Freedom of the Seas Debuts Exclusive “Epicurean Discovery” Package

Royal Caribbean International is offering guests the opportunity to transform their next cruise vacation into a gourmet getaway, thanks to 12 specialty voyages onboard Freedom of the Seas that are part of the cruise line’s “Epicurean Discovery” series. Designed to provide culinary enthusiasts with an experience of a lifetime, this mouth watering package features a variety of special events throughout the week devoted to cuisine and fine dining, with each sailing hosted by a different renowned celebrity chef, such as “Iron Chef” contender Johnny Vinczencz; 2010 James Beard winner for “Best Chef in the South” Michael Schwartz; and “Top Chef” Chicago contender Spike Mandelsohn. A complete list of chefs and respective sail dates is available at www.royalcaribbean.com/epicurean.

Available exclusively to guests booking suite accommodations or higher, the seven-night “Epicurean Discovery” package offers foodies a unique educational endeavor led by gastronomic mavericks, including private dinners, a wine tasting, experiential lecture and private tour, as well as a tapas sampling reception, signed photo and cookbook. The unique experience begins at $1,874 per person, based on double occupancy.

For more information on these speciality voyages, call us at 1-800-788-2545 or visit www.CruiseCafe.com.

Carnival Cruise Lines Punches Up The Fun With Fleetwide Comedy Clubs

Carnival Cruise Lines is adding more laughs and upping the fun quotient at sea with the introduction of Carnival Punchliner Comedy Clubs -- dedicated comedy lounges rolling out fleetwide on all 22 “Fun Ships” by the end of the year. Building on the tremendous success of its first comedy club, which debuted on the new Carnival Dream last fall, Punchliner Comedy Clubs will feature a wide variety of side-splitting comics.

Located in the ship’s aft lounge, each Punchliner Comedy Club will offer guests loads of laughs with five 35-minute shows on multiple nights during each voyage, with at least two comedians performing each night. The two early-evening shows offer fun for the whole family while the later performances will feature adult-oriented comedy.

Carnival Punchliner Comedy Clubs will feature hilarious, laugh-out-loud performances from established comedians as well as rising stars, with approximately 10 shows per voyage offered on short cruise itineraries and approximately 20 shows per cruise on longer length departures.

The Reintroduction of Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises, operator of the highest-rated and longest continually sailing luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin, is pleased to announce the “reintroduction” of the celebrated brand, aimed to better reflect the renewed focus on the illustrious ship that offers the utmost in luxury cruising. The Gauguin is very much an extension of French Polynesia and its people. Following a series of visioning sessions and branding exercises, Paul Gauguin Cruises is implementing new measures to communicate and educate industry leaders as well as consumers on the unique place the company holds for French Polynesia tourism.

While some ships “sail upon the sea,” The Gauguin is a creature of the sea – she has been built to sail the waters of the South Pacific and is an ambassador for everything authentic and original about French Polynesia. In this light, Paul Gauguin Cruises reintroduces her identity to coincide with a vision of personal luxury that is the focus of every sailing.

Paul Gauguin Cruises now utilizes the voice of French Polynesia, continuously positioning the company as an integral component of the destination itself while also evoking the feeling visitors experience when in French Polynesia. The new messaging portrays a sense of the uniqueness of Polynesian life and heritage along with the use of photography to showcase the scale and drama of the seascapes surrounding the islands and the generosity of the Polynesian people.

Celebrity Cruises Gets Personal with Enhanced Concierge Service

Celebrity Cruises has introduced a new “Personal Concierge” program aimed at further enhancing the brand’s “Designed for you” reputation, by emphasizing the extraordinary customized onboard service that has long set Celebrity Cruises apart from its competitors. By individually communicating with guests to learn their personal preferences, tastes and needs, Celebrity’s new Personal Concierges deliver individualized attention – much like that of a personal assistant – for any guests who wish to heighten special occasions and create new ones.

The Personal Concierge on each ship is an expert in matching Celebrity’s onboard offerings to guests’ individual desires for a particular event or experience. Guests don’t have to be celebrating any special occasion to enjoy the Personal Concierge service. Personal Concierges also help guests to arrange private shore excursions, book spa and specialty dining experiences and more, for no other reason than to make the most of their vacation. Personal Concierges also handle the fine details of arranging onboard celebrations of personal milestones such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirement and graduation. The consultative services of the Personal Concierge are free of charge; guests only have to pay for the services and events arranged.