Wine-themed cruises are as popular as ever and Celebrity Cruises, for which 10 of its restaurants received Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence”, features a series of luxury travel itineraries highlighting California and South Pacific wineries from as early as May 2014 through January 2015.
Scott Clifton, director of sales, states, “Celebrity’s renown for its culinary arts offerings keeps growing. From our Adam Tihany-designed two-story wine tower (holding one of the most extensive wine collections at sea) our 10 award-winning restaurants, menus crafted by James Beard award-winning chef and a team of certified sommeliers, food and wine aficionados always have a never-ending selection to complement the specialty wine-centric itineraries of our themed cruises.”
With Costco Travel, the May 14, 2014 11-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise aboard the line’s newest ship Celebrity Reflection will feature Clos Pegase winery from Napa Valley and host winemaker Richard Sowalsky. The itinerary includes ports of call in Santorini, Mykonos and Athens in Greece and Istanbul and Ephesus in Turkey. Sowalsky will host a wine tasting reception; tastings of single vineyard designation and artisanal cabernet sauvignons; a wine pairing luncheon; and, tours of the ship’s wine collection and culinary operations.
On November 1, 2014, travelers will sail aboard Celebrity Reflection for a seven-night luxury Eastern Caribbean cruise for the 2014 California Wine Festival at Sea, a first for the 10 year-old land-based California Wine Festival and brought together by Worldview Travel. The cruise will depart from Miami and visit various Caribbean ports of call, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and, St. Thomas, USVI. California wineries including Heitz Cellar, Melville, White Oak and Bernardus will provide wines at a tasting reception, two private wine tasting seminars, a private four-course wine-pairing luncheon, a sommelier-guided tour of the ship’s two-story glass wine tower and a private behind-the-scenes tour of Celebrity’s culinary operation.
Working in conjunction with Grgich Hills Estate and Costco Travel, Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Infinity offers a 15-night Panama Canal Cruise with Grgich Hills Estate’s wine educator Maryanne Wedner, departing on November 4, 2014. Wine tasting, wine pairing seminars, and behind-the-scenes tours will be offered as the ship sails from Ft. Lauderdale with ports of call in Cartagena, Colombia; Colon, Panama; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Also planned by Celebrity Cruises and Food & Wine Trails is a January 27 – February 8, 2015, 13-night New Zealand Wine Adventure aboard the Celebrity Solstice where winemakers Dick and Nancy Ponzi and Rollin and Corby Soles of Ponzi Estates, and Roco Winery and Argyle Winery, will host tastings, pairings and tours. Ports of call include Sydney, Australia; Hobart, Tasmania; Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound, Dunedin, Akaroa, Wellington, Tauranga and Bay of Islands in New Zealand.
For reservations or information on the Clos Pegase and Grgich Hills cruises: call Costco Travel at 877-849-2730; for the 2014 California Wine Festival at Sea, contact Worldview Travel at 888-608-1178 and for the New Zealand Wine Adventure, contact Food & Wine Trails at 800-367-5348.
About Celebrity Cruises:
Celebrity Cruises’ iconic “X” is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide unmatched luxury experiences for vacationers’ precious time. Celebrity Cruises’ 11 ships offer modern luxury vacations visiting all seven continents. Celebrity also presents immersive cruise tour experiences in Alaska and Canada. Celebrity is one of five cruise brands operated by global cruise vacation company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE, OSE: RCL). For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit Celebrity Cruises, or call your travel agent.