Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 15, 2016

Holland America Line is partnering with award-winning microgreen specialist Koppert Cress to grow fresh ingredients aboard its upcoming ms Koningsdam, which launches in April. The ingredients, a key part of the Culinary Arts Center restaurant’s farm-to-table–style menu, will be on display in a glass-enclosed growing area within the reimagined dinner venue. “Putting our microgreens on a cruise ship is a new adventure for us, and we are thrilled to be working with an esteemed company like Holland America Line,” said Rob Baan, founder of the Netherlands-based company.

Luxury river cruise line Aqua Expeditions is offering guests insider access to star chefs — and to the company’s CEO and founder, Francesco Galli Zugaro — on cruises down the Amazon and the Mekong in 2016. On the Founder-Hosted Departures, Zugaro will join guests on kayaking and biking adventures and share his vision for the company over cocktails. On the Chef-Hosted Departures, guests will meet (and enjoy hand-crafted menus by) Michelin-starred David Thompson and Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose Lima restaurant, Malabar, has been listed in the San Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurants.

On January 18, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration will begin a three-week, multimillion-dollar makeover adding a wide range of new dining and bar innovations. The upgrades, made in the Portland, Oregon, drydock, will include the addition of Guy’s Burger Joint, BlueIguana Cantina, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, RedFrog Rum Bar, a Cherry on Top candy store, and Alchemy Bar. The ship will then resume its year-round schedule of 3- and 4-day Baja cruises from Long Beach, California.

Oceania Cruises will be offering guests custom-designed Italian mattress to sleep better than ever aboard Sirena when the ship launches in April 2016. The new Ultra Tranquility Bed features 3,000 individually pocketed coil springs — four times as many coils as the average American mattress — designed never to creak on movement while giving maximum comfort, providing a restful night’s sleep in any position.

Speaking of sleep, a new sleep-inspired survey commissioned by Princess Cruises found that Americans are willing to sacrifice almost anything for more sleep in the new year. In fact, 57 percent say a resolution to get more sleep is more appealing than one to go back into the gym — and the same percentage think they get less sleep than they actually need. Sixty-one percent of those polled by Wakefield Research said they would rather get a great night’s sleep, every night for a month, than lose five pounds. Researchers also found more folks willing to sacrifice a night on the town (45 percent), a spa treatment (38 percent), and even sex (31 percent) for a little more pillow time. To do their part, Princess recently unveiled their own sleep-science-based Luxury Bed design.

^{Photo: Holland America Line}

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