Come dine with me & Oceania

Following my recent trip to Dover & the Oceania Insignia visit I thought I might talk a little about the food… I won’t go over board!!



They are famously known for their 4star plus ships and 6 star service and food. Amazing.. I'm not one to get overly gush, but this was to die for!

Warm Crushed Baby Potato with Caviar

Echire Butter and Fresh Chives

Risotto all'Aragosta

Arborio Rice with Lobster Medallions in Lobster Broth Reduction

Den Miso Glazed Seabass

Wrapped and Cooked in Banana Leaf

Seventy two hours Slow Cooking Short Rib "Perigourdine"

Semolina Gnocchi, Vegetable Casserole and Crispy Parmesan

Gold Bullion" of Valrhona Jivara Chocolate Mousse

Praline, Exotic Fruit and Amarena Cherries

Its been a struggle to eat anything normal since, I even tried cooking up my own fish dish the other day - But wasn't anywhere near as breathtakingly supremely gorgeous as the Den Miso glazed Chilean Sea bass, I Did Thai cod loin!! Ive searched everywhere for a recipe to recreate at home the closet Ive found is this one which I'm planning on trying next week or so:

If anyone fancies having a go at it - Feel free to upload your photos and reviews here, Ill do the same when I make it! Gotta locate some Chilean Sea bass first!

Recipe: Miso-Marinated Sea Bass

Ingredients:
Sea bass (about 5 oz. piece)
1 teaspoon white miso paste
1 teaspoon mirin
2 teaspoon sake
1/2 teaspoon ginger juice
1/2 teaspoon palm sugar (sugar)

Method:
In a small bowl, mix the marinates well and save some for the plating. Drop the sea bass into the marinate, coat well, and leave in the fridge for a few hours.

Preheat an indoor grill and lightly wipe off (with fingers) any excess miso marinate clinging to the sea bass but don’t rinse it off. Place the fish on the grill and lightly grill on both sides until the surface turns brown. Transfer the fish fillets to the oven (350 degree) and bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve hot

GOODLUCK



 



Coolest cruise ship collection.

Having a read on line I came across a feature on cruise ships, and naturally my eye lit up and I did my best meercat impression... Ooh Ooh what's going on here then???

Entitled, 'Worlds coolest cruise ships' I thought it might be about the NCL Epic Ice bar - But no! Its MSN's list of cool ships CLICK HERE to read the feature entirely.

1) Seabourn Quest that launched last June. This ships gets brownie points for the exotic destinations, on board experience and beach seafood barbecue called Caviar in the Surf!


2) Celebrity Silhouette came next - Silhouette's speciality restaurant Quisine serves up quirky dishes from animated iPad menus and a dessert list on a Rubik's cube. This features across the solstice class ships and my personal favourite is the cheese cake - Served in a two tier glass, cheesecake filling in the top with two beautifully buttery shortcakes and underneath strawberry candy floss!! GREAT STUFF..


3) Oceania Marina - For her astonishingly fantastic quisine and swish Canyon Ranch SpaClub that offers thalassotherapy and a heavenly pool area with soft-towelling-encased day beds. Foodies will be in their element at La Reserve by Wine Spectator, which offers wine and food pairings


4) Seven Seas Voyager - A personal favourite of a few of my regular passengers and its easy to see why with all inclusive shore excursions and drinks, but this on made their list for the great choice of cabins.

5) SeaDream - These one makes the list attributed to their superb itineraries and hotter climes are the perfect place to try the Balinese double dream beds, which can be made up at night with luxurious duvets and soft pillows for guests to sleep under the stars. Elsewhere, pre-loaded iPods, Bvlgari products in marble-lined bathrooms and a comprehensive on board water sports marina up the ante.


6) Norwegian Epic - Hardly surprising given the levels of innovative stuff on board - Its the night time entertainment that gets this ship listed, hardly surprising with the like of the Blue Man group and Dinner acrobatic combo.

7) Orion - Expedition cruises, take a trip with this expedition cruise operator for an experience of a lifetime: Take a trip to Borneo accompanied by botanists, marine biologists and cultural experts. Get hands on with Orangutans and other wildlife. If you are of active body & active mind, passengers will enjoy a whole host of destinations that larger ships cannot access, nor bring their guests ashore.


8) Grand Princess - Featured for her multi million Pound make over earlier this year and the new One5 nightclub, with a popular outdoor chill-out area that overlooks the ship's wake as she sails off into the sunset from Southampton.

9) Crystal Serenity - She also had a recent make over - Back in May £15million spent to update and revive her! Super staterooms and sophisticated decor on board win her a place on the list.

10) Star Clippers - For people with a passion for the open waters - the three 'Tall ships' are working sail powered vessel, great for those who like a hands on approach - You can really get involved, but MSN award this place for the 'something different' aspect..Guests can join in with the hoisting or sail one of the small dinghies when anchored in port.




Whats your 'COOLEST' Ship?


Mine would have to be the MSC Splendida - Eight Swaosovski Crystal staircases costing 1.5million Euros each! THATS COOL!

Oceania Insignia Reviews of food lover!

Luxury Lovers and a Foodies heaven - Oceania's moto is to Deliver over and above the expected!

Monday 5th September there was two things for me to celebrate – Firstly my Dads birthday – So happy Birthday Popsicle, hope you liked your card? And Secondly I got a absolute treat and went to see the Oceania Insignia.

Insignia according to the dictionary means: a badge or distinguishing mark of office or honour: a military insignia. Alternatively its a distinguishing mark or sign of anything: an insignia of mourning

I think in the Case of Oceania – Insignia means a sign of excellence, a food lover’s haven, a luxury cruise liners epitome of taste sensations! Ill come back to that later!

The Oceania Insignia stands as a mid sized ship at 30,277 tons and has passenger capacity of 824 and a crew to passenger ratio of a staggering 1.7!! According to the Berlitz guide, the vessel is most suited to couples who enjoy good food and style, but want informality with no formal nights on board, interesting itineraries, all at a very reasonable price, well below what the luxury ships normally charge - Compfortably 4Stars plus. This is the kind of ship and company that genuinely appeals to aspirational travellers - 50 something to 75 with active mind and active bodies is the sort of people onboard.

The ship itself is quite understated with a 1920/1930 aura about the ship - There is a weird and wonderful art deco'esque type ceiling where its been made to appear like a conservatory roof that looks out to tropical gardens - Very interesting with a slight calming effect.

 Cabins for me let it down a little, I was hoping for more of a wow factor - none of the cabins have a bath with the exception of the Penthouse and owners suites, however 30% of the passengers who are regular luxury liner guests travel in Penthouse or above as they do prove great value for money compared to other companies. 96% of cabins have balconies on Marina and the new ship Rivieria (To be launched next year) On Insignia and Regatta it is 75% of cabins that have balconies. They have a rolling 12-18month refit programme, which keeps this looking fresh, however perhaps the balcony furniture is the concierge cabin I saw could do with being updated now as it was looking a little weathered!!

The owners suite was AMAZING!!! L Shaped sofa and lounge area  nearly 1000 square feet and taking up cloase to half the bredth of the ship. Have your own Jacuzzi, refridgerated mini bar - all soft drinks a free on board Oceania! 42inch plasma TV and complimentry laptop to use.


 Ill review the food later as quite frankly it does deserve a section all to itslef..... Mouthwatering thinking of the lunch!
 We currently have a whole heap of sailings that have upto $1000 on board credit!! Check out our website for itieraries - http://www.cruise.co.uk/

 For some Reason Blogger wont allow me to load the pictures, so if you look for me on facebook, Ive added them all there.  nadinel@cruise.co.uk

WIN A FREE OCEANIA CRUISE

Ever fancied the life of Riley? I'm a big fan of luxury cruising as many of you will know from the numerous blogs I have  done on the subject over time and I though this was fantastic opportunity to try it for yourself.

CALLING A LUXURY LOVERS

OCEANIA CRUISE LINE

NEW MARINA SHIP:

Click here to enter a free sweepstakes.

A Fantastic Opportunity to Win a Ultra Luxury Cruise on Oceania Marina on 15th July 2011 for 14 nights.

You will be staying in the Veranda Balcony Suite on the ship. The Cruise will be visiting several ports in the UK & the Norwegian Fjords.

Oceania are a luxury cruise line, offering outstanding food and impeccable service. Marina is their brand new ship launched recently.

Soft drinks will be complimentary throughout the ship. You will also get return chauffeur transfers to Dover straight from your home.

(UK RESIDENTS ONLY – ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE UK MUST BE ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES TO DOVER PORT)

GOOD LUCK - I Hope its one of my past passengers win, If your struggling to find a cruise partner - Ill be free!!!



6 New cruise ships for 2011

I’ve got my fingers crossed that cruise.co.uk get an invite or two for some of these launches, and that I get to go an have a nosey round to give the full low down.

Oceania launches the new ship Luxury liner Marina from the port of Barcelona on January 22nd, Marina is the biggest Oceania ship to date at 66,000 tons!!     

Disney Cruise lines have a new ship the Disney Dream, sailing on 26th January out of Port Canaveral in Florida at 128,000 tons she is offering everything you would expect from a Disney ship with maiden voyage out to Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, something for everyone, as long you’re a Disney lover than is!!

Carnival Cruise lines launch the ship ‘Magic’ on 1st May from Venice, she is the 23rd ship that Carnival own and promises a fantastic ship with all the character of a Carnival ship.

Italian cruise line Costa launch their newest lady to the seas, Favolosa at 114,500 tonnes will leave Venice on 4th July, hopefully with a firework or two to launch in line with Independence day! Superior designs inside offer a children’s water park with Pirate galleon!!

Celebrity Silhouette – the newest ship to the solstice class, sailing on July 23rd out of Hamburg – These ships are a wonderfully designed and Silhouette at 122,000 tonnes is due to be just as glorious as sister ships Eclipse and solstice!

Last but by no means least Yachts of Seabourn are offering up their new ship ‘Quest’ June 20th from Barcelona providing the ultra luxury standard we are used to from their other ships.

So if like so many other your fascinated by new - let me know which of our new ladies take you fancy and we can look at getting you on board.

Have you ever taken the maiden voyage? what did you think? Id love to hear your thoughts!

Especially for you - Tailor made Asian delights

Not very often am I totally blown away, but this is fantastic and I wanted to spread the word about a new tailor made package from Cruise.co.uk, if you are like me still yet to experience the wonders of the far east then this package is definitely worth a look:, from Chinese history and modern skyscrapers to Tiger Balm gardens, places and temples and superb beaches all with the luxury of having us do all the hard parts – the organising for you.


Starting on the 12th January 2012 we are taking you to Singapore where you will have two nights at the Hilton a 5 star hotel in Singapore, there is the cruise on board the luxury liners Oceanias ship Nautica, which is a must for anyone who likes the finer things in life! You will visit, Ko Sumai, Bankok, Sihanoukville in Cambodia, Saigon in Vietnam, Hanoi in Vietnam, Canton in China, arriving to Hong Kong where you will delight in 2 nights stay at the Harbour Grand hotel in Kowloon and take in more sights including the Lantau enlightenment tour before heading home. Check out the link http://www.cruise.co.uk/cruise-guides/Tailor-Made-Silversea-Ancient-Wonders/?utm_source=011110&utm_medium=TM_Asian_Wonders&utm_campaign=TM_Asian_Wonders
 for more info.

The tailor made packages that we are now doing have far out shone what I thought they would be and I have booked a few – Including, Independence day no fly new Yorker, the ultimate Australian Adventure and the Charms of China tours. Lots of new stuff going on at cruise.co.uk its never a dull day here and always something new to experience.

Oceania New ship for 2011

..Luxury cruises are one of my favourites subjects, you get so much for your money, if you can make the jump from main line cruising to luxury liners, you won’t be disappointed! If you want to know more, I previously did a blog entitled 'Luxury Liners leading the way' which highlights some of the advantages of luxury cruising.
Im keen to keep this subject alive, as I’ve just found out that the Luxury line Oceania who are launching a new ship Marina early 2011 are offering an agents day, where selected agents get to go down and look around the vessel prior to the maiden voyage. I’ve not received an official invite yet (I may yet stow away) but I am crossing my fingers tightly as I would love to see this ship!


The new ship Marina is 1,250 capacity – small and comfortably luxurious, she will travel From Genoa to Barcelona in January playing host to upto 530 agents from the UK and Europe. The are looking to reward long time partners of Oceania, and as Cruise.co.uk is a well established travel agent and cruise specialist, Im hoping we get a few seats so to speak!! They are offering a taster of the finery on board, lounges, dining rooms and of course the all important cabins.

Truly a premimum upgrade!

Not so long ago I did a blog about luxury cruise lines and how, sometimes the leap isn’t as big as you may first think, I’ve found out today that premium luxury line Oceania has decide to invest in the ships and make the most significant upgrade since they first launched.


The will be spending lots of money upgrading the ships, Regatta, Insignia and Nauticca, now if any of you have been on these ships, we would hardly refer to them as tired looking, but I guess that’s what sets them apart – forward thinking and proactive refurbishment programmes. They now promise to offer 'more stylish staterooms and more varied cuisine-styles, including spa cuisine'.

The improvements will also be made to new flagship Marina before her debut in January. Frank Del Rio, the line’s founder and chairman/CEO of parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings, said: “With our new Pillars of Distinction initiative we have raised the bar in upper-premium cruising.”

Has anyone been on these ships? What do you think? Are they ready for a facelift?


Anyone wanting great value cruising should definitely try the premium lines; call me on 0804086144 for itinerary and costings.