Costa Cruises Presents The 2023 'ChocoCruise - Explore The World Of Chocolate' Theme Cruise

Costa Cruises and Barry Callebaut, a world leader in the production of high-quality chocolate and cocoa, renew their partnership for 'ChocoCruise – Explore the World of Chocolate.' The entire cruise is dedicated to chocolate, designed to give choco-holics a week of sweetness and relaxation aboard Costa Cruises’ flagship, Costa Toscana.

From November 17-24, 2023, the ChocoCruise will take guests on a gastronomical itinerary through the beautiful landscapes of the Mediterranean, with calls at Marseille, France; Barcelona, Spain; and Genoa, Cagliari, Naples and Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy.

During this themed cruise, five of the world’s greatest master pastry chefs from Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland and Belgium — all members of the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy and ambassadors of Barry Callebaut — along with Riccardo Bellaera, Costa’s corporate pastry chef and baker, will take guests on a journey to discover the refined art of working with chocolate and chocolate-related pastry. The five pastry masters who will host ChocoCruise 2023 are Alberto Simionato (Italy), Joël Perriard (Switzerland), Philippe Bertrand (France), Ramon Morató (Spain) and Alexandre Bourdeaux (Belgium).

The program offers rich experiences centered around chocolate. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a wide range of chocolate dishes from breakfast to dinner, including both sweet and savory options, tasting chocolate in all its variations and highlighting the destinations visited by Costa Toscana.

During the cruise, guests can attend meetings and cooking demonstrations held by the master pastry chefs and Riccardo Bellaera, who will tell their professional stories and share secrets from the kitchen, all while showing the preparation of the chocolate dish of the day.

The culinary journey continues daily, with guests having the opportunity to attend workshops related to chocolate culture in the Lab, the ship's galley laboratory, accompanied by tastings of the pastry masters’ signature dishes.

Costa’s partnership with Bacardi fuels the chocolate-themed beverage offerings on board. Bacardi, in collaboration with two Italian master bartenders who are European cruise brand ambassadors of the brand, will present unique and exclusive cocktails that feature chocolate as a key ingredient.

The chocolate-themed events will further enrich the gastronomic offerings on board. Throughout the itinerary exploring Italy, France and Spain, guests will have the chance to enjoy "Destination Dishes," dishes inspired by the destination they will visit the following day, created by one of Costa’s three world-renowned international chef partners: Bruno Barbieri, Ángel León and Hélène Darroze.

The Archipelago restaurant gives guests a truly unique culinary experience with three full menus to choose from, created exclusively for Costa by Barbieri, León and Darroze. The menus offer five exquisite dishes created to explore each part of the ship’s itinerary through its cuisine. Additionally, aboard the Costa Toscana guests can indulge in delicious Asian cuisine at Teppanyaki and Sushino, or savor authentic Italian pizza at Pizzeria Pummid'Oro.

Chocolate and dessert lovers can book their cabin on the ChocoCruise 2023, departing on Costa Toscana through a travel agent or directly with Costa.

Master pastry chefs on board:

Riccardo Bellaera (Italy) joined Costa as corporate pastry and bakery chef in 2012. Since then, he has created a unique pastry experience for all Costa ships. Ballaera is a two-time winner of the "Luxury Pastry in the World" award and a recipient of the "World Pastry Stars" award. In 2022 and 2023, Riccardo won the "Different Visions Great Ideas" award at Sigep in Rimini, Italy; the International Exhibition of Ice Cream, Pastry and Bakery. He is a collaborator and friend of the renowned master of international pastry chef masters, Master Iginio Massari.

Alberto Simionato (Italy) studied at the prestigious Etoile Institute and has worked alongside three distinguished chocolate chefs: Beduschi, Oaghi and Morato. Since 2019, Simionato has been the director of the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy in Milan, Italy.

Philippe Bertrand (France) has been with Barry Callebaut for over 30 years and is its Cacao Barry Chef and Director of the Chocolate Academy in Paris, France. He is also a winner of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France, a competition for craftsmen held in France every four years. Bertrand continues to share his passion and techniques for chocolate all over the world.

Ramon Morató (Spain) is the creative director for the Cacao Barry brand and continues to shape the world of chocolate. He has published several cookbooks, including “Ramon Morató Chocolate,” which won the Best Cookbook in the World on the subject of Chocolate in 2007 at the distinguished Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Joël Perriard (Switzerland) joined the Chocolate Academy™ Center in 2012 as an adviser and three years later was promoted to the Head of the Chocolate Academy™ Center. He won the Young Swiss Confiseur award in Montreux and placed fourth at the Swiss Championship for Young Confectioners in Lucerne.

Alexandre Bourdeaux (Belgium) began his career at a one star Michelin restaurant in Belgium where he learned classic recipes he still makes today, progressing to prestigious 5-star hotels. Bourdeaux is head of the Chocolate Academy™ in Belgium. He was a judge on the Italian television show “Best Bakery.”

Cunard Announces Chinese New Year Sale With Inside Fares From $888

Free Upgrades^†, Free Drinks in Grill Suites^‡, $100 Non-Refundable Deposit^{^} and Past Guests

 Receive Free Gratuities*

The luxury ocean liner company, Cunard announced that it will feature enticing promotions on a range

 of cruise itineraries on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria in celebration of Chinese New Year.

From January 26 to January 31, 2017, new voyage bookings will receive:

• Free Upgrades
• Free Drinks in Grill Suites
• $100 Non-Refundable Deposit
• Plus Past Guests Receive Free Gratuities

Itineraries include Transatlantic Crossings, New England & Canada, Caribbean and Mediterranean 

voyages with fares from $888. This promotion requires a $100 non-refundable deposit, which is non-transferable.

Cunard's Chinese New Year Sale highlights iconic Transatlantic, Caribbean and New England & Canada

 voyages on remastered Queen Mary 2. During Transatlantic Crossings, guests embrace the feeling of 

adventure and the luxury of time and space, paired with diverse experiences and the elegance of British

 traditions.

Sale voyages also include a series of 7- to 14-night itineraries aboard Queen Victoria departing from

 Rome, Venice, Athens, Trieste or Southampton.

For more information about the Chinese New Year Sale or to book a voyage, contact your Travel

 Agent at 1-800-728-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.

CunardDefining true excellence at sea with over 176 years of legendary voyages, Cunard is the operator of

 luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2®, Queen Victoria® and Queen Elizabeth®. Renowned for 

impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment, all three Queens offer

 luxury on a grand scale in Britannia, Britannia Club, Princess Grill and Queens Grill accommodation.

 Cunard is the only line to offer regularly scheduled Transatlantic service and continues the legacy of

 world cruising which it began in 1922.

Awarded 'Best World Cruise Itineraries' and 'Best Trans-Atlantic Itineraries' by Porthole Cruise

 Magazine's 2016 Readers Choice Awards, Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise

 Lines, a part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the largest cruise vacation

 company in the world. Together Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, Fathom, Holland America Line, Princess

 Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK) operate 

102 ships visiting over 700 ports around the world and totaling 226,000 lower berths. For more

 information, call Cunard at 1-800-528-6273 or visit www.cunard.com.

Social MediaFacebook: www.facebook.com/cunard 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cunardline
YouTube: www.youtube.com/wearecunard 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cunardline

A Brief Guide To Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock

It pays to be a frequent cruiser because cruise lines reward travelers the more times they sail with a particular brand, and sometimes there are even reciprocal benefits across various companies.

Costa Cruises just recently updated its CostaClub program with a new entry Ambra Club tier for welcoming new cruisers and top Perla Diamante Club tier with impressive perks like home luggage pick-up and delivery, immediate embarkation, a "super upgrade" from an inside cabin to a suite, dedicated onboard booking staff, free access to the Club Restaurant, front-row theater reservations, dedicated limited-capacity excursions and a 20 percent discount on Privilege Departures for 2016.

"The new CostaClub is an important investment by Costa in terms of ideas, energy and resources, and all based on a passion for innovation and for people that provide inspiration and guidance for our work every single day, putting our guests and their desires in the spotlight," said Neil Palomba, president of Costa Cruises. "From when the CostaClub began 15 years ago, our most loyal guests have taken more than three million cruises with us. We listened to, gathered together and analyzed their opinions and their needs and worked intensively together with onboard personnel and travel agents with the objective of creating the best system of benefits in the cruise world."

So, now let’s take a look at the loyalty programs available from the other mainstream cruise lines and the membership perks that come with them.

Carnival Cruise Line ~ VIFP Club

Carnival Cruise Line features its VIFP (Very Important Fun Person) Club across five tiers starting with Blue. With your first sailing, you get members-only offers and a member e-newsletter. Upon your second sailing, you will receive a complimentary one-liter water bottle delivered to your cabin as a Red member. Benefits only snowball from there as you accrue more sailing points, one per cruise day. You hit Gold at 25 points or days which earns you an appreciation drink on cruises longer than four days in length as well as a Gold VIFP pin.

Things get way more exciting at 75 points or days for Platinum members. They get priority check-in, boarding, disembarkation, guest services, and spa and restaurant reservations; a complimentary cocktail party and a beverage at sea-day brunches; a logo gift; several bags of complimentary laundry and more. At 200 points and Diamond level, members receive the additional benefits: guaranteed restaurant reservations, special captain invites, a one-time cabin upgrade or a free third or fourth guest, one-time complimentary specialty restaurant meal for two, unlimited free laundry services and more.

MSC Cruises ~ Voyagers Club

MSC Cruises’ Voyagers Club also offers five membership levels starting at Welcome with one booking. There you receive an e-newsletter, private online area and onboard infopoint. From there, points are achieved dependent on a combination of cruise accommodations and sailing days. Points can also be achieved by spending on certain prepaid services and onboard costs.

At just one point for the Classic level, members begin receiving an unrestricted 5 percent cruise discount plus up to 15 percent savings on Voyages Selection Sailings, a welcome back cocktail, onboard offers and more. At 2,200 points for Silver, added perks include a $50 onboard credit, a milestone reward and stateroom fruit basket.

Privileges escalate most at Gold (4,300 points) and Black (10,000 points). Gold members get a bonus one-hour thermal area session; complimentary gift, photo and birthday cake; and priority tender disembarkation; and Black members additionally receive a complimentary specialty restaurant dinner for two, spumante, chocolate-covered fruit and chocolate ship; late stateroom checkout; priority cruise disembarkation; free dance class and party and more.

Where things get particularly interesting is that MSC Cruises offers a Loyalty Match program wherein the line will mirror similar benefits of other cruise lines, hotels and tour operators you have repeat status in.

READ MORE: Which Hotel Rewards Programs Are the Best?

Norwegian Cruise Line ~ Latitudes Rewards 

Latitudes Rewards are available to Norwegian Cruise Line loyalists across four tiers. All levels are point based with one point tallied for every cruise night and additional single points for each night in a suite or The Haven, when making a reservation nine months or more in advance and from a Latitudes Insider Offer booking.

The entry Bronze level starts at one point with special sailing offers, magazine, multiple onboard shopping and internet discounts, a rewards representative, cocktail party, ship pin and priority pier checkin. At 20 points and Silver, members also get photo and spa discounts, evening cabin chocolates and a ship officers gathering.

Once you achieve 48 points and Gold status, members additionally receive priority tender and cruise disembarkation, a welcome gift and a 25 percent discount on a laundry service bag. The perks ramp up again for Platinum members at 76 points with chocolate-covered strawberries; concierge service; and complimentary Le Bistro dinner and wine bottle for two, behind-the-scenes ship tour, sparkling wine in the stateroom and a bag of laundry service.

Plus, special milestone gifts are awarded to guests for achieving 250, 500, 700 and 1,000 points.

Royal Caribbean International ~ Crown and Anchor Society

Royal Caribbean International has an extensive six tiers in its Crown and Anchor Society program based on points, one earned for every cruise night or double points when in a suite. With just three cruise points, you can achieve Gold status including base perks such as a newsletter, exclusive rates, onboard offers, a Welcome Back Party, priority check-in, a private departure lounge and more.

At 30 points for Platinum, members add on an exclusive top tier event, onboard-use robes, a signature pin and balcony and suite stateroom discounts; at 55 points for Emerald, members again add on a welcome gift and choice of beverage; and at 80 points for Diamond, members tack on more extras like milestone recognition, a chef’s choice gift, priority departure and excursion and spa waitlisting, Diamond Lounge access and nightly Diamond event, an entertainment tour and more.

Diamond Plus members with 175 points get the added benefits of more behind the scenes tours, another personalized gift, Concierge Lounge access, priority theater seating and more; and as they rack up to 340 points, they also get reduced single supplement fares, a meal with an officer and upgraded bathroom amenities. Even more gifts are provided to members when they hit 350 and 525 points.

At a whopping 700 points for Pinnacle Club, members receive bonus exclusives like a personalized lapel pin and a Pinnacle Club Gold Card with privileges. Achieving 700 and 1,050 points also comes with a cruise certificate valued at a seven-night cruise in a balcony stateroom, and at 1,400 points and 350 points thereafter, a cruise certificate worth a seven-night cruise in a junior suite.

Plus, reciprocal benefits are granted within Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited company brands. That is, Platinum and higher members receive comparable perks in Celebrity Cruises' Captain's Club and Azamara Club Cruises’ Le Club Voyage and vice versa with some restrictions.

Source: www.travelpulse.com, JASON LEPPERT

Travelore Cruise News: Costa Cruises Launching Dedicated Vegan Menus

While many cruise lines now offer vegan or vegetarian options as part of their on-board culinary offering, Costa Cruises have gone one step further and created a dedicated vegan and vegetarian menu that will be available on cruise ships.

Created in response to the growing demand for such cuisine, the menu cuts out all dairy products and even eggs, instead using ingredients derived from plants that will produce the same bold Italian flavours that reflect Costa’s proud Mediterranean roots.

The comprehensive menu covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers and dessert, and includes an array of Italian delicacies such as Venetian ‘ris e bisi’ soup, and a delicious trenette with pesto as part of the Luguria regional menu.

Other culinary specials include a dish consisting of celeriac and creamy caciocavallo cheese, a vegan burger made with kidney beans, a delicious rocket and apricot salad, and a subtle cauliflower and fig tempura with porcini mushrooms.

Antonio Brizzi, Costa corporate travelling chef, said: “Vegetarian dishes have always been part of Italian culinary tradition and we are delighted to introduce them as a full and separate menu on board our cruise ships. We aim to fulfil the needs of our customers and ensure they enjoy their time on our ships.”

Source: www.cruisediscuss.com

Cunard Offers The Ultimate Upgrade on Select 2016 Voyages, Only From October 1st Through November 30th

Limited Time Only 1 October – 30 November 2015

 Cunard launches The Ultimate Upgrade, an

 offer including free stateroom upgrades, free gratuities and a $150 deposit per person on select 2016

 voyages on board Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. In addition to the standard

 list of elite offerings such as private restaurants, terraces, lounges and concierge service available to all 

Grills guests and Butler service for Queens Grill guests, The Ultimate Upgrade promotion will add

 complimentary drinks.

This limited time offer applies to new bookings made from 1 October to 30 November 2015, and will

 apply to Transatlantic Crossings;Mediterranean; Northern Europe; Iberia and Canary Island voyages

 sailing from 10 May through 22 December 2016.

Guests can choose to cast off on Cunard's storied Transatlantic Crossing, a journey made by

 millions of immigrants, World War troops, war brides, and the celebrities of the golden age of 

travel, including Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, and The Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Guests in search of glamorous, old world charm and distinctive shore excursions can book one

 of Cunard's Mediterranean or Europe cruises. Whether it's hiking Mount Fløien in Norway, visiting

 Monaco's famous Formula One circuit and the Prince of Monaco's classic car collection, or touring

 the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ephesus, travelers will always find exciting alternatives available

 at each port call.

To view the full-range of itineraries, offer details and full restrictions please click here.

For more information about Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth or to book 

a voyage, contact your Travel Agent, call Cunard Line at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.

About CunardDefining true excellence at sea with over 175 years of legendary voyages, Cunard is the operator

 of luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth that are renowned

 for impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Cunard has long

 been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries since the company's first paddle-wheeled

 steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840.Today Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled

 Transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922.

World's Leading Cruise Lines Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes

 Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Seabourn and fathom.

 Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading

 Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety

 of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

 Visit at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

Cunard is also here:
Facebook:www.facebook.com/cunard | Twitter:www.twitter.com/cunardline
YouTube: www.youtube.com/wearecunard | Blog:www.WeAreCunard.com

Travelore News: Carnival Corporation Expands Presence In Caribbean With $85 Million Port In Dominican Republic

Carnival Corporation, the world's largest travel and leisure company, today announced it will begin welcoming guests at its newly developed Amber Cove port in the Dominican Republic beginning October 2015. Six of Carnival Corporation's nine brands will call on Amber Cove along the country's Amber Coast – a partial filming location for the original Jurassic Park movie – to give cruise passengers another exotic location to explore as part of their vacation experience.

With the opening of the new Amber Cove port, passengers will be able to make stops along the Dominican Republic's north Amber Coast, which has not been regularly visited on cruise itineraries since the 1980s. It will open expanded itinerary options in the Caribbean, the world's most popular region for cruise vacations1, and will pair with the company's Grand Turk Cruise Center only 100 miles to the north to anchor new central Caribbean itineraries for Carnival's nine global brands. In looking to the future, the port is strategically located to be incorporated into itineraries featuring potential stops in Cuba.

The new $85 million facility represents the largest cruise industry investment ever made in the Dominican Republic, and will feature a two-berth port able to accommodate the largest cruise vessels in operation today. Carnival Corporation has monitored the various stages of the port's construction progress with the use of drones, an innovative development that is being used for the first time as part of the company's port development process. The facility, a joint project between Carnival Corporation and the Rannik family of Grupo B&R, is expected to host more than 250,000 cruise passengers in its first year of operation. It will provide approximately 430 local jobs.

"The construction of the cruise port at Amber Cove has been an incredible project for our entire country, as well as the Caribbean region as a whole," said Francisco Javier, tourism director of the Dominican Republic. "Carnival Corporation's investment in Amber Cove has already proven beneficial to the economy, and we expect the investment to have a positive long-lasting economic impact. The new port will also give cruise passengers an opportunity to see another part of the Dominican Republic, our Amber Coast, which hasn't been available as part of cruise itineraries in nearly 30 years. This is a very exciting development."

The port will open with a visit from Carnival Victory from the company's Carnival Cruise Line brand on October 6, 2015. Following this inaugural visit, five additional Carnival Corporation brands are scheduled to make calls on Amber Cove -- including Cunard's Queen Mary 2 on November 22, P&O Cruises' (UK) Azura on December 5, AIDA Cruises' AIDAvita on December 11, Costa Cruises' Costa Deliziosa on December 31 and Holland America Line's ms Eurodam on January 19.
Additional ships from the company's brands are scheduled to call on the port in late 2015 and through 2016 including Carnival Cruise Line's Fantasy, Splendor, Valor, Sunshine, Conquest and Breeze and Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam. These visits will consist of 57 calls by 13 different ships across the six brands taking place between October 2015 and April 2016, accounting for more than 155,000 guests during this period.
As the world's largest cruising market – representing more than 37 percent of the global cruise business2 – the Caribbean is a strategic geographic region for Carnival Corporation and the overall cruise industry and is highly popular for vacationers.

This new port facility in the Dominican Republic underscores the company's focus on creating great vacation experiences, as passengers sailing the Caribbean will have an exciting new destination to visit. It will also give Carnival Corporation's nine global cruise brands the ability to create more diverse itineraries, another important part of the cruise experience. More than 60 percent of cruisers are repeat passengers, and offering robust itineraries keeps the experience fresh and engaging for them.

"There are several markets that are becoming increasingly important to the cruise industry, but today the Caribbean is the single largest share of our business," said Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation. "We are constantly looking for new ways for our guests to enjoy their cruise experience, and it is always exciting to add new destinations to our itineraries, especially in the Caribbean where many of our passengers have been before. We are confident that our guests will love visiting Amber Cove, which we believe will quickly become a very popular port of call for our guests. And because Amber Cove is easily accessible, it will give our guests a convenient gateway to the Puerto Plata region, which is spectacular. And importantly, Amber Cove will allow us to offer our guests a new option in our Caribbean itineraries."

The opening of Amber Cove adds to the portfolio of cruise destinations Carnival Corporation has developed in the Caribbean. This includes the Grand Turk Cruise Center in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Puerta Maya on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico, and Mahogany Bay on the island of Roatan, Honduras. It is one of roughly 60 ports Carnival Corporation's brands visit in the region.

The Amber Cove port is located in the heart of the Dominican Republic's North Coast just outside the historical town of Puerto Plata, which was discovered by Christopher Columbus in the 1490s and was recently named by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the "Best Places to Travel in 2015." This newest Caribbean destination was developed to re-establish the Dominican Republic's North Coast as a popular cruise destination – the last cruise ship to call at Puerto Plata was nearly 30 years ago.

Amber Cove will feature a waterfront welcome center with a variety of retail offerings, including a marketplace for Dominican crafts and souvenirs, as well as a wide range of unique food and beverage establishments. The port will also include a recreational area featuring amenities such as a pool, splash zone and green space areas. The transportation hub -- the single largest component of the port -- will provide visitors easy access by land and sea to the surrounding destinations and attractions.

The new port will host one of the most extensive shore excursion programs available in the Caribbean, offering roughly 40 different landside experiences including beaches, water sports and special culinary, cultural and adventure options. Many of these excursion offerings will come from well-established local operators. Nearby Ocean World, one of the region's largest marine adventure parks, offers guests popular ways to experience and interact with a variety of marine animals.

Music Legends Crosby, Stills & Nash Announced As Headline Act Aboard Queen Mary 2 On Transatlantic Crossing 4 September 2015

 Cunard is proud to announce that

Crosby, Stills & Nash will perform a series of exclusive concerts on board the company's

 Flagship, Queen Mary 2, during her 4-11 September Transatlantic Crossing.

The Grammy^® Award winning trio, who first performed together at the now legendary Woodstock

 Festival over four decades ago, will perform three exclusive concerts for passengers on board

 Queen Mary 2 during the seven-night Transatlantic Crossing from New York to Southampton.

"We are excited to welcome Crosby, Stills & Nash onboard Queen Mary 2 during Cunard's 175th

 anniversary year. Having these music legends perform will be nothing less than thrilling for our

 passengers," said Richard Meadows, president of Cunard Line North America.  "The band's presence

 onboard demonstrates Cunard's continued commitment to providing unique access to some of the world's

 most legendary artists, resulting in a truly unforgettable ocean travel experience for our guests."

Crosby, Stills & Nash (CS&N) burst onto the music scene in 1969 with their self-titled debut LP, now one

 of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." The band members are among the few to have

 been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once with Crosby, Stills & Nash, and a second

 time with The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and the Hollies.  They have also been inducted into the

 Songwriter's Hall of fame, with the honour recognizing both CS&N as a group and each member

 as individual solo artists. 

During the Queen Mary 2 Crossing from New York (M519A), the trio will perform some of their

 greatest hits including "Teach Your Children," "Southern Cross" and "Wooden Ships" in the Royal

 Court Theatre. They will also participate in a Q&A session and special autograph opportunity for

 passengers on board.

"This will be a unique experience for us," said Graham Nash. "We're really looking forward to making

 music, bringing back memories and creating new ones—and this journey from New York to Southampton, 

on this beautiful vessel, will do just that."

For more information about Queen Mary 2 and to book a voyage, contact your Travel Consultant, call

 Cunard toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com

About Queen Mary 2 Christened by Her Majesty The Queen in 2004, Cunard Line's flagship Queen Mary 2 defines luxury

 travel for the 21st Century and continues a 175-year legacy of transatlantic travel.  Queen Mary 2 

achieved her 200th Transatlantic Crossing in July 2013.  Famous names who have experienced this iconic

 voyage since 2004 include President George H.W. Bush, Desmond Tutu, James Taylor, Wes Anderson,

 Tilda Swinton, George Takei, Kim Novak, Uma Thurman, Richard Dreyfuss, John Cleese and Angela Bassett.

About Cunard Line Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth,

 has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since

 the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages

 bring together like-minded travelers who seek a civilized adventure and relish the Cunard hallmarks of

 impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Today, Cunard offers the

 only regularly scheduled trans-Atlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which

 it began in 1922.

World's Leading Cruise Lines  Cunard is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes

 Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn.

 Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World's Leading

 Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety

 of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

 Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.

Cunard is also here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cunard 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/wearecunard 
Blog: www.WeAreCunard.com 
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/cunard 
Twitter:www.twitter.com/cunardline

The Latest News In Cruising: Sweet Deals, Pro Poker, Culinary Sailings, And More

 by Donna Tunney

Oceania Cruises/Deborah Jones Studio

Which cruise lines are making headlines this week? We've got the latest on new deals, onboard programming, and special itineraries in this week’s weekly cruise news column. 

The cruise industry is gearing up for its annual CLIA Cruise Week on October 6 through 13, when members of the Cruise Lines International Association will roll out a slew of incentives for booking a vacation at sea — so if you’ve been considering a cruise, this is the time to do your homework. Twenty six cruise lines, both ocean and river, are participating this year with special promotions like cabin upgrades, onboard spending credits, airfare deals, discounted shore excursions, and more. Sample savings include up to $300 in onboard credits with Holland America Line. (CLIA estimates that 21.7 million people will cruise worldwide this year!)

Put on your poker face for this cruise. The first annual Norwegian Poker Challenge will take place aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines‘ Norwegian Epic November 9 to 16, with World Series of Poker champion Joe Cada in attendance. The challenge offers passengers on the Caribbean cruise a chance to win a share of a $200,000 prize pool during the tourney. Players, who must each pony up $1,100 to participate, can join cash games and go head to head with Cada, who also will be available for meet-and-greet events with tournament entrants. The cruise visits Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico. Fares start at $399 per person.

Princess Cruises has a rosy future ahead. The premium line will ring in 2015 and celebrate its 50th anniversary with a 60-foot-long cruise ship float in the Rose Parade January 1 in Pasadena, California. The float, adorned with 24,000 flowers, will depict the line’s newest ship, the Regal Princess — with six original cast members of TV show “The Love Boat” on the bow. (The hit show was filmed aboard several Princess ships between 1977 and 1987, and is credited with helping to bring the idea of cruise vacations to the masses.) Show stars Gavin MacLeod, Fred Grandy, Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell, Lauren Tewes, and Jill Whelan will be godparents to the new 3,560-passenger vessel when it’s christened in Florida next month.

Master chef and Oceania Cruises‘ Executive Culinary Director Jacques Pépin will host a special sailing onboard the 1,250-passenger Riviera in 2015 with his whole clan. The chef’s daughter, Claudine, co-host of Pépin’s award-winning “Cooking with Claudine” television series, and other family members will join him on a 10-day Iberian Inspiration cruise departing Lisbon for Rome on July 7, 2015. The sailing will feature exclusive cooking demonstrations, specially designed signature menus, book signings, and other events. The chef, author of more than 20 cookbooks, will also be celebrating his 80th birthday on the sailing. Fares start from $4,299 per person.

Italian line Costa Cruises rolled out free upgrades and reduced deposits on select bookings for the 2,260-passenger Costa Luminosa and the 2,112-passenger Costa Mediterranea, both of which are repositioning to Miami in December for a series of 10-, 11- and 12-night cruises to the eastern, western and southern Caribbean. Costa Luminosa’s 10-night itineraries call at Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel, Mexico. Costa Mediterranea’s 11-night sailings dock at Samana, Dominican Republic; Road Harbour, Tortola; St John’s, Antigua; Point á Pitre, Guadeloupe; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten. The ship’s 12-night cruise adds a visit to St. Kitts. Fares start from $799 per person.

- See more at: http://blog.shermanstravel.com/2014/09/30/cruise-tracker-sweet-deals-pro-poker-culinary-sailings-and-more/#sthash.9AFLvcMc.dpuf

Follow us on Twitter: @TraveloreReport