Recipe of the week: Sea bass with sauce vierge by Marco Pierre White

I found a great recipe book in my desk draws from P&O Cruises and thought I would share some of the entires with you. The following is a recipe by Marco Pierre White.

About Marco
By the age of 33, Marco Pierre White had been awarded three Michelin stars, becoming the youngest Briton bestowed with this accolade. Just last year Marco was the Head Chef in ITV's 'Hell's Kitchen' and has been dubbed the ‘godfather of modern cooking’.
The P&O Cruises fleet has three venues featuring Marco Pierre White's cuisine; The White Room on board Ventura, Cafe Jardin on board Oceana and Cafe Bordeaux on board Aurora. Simple, yet beautiful dishes will be the order of the day – classic Italian fare at its very best.


Sea bass with sauce vierge

Ingredients

• 8 small vine tomatoes
• 150ml olive oil, plus extra for brushing and cooking
• Pared zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 2tsp coriander seeds
• Handful fresh basil leaves
• 4 handfuls rocket leaves
• Handful fresh chervil
• 200g cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 fennel bulb, quartered
• 4 small sea bass, cleaned and heads removed
• Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180C/fan 260C/gassmark 4
• Place the vine tomatoes in a bowl, pour over boiling water and leave for 30 seconds
• Drain and refresh under cold water then peel off the skins
• Deseed and chop the tomatoes then put in a pan over a low heat with olive oil, lemon juice, coriander seeds and basil.
• Warm through for 15 minutes
• Season well. In a bowl, mix the rocket, chervil, cherry tomatoes and lemon zest.
• Heat a griddle pan over a medium heat, brush the fennel with a little oil and griddle for 5-6 minutes, turning occassionally. Set aside.
• Season the sea bass. Heat a little oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the fish fish for 1 minute each side, then place on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes.
• Divide the salad, fish, sauce vierge and fennel on plates and drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil.

Enjoy!

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE TO BUILD TWO NEW NEXT GENERATION FREESTYLE CRUISING SHIPS

Following the successful launch of Norwegian Epic, the Company’s largest and most innovative ship to date, Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has reached an agreement with MEYER WERFT GMBH of Germany to build two new next generation Freestyle Cruising ships for delivery in spring 2013 and spring 2014, respectively.

Each of the 143,500 gross ton vessels - the largest passenger cruise ships to be built in Germany - will have approximately 4,000 passenger berths and a rich cabin mix. Additional details about each ship’s new and exciting features will be released as construction progresses. The contract price for the two vessels is approximately €1.2 billion. The Company has committed financing in place from a syndicate of banks for export credit financing in connection with this project.

“We have always been focused on a disciplined approach to capacity growth. Our decision to add two new ships reflects the significant progress we have made in improving our operating performance and repositioning the Company over the last several years, as well as the strong market demand we are seeing for Norwegian Epic and our other ships,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer.

“Building on the incredible success and popularity of Norwegian Epic, we are taking the best of what our newest ship has to offer, as well as drawing on our legacy of innovation in the cruise industry, in creating a new class of Freestyle Cruising vessel that is sure to provide our guests with the unparalleled freedom and flexibility they have come to expect with Norwegian Cruise Line.”

“We are excited to be returning to MEYER WERFT and are confident that their rich ship building history and expertise will bring our vision to fruition,” added Sheehan.

MEYER WERFT, based in Papenburg, Germany, most recently built Norwegian Cruise Line’s four Jewel-class ships – Norwegian Gem delivered in 2007, Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Jade delivered in 2006, and Norwegian Jewel delivered in 2005. These new vessels are the eighth and ninth that the Company will build with MEYER WERFT.

“Norwegian Cruise Line and MEYER WERFT have a long history of working together. We are thrilled to continue our partnership. Our teams work very well together and we are looking forward to building this new, exciting and innovative class of vessels,” said Bernard Meyer, managing partner of MEYER WERFT.

“In addition, the 21,000 employees of the yard and its supplier companies* involved in the construction of the ships appreciate the new project from one of our longstanding customers.”

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the concept of Freestyle Cruising and currently offers guests the freedom and flexibility to enjoy their cruise on their own terms, including multiple dining venues, relaxed attire, a variety of accommodations and world-class entertainment. The Company took Freestyle Cruising to the next level with the introduction of Norwegian Epic in June 2010. The 4,100 passenger vessel has been called the “entertainment ship” with a variety of shows and venues that trump land-based resorts like those found in Las Vegas. Headliners include Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams™ & Dinner, Legends in Concert, The Second City® Comedy Troupe, Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos and Slam Allen Blues Band.
In addition, the ship features Nickelodeon™ at Sea as part of its wide-range of family offerings. Further innovations include the largest spa at sea, the first true ice bar at sea and The Studios, which are staterooms designed and priced for solo travellers, along with The Villas, the largest suite complex at sea.
“We are bringing this spirit of innovation to these two new build ships, as Norwegian continues to offer our guests new and exciting ways to enjoy their Freestyle Cruising vacation,” said Sheehan.
Click here for great deals from Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Afternoon Tea with Holland America Line

I am just off to our first Ideal Cruising afternoon tea event! There will be presentations from Holland America Line and ourselves and some yummy treats to snack on while we talk cruise.
Fingers crossed it all goes well so that we can start rolling them out with more cruise lines and, hopefully, around the country. Watch this space for piccies but in the mean time, here is my favourite sailing we are offering with Holland America Line - 11 night Bermuda Cruise & New York stay

Announcing Celebrity Reflection

I've just read that Celebrity Cruises has announced the name of the fifth Celebrity Solstice Class ship - Celebrity Reflection.

Michael English, Head of Field Sales for Celebrity Cruises, UK & Ireland, stated "I’m excited to announce the fifth Solstice Class ship will be named ‘Celebrity Reflection.’ Further details to follow soon."

 

Celebrity Reflection will be joining Celebrity Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse and the shortly awaited Solstice as the fifth of the class. As names go, it's not my favourite but the class she is joining definately gets top marks. I've been on Equinox and Eclipse and can not fault anything. There is a certain 'je ne sais quoi' as soon as you step on board; with some of the most attractive features I've seen on a ship, fantastic staff, and exceptional food.

All the ships offer great itineraries and Celebrity Eclipse sails straight from Southampton meaning you can step into the 5* luxury without the hassle of a flight!

To pre-pay or not to pre-pay, that is the question...?

Over the last couple of months Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have been encouraging UK customers (through agents) to pre-pay their gratuities before they get on board. It's turned out to be a bit more controversial than I expected.

The UK and the US have very different habits when it comes to the subject of tipping, otherwise known as gratuities. In the US they are accustomed to tipping for anything and everything, and at least 15%. In the UK we tip for good service and probably more around the 10% mark and we generally dont appreciate when it's included in the bill regardless of the standard of service given. So what about on cruise ships?

Pluses...

• Avoid the hassle whilst you're on board
• Great for budgeting
• Utilise the more flexible dining options (e.g. My Time Dining with Royal Caribbean)
• Generally benefit from better currency conversion rates so you save money
• You get given vouchers to allocate out as you wish
• You still still have the option to remove it or reduce it should you feel that the service you have been given doesn't meet your standards

Negatives...

• .....I can't think of anything!!! Unless you have a personal dislike for doing it this way, as far as I can see there is no down side.

Generally speaking Royal Caribbean add on about £5 per day. When you think of all the people that you would tip on a normal cruise (your canin steward, waiters, bartenders, etc), I think this is a really reasonable amount when you think of what you would spend normally.
People also think that they would get a reduced level of service because the crew have 'nothing to prove' but they are made aware if you have paid already and are generally happier beacuse they know that they are going to get it at the end of the voyage rather than potentially nothing at all.

So, in short, would I pre-pay my gratuities before cruise? The answer would have to be yes!

Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises have great offers on for September including free parking, free spend and some complimentary upgrades. These offers end 30th September after which prices are set to rise!

National Cruise Week - 19-26 September 2010

National Cruise Week has come around again and is promising to be bigger and better than ever!

The main aim of the week is to bring cruising to the forefront and increase awareness of the excellent value for money that these holdays offer.

Here is ten grest reasons to cruise...

1. You can visit a number of places, without the hassle of packing and re-packing. There is a cruise for everyone; whether you're looking for a 6* luxury voyage or a 2 night mini break to Cork. Regardless of the number of ports, you'll only need to unpack once!

P&O Cruises sail out of Southampton all year round. Click here for more information.

2. Freedom! When you're on board a ship, travelling from port to port you have the freedom of the ship and all its amenities, most of which are free of charge, which beats being stuck in a single seat on a flight each time. You can even sail straight from Southampton, avoiding flying completely should you wish.

3. Meet like minded people are you feast on delicious courses around a shared table, sipping a cocktail at the bar or lazing on a lounger by the pool. There are loads of on board enrichment programmes that you can sign up for (some free, some do cost) where you can meet new people with shared interests.

4. Cashless system on board. Don't worry about counting the coins out of your purse every time you want a drink. Cruises are generally full board, your accommodation, entertainment and dining is included in the price of your ticket as well as most on board activities so all you need to account for is the additional spend of drinks (for which there are discounted packages), any shore excursions (which you can do yourself) and speciality dining (definately worth the cover charge for a great night out). You can also add your gratuities on before you leave, reducing the cost of you on board account and the worry of double tipping. Many cruise lines now offer on board credit when you book your cruise.

Azamara Club Cruises have a great promotion on at the moment with up to $1,200 on board spend!!! Baring in mind your gratuities are already included as well as all your soft drinks and house wine with lunch and dinner, this is an amazing amount of money to spend. Click here for more details on their offers - deal does end 23rd September though.

5. Take the red tape. Some places are difficult to gain visas for, St Petersburg for example. When you take an excursion with a cruise line you are noramlly covered by their visas. This not only saves you money but also takes a lot of the hassle and inconvenience away from you.

6. A great choice of entertainment. Like to dance the night away? See a West End-style show? Or catch a comedy act? Most ships have such a wide variety of entertainment choice, something for every taste and age.

Royal Caribbean's ship are renowned for their on board activites; from climbing walls to surf simulators and mini-golf. Click here to find out more.

7. It's all about the food! If you wanted to you could have bfreakfast, brunch/elevenses, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, supper and a midnight snack. Should your belt strap allow it you could eat 24 hours a day, included room service free of charge. From relaxed burgers at a the Lido restaurant to a formal 4-course meal, the choice is yours. Most ships have speciality dining on board which does have a cover charge but these are often worth a try as the food is stunning!

8. Kids clubs are available on almost all the ships. If your kids are within the age groups specified, there are kids clubs to entertain and stimulate them while you are relaxing on deck with a drink in hand. There is often babysitting services as well so you can enjoy a night out without worrying what the little nippers are up to.

9. Tick off your to do. If you have a wish list of places to visit you can work your way through them with just one cruise! From a 103 night full world cruise to an exotic voyage to the Far East or a 14 night calling at the iconic ports of the Med.

10. Designed for you. If you can't decide between a land-based holiday and a cruise, why not have the best of both worlds and book a cruise and stay. Add a pre- or post-cruise hotel stay in port for a couple of nights, exploring the best of the destination and the fun of the cruise. New York is a particular favourite of mine.

Any more questions? Just ask.

Queen Elizabeth - here I come!!!

I've just received my invite to an agent overnight on board the brand new Queen Elizabeth! Watch this space for my review and, for my sins, the updated 'Steak Stakes'!