March 2012

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Norwegian Cruise Line welcomed Nickelodeon aboard Norwegian Gem, giving guests the opportunity to cruise with SpongeBob, Patrick, Dora the Explorer and Diego, among other favorite Nickelodeon characters.  The new Nickelodeon experiences on Norwegian Gem include some of the popular family events, shows and activities that were first introduced in April 2010 on Norwegian Jewel and in July 2010 on Norwegian Epic, plus an exciting line up of new experiences.

Each cruise features Nickelodeon’s all-new Pajama Jam Character Breakfast. Upon arriving in the Spinnaker Lounge, guests, who are encouraged to wear their pajamas, are greeted with a goody bag filled with surprises and props for use during the event. Donning their pajamas, Team Nick and the rest of the gang sing and dance while families enjoy their morning meal.  Each child attending the breakfast receives a complimentary, keepsake photograph.

Splash Mobs add a whole new element of surprise, bringing a new energy and excitement to the ship.  These spontaneous, impromptu games are fun for the whole family with pies, slime and other surprises.

Additional elements include Dora’s Dance Party, where children ages six and younger have the chance to sing and dance to their favorite songs with Dora the Explorer and Team Nick; Nickelodeon Character Meet and Greets; Nick Jr. Story Time and Nickelodeon arts and crafts.

Source: NCL

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The Disney Fantasy, the fourth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet, was christened tonight by singer Mariah Carey during a celebration at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Disney described the evening as “a night filled with celebrity performances from the likes of Jerry Seinfeld, Neil Patrick Harris, Nick Cannon and Heather Headley, but it was the Disney Fantasy’s godmother, Mariah Carey, who took center stage. Similar to the New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square, Carey led the audience in a countdown that triggered a 6-foot tall bottle of champagne in the Atrium Lobby to erupt and shower onlookers with confetti and streamers as a traditional bottle of champagne broke against the ship's hull.”

The Disney Fantasy begins sailing on March 31, 2012. Ship highlights include: Animator's Palate on the Disney Fantasy brings the magic of Disney animation into the dining room with a new show called "Animation Magic."  At dinner, families are encouraged to draw a character of their own on a specially designed placemat.   Once the placemats are collected, the magic begins as Mickey takes to the screens and brings the guests' characters to life as they march across screens around the dining room and even step into scenes from beloved Disney movies side-by-side with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Jiminy Cricket, Cinderella and Snow White.

The Muppets are coming to the Disney Fantasy!  Guests can join the world-famous Muppets for interactive adventure quest to find missing show props by uncovering clues via more than a dozen pieces of Enchanted Art around the ship.  Guided by a map and holding a unique game card in front of select pieces of Enchanted Art, guests unveil games and clues to find the missing items.  "The Case of the Stolen Show" is a self-paced adventure game that features several possible endings and multiple randomized events – so each time a guest plays, they have a different game experience.

Soaring above the upper decks of the Disney Fantasy, guests will find the AquaDuck a 765-foot long, twisting-and-turning water coaster that has been a huge hit with guests sailing on the Disney Dream.  Several new water surprises are set to debut on the Disney Fantasy including AquaLab -- a water play area on the upper deck filled with a variety of water "experiments," created by Donald Duck's nephews, designed to drench, soak and saturate guests.  This fanciful 1,800-square-foot space features pop jets, geysers, bubblers, falling water, squirting walls and more.

 On Deck 13 forward, guests 18-years of age and older will find a new relaxing respite. Satellite Falls is a circular splash pool with benches and a gently falling rain curtain that provides cool comfort and is surrounded by ample deck space where adult guests can soak up the sun in loungers or relax in the shade under a canopy.

The launch of a new Disney ship includes the premiere of two new Broadway-style stage spectaculars in the Walt Disney Theatre. The signature show "Wishes" is a 45-minute musical journey about three best friends who discover the secret to being a grown-up is staying connected to their inner child. "Disney's Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular" is a fast-paced musical comedy where Aladdin, the "street rat" of Agrabah, meets a Genie who grants him three wishes, battles the evil Jafar and falls in love with Princess Jasmine.

Nightlife takes a European twist with Europa – an entertainment district of high-energy, sophisticated clubs and lounges inspired by the night spots of Italy, France, Ireland and London. Europa is a continent of adult nighttime fun without borders. La Piazza is a lounge that draws inspiration from stylish Italian plazas. Skyline is a chic bar that provides ever-changing birds-eye views of European cityscapes. O'Gills Pub is a rollicking Irish bar and Ooh La La is an elegant French champagne bar. The Tube transports guests to a vibrant metropolitan club reminiscent of swinging London.

The Disney Fantasy will sail from Port Canaveral. on seven-night Caribbean itineraries that alternate eastern (St. Maarten and St. Thomas) and western (Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, Cozumel). All itineraries will include a stop at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay.

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Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas has begun a month-long, $54 million drydock where she will undergo a major revitalization and emerge with an array of new amenities. The ship revitalization is the largest of its kind ever to take place in Singapore and will employ more than 800 local workers from the region.

Part of the cruise lines Vision Class of ships, Rhapsody of the Seas will receive a host of new dining and entertainment venues as well as an assortment of technological upgrades. The ship also will receive a bow-to-stern refresh of all furniture, carpet and upholstery, including renovated staterooms.  The revitalizations are part of the Royal Advantage – the cruise line’s commitment to offer vacationers the world’s most innovative cruise ships, exciting itineraries to popular destinations, and world-renowned, friendly and engaging Gold Anchor Service.

“Rhapsody of the Seas’ drydock is part of Royal Caribbean’s commitment to continue to deliver the Royal Advantage to our guests,” said Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “With our $300 million investment through 2014, no ship in our fleet will go untouched and our guests will have an unrivaled vacation experience no matter which destination in the world they visit or on what ship they sail on.” 

Similar to sister-ship Splendour of the Seas, which underwent its revitalization in November 2011, Rhapsody will receive new dining venues, including Chops Grille, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Chef’s Table experience and Park Café. Additional offerings include a Diamond lounge for Crown and Anchor loyalty guests, a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and top tier loyalty guests, a transformed Viking Crown Lounge and the popular Royal Babies and Tots Nursery.

New offerings for guests include ship-wide Wi-Fi, a digital way finding system, electronic mustering, an outdoor movie screen, as well as iPad’s in every stateroom featuring content about the ship’s amenities and activities, ensuring a seamless cruise experience for guests. The ship’s Centrum, with its sweeping views and central location, will transform into a new chic and sophisticated venue featuring enriching daytime activities, dazzling nightly entertainment and jaw-dropping aerial spectacles. The ship’s Champagne Bar, located in the Centrum, also will reemerge as the R Bar, featuring a sophisticated 1960s vibe, complete with iconic furnishing and signature cocktails mixed by a savvy and personable mixologist.

When the enhancements are completed on March 28, Rhapsody of the Seas will sail a 15-night voyage from Singapore to Sydney, Australia. From there, she will sail across the Pacific with a combination of cruises from Australia and Hawaii, before beginning her Alaska season in May 2012.

In Alaska, Rhapsody of the Seas will offer seven-night open-jawed itineraries from both Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. She will join Radiance of the Seas, which was revitalized in May 2011, offering guests in Alaska an unparalleled cruise vacation experience.

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With other luxury cruise lines yet to dip their bows into 2014’s seemingly far-off waters, Crystal Cruises’ early-2014 preview itineraries are now open for booking.  Seventeen voyages visiting 74 ports in 34 countries are available for January to April 2014 on Crystal Serenity and January through May on Crystal Symphony.  “Book Now” fares offer savings of up to $2,000 per couple off attractive 2-for-1 brochure prices until June 30, 2012.

Distinctive, less-cruised, less-easily-accessible lands like Ghana, Mauritius, Brunei, Burma, the Cook Islands, Tonga, Sao Tome, Senegal, Namibia, and Angola complement vacation favorites like the Cayman Islands, Panama Canal, Thailand, and Hawaii.  Crystal is not only maiden calling in Luanda, Angola; Lombok, Indonesia; and Malacca, Malaysia, but also returning to several destinations not visited in years, such as the Andaman Islands, India; Okinawa and Tokyo, Japan; the UK’s Pitcairn Islands; and Jakarta, Surabay, and Ujung Pandang, Indonesia.

All voyages but one offer overnights in local ports-of-call, including “double overnights” (two consecutive nights) in Yangon (Myanmar/Burma), Yokohama, Ho Chi Minh City, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai.  Winter/spring voyages range from 12 to 26 days, in addition to a five-segment, 89-day World Cruise.

“We were the first cruise line out of the gate to share 2014 itineraries last December, and travelers have been anxious to book ever since,” says Crystal Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing Jack Anderson.  “Experienced cruisers recognize that Crystal not only offers incredible value for a luxury vacation, our itinerary offerings for 2014 are incredibly innovative, with easy, intimate access to authentic cultures and vacation memories.”

New routes include:

World Cruise:

• L.A. to London’s port of Southampton (Jan 18)
• Rare visits to USA’s Mariana Islands and Guam.
• Multiple Asian segments, one with three Vietnamese stops.
• Rounding Africa from Mauritius Islands to Morocco, with three South African stops and a maiden call in Luanda, Angola.
• Combine with Jan 5’s Panama Canal voyage beforehand to sail all the way from Miami to the UK.

Trans-Pacific:

• Back-to-back Polynesian explorations, beginning with an unusual southern Trans-Pacific cruise, stopping at Easter Island, Pitcairn Islands, Mo’orea, Papeete, Tahiti (overnight), then continuing on to the Cook Islands, Tonga, and Fiji. (Jan 8 & 20)
• 15-day Tokyo to L.A. ocean-crossing, with just one stop/overnight in Honolulu, for sea day lovers. (May 1)

Unusual Asia:

• Java/South China Seas: Four Indonesia ports-of-call, including a Bali overnight, plus Malaysia and Brunei visits. (Feb 28)
• Andaman Sea: 14-day Southeast Asia cruise with three stops in Malaysia, an Andaman Islands visit, and two nights in Myanmar. (March 12)
• “All-China”:  10-day Chinese voyage features a Hong Kong overnight, double overnight in Shanghai, and optional three-day, add-on land package to Beijing. (April 9)
• Japan-China: Three stops in China and four in Japan, with one night in Osaka and two in Shanghai. (April 19)

Until June 30, 2012, “Book Now” fares for 2014 start at $2,975, with attractive air add-ons from over 90 North American gateways. 

Crystal Cruises’ resort experience always includes a host of complimentary amenities, from enlightening enrichment speakers and fitness classes to pampering pillow menus and specialty restaurant dining including the cuisine of Nobu Matsuhisa.  Starting this spring, vacations will also include complimentary fine wines and premium spirits throughout the ship, open bar service in all lounges, and pre-paid gratuities for housekeeping, bar and dining staff.  Crystal’s passion for taking care of guests in an inviting environment of extraordinary space, quality and choices has earned the company more “World’s Best” awards than any other cruise line, resort, or hotel in history.

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Nova Scotia is getting ready to welcome visitors for the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15. Nova Scotian’s and visitors are encouraged to participate in two commemorative events: an evening procession and presentation April 14; and an afternoon interfaith memorial service April 15.

“This April, Nova Scotia will welcome people from around the world, who are fascinated by the Titanic story,” said Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris. “Our Maritime heritage and culture make us uniquely able to mark this historic, solemn occasion, and tell the world about our important role in the tragic story.”

As part of Titanic Eve - Night of the Bells, a walking procession will make its way at 8:30 p.m. from the waterfront side of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to the Grand Parade. Some of the city’s Titanic-related landmarks will be acknowledged along the procession route.

When the procession reaches the Grand Parade at 9:30 p.m., the evening will focus on interpretative presentations and live performances. At 12:20 a.m., a moment of silence will be held in honour of the moment the Titanic began to sink. Flares will be set off to symbolize the ship’s call for help.

“I encourage Halifax residents and visitors to attend the commemorative events. We are forever linked to the Titanic and what happened on that terrible night,” said Peter Kelly, Mayor of Halifax Regional Municipality. “By paying solemn tribute to those who lost their lives, we are also honouring the men and women of our own community who did not hesitate to answer the call for assistance.”

The Titanic Spiritual Ceremony, an interfaith memorial service, will take place at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery at 3 p.m. The ceremony will include a wreath laying and musical performances. One hundred and twenty-one victims of the Titanic sinking are buried at the cemetery.

A visitor information centre, called Titanic Central, will be set up at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. The centre will allow people to learn more about Halifax’s connection to Titanic and the activities planned to commemorate the anniversary.

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Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest Highest Rated in “Overall Small Ship Category”

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All Proceeds from Line's First-Ever eBay Auction to Benefit Charity Highest Bidder Will Cruise in New Deluxe Balcony Category New Ship's Staterooms to Feature Updates Designed by Passengers

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The totally restyled Costa neoRomantica departed Savona, Italy, today with 1,600 guests on board, following a private naming ceremony.

On the occasion of Costa neoRomantica’s inaugural sailing from Savona,
Costa Crociere top management attended a private blessing ceremony
conducted by His Excellency Vittorio Lupi, Bishop of Savona.

At the beginning of the blessing ceremony, one minute of silence was
observed in respect and mourning for the victims of Costa Concordia.

Following long-standing maritime tradition, a bottle of champagne was
broken across the ship’s hull. Serving as Costa neoRomantica’s godmothers
were Francesca Scuffi, a member of the Costa Club for repeat guests, and
Gabriella Gentile, a member of Costa Concordia’s crew that were on board
Jan. 13, 2012. She was chosen as a symbol of the gratitude the company
expresses toward Costa Concordia’s crew.

Costa neoRomantica was virtually a new ship when it left San Giorgio del
Porto shipyard in Genoa. The five-month restyling represents an investment
by Costa Cruises of approximately US$120 million (90 million euros), one of
the most expensive and extensive cruise ship refit projects ever undertaken
in the industry.

Costa neoRomantica’s interior design has a contemporary, elegant and
refined style created by Swedish architectural firm Tillberg Design and
Syntax, the London firm specializing in prestigious hotels and spa.
Costa neoRomantica departed today on an 11-night round-trip Canary
Islands cruise calling at Barcelona, Spain; Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco;
Arrecife and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands; Funchal (Madeira),
Portugal and Malaga, Spain.

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Upper premium cruise line Oceania Cruises named Food Network’s Iron Chef star Cat Cora godmother of the their upcoming ship, Riviera. The 1,250-guest Riviera will be christened on May 11 in Barcelona.

“It’s an honor to have been asked to serve as the godmother for the beautiful Riviera,” said Cora. “Oceania Cruises has done an incredible job of developing ships custom-designed for food lovers, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it all.”

Riviera boasts 10 dining venues, a Bon Appetit Culinary Center for a hands-on cooking experience, and La Reserve by Wine Spectator, an on-board venue for wine tastings and pairing dinners.

This is Oceania Cruises second launch in the past 18-months following Marina.

After the Christening Cruise concludes in Venice, Riviera sets sail on May 16 on her maiden voyage, a 10-day cruise that includes an overnight in Venice before visiting Dubrovnik, Kotor, Corfu, Monemvasia, Crete, Santorini, Kusadasi (gateway to Ephesus), Delos, Mykonos and Athens.

Source: Oceania Cruises

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“The overall quality of river cruising is changing"

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More guests set to discover beautiful coastline and unspoilt islands

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By Linda Garrison, About.com Guide   March 5, 2012

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Carnival Sunshine will usher in an exciting new era in “Fun Ship” cruising

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Costa Crociere is replacing the 28,500-ton, 1,000-passenger Costa Allegra with the 24,400-ton, 927-guest Costa Voyager, starting March 18.

Following the incident aboard Costa Allegra Feb. 27, the company has not determined how long it will take to repair and bring Costa Allegra back into service and restore planned cruises. Costa Cruises continues to conduct inspections and technical evaluations to ascertain what caused the generator-room fire.

Costa Voyager is a new-generation ship that entered service in 2000 and was renovated in November 2011. The ship has 416 cabins, three restaurants, four bars, a spa with fitness center, solarium, swimming pool, two Jacuzzis, theater, casino, disco and shopping center.

From March 18 to July 1 Costa Voyager will sail itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, dedicated to guests from the French market. July 13 Costa Voyager departs on a nine-day cruise from Amsterdam to Savona. From July 23 to August 20 the ship will sail one-week cruises in the Mediterranean with calls at Barcelona, Spain; Villefranche, France; Livorno and Capri, Italy; Malta; Cagliari, Italy, and Minorca, Spain. Beginning Aug. 28 Costa Voyager offers additional cruises of different durations in the Mediterranean for the French market.

Costa Cruises is temporarily suspending Costa Voyager’s “Corals and Ancient Treasures” Red Sea itinerary. Guests who have booked this itinerary will be re-protected on equivalent cruises.

Among the options offered are:

• Seven days in the UAE on the "Jewels of the Emirates" cruise on Costa Favolosa round-trip from Dubai with calls at Muscat, Oman; Fujairah and Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Khasab, Oman.

• Seven days in the Caribbean on the “Pearls of the Caribbean” itinerary on Costa Luminosa, boarding at Guadalupe with calls at Martinique and St. Maarten; La Romana and Catalina Island, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and Antigua.

• Any of the seven-day itineraries in the western or eastern Mediterranean on Costa Atlantica, Costa Classica, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Magica, Costa neoRomantica or Costa Serena.

Alternatively, guests booked on a Costa Allegra cruise may cancel without penalty and receive a full refund and a voucher equal to 30 percent of the rate paid toward the purchase of a future cruise.

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Royal Caribbean International’s Rhapsody of the Seas has entered Sembawang Shipyard (a subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine Ltd.) in Singapore to begin a month-long, $54 million drydock where she will undergo a major revitalization and emerge with an array of new amenities.

The ship revitalization is the largest of its kind ever to take place in Singapore and will employ more than 800 local workers from the region.

Part of the cruise lines Vision Class of ships, Rhapsody of the Seas will receive a host of new dining and entertainment venues as well as an assortment of technological upgrades. The ship also will receive a bow-to-stern refresh of all furniture, carpet and upholstery, including renovated staterooms.

The revitalizations are part of the Royal Advantage – the cruise line’s commitment to offer vacationers the world’s most innovative cruise ships and exciting itineraries to popular destinations.

Adam Goldstein, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said, “Rhapsody of the Seas’ drydock is part of Royal Caribbean’s commitment to continue to deliver the Royal Advantage to our guests. With our $300 million investment through 2014, no ship in our fleet will go untouched and our guests will have an unrivaled vacation experience no matter which destination in the world they visit or on what ship they sail on.”

Similar to sister-ship Splendour of the Seas, which underwent its revitalization in November 2011, Rhapsody will receive new dining venues, including Chops Grille, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Chef’s Table experience and Park Café. Additional offerings include a Diamond lounge for Crown and Anchor loyalty guests, a Concierge Lounge for suite guests and top tier loyalty guests, a transformed Viking Crown Lounge and the popular Royal Babies and Tots Nursery.

New offerings for guests include ship-wide Wi-Fi, a digital way finding system, electronic mustering, an outdoor movie screen, as well as iPad’s in every stateroom featuring content about the ship’s amenities and activities.

 The ship’s Centrum, with its sweeping views and central location, will transform into a new venue featuring enriching daytime activities, dazzling nightly entertainment and jaw-dropping aerial spectacles.

 The ship’s Champagne Bar, located in the Centrum, also will reemerge as the R Bar, featuring a sophisticated 1960s vibe, complete with iconic furnishing and signature cocktails mixed by a savvy and personable mixologist.

When the enhancements are completed on 28 March 2012, Rhapsody of the Seas will sail a 15-night voyage from Singapore to Sydney, Australia. From there, she will sail across the Pacific with a combination of cruises from Australia and Hawaii, before beginning her Alaska season in May 2012.

In Alaska, Rhapsody of the Seas will offer seven-night open-jawed itineraries from both Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. She will join Radiance of the Seas, which was revitalized in May 2011, offering guests in Alaska a memorable cruise vacation experience.

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The Varied Reasons to Vacation at Sea Include Bridging the Generation Gap, Revisiting Wartime Memories and Surprising a Loved One

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Norwegian Cruise Line has unveiled an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime gourmet dining experience by introducing the Chef's Table fleet-wide. Guests who attend the Chef's Table dining experience will marvel in an incredible culinary adventure as they feast on a nine-course, upscale menu consisting of unique and contemporary creations using the highest quality ingredients, sophisticated cooking techniques, flavor compositions and captivating presentations. All courses are accompanied by wines that are specially paired by the line's Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson.

The two-and-a-half hour Chef's Table dining experience begins with an intimate reception where guests enjoy a glass of champagne as they mingle with the ship's Executive Chef, Food and Beverage Director, Restaurant Manager, Assistant Maître d' and Head Wine Steward. Following the reception, guests are invited to take a group photo before sitting down to begin their gourmet culinary experience in a luxurious and intimate restaurant setting that provides privacy and exclusivity. The Executive Chef welcomes the group and then goes on to describe the first two courses: an Amuse Bouche ?Molecular Gastronome' consisting of Spherical Mango, Vodka & Jalapeno Ravioli and an Orange-Wasabi Glazed Ahi Tuna Tartar with freshly-baked Sesame Crisp.

Courses one and two are accompanied by the Master Sommelier's expertly-paired wine selection. Asparagus Cream is served for course three, followed by the fourth course, a Short Crust Tartlet and a delightful Grapefruit and Moscato Granite is served as course number five. As the Executive Chef describes the ingredients and technique used to create courses three through five, the second wine selection is served and the Chef invites questions about the dishes. Course six consists of a Plantain- Crusted, Pan Seared Sea Bass accompanied by Mango, Papaya & Avocado Salsa and Lobster Veloute and a Milk-Fed Veal Chop with Anna Potatoes, Sautéed Spinach and Truffle Veal Jus rounds out course number seven. A specially-selected cheese platter that boasts an assortment of gourmet cheeses is served as course eight and the grand finale, course nine, is dessert, which consists of either a Yogurt-Mousse Dome with Lychee Raspberry Crème, Hazel Sablee and Lime Vanilla Reduction; or a Chocolate Log with ?Spiced' Dark Rum, Infused Banana and Cocoa Mousse.

This exclusive dining experience is offered for a cover charge of $75 per person, including gratuities, a behind-the-scenes galley tour, one group photo and an individual photo with the Executive Chef. The Chef's Table is limited to 12 guests per exclusive dining experience and is offered once per cruise on board Norwegian ships fleet-wide, with the exception of Norwegian Jade which rolls out March 22, 2012.

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