Recommend December 2010 - (Page 74)

celebrity’s luxe life 14th annual cruise rca Best Cruise Line—Spa & Cuisine winner ciara lavelle FOR AWARDS PIECES FINAL LOGO.indd 1 It shouldn’t shock you to learn that Celebrity Cruises has once again clinched a couple of Recommend’s Readers’ Choice Awards—after all, 2010 marks the cruise line’s 10th straight win in Best Cruise Line—Spa and sixth straight win in Best Cruise Line—Cuisine. But though these wins aren’t a surprise, they continue to be an honor, says Lisa LutoffPerlo, senior v.p., hotel operations. “It’s really nice to be recognized in these two areas consistently by readers of Recommend because these two areas are so important to our brand,” she says. “The acknowledgement for all the time, energy, passion and focus on the primary pillars of our brand is really rewarding for us.” This year, the pillars of spa and dining enjoyed additional focus with the expansion of the line’s Celebrity Life program, a series of events, amenities and other offerings designed to bring wellness, fine dining and other luxuries into all areas of clients’ experiences on board. Among the additions this year, Lutoff-Perlo says, are culinary cruises. “With Savor-themed cruises we bring on celebrity chefs throughout the year on our different ships. Guests responded really well to that. The chefs are very engaging with guests. They not only do cooking demonstrations but also give interactive lessons and pairing dinners in our restaurants, where guests can purchase a dinner prepared by the celebrity chef and our team in the galleys.” Another boost for Celebrity’s onboard culinary experience was the launch of Qsine (pronounced “cuisine”), an innovative restaurant and dining concept. “We wanted to create an experience that is not just ‘come to eat,’ but really go through the culinary journey and experience it,” explains Jacques Van Staden, v.p., culinary operations. “It’s a 180-degree approach on what you might perceive [as cruise cuisine].” The dishes often take traditional meals and give them an upscale twist. For example, Van Staden points out, Qsine’s meatball dish is a trio of meatballs featuring flavors from around the world, rather than the expected pasta and tomato sauce combo. Qsine has also innovated using technology, offering its menus on iPads, and has bumped service up a notch, too. “Instead of servers, we have culinary tour guides,” Van Staden says, “who literally guide you through the dining experience. It’s a uniquely unordinary concept.” In the wellness realm, Celebrity’s team continues to perfect and expand the Aqua Spa experience. “We create new and, at least when they’re launched, exclusive experiences,” Lutoff-Perlo says, pointing out the medi-spa services and famous 24-karat facial, a service using real gold, that launched on board Celebrity ships in recent years. “We were also the first to do the Brazilian blowouts [hair treatment] on board, which has been very popular and which is new on the market. We try to stay ahead of the curve and offer unique experiences.” In 2011, she says, the strategy for the spa will be similar to that of the dining team: bringing on well-known speakers to expand the effects of spa living beyond the physical walls of the spa itself. Though names weren’t available at press time, Lutoff-Perlo promises, “We will have popular and well-known wellness speakers discussing live, living, and loving, readers’ choice award winner 11/10/10 4:46:57 PM rca 14th annual healthier eating—some of the really topical things on people’s minds related to well-being and spa.” Celebrity’s spa and culinary teams are also teaming up to create a menu of dishes for wellness-conscious cruise-goers—the perfect intersection of its two most awarded traits, due to debut in February or March. “That way, guests will have healthy dining options, for at least part of their cruise,” Lutoff-Perlo says. “I say it’s not a vacation unless you have a little decadence.” l contact information Celebrity Cruises: (800) 647-2251; celebritycruises.com royal caribbean goes big 14th annual rca Best Cruise Line—Large Ship; winner FOR AWARDS PIECES rca 14th annual readers’ choice award winner Best Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support 11/10/10 4:46:57 PM ciara lavelle FINAL LOGO.indd 1 In the world of cruising, it’s not enough to be the best—you have to be the biggest and the first as well. And for a full decade, Royal Caribbean International has perfected that hat trick. In this, its 10th straight year of winning in the Best Cruise Line—Large Ship category, and sixth straight year taking home the Best Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support, senior v.p. of sales, trade support and service, Vicki Freed, says that it’s not just the ships that are large-scale—it’s the brand philosophy as well. “It’s all about choice for the consumer,” Freed explains. “Even if the consumer doesn’t want to do it all, they want to know they have access to it all.” Take the line’s new, headline-grabbing ship Oasis of the Seas, for instance. On board, Freed points out, clients find a dazzling array of activities and attractions, from Broadway musicals, to water parks, spas for adults and for youth, a whole suite of hangout spots for teens, adventure options like ziplines and Flowrider surfing—and that only scratches the surface. Forget about decks; this ship is split into neighborhoods, including one modeled after Central Park in New York City. And then there are the superlatives: the deepest swimming pool at sea; the longest jogging track at sea; the first bar at sea that actually moves, rising and descending between three decks. “There’s always something for the consumer to do…and our staff want to wow the guest at every opportunity,” Freed continues. But cruise passengers—perhaps because they have so many options at their fingertips—can be difficult to impress. The trick, Freed says, is anticipation. “We have stayed very focused in on keeping our product recommend.com 74 december 2010 http://www.celebritycruises.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2010

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk-Marriott International
Tour Talk-Globus
Services-SABRE; Apple Vacations & Travel Impressions
Ritz-Carlton
Hertz & Hawaii
Las Vegas
Tauck World Discovery
Florida
Southwest Airlines
France
Ireland
Italy
Delta Air Lines & Rail Europe
China
Thailand
Singapore Airlines
2011 Taiwan Travel Planner
Tahiti & Goway Travel
Costa Rica
Brazil & Avanti Destinations
Egypt
South Africa
Abercrombie & Kent & Isram World of Travel
Israel
Jamaica
Sandals & Beaches Resorts
St. Lucia
GOGO Worldwide Vacations
Cancun
RIU Hotels & Resorts & Apple Vacations
Riviera Maya
Celebrity Cruises & Royal Caribbean International
Princess Cruises
Carnival Cruise Lines & Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Crystal Cruises & Viking River Cruises

Recommend December 2010