Cruise Planners - Exciting news: Celebrity announces "Immersive Europe Wine Cruises"

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Exciting news: Celebrity announces "Immersive Europe Wine Cruises"

October 11, 2011

Inspired by guest interest, and to continue to offer the best vacation experiences in Europe, Celebrity Cruises has modified a portion of its European lineup in 2012 to present a series of new and distinct vacations designed to appeal to wine enthusiasts, as well as those who simply love the beauty and culture of the top-producing wine regions in Europe.

With six of its 11 ships (including the 2012 debut of Celebrity Reflection) sailing in Europe next year, Celebrity will have the newest hardware in the region, and the line's already extensive itinerary portfolio in Europe - with new Venice homeport offerings and first-time Iceland and Fjords sailings - now will include seven exceptional wine-themed sailings showcasing Celebrity's culinary leadership, and replacing several of the line's previously announced Holy Land and Greek Isles/Turkey sailings from Istanbul in 2012.

From September 7 through November 18, 2012, spanning the height of the fall harvest season, Celebrity Constellation - which completed a $40-million "Solsticizing" renovation just last year - will present entirely new "Immersive Europe Wine Cruises" from Southampton, England. The new sailings will be open for booking beginning Friday, October 14, 2011.

Designed to offer vacationers rich experiences in the classic wine countries of France, Spain and Portugal, the new itineraries feature overnight stays in Le Havre (for Paris/Normandy) and Le Verdon (for Bordeaux), France, as well as Bilbao, Spain, allowing vacationers ample time to sip Champagne in the "City of Light," taste robust Bordeaux in the land that bears its name, and relish fine Rioja wines. Guests also will have the opportunity to enjoy tours and tastings at some of the region's most renowned wineries, grape harvesting experiences, and gain in-person insight into how Port wine is blended and aged in Porto, Portugal.

Celebrity's onboard experience will reflect the flair and flavor of the region, too, with activities developed in partnership with local wineries, including Rioja tastings, Champagne brunches, Bordeaux samplings featuring up to five wines from well-known Chateaus, Port and food pairing dinners and more, including special events in the ship's Cellar Masters bar, complete with its "Enomatic" by-the-glass wine serving system. A seasonal wine package featuring special selections from the region also will be added to Celebrity's already popular package offerings.

"This new series of modern luxury vacations represents a perfect blend of Celebrity's innovation and expertise in food and wine with the regions of Europe that have long been recognized for both," said Celebrity's President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "It's a truly one-of-a-kind vacation. No other cruise line offers such an enormous breadth and depth of experiences in this highly-rated region during harvest season, and no other line can deliver it like Celebrity can, with our exceptional wine program, expertly trained sommeliers, Cellar Masters wine bars, and up to 500 selections of wine on every ship."

After departing from Southampton, Celebrity Constellation's new wine-themed 12-night itineraries begin with three consecutive overnight stays: one each in Paris (Le Havre) and Bordeaux (Le Verdon), France, and Bilbao, Spain, and also feature visits to Vigo, Spain and Porto, Portugal. The sailings depart roundtrip from Southampton September 7 and 19; October 1, 13 and 25; and November 6 and 18, 2012. A two-night cruise departing Amsterdam, Netherlands, on September 5, 2012, can be taken on its own, for an enticing little taste of Celebrity's modern luxury offerings, or combined with the September 7 sailing to create a rich 14-night vacation. The ship's 15-night transatlantic voyage from Europe to the U.S. now will depart Southampton November 30, 2012, with visits to Paris/Normandy (LeHavre), France; Lisbon, Portugal, and Tenerife, Canary Islands, ending in Miami, Fla.
At the same time, Celebrity is enhancing its presence in the Mediterranean on two of its award-winning Solstice Class ships - the new Celebrity Silhouette and flagship Celebrity Solstice - to offer experiences the line's guest surveys indicate will be even more appealing, with more ports in both Italy and Croatia.

Five previously announced Holy Land sailings on Celebrity Silhouette in 2012 have been modified to the following:

13-night Eastern Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise departing Civitavecchia (for Rome) August 22, with calls on Naples/Capri and Catania, Sicily, Italy; Mykonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Chania (Souda), Crete and Athens (Piraeus), Greece, and Valletta, Malta, ending with an overnight stay in Venice
13-night Italy and Croatia cruise departing roundtrip from Venice September 4, with visits to Koper, Slovenia; Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; Valletta, Malta; and Sicily (Messina), Bari and Ravenna, Italy, ending with an overnight stay in Venice
12-night Adriatic cruise beginning September 17 with an overnight in Venice, and visits to Koper, Slovenia; Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Valletta, Malta; and Ravenna, Bari, Catania, Sicily, and Naples/Capri, ending in Rome (Civitavecchia)
12-night Italy and Croatia cruise departing Rome (Civitavecchia) October 11, with an overnight stay in Naples/Capri, in addition to visits to Bari, Ravenna and Catania, Sicily, Italy; Corfu, Greece; Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Koper, Slovenia, ending with an overnight stay in Venice

11-night Adriatic cruise beginning October 23 with an overnight stay in Venice, and including another overnight stay in Naples/Capri, with visits to Ravenna and Catania, Sicily, Italy; Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; and Valletta, Malta, ending in Rome (Civitavecchia)

Four previously announced Mediterranean cruises on Celebrity Solstice in 2012, roundtrip from Barcelona, Spain, also have been modified, to offer more ports in the Western Mediterranean, as well as an overnight stay in romantic Venice, as follows:

12-night Mediterranean departing May 11, with visits to Dubrovnik, Croatia; Ajaccio, Corsica; Provence (Toulon), France; Naples/Capri, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), in addition to the overnight in Venice, Italy
12-night Mediterranean departing June 28, with visits to Cannes/Monte Carlo, France; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Florence/Pisa, Naples/Capri and Rome, in addition to the overnight stay in Venice
12-night Mediterranean departing August 15, and October 2, with visits to Kotor, Dubrovnik, Naples/Capri, Rome (Civitavecchia), and Malta, in addition to the overnight stay in Venice

With a constant eye on how to best recognize and reward its most loyal guests, Celebrity will further enhance its total European vacation experience by presenting an offer available exclusively to Captain's Club members: From October 14 to December 16, 2011, members who book any nine-night or longer Celebrity vacation on any of the line's six ships sailing in Europe in 2012 will receive an onboard credit of $400 per suite, $225 for each AquaClass or ConciergeClass stateroom, $175 for each veranda stateroom, and $125 for each inside or oceanview stateroom.

Non-members have their chance to capitalize on a special offer, too. In recognition of National Cruise Vacation Week, consumers who book any nine-night or longer Celebrity Europe vacation from October 14-23, 2011, will receive an onboard credit of $250 per suite, $200 per AquaClass or ConciergeClass stateroom, $150 per veranda stateroom, and $100 for inside or oceanview accommodations.

Theme Cruises add a new dimension to your CRUISE

Everyone has a passion or interest. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could combine that passion with a Celebrity cruise? Interested in food? Wine? Antiques? Theme cruises are a great way to learn more through seminars, hands-on sessions, concerts, tastings and more. And, it's a great way to spend time with people who share your same interests.

Celebrity's Wine Experience. Underscored with a vast wine list and one of the largest teams of sommeliers in the world, this distinctive program offers you an enriching wine-centric experience and knowledge that will be enjoyed long after your cruise is over.

Onboard Wine Collection CELEBRITY HAS extensive onboard wine collection includes over 480 selections on Solstice Class^® ships and over 350 selections on Celebrity Century^® and Millennium Class^® ships. Every major wine-producing region is represented. Choose from a spectacular assortment, including Rare Vintages, California Rare Cult Wines, and Grand Cru Champagnes.

Sommeliers

Educate your palate. Tap into the knowledge of the sommeliers located in every restaurant onboard. These respected wine experts are readily available to make suggestions and assist with you wine pairing questions. Every sommelier is certified by the United States Sommelier Association and Celebrity is proud to have one of the largest teams of sommeliers in the world.

Inspired by the vineyards of Napa Valley, Cellar Masters brings to life the experience of a global wine tour. A welcoming and unique onboard environment, it's a place to discover new wines, receive recommendations and enrich your knowledge of wine. A new addition to the Cellar Masters wine bar is our state-of-the-art Enomatic® wine serving and preserving system. Choose your wine, push a button, and pour a glass. Cheers!

All Solstice Class ships boast one of these remarkably tall wine towers, created by renowned designer, Adam Tihany. Each holds 1800 bottles of wine-so many choices.

From Wine Appreciation 101 to the Celebrity Cruises and Austrian crystal manufacturer Riedel Workshops and everything in between, these onboard programs make the most of your love of fine wine.

Celebrity offers a series of "Savor Your Destination" wine cruises where wine is not just served, it's celebrated and explored. Guest Vintners will be onboard to help further your understanding and appreciation of wine.

Adding flavor to an already robust onboard experience are new special interest cruises, a part of the Celebrity Life Savor series, geared to those with a fine appreciation of food and wine. A renowned guest chef or wine maker will be invited aboard select cruises to celebrate all we love about good food and wine. There's no better place to showcase all this talent other than aboard the award-winning Celebrity ships with their already outstanding food and drink experience.

Cheers! Raise A Glass To Your Good Taste in Wine.

The "Savor Your Destination" wine cruises offer memorable events designed to further your appreciation and understanding of wine and fine spirits.

•	Wine, champagne, sparkling wine and port tastings.
•	Learn how food can impact the flavor of wine
•	Discover what a spectacular pair port wine and chocolate make
•	Shore excursion to a winery with a wine tasting and dinner
•	Connoisseur Wine Dinner where French and California wines are paired to the Best of the Pacific Coast.
•	Learn how the shape of a wine glass affects flavors on the palate in our popular Riedel Wine Glass Comparative Workshop.

Feed Your Inner Foodie With A Menu Of Tempting Events.

Each "Savor Your Destination" culinary cruise offers a series of experiences to engage your taste buds and your mind.

•	Meet and chat with the guest chef during a cocktail hour and have your photo taken together.
•	Watch a chef-led cooking demonstration highlighting techniques and ingredients in the ship's theatre.
•	Book signings, for those chefs with published books.
•	Watch-or be selected to participate in-the "Star Chefs" competition cook-off. Guests are selected from the audience, then guided by the ship's own top chef to compete in a cook-off judged by a panel of fellow guests.
•	Take part in a hands-on cooking class led by the chef in the ship's galley and receive a special recipe booklet featuring the chef's own creations.
•	Exclusive food-and-wine-pairing dinner in the Murano Restaurant, designed and presented by the chef. Leave with a special booklet of the chef's recipes.

Carol Rice, MCC

Exciting news: Celebrity announces "Immersive Europe Wine Cruises"

Theme Cruises add a new dimension to your CRUISE