NCL Alaska, Carnival Hull Art, A-Rosa Sena, Crystal River, Golden Horizon, Culinary on Oceania Vista and more

August 15, 2021 quality_baz 0 Comments
The Big Cruise Podcast
The Big Cruise Podcast
NCL Alaska, Carnival Hull Art, A-Rosa Sena, Crystal River, Golden Horizon, Culinary on Oceania Vista and more
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Norwegian Cruise Line makes its Great Cruise Comeback from the U.S. with Norwegian Encore’s debut voyage to Alaska, where Icy Strait Point was the first port of call. Pictured here on the new Wilderness Landing pier, which was built in partnership between Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. and Huna Totem Corporation, are Norwegian Encore Captain Martin Holmqvist, NCL President and CEO Harry Sommer, Huna Totem Corporation CEO Russell Dick and Tyler Hickman, Vice President of Huna Totem Corporation.

Episode Overview

In Episode 67, Chris Answers a question from Claire in Vancouver. We discuss the inaugural cruise for Virgin’s Scarlet Lady, and the return to Service of Queen Elizabeth, and of course the latest cruise news of the week. 

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Cruise News

  • Golden Horizon Australian season canx
    • Tradewind Voyages has cancelled the upcoming 2021/22 Australian summer season of Golden Horizon (tall ship) due to continued uncertainty about the resumption of cruising.
    • The voyages will be replicated in 2022/23, and giving them the opportunity to shift the bookings to the same cabin at the same price a year later. Details to be released in Oct 2021.
  • Carnival Dream & Carnival Glory Become Latest Ship Adorned with New Hull Design
  • Carnival Dream is the latest Carnival Cruise Line ship to be adorned with a stunning new hull design, joining Carnival Magic which were completed over the past few weeks. Carnival Magic received the new livery in May, The next ship in line is Carnival Valor, which is currently in dry dock with work scheduled to be done by the end of July, marking the fourth ship to feature the new livery. Going forward, the new design will be added across all Carnival Cruise Line ships.
  • The new livery pays homage to maritime tradition and is inspired by design which debuted on its newest ship, Mardi Gras, scheduled to enter service from Port Canaveral, Fla., July 31.
  • A-ROSA announces official name and latest images of the E-Motion Ship
    • A-ROSA’s ground-breaking, eco-friendly new ship which sets sail in May 2022 is to be named A-ROSA SENA. The name Sena is taken from the Arabic language and means ‘beauty’.
    • The ship is currently under construction at the Concordia Damen shipyard near Rotterdam. She will start sailing on the Northern Rhine on 21 May 2022, with a seven-night cruise from Cologne visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Antwerp.
    • The ship will feature an ‘E-Motion’ concept which is truly innovative and a first on the rivers. Its hybrid propulsion system combines a diesel engine and a separate electric engine, which is powered by batteries. This means that when approaching a port, the ship can switch to battery power, enabling it to arrive almost silently and emission-free.
    • A-ROSA has also released a video and new images of A-ROSA SENA. The new renders show one of the seating areas on the sundeck where guests can enjoy the river views, the elegant lobby which will welcome guests on board and the panorama lounge which will boast a stage and dance floor for guests to enjoy.
    • This will be the largest ship in the fleet and will be the first vessel on the Rhine to feature four decks, has a length of 135m, a width of 17.7 metres. It has been built from the outset with families and multi-generational groups in mind and will offer a range of impressive features such as a kids club room, family cabins and a kids pool.
  • Crystal River Cruises’ 2022 Now Available
    • Crystal River Cruises’ 2022 River Atlas is now available for download and can also be found in the Order a Brochure section at crystalcruises.com. The comprehensive 184-page digital guide details the award-winning line’s 2022 season of all-inclusive European river cruises for all-balcony Rhine Class ships Crystal Bach, Crystal Debussy, Crystal Mahler, and Crystal Ravel, as well as Crystal Mozart, the “Queen of the Danube
    • Highlights of Crystal River Cruises’ 2022 deployment include:
      • Weekly Danube voyages from Vienna roundtrip on Crystal Mozart (now with dedicated Solo Suites).
      • Rhine cruises highlighting Amsterdam’s decennial Floriade Expo 2022 and maiden calls in Bulgaria and Romania.
      • New itineraries aboard Crystal Mahler including an 8-night “Romantic Rhine” cruise, immersive 10-night “Splendors of the Rhine & Moselle” voyages, and a convenient 5-night getaway sailing roundtrip from Amsterdam.
      • Extended combination cruises, Rhine & Moselle Summer Escapes, beloved Christmas Market sailings and holiday voyages celebrating the New Year in Vienna or Amsterdam.
  • Ship shape – Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth gets ready for her return to sailing
    • The final touches are being made to Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth as the luxury cruise line prepares to return to sailing on August 13th after a 17-month break.
    • Following a series of other UK voyages, Cunard’s international sailings on board Queen Elizabeth will begin in October with a cruise from Southampton to Amsterdam followed by a 14-night voyage to the Canary Islands and Madeira this November.
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Makes Its Great Cruise Comeback With First U.S. Sailing
    • Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 54-year history of breaking boundaries, celebrated its highly anticipated return to cruise in the U.S. with Norwegian Encore’s inaugural call to Icy Strait Point, Alaska.
    • The Brand’s newest innovative ship Norwegian Encore set sail from Seattle on 7 August, 2021 for her first season of voyages to Alaska. Adding to the already momentous milestone, Norwegian Encore is the first in the industry to berth at the new Wilderness Landing pier at Icy Strait Point, which was built in partnership between NCL’s parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) and Huna Totem Corporation, the village corporation owned by approximately 1,400 Alaska Native shareholders with aboriginal ties to Hoonah and the Glacier Bay area. Icy Strait Point is a wholly owned and operated subsidiary of Huna Totem Corporation.
    • On Tuesday 10 August, 2021, a double ribbon cutting ceremony took place to officially open the new Wilderness Landing pier and the first of two gondola systems to be completed as part of the joint investment between NCLH and Huna Totem.
    • A vehicle-free zone, the new Wilderness Landing provides additional forest and beach areas for visitors to explore the natural wonders of the destination. With the opening of the new high-speed Transporter Gondola, guests have easy access to Icy Strait Point’s first pier, Adventure Landing, where the Historic Salmon Cannery dating back to 1912 and other local attractions are located. Once completed later this northern hemisphere summer, the Mountain Top Gondola will take guests to the top of Hoonah Mountain at 487.6 metres of elevation, where kilometres of new hiking trails and scenic vistas await.
    • With 23,040 acres of private beach and temperate rain forest to explore, Icy Strait Point offers guests the opportunity to experience authentic Alaska. The island also offers the most accessible coastal brown bear viewing platforms in Southeast Alaska, whale watching, kayaking and the world’s largest ZipRider zip line. Located just over a kilometre from the Alaska native community of Hoonah, travellers also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture when visiting Icy Strait Point with exposure to native traditions and dances, oral histories and cooking classes.
    • Later this week, Norwegian Encore will make her first calls to Juneau and Ketchikan, Alaska, before returning to Seattle and continuing her season of week-long voyages to Alaska through 16 October, 2021.
  • “Ember” and “Aquamar Kitchen” to Debut Aboard Vista, Oceania Cruises’ New Ship
    • Oceania Cruises, the world’s leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has revealed the restaurants and dining experiences aboard its newest ship, Vista, due to debut in early 2023.
    • Vista will offer a total of twelve culinary venues, which is unprecedented for a ship of its size. Of the twelve, four are brand new and exclusive to Vista.
    • Ember is the signature addition to Oceania Cruises’ family of restaurants. Open for lunch and dinner, this is the ideal place to warm your culinary soul. Featuring a menu of inventive American creations blended with time-honoured classics, this inviting dining spot will instantly charm you with its alluring ambiance and tantalising menu. Whether you are looking forward to a leisurely evening of dining or a quick dinner before catching the headline show, Ember is where you want to be. Braised short ribs on Polenta, Grilled Swordfish with Asparagus, Crab Cakes with Spicy Aioli, and a Cobb Salad with Smoked Chicken are just a few of the delights designed to tempt the palate.  
      • Aquamar Kitchen presents a decidedly fresh perspective on dining and the pursuit of wellness. Whether you are a dedicated flexitarian or a die-hard foodie, Aquamar Kitchen offers an abundance of indulgence with none of the guilt. Breakfast selections include cold-pressed raw juices and super-food smoothies, hearty homemade granolas and avocado toasts, organic power bowls, and savoury breakfast wraps. For lunch, dozens of tempting, healthy dishes are offered such as Slow-Roasted Organic Salmon with quinoa tabouleh and lemon tahini, Yellowfin Tacos with white cabbage slaw, or even a Crunchy Chicken Sandwich on a freshly baked whole grain roll.
      • The Grand Dining Room is the luxurious grand dame of Oceania Cruises’ culinary world. Here, guests will savour a leisurely dining experience in a truly magnificent and inspired room whose ambiance soars to equally lofty heights as the cuisine. This signature dining experience has always offered a bevy of delicious continental dishes, and now a fresh and new array of options brings even more exciting possibilities. Every day presents a realm of choices from signature Jacques Pépin classics to an incredible spectrum of global flavours and an all-new Executive Chef’s Tasting Menu. Menus change daily with an expansive choice of at least ten entrées, soups and salads and ten main courses along with healthy options such as Aquamar Vitality Cuisine.
      • Polo Grill delights diners with the ultimate classic steakhouse experience presented with timeless reverence. Richly layered décor and an abundance of custom millwork create an imaginative rendition of tradition set against crisp white linen tablecloths, while a cadre of black jacketed servers set the tone for an evening of gracious dining. Each course stands as the very definition of time-honoured favourites, most notably the beef dishes, all of which are 28-day dry aged certified Black Angus USDA Prime, while succulent seafood dishes such as grilled swordfish and whole Maine lobster gratinée are also classics in their own right.
      • Toscana presents an evolution of Tuscan cuisine in a truly Italian setting of rich Chianina leather, hand-blown Venetian glass and Carrara marble. Evolved from generational family traditions, many of our recipes originated with the mothers and grandmothers of our own Italian culinary staff. Presented on elegant, custom-designed Versace china, masterfully prepared dishes exemplify the essence of Tuscany and celebrate Italy’s culinary passion. Perhaps the evening begins with the octopus carpaccio with Champagne vinaigrette or the Artichoke and Parmesan Cheese Timbale with Black Truffle Sauce, followed by classic dishes such as the Hand-Rolled Gnocchi with Pesto, a rich Risotto with Lobster Medallions and Shallots, or a Pan-Seared Sea Bass Fillet finished with Sorrento Lemon, Chardonnay and Capers.
      • Red Ginger radiates harmony and tranquility while evoking the boldness and subtleties of the extraordinary Pan-Asian dishes our talented chefs have created. Much like the room itself, the Thai, Korean, Japanese and Malaysian rooted specialties are a mélange of spicy and soothing, savoury and sweet to please virtually every palate. Begin with a salad of spicy roast duck and watermelon with cashews, mint and Thai basil. Savour a Malaysian beef Penang with coconut rice and paratha roti. Or try Thai vegetable curry with sweet potatoes, eggplant, mushrooms and basil in green curry sauce. In Red Ginger, the gustatory pleasures are as striking as the visual ones.
      • Terrace Café is the ultimate informal dining experience any time of day, whether inside the plushily adorned dining room or alfresco at one of the shaded tables on the stylish terrace. At breakfast, Terrace Café features a seemingly never-ending selection of sumptuous savoury and sweet temptations including made-to-order eggs, omelettes, pancakes and waffles. Come lunch, an expansive menu of international-inspired dishes is complemented by flavourful roasted and rotisserie meats and the magic of the pizzeria’s oven. In the evening, you’ll enjoy dinner in relaxed comfort as our chefs serve up an astounding array of dishes. Revel in a bounty of selections from grilled-to-order lobster tails, fish, fillets and steaks to freshly made, hand-cut sushi and sashimi. A varied menu of hot and cold specialties changes daily along with our hallmark Chef’s Market Dinners featuring locally inspired selections from the ports of call.
      • Waves Grill is a casual, colourful, and perhaps a bit playful setting for dining on all-American favourites. Located in a spacious, shaded area steps from the swimming pool and Terrace Café, Waves Grill offers an extensive and mouthwatering menu during lunch and late into the afternoon for that much-desired snack or meal after an adventurous day of touring ashore. Watch the chefs grill gourmet burgers, succulent seafood and sandwiches to order in the open galley, accompanying them with sides like fresh salads, coleslaw and crispy, hand-cut fries. There is always room for dessert and the selection here is too good to pass up. Try a homemade sorbet, a made-to-order hot fudge sundae or a thick, hand-dipped milkshake.
      • The Culinary Center ascends to a new level of gustatory immersion as our passionate Chef Instructors share their enlightening perspectives on culture and cuisine through the lens of food and wine. Here, guests may not only partake in lively hands-on instruction – they may also indulge the pleasures of the palate in the new ocean view Culinary Center Dining Room with private group dinners or one of our many exclusive and highly acclaimed food and wine pairing experiences.
      • Priveé is our marquee venue for bespoke, intimate culinary celebrations for a maximum of ten privileged guests. Dramatic backlit, debossed walls and a blooming flower petal ceiling from which a dramatic chandelier descends over the polished marble slab dining table set the stage for a memorable evening while a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass provides an exhilarating view to complement a most memorable private dinner party that can literally traverse continents.
      • Baristas offers the ultimate vistas aboard Vista with its commanding 270-degree views over the sea while guests enjoy complimentary illy® espressos, cappuccinos and lattes prepared by our master baristas as well as delicious pastries, finger sandwiches and homemade biscotti. Just steps away, the new Bakery, with its freshly baked French and Italian pastries, is certain to be an instant hit. As the delicate yet rich scents fill the air, you’ll be drawn from the adjacent coffee bar or Library for an indulgent chocolate-almond croissant or sinfully sweet bombolini while enjoying the lost art of people watching or simply gazing out at the azure blue sea.

And more

  • Ethical Cruise T-Shirts
    • Now available branded podcast t-shirts, cruise-tees and Christmas gifts or design your own in the studio. All using organic cotton, printed using green energy and plastic-free packaging! https://bit.ly/32G7Rdh

 

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