It’s official! I’ll be hosting a group on the Oceania Cruise Lines’ Riviera, a floating country-club-of-a-ship that looks like my life in hazy dreams I’ve had after consuming multiple dry Henckles martinis, shaken, not stirred. Leaving from Lisbon in late September, we’ll cruise through Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, stopping at Seville, and Morocco, Cartegena, Malaga, and Barcelona, then on to Marseilles, Florence, Rome and winding up in Monte Carlo. DAHLING, that last sentence sounds like something I heard in a black and white movie, coming from the mouth of Grace Kelly, or Audrey Hepburn, but not me. Words like opulent, gorgeous, upscale, pinnacle, quality, excellence, shiny, fantastic, spotless, spectacular and magnificent have full-time jobs on this ship, with extra help in the six distinct and stunning onboard restaurants from well-trained words like delicious, elegant, savory, beautiful, succulent, tasteful, scrumptious, and addictive, with a stow-away of finger-licking. I was invited for a quick trip to Miami last week, where the ship was docked for a day, which allowed me to stroll it’s decks, take a peek at the Bon Apetit Culinary Center where I’ll be teaching classes during the trip, and wine and dine onboard with execs from Oceania and Valerie Wilson Travel who are making this trip possible for me…and any of you who decide to join!
The above are not “official photos” of the ship, just mine snapped with my iPad during my tour and lunch, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek from my POV. Here are a few shots of the Bon Apetit Culinary Center. Included in the trip are two cooking classes highlighting food and culinary techniques from ports we’ll be visiting (taught by me, with the help of the top-notch Bon Apetit Culinary Center staff), along with two onshore excursions I’ll lead to explore food, wine and markets along the way. Here are a few short videos that really highlight the essence of Oceania Cruise Lines’ for me: Cuisine, Luxury, Family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s96DM4Nph4&feature=share&list=SP3778E92E1F843366
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10nIWhe5BZg&feature=share&list=SP3778E92E1F843366
For more info on the details, pricing, accommodations or itinerary for the trip, you can visit the Oceania site. Note that there will be no information on my group on the Oceania site, so to book you must call a travel advisor at Valerie Wilson Travel at (212) 592-1211 and ask to speak to someone about this trip, or fill out a contact form via their website. The group is limited in size, so book sooner than later. I’m so excited about this trip and hope to share great meals and memories with some of you this fall. By the way, my birthday falls on the 2nd day of this cruise so we will be having a private dinner and cocktail party on board to celebrate as well! Can’t wait!!