days Of Cruising Fondly. Where Did They Go?
One of the tougher responses to deal with, for seasoned cruisers who look forward to formerly common elements found on most ships I have two thoughts and a solution.
Frankly, Things Change– Like the topic of smoking noted above, what is offered on cruise lines WILL change over time, for a number of reasons. The one-size-fits-all cruise experience of yesterday has evolved over time, enabling more travelers to enjoy a way of traveling that if nothing else is quite efficient and brings good value. Price a trip around the Mediterranean in a hotel-hopping way with transportation, meals and activities all price separately to verify that.
Well, We Asked For It- Much of what onboard programming includes is based on what cruise lines know/believe/speculate travelers want. Elements of yesteryear’s cruise experience that don’t exist today did not go extinct. There is no shortage of food keeping the commonly found Midnight Buffet of a decade ago from happening. It’s not even the easy answer, “they’re trying to cut costs“, although that’s getting close. There are a number of roads leading to the answer here as it pertains to big ship cruising, but all wind up in the same place: we asked for it. When booking a big ship cruise, especially for first time cruise travelers, price is a huge factor. Those new to cruising take a cursory glance at itineraries and onboard programming, more often comparing price than time in port.
Avoid This Cruise Mismatch: A very good way to get the cruise experience we want is to ask specific questions based on the stellar memories of past sailings. Those are the big reasons we want to repeat the experience. Pull out the old photo albums and scrapbooks then notepad in hand, relive the experience noting the parts best liked. If the options for booking are to click or call, make the call and ask: Do they still have a Midnight Buffet on this cruise line? If the person on the other end of the phone does not have the answer, it’s most likely that no one has asked them before. Give them a chance to find out but don’t be surprised if the answer changes between then and the cruise you have booked six months from now. Again, things change. One of the more popular questions to ask that may eliminate disappointment later: “Do you still have lobster night and/or shrimp cocktail on the menu?”
On The Horizon
These and other questions asked up front can help insure a quality cruise travel experience. Still, with those reliable sources in the rear view mirror and now onboard, any reasonable person will expect the cruise line to provide a quality travel product. How closely that actual experience resembles what the cruise line promises in advance will ultimately provide the answer to the question of if a cruise is a good travel option for each individual.
This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.
Associating Holland America Line with the past is natural; the line’s origin dates back to 1873. Recently, a collectively intelligent wind of change has opened the Holland America experience to relevant ideas. Now, the Holland America evolution continues with a culinary partnership that makes total sense, again building on their past while positioning the line for future growth. A huge bonus: that Holland America culinary focus brings a new partnership that is a win for one of the most significant groups of cruise travelers in the Holland America demographic: Foodies.
Photo- Holland America Line
At a time when many other cruise lines have hung the responsibility for their culinary efforts on big name celebrity chefs, Holland America Line had held back. Rightfully so, their Culinary Council* already brings a diverse group of highly-skilled cuisine professionals to the tabletops of Holland America ships sailing around the world. We saw the ongoing result of those efforts not long ago on new ms Koningsdam, a game changer in the big ship cruise category.
Photo – Chris Owen
Now, Holland America Line is partnering with the long-running public television show America’s Test Kitchen, to make unique experience possible at sea. Announced in foodie heaven New York City at a press conference at the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education, Holland America Line’s shipboard Culinary Arts Center will be transformed to replicate the television set where the prominent America’s Test Kitchen TV shows are recorded for broadcast by more than 350 public television stations nationwide.
“We provide our guests with tremendously immersive and authentic experiences to enrich their travel, and America’s Test Kitchen’s commitment to delivering a quality culinary experience with a focus on learning is a perfect match.”- Orlando Ashford, Holland America Line President.
Significant here, the partnership calls for Holland America Line chefs trained by America’s Test Kitchen culinary experts. Onboard, Holland America Line guests will enjoy shipboard cooking demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Topics will range from shaping Asian dumplings to making the perfect pie crust. Also unique, the knowledge cruise travelers will take home after sailing will be of a far higher quality than before on Holland America ships or on any other cruise line that offers immersive chef-oriented programming. You see, public television’s America’s Test Kitchen is sort of like the Consumer Reports of cooking shows. Foolproof, accessible recipes and cooking techniques come from rigorous testing and a science-based approach to cooking not found elsewhere.
Photo – Chris Owen
Holland America Culinary Focus Brings General Cooking Interest Programming
Onboard, demo courses are planned to be 45-minutes long with a mix of video content, live instruction, taste tests and recipe samples. Some of the thoughtful courses in development include Asian Dumplings (pictured below), Salad for Two, We Love Chocolate, Everything Salmon, Getting to Know Chiles, Flavors of the Mediterranean, Meatless Monday Meals and New Italian Favorites. Foodies like the idea of bringing culinary knowledge home from their cruise, this partnership will enable them to do that more effectively.
Photo – Chris Owen
Holland America Culinary Focus Also Brings Specific Skill Set Programming
Also planned are longer, 90-minute workshops that focus on teaching a specific skill set. How about learning how to make Perfect Pies or Handmade Pasta? The possibilities are endless, enabled by consumer-friendly America’s Test Kitchen programming brought to sea as well as familiar faces that will energize the experience far beyond “As Seen On TV”.
Photo – Chris Owen
Holland America Culinary Focus- Coming To A Holland America Ship Near You
America’s Test Kitchen demo courses and workshops will begin aboard ms Westerdam October 18 for the ship’s Mexico season and on ms Nieuw Amsterdam November 13 for the Caribbean season. The program is expected to roll out fleetwide by June 2017.
Photo – Chris Owen
Not Familiar With America’s Test Kitchen? America’s Test Kitchen is a fully equipped, 2,500-square-foot test kitchen located in Massachusetts where a team of more than 50 highly qualified test cooks perform thousands of tests every year. The Holland America partnership continues the quest of America’s Test Kitchen. Charged with developing the best recipes and cooking techniques the process includes reviewing and rating the best cookware and equipment as well as taste-testing and recommending brand-name supermarket ingredients.
“This is an incredible opportunity for fans of America’s Test Kitchen, and food lovers in general, to immerse themselves in the Test Kitchen experience,” said David Nussbaum, CEO of America’s Test Kitchen. “The classes on board Holland America Line ships will feature our famous foolproof recipes designed to be repeated and enjoyed long after the voyage has ended. We are excited that Holland America Line is helping America’s Test Kitchen reach more enthusiastic home cooks through this onboard experience.”
Photo – Chris Owen
How intense is the America’s Test Kitchen process?
Recipes are tested as many as 70 times to arrive at the combination of ingredients, technique, temperature, cooking time and equipment that yields the best, most foolproof recipe.
Recipes and reviews are published in two magazines, Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country, in a growing line of cookbooks and special interest magazines, and on the America’s Test Kitchen websites and through an instructional online Cooking School. They also are featured on two public television series:Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country. Also part of the deal: Holland America Line guests will experience 24-hour access to episodes of America’s Test Kitchen as well as Cook’s Country television programs in their staterooms.
Photo – Chris Owen
America’s Test Kitchen looks to be a wonderful match for the trending Holland America Line experience and a direct result of energized Holland America Line cruise travel experience enabled by relatively new President Orlando Ashford.
Holland America Culinary Focus Shines in Partnerships
*Holland America Line’s Culinary Council is led by Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, joined by renowned international chefs Jonnie Boer, David Burke, Elizabeth Falkner and Jacques Torres. The line also has exclusive partnerships with Sushi Chef Andy Matsuda and Master Mixologist Dale “King Cocktail” DeGroff. In addition, focused regional chefs and culinary experts have been known to be included in Holland America culinary programming. We saw that first hand on a Holland America Sip – Savor – Sail cruise to Alaska that featured Seattle Space Needle Executive Chef and Seattle Seahawks chef
Photo – Chris Owen
Booking: For more information about the Holland America culinary focus, consult a travel professional, call 1-877-SAIL HAL (877-724-5425) or visit hollandamerica.com.
This article is brought to by Cruise Compete. CruiseCompete.com allows you to easily compare multiple offers from Cruise Experts.
The world of cruise vacations continues to expand offerings, focusing on everything from family travel to couples, solo travelers, business groups and more. Along with those choices come new ships, custom built for sailing in certain parts of the world. Already sailing ships are being reworked to reflect a more focused cruise traveler as well. Just off Viking Ocean Cruises new Viking Star, one part of the experience was almost universally appreciated by passengers: the enrichment lectures. Not something new, a variety of cruise line offer such events. Very much new and trending: a focus on specific traveler interests.
Azamara Specific Traveler Interests Focus On Wildlife
Azamara Club Cruises is teaming up with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as part of its commitment to help protect and conserve the oceans of the world. Already in progress, the Azamara/WWF partnership includes onboard lectures from leading experts on a wide range of topics. The aim: provide Azamara guests with insight into nature’s value.
“As we sail from port to port, it’s imperative to appreciate the bodies of water that make our travel possible and protect the ocean life that inhabit them.” – Larry Pimentel, President and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises.
Focusing on destinations is nothing new for Azamara, we saw that first hand not long ago on a Summer Baltics sailing, that tapped the considerable resources of AFAR magazine for destination information. Bringing the experience onboard, Azamara partnered with social traveler Lee Abbamonte, the Most Traveled Man In The World and the youngest to visit all countries on the planet.
During the Azamara/WWF partnership, experts will share stories of the places and species WWF serves to protect, many of which are visited by Azamara ships.
World Wildlife Fund Speaker Series guests will include:
Nilanga Jayasinghe, Program Officer, Wildlife Conservation – Jayasinghe’s focus is on Asian species conservation, particularly elephants, rhinos, tigers and snow leopards. She is part of the WWF’s core team working on wildlife conservation.
Cassie O’Connor, Manager, FoundationRelations – O’Connor works with the foundation to staff to provide support to conservation projects throughout the world.
Pete Pearson, Director of Food Waste – Pearson works on food waste prevention and food recovery, helping businesses understand the intersection of agriculture and wildlife conservation. For almost a decade, he has worked as a change agent within various businesses and non-profits on regenerative agriculture, sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Dr. Sybille Klenzendorf, Senior Biologist, Wildlife Conservation – Dr. Klenzendorf leads wildlife conflict mitigation and Arctic species conservation issues for the WWF network.
Michael Osmond, Senior Program Officer – Osmond works on fisheries improvement projects, fisheries technology innovations and bycatch reduction efforts across World Wildlife Fund and manages a collaborative program that brings together the fishing industry, research institutes, universities and governments to inspire and reward practical, innovative fishing gear designs that reduce bycatch.
Nicky Sundt, Consultant on Energy and Climate Change Issues- Sundt has more than 35 years of experience in government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. He most recently served as WWF’s director of Climate Science and Policy Integration, having previously worked as WWF’s director of Climate Communications.
Fathom Brings Specific Traveler Interests Focus On History
Carnival Corporation’s new Fathom cruise line is taking one of their two ships to Cuba on seven-day cruises from Miami that visit the historic ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. In post-cruise surveys, Fathom guests are giving high marks for a great experience at all three destinations, which would otherwise be challenging to visit, and on the Adonia, which houses 700 travelers, providing a sense of intimacy that guests are enjoying.
Highlights of the highly sought after cruise vacation include the island’s famously friendly people, Spanish and French colonial architecture, traditional Cuban music and dance, restaurants with genuine Cuban cuisine, museums, cathedrals, coastal fortresses, the cannons on San Juan Hill, the shores of Cojimar that were Ernest Hemingway’s favorite fishing village, and lively nightlife including the famous Tropicana Club, and much more.
In addition to interesting information on the way to Cuba, Fathom cruise travelers enjoy on-the-ground activities that provide the opportunity to interact directly with Cuban people and gain insight into their everyday lives, rich culture and history.
Just how popular are these enriching journeys? Fathom recently added three new tours that serve as a wonderful example of their addressing specific traveler interests
In Hemingway’s Footsteps (Five hours) – Ernest Hemingway fans and curious travelers will see Havana through the eyes of the famed author. From the cobblestone streets of Old Havana to the shores of fishing village Cojimar, the spirit of Hemingway is immortalized in bars, museums and recipes. Travelers may follow in Hemingway’s footsteps as they explore the streets he once called home. Travelers visit Hemingway’s home “Finca Vigia,” stop by his favorite fishing spot and inspiration for “The Old Man and The Sea” – the village of Cojimar – step into the room in which Hemingway wrote “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and grab a bite and drink at one of his favorite restaurants or watering holes. The excursion includes lunch and refreshments. The per-person price is $59.
Beyond Havana: Exploring the Cuban Countryside (Nine hours) – Travelers will have a rare opportunity to experience rural life in Cuba as they crisscross the countryside known for its coffee and sugar production. One highlight is Las Terrazas, developed in the 1960s as part of Cuba’s Green Revolution and recognized today as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Las Terrazas has become an ecotourism hotspot and a sustainable community model for artists, farmers and families utilizing organic farming and medicine. Travelers can interact with doctors who transform flora and fauna into alternative medicines, visit the vibrant art community and organic farms, and wander the ruins of a former French coffee plantation. Cuban coffee sipped inside a biosphere may be the best in the world. The tour includes lunch at one of Las Terrazas’ locally sourced restaurants and refreshments throughout the day. The per-person price is $69.
Magic of Santiago Featuring El Cobre (Six hours) – Travelers looking to experience the coming together of revolution, rum, religion and salsa will not want to miss this tour of Santiago de Cuba – Cuba’s former capital and the third of three destinations during the week-long cruise to Cuba. Starting downtown in picturesque Antonio Maceo Revolution Square, travelers proceed to the final resting place of famed Cuban hero Jose Marti before touring San Juan Hill, home to the Rough Riders assault during the Spanish-American War. The tour ventures beyond the limits of the Santiago city center into the Sierra Maestra mountain range for the city of El Cobre, a historic copper mining town with African influence. Here travelers will visit the famous Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, where they will hear about the role religion plays in the daily lives of local communities while learning about the history of the shrine and the impact made during the Pope’s visit in September 2015. Travelers also will have the option to attend a mass (when available), as well as listen to the sounds of the city’s famed steel drum band, El Cobre. The per-person price is $69.
Cunard Line Focuses On Specific Traveler Interests With Enrichment Series
There’s almost no limit to what you can learn on your holidays. All the speakers add another dimension to your cruise. And that’s just the start, with experts on hand to teach you about everything from computers to distant constellations.
Gregory Porter– Experience the best Jazz at Sea featuring Grammy® Award-winning vocalist Gregory Porter. In addition to performances by Gregory Porter, guests will be treated to a variety of nightly performances around the ship from our line up of acclaimed Blue Note artists.
Will Lyons- Wine writer, author, journalist and broadcaster Will Lyons has published a weekly wine column for more than a decade – formerly in The Wall Street Journal and now The Sunday Times. His humorous, informed, down-to-earth writing has been recognized in both the Glenfiddich and Roederer wine writing awards.
Hilary Alexander OBE- A New Zealand-born British journalist and former fashion director of the Daily Telegraph, Hilary has continued to work as a freelance stylist and writer, is the editor-at-large of Hello Fashion Monthly, and a regular presenter and host at Clotheshow.
Specific Traveler Interests Of The Future
On a recent sailing aboard Viking Ocean Cruises new Viking Star, our itinerary was themed In The Wake Of Vikings. That journey traced Leif Eriksson’s voyage of 1000 AD. We called on ports rich in Viking history, from the Shetland Islands and Iceland to Greenland and Newfoundland, with historic Bergen and cosmopolitan Montreal bookending the journey. That itinerary included enrichment lectures such as:
Mr Lou Thieblemont with Shackeltons’s Open Boat Journey, the greatest story of endurance ever, as well as Aviation- A Flight On A Boeing 757 which was a virtual trip from Akeueri to Reykjavik in the cocpit of a Boeing 757 flight simulator. Another talk by Mr Thieblemont, Aviation- How Planes Fly explained how planes develop lift, how its systems work and what pilots do during flight.
Mr Robin Petch had The Whole Nine Yards- Nautical Sayings And Superstitions which explored the nautical origins of many popular expressions and beliefs
Dr Roger Luckinbach presented Stars That Fall, The Origins & Scientific Value Of Meteorites
Dr John Haywood gave us deep background with The Norse Greenland Colony about the Viking settlement of Greenland and its mysterious demise. Another lecture by Dr Haywood was all about Viking Seafaring & Navigation, a fascinating talk about how the Vikings built and navigated their ships.
It wasn’t all that long ago that some industry watchers commented on the repositioning of Princess Cruises popular Caribbean Princess to some place other than the Caribbean. The thought at the time: Princess had made a mistake naming a ship after a certain geographic part of the world. Accurate or not, custom built and rebuilt ships are focusing more on specific niches of travel interest. Onboard programming as well has a focus on specific traveler interests. Look for more of this coming to a cruise line you might already sail. This might also be good reason to research other cruise lines in an effort to find one that matches topics of interest.
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