MSC Cruises became the number one cruise line in Europe and the Mediterranean, according to the 2015-2016 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. The Report said MSC attained the number one position based on a deployed capacity across the continent of about 1.1 million passengers.
Details appeared in the July 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Celebrity Bartender Wins Diageo Reserve World Class Bartending Competition
Santos Mercedes Enriquez, a senior bartender aboard Celebrity Equinox, rose above 5,500 other cruise line bartenders from three lines to win the title.
The finals were held last week at the Diageo 396 Bar in Miami.
The competition is judged by a panel of experts, including a former winner. The contestants are judged on various aspects of their craft, showmanship, creativity and bartending knowledge.
Enriquez won with his signature cocktail, “Violetta Falernum” in which he used Tanqueray No. Ten Gin. The recipe is below:
The 'Violetta Falernum'
Ingredients
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz rich sugar syrup
1/2 oz egg white
1 1/2 oz Tanqueray® No. Ten Gin
1/2 velvet falernum
1 bar spoon of creme de Yvette
A dash of Peychaud's bitter
Recipe
Put all the ingredients into a shaker and give it a dry shake first to emulsify the cocktail, then add the ice and shake it again, double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Glass
Coupe glass
Garnish
3 drops of Angostura bitters on top of the drink
Please drink responsibly.
The complete article appeared in the July 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The finals were held last week at the Diageo 396 Bar in Miami.
The competition is judged by a panel of experts, including a former winner. The contestants are judged on various aspects of their craft, showmanship, creativity and bartending knowledge.
Enriquez won with his signature cocktail, “Violetta Falernum” in which he used Tanqueray No. Ten Gin. The recipe is below:
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| Santos Mercedes Enriquez |
Ingredients
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz rich sugar syrup
1/2 oz egg white
1 1/2 oz Tanqueray® No. Ten Gin
1/2 velvet falernum
1 bar spoon of creme de Yvette
A dash of Peychaud's bitter
Recipe
Put all the ingredients into a shaker and give it a dry shake first to emulsify the cocktail, then add the ice and shake it again, double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Glass
Coupe glass
Garnish
3 drops of Angostura bitters on top of the drink
Please drink responsibly.
The complete article appeared in the July 17 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
The Price of Service
Norwegian Cruise Line said today they would again increase the daily service charge they charge passengers.
The new daily charge, effective for cruises departing August 1 and after, is $13.50 per person in any category up to a mini-suite. Passengers in all suites will pay $15.50 per person.
The complete story appeared in the July 16 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The new daily charge, effective for cruises departing August 1 and after, is $13.50 per person in any category up to a mini-suite. Passengers in all suites will pay $15.50 per person.
The complete story appeared in the July 16 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Other Things You'll Want to Know - July 16, 2015
CND suscribers also read about:
- Carnival Corp increasing their quarterly dividend by 20%.
- A former Disney cabin steward pleading guilty to molesting a 13-year-old girl and being sentenced.
Old Meets New
Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas crossed paths with one of the line's first ships, the former Sun Viking, in China this week.
The 18,455-ton former Sun Viking is now operated by Island Ship Management as Oriental Dragon. It left the Royal Caribbean fleet in 1998 after sailing with them for 26 years.
Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.
The 18,455-ton former Sun Viking is now operated by Island Ship Management as Oriental Dragon. It left the Royal Caribbean fleet in 1998 after sailing with them for 26 years.
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| Quantum of the Seas passes the former Sun Viking |
Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean International. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
New/Expanded Features to Be Added to QM2
It seems that the Cunard ships are always a work in progress. They keep thinking about what else their customers could want or what would make them more comfortable and then, in due course, adding it to their ships.
Cunard announced some new features that will be added to Queen Mary 2 during a 25-day dry dock at the Blohm+Voss shipyard at the beginning of next summer, along with an expansion of some that have proven quite popular.
The complete story appeared in the July 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Cunard announced some new features that will be added to Queen Mary 2 during a 25-day dry dock at the Blohm+Voss shipyard at the beginning of next summer, along with an expansion of some that have proven quite popular.
The complete story appeared in the July 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Die! Die, Dynamic
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but Royal Caribbean today advised travel agents that Dynamic Dining will not expand beyond the Quantum-class ships.
The program allowed passengers to dine in a different restaurant each evening, choosing from five main restaurants, each with a different (but static) menu.
The complete story appeared in the July 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The program allowed passengers to dine in a different restaurant each evening, choosing from five main restaurants, each with a different (but static) menu.
The complete story appeared in the July 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Unbundling the Dining Experience
At a time when most lines are urging you to buy more specialty dining via meal packages purchased in advance, Norwegian Cruise Line will be offering you the option to have less. Many of Norwegian’s specialty restaurants will be moving to a la carte pricing.
Details appeared in the July 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Details appeared in the July 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.
Missing from Statendam
When Holland America’s Statendam arrived back in Seattle on Monday at the end of a 14-day cruise to Alaska, it was missing one passenger. A 64-year-old man did not report for disembarkation as scheduled.
The complete story appeared in the July 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The complete story appeared in the July 14 edition of Cruise News Daily.
175 Years in Boston
Cunard celebrated their 175th year in their first US home port of Boston on Sunday (July 12, 2015) when Queen Mary 2 arrived on a voyage that commemorates the first Cunard transatlantic crossing.
There were a number of events in Boston, including these memorable moments.
Photos courtesy of Cunard Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.
There were a number of events in Boston, including these memorable moments.
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| Look at that form! The master of QM2, Capt Kevin Oprey, throws out the first pitch at a Red Sox game. |
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| Queen Mary 2 departs Boston under fireworks celebrating the 175th anniversary. |
Monday, July 13, 2015
All Ashore ....
Carnival Cruise Line has expanded their shore excursion offerings in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Bahamas not only in number, but also in the type of offerings.
The line now has almost 1,200 shore excursions in their catalog at nearly 50 ports of call.
Details appeared in the July 13 edition of Cruise News Daily.
The line now has almost 1,200 shore excursions in their catalog at nearly 50 ports of call.
Details appeared in the July 13 edition of Cruise News Daily.
First Woman on the Summit
After a 15-year career in the maritime industry, 37-year-old San Francisco native Kate McCue will take command of Celebrity Summit later this summer.
The complete story appeared in the July 13 edition of Cruise News Daily.