Carnival Newbuild to be Named Carnival Vista

Carnival Vista is the name selected by Carnival Cruise Lines for its new 135,000-ton ship scheduled to enter service in 2016.

The announcement was made by Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill during a media briefing aboard Carnival Sunshine which is in the midst of its inaugural European season.

To be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista will be the 25th vessel in the line’s “Fun Ship” fleet.

Carnival Vista will offer a wide variety of dining, bar and entertainment options that are part of the line’s groundbreaking Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative, along with a number of innovations unique to this vessel.

Additional design details regarding Carnival Vista, as well as homeport deployment and itinerary information, will be announced at a later date.

Celebrity Adding New Craft Cocktails

Celebrity Cruises is shaking up the bar scene onboard by significantly expanding its selections of cocktails with a selection of 30 entirely new craft cocktails offered exclusively on Celebrity’s ships.

Already known for its Molecular and Martini Bars, Celebrity’s new craft cocktail experience was developed through an alliance with artisanal cocktail developers Hawthorn Beverage Group, founded by noted cocktail creator Josh Durr.

The new craft cocktails blend vintage-style liqueurs with fresh ingredients, organic juices and the finest artisanal spirits, resulting in a combination of new-school libations and updated old-school favorites. A new line-up of “zero-proof” (non-alcoholic) cocktails also will be introduced – ‘Sparkling Mint Lemonade’ or ‘Raspberry Fizz,’ anyone? – along with an assortment of fine wines by the glass. Celebrity’s current list of international beer selections will be expanded, too, to join Celebrity’s industry-first offering of craft beers in an even more well-rounded variety of styles, from pale ales and IPA's to Belgian ales and premium lagers.

Growing up in a culture tied to the bourbon distilleries of Kentucky, Durr’s passion for the art of spirits mixology began at a young age, ultimately inspiring him to pursue a career that fully immersed him in the craft. He has since been honored with a “Rising Star Award” from Cheers magazine, and editorial recognition in The New York Times, Playboy, Forbes, Wine Spectator, Chicago magazine and Cheers magazine, and has landed a client list that includes Apiary, Diageo, Pernod, Remy Cointreau and Ruth’s Chris, among others.

Durr attributes his success to focusing on three key pillars: staying relevant and ahead of trends, masterfully developing cocktail programs to provide brand-unique experiences, and joining forces with staff to execute the programs with precise attention to detail and quality.

Celebrity’s guests will have the opportunity to indulge in the full, new craft cocktail experience across its modern luxury fleet by the end of 2013.

Culinary and Wine Talents to Sail with Seabourn

Seabourn Cruise Line has announced a line-up of highly acclaimed chefs and an award-winning winemaker for its “Seabourn Conversations," the line's onboard enrichment and special guest entertainment program.

They include Lars Kronmark, executive instructor at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley; Jeremy Bloor, executive chef at London's OXO Tower Restaurant; Gary Eberle, winemaker of the Eberly Winery in California; Kaushik Chowdhury, executive pastry chef at the Fairmont Dubai hotel; and Marisol Simon, destination chef, writer and media personality.

According to Seabourn, these culinary “luminaries” will be onboard to socialize with the guests and present events such as cooking demonstrations and wine tasting parties onboard. In addition, they may share meals, adventures ashore and casual chats with guests throughout the voyage.