Cruise

Vacation.com unveils new Culinary Collection

Vcom-cruise-Jan21

Vacation.com has introduced its 2014 Culinary Collection, featuring 45 unique food and wine-themed cruises embarking from ports of call all around the world.

Many of Vacation.com’s cruise line partners are included in the collection, including Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

Vacation.com member clients booking a Culinary Collection cruise can receive exclusive added amenities at no additional cost. The amenities may include the services of a concierge host, an exclusive shore event, a private cocktail reception, shipboard credit, bottles of wine, free specialty restaurant meals, exclusive chef demonstrations and/or prepaid gratuities.

“In its fourth year, Vacation.com’s Culinary Collection program continues to be one of the most highly anticipated offerings for both clients and members. It provides unique, one-of-a-kind experiences to celebrate acclaimed wines and regional food traditions aboard upscale luxury cruise ships,” says Vacation.com vice-president Canada, Christine James. “The cruises in our collection offer exclusive amenities for our members’ clients who are able to enjoy an educational experience by learning how to cook or pair wines while travelling to breathtakingly beautiful destinations.  Our Culinary Collection offers unique and enriching programs with something for everyone.”

The 2014 Culinary Collection features demonstrations from world-renowned chefs, cooking classes onboard and on shore, as well as wine and spirit tastings, and meals focused on regional cuisines. The following is a sampling of some of this year’s offerings:

!!! Celebrity Cruises’ Culinary Collection sailings provide clients with a bottle of wine, specialty dining for two and the services of a concierge host, an exclusive shore event and a private cocktail reception on each of the three culinary themed sailings. The 11-night Eastern Mediterranean Culinary Collection cruise aboard the Celebrity Reflection provides guests with an exclusive shore event, The Essence of Ancient Athens.

!!! Crystal Cruises has four new food and wine-themed cruises for 2014 that include world-renowned chefs and wine experts who share their talents at lectures, special meals and tastings onboard and ashore. Vacation.com clients will enjoy $250 Shore Excursion Credit per person on each of these culinary themed sailings.

!!! Throughout any of the 12 Culinary Collection departures Holland America Line offers, guests will not only enjoy delicious and innovative menus across a broad range of dining venues, Vacation.com guests will also enjoy exclusive chef demonstrations in addition to shipboard credit or the benefits of a concierge host, private cocktail reception and an exclusive shore event. The 113-Day Grand World Voyage features the amenities of a concierge host, private cocktail reception, exclusive shore event, plus an exclusive chef demo with George Geary.

!!! The 14-Day European Mosaic tour aboard the Riviera will travel from Barcelona to Istanbul and is just one of 10 Culinary Collection sailings Oceania Cruises offers. Featured on all 10 sailings, guests can book a class at the Bon Appétit Culinary Center to learn and prepare (with their own hands) a variety of exquisite dishes at their own fully equipped workstation in a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen. Complimentary amenities abound, and value packages ensure that sipping a glass of wine or enjoying a shore excursion is both convenient and affordable. Vacation.com clients will have the luxury of prepaid gratuities on these select sailings.

!!! On all eight Regent Seven Seas Cruises Culinary Collection sailings, guests will enjoy the services of a concierge host, an exclusive shore event and a private cocktail reception on select voyages. Clients may also dine in elegant surroundings including Prime 7, the premier steakhouse at sea, and delight in entrées paired with distinctive complimentary wines and spirits.

!!! Silversea’s food and wine cruises include an exclusive array of epicurean delights. Onboard all eight Culinary Collection sailings, there are multiple intimate dining venues that serve superb cuisine with a sophisticated level of attentive service and an ever-changing ocean view. In each guests’ suite, there’s even an educational video program prepared by Silversea’s celebrated wine consultant, Lyn Farmer, that describes the wine regions guests will visit on their voyage. Vacation.com clients will receive up to $250 per person in shipboard credit on these select culinary themed voyages.

Vacation.com is providing its members with industry-leading marketing support in selling these cruises through free customizable, full-colour print brochures or e-brochures designed to entice any client. Vacation.com members can learn more about the 2014 Culinary Collection, view all sailing dates and access marketing materials at http://www.agentuniverse.com .