Porthole Cruise News Briefs – Jan. 22, 2016

Un-Cruise Adventures is celebrating 20 years of small ship adventure cruising in 2016 with new trips to the Galápagos Islands, Costa Rica and Panama, and a collection of cruise perks including chairman’s theme cruises with company owners, an essay contest with two cruise giveaways as awards, special gear for sale on board, savings on select cruise dates, and celebratory toasts and desserts aboard every sailing. The line will also make a donation to Tourism Cares for every guest who visits Glacier Bay National Park.

PONANT, the only French-flagged cruise line, is partnering with Ducasse Conseil, the consulting arm of the Alain Ducasse Entreprise – a group dedicated to reaching the highest levels of culinary excellence. Ducasse Conseil expert leaders will collaborate with the luxury line’s chefs to provide auditing, menu concept creation and training for the cruise line’s 10 restaurants at sea.
“This collaboration will raise PONANT’s culinary standards to a new level to better meet the highest expectations of our very discerning French and international passengers,” says PONANT CEO Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée.

Royal Caribbean International has teamed up with the Forbidden City’s Imperial Palace Museum to showcase Chinese culture aboard Ovation of the Seas, which will homeport in Tianjin after her debut in April 2016. A signing ceremony in Jianfu Palace marked the countdown to the ship’s maiden voyage, and opened the door for lectures on Chinese history and displays of signature pieces from the Imperial Palace Museum on Ovation of the Seas. “We are proud of the extensive collection of art and relics that represent the imperial treasures of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and it is our goal at The Palace Museum to showcase the traditional Chinese culture to people all over the world,” said Shan Jixian, Director of the Imperial Palace Museum.

In other China-cruising news, Star Cruises’ SuperStar Virgo, the first cruise ship designed and built for the Asian market, has just completed her maiden cruise from her year-round homeport in Guangzhou Nansha Port, carrying 1,860 guests on a 6-day cruise to the Vietnamese ports of Halong Bay and Danang, and Sanya on China’s Hainan Island. SuperStar Virgo will continue this cruise weekly until November 2016, when she will be replaced by the 3,400-passenger Genting Dream, the first Dream Cruises vessel. Both Star Cruises and Dream Cruises are owned by Genting Hong Kong.

Cunard Line is welcoming jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater as co-headliner aboard Queen Mary 2’s third Blue Note jazz-themed Transatlantic Crossing from New York to Southampton on October 25, 2016. Bridgewater, Grammy and TONY winner, UN Goodwill Ambassador, producer, record label head, and performer, will join booming baritone Gregory Porter on board, giving three performances and a Q&A session during the 7-day crossing.

^{Photo: Un-Cruise Adventures}

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