Cruise Ships have mommies too!

Celebrity Chef named Godmother of Oceania Cruises’ newest ship

Oceania Cruises, Marina

Prior to making their maiden voyage and in maritime tradition, a godmother is named for a new cruise ship. The godmother christens the ship in order to wish the passengers and crew safe travels.

In that tradition, Chef & Philanthropist, Cat Cora has been named as Oceania Cruises’ Rivera Godmother.  Oceania continues to hold true to their word that the Riviera was “purposely built for epicureans” with over 10 different dining venues plus the Bon Appétit Culinary Center for hands-on learning by naming Cora as the godmother. The christening ceremony will happen on May 11th in Barcelona where Chef Cat Cora will name the ship.

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Healthy Recipe from Seabourn: Seared Spice Crusted Tuna

Seared Spice Crusted Tuna with Vegetables Escabeche & Coriander Puree

 

Seared Tuna is a dish that you’ll typically find when you go out for sushi.  I love adding it on top of a salad or just having it plain as it’s a great source of protein. It’s a healthy and low calorie option when considering dinner entrees.

The recipe is one that you'll find when cruising with Seabourn. In addition to the tuna, the recipe adds flavors to the overall dish with the vegetables esabeche and coriander puree. The recipe calls for slices of tuna sashimi to be quickly seared along the edges.  The edges are covered in salt and coarse ground fennel seeds before searing and it creates a crusty affect once seared.

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Interview with Local Skipper on the sinking of the Costa Concordia

Nautical charts of the area (depth in meters)

I recently was fortunate enough to interview Luigi Cota, Yepa Sailing Team Skipper  Managing director of Cantieri Navali del Mediterraneo (CNM) spa, who has sailed the isles of the Tuscan Archipelago countless times, which is the area where the Costa Concordia capsized on Friday night on the rocks by the island, Giglio. Cota lives in Rome, and describes the Isola del Giglio (Giglio island) as “really beautiful and has many nice coves where we go for a swim or to spend the night at anchor.” 

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The Haunting Image of the Costa Concordia

 

 

The image of the Costa Concordia on its side is one that cruisers and non-cruises alike will not forget.  This weekend, I heard so many times, did you see the ship?

Normally, whenever I see a cruise ship floating by I love to picture cruisers enjoying dinner in total relaxation and their probable excitement about the next port of call. The image of the Costa Concordia, looking distressed and unresponsive just makes me think of all the guests who were enjoying dinner on the ship and in a few minutes their vacation took a very different path. 

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Cruise Excursion: Salmon Bake in Juneau, Alaska

Salmon Bake in Alaska

 

I’ve said it before, but one of my favorite parts of going on a cruise is trying new foods.  I used to be a picky eater! There are many foods that I’ve just started eating in the last few years and can’t imagine life without them. 

My mantra is that I’ll always try something 5 times.  That’s correct, 5 times.  Many foods that I’ve tried have taken me a few tries before I’ve gotten a taste for it. This happened most recently with beets and yogurt. 

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Welcome 2012!

 

2011 was an exciting year for me with the launch of my FreshCruiser website, blog, and twitter feed. I worked hard to define my niche with the goals of writing about something I love, cruising!  Writing about fun, active and healthy cruising has been wonderful and I love these aspects of the cruise industry.  I'm looking forward to the year ahead and hope you'll enjoy reading!

Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year filled with visiting new places and experiencing new cultures!

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Taking a look at Cunard Line’s Healthy Menu Options

Photo Credit: Cunard Line

Cunard Line provides cruisers on the Queen Mary 2 with healthy dining options with Canyon Ranch Spa Selections on the menu. If you’re worried about trying to eat healthy on an upcoming Cruise, when dining on the Queen Mary 2, you will find an abundance of health-conscious options.  

On the menu, next to each of the Canyon Ranch Spa Selections, Cunard gives guests valuable nutritional information on each dish. Diners will be able to find out the calories, fat, and fiber.  This is an important aspect, as I may be watching my calorie intake, while another cruiser may be looking for low fat dishes. The selections also take into account portion size and fresh seasonal selections.  

According to a Cunard press release, “In an effort to provide guests with a more complete experience, Canyon Ranch chefs worked closely with Cunard Culinary Ambassador and Executive Chef Jean-Marie Zimmerman to design spa selections for Queen Mary 2 restaurants.”

“Our superb menus are complimented by Canyon Ranch cuisine that is both nutritious and created with the highest gourmet standards,” said Peter Shanks, president of Cunard Line.

Photo Credit: Cunard Line

Sample Menus from Queen Mary 2’s Britannia Restaurant
CANYON RANCH SPA SELECTIONS

Lunch
Appetizer — Fennel Soup with Celeriac 90/4/1
Entrée — Baked Cod with Macaroni and Cheese 405/12/6
Dessert — Freshly Sliced Watermelon 120/tr/6

Dinner 
Appetizer — Artichoke Salad 65/5/2
Entrée —Sausage Stuffed Chicken with Fig Demi Glace 390/13/2
Dessert — Poppy Seed Cake 160/8/tr
Nutrition Key: Calories / Fat Grams / Fibre Grams
 
Click here to check out more of Queen Mary 2’s menus. Look for the Canyon Ranch Spa Selections.

Photo Credit: Cunard Line

According to the Canyon Ranch Spa Club’s chefs and nutritionists, they created meals that emphasize healthy eating with: 
Quality Carbs & Fiber
•    Meals focus on healthy carb-rich vegetables, fruits, legumes and moderate portions of whole grains.

Protein Power

•    All meals, including vegetarian options, are balanced with protein-rich food.
Healthy Fats
•    We use fats that are beneficial to health, including extra-virgin olive oil, canola oil and omega-3 fatty acids. We have never used trans fats or other artificial ingredients in our cooking.
Salt Sense
•    Our food is seasoned with herbs and spices to keep the use of salt at a minimum.
Sweetener Savvy
•    We use a variety of sweeteners in moderation; we do not use artificial sweeteners.
 
The above “pillars” focus on eating well without having to sacrifice flavors. I was glad that they addressed limiting salt and sweeteners. For cruisers who need to watch their sodium intake, it would be great to also showcase any low-sodium dishes on the menu. 

The daily selections are great guidelines when ordering to know what the healthier items are on the menu.  As sometimes the item you think is healthy, it ends up having many hidden fats and calories in the sauce or extras.  You eliminate the guessing and might be surprised at how much you like these items even though they are considered “health-conscious”. 

In preparation for the Queen Mary 2’s eighth birthday in January 2012, Cunard Line announced this week the planned enhancements that will take place as part of the refit. Major updates and redesigns during the 14-day refit includes new carpets, curtains, bedcovers and linens. Click here to read the full press release. 

FreshCruiser Tip: Seek out healthy options!  Some cruise lines have a dining area just for healthy "spa" selections that you might miss if you're not looking for it.

Make your next drink on a cruise a healthy one. Order a Bloody Mary!

Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises

A Bloody Mary ranks as one of the healthiest alcoholic drinks on both land and sea. Packed full of rich tomato juice, the Bloody Mary offers a variety of health benefits without sacrificing great taste. I love sitting on deck sipping this delicious drink. It took me a few tries to get my taste buds warmed up to the flavors, but now it’s one of my favorite drinks!

According to LIVESTRONG.com, “The main organic compound in the tomato is lycopene. Lycopene gives the tomato its red color and has been found to have antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties.” Also, “tomato juice is a great source of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A and C.  These vitamins help the immune system by destroying the free radicals in your blood stream that damage cells.” And if that wasn’t enough to convince you of the health benefits, tomato juice is a good source of fiber and can be a natural way to treat high cholesterol. 

What’s great about this drink is that there are many variations that you can make, including: different varieties of hot sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, pickled vegetables, garnishing with shrimp, and a twist of lemon or lime. If you can handle it, order it extra spicy to give a nice little jump start to your metabolism!

Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises features their Extreme Bloody Mary on their ships. Their recipe includes fresh vegetables, making it a great choice for a healthy drink. 

Click here for the recipe from Windstar Cruises' Blog.

Enjoy, without guilt, the celery stick that often comes with it!  It can help you to curb unhealthy snacking around the ship.  

The amount of calories in a Bloody Mary can vary depending on the type of mixture you create but, each drink will be around 125-140 calories. The total amount of calories is a lot less compared to ordering a Pina Colada (378 calories) or Margarita (280 calories) plus you get the extra health benefits with a Bloody Mary.

Don’t be afraid to order it at any time of the day too! It doesn’t only have to be the drink of choice at brunch. How do you like your Bloody Mary?  Never tried one? Definitely time to start!

FreshCruiser Tip: Watching your sodium intake?  Hold off on the extra salt.