NEW YORK (July 08 , 2002) -- Punch In Syndicated News Service. Hot on the heels of its spring début, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park offers visitors to New York a special summer package designed for adults and children alike. "Summer Celebration" offers guests staying a minimum of two nights luxurious accommodations and amenities with a special bonus of their choice: a 60-minute massage or facial at the new La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Children receive a plush toy from FAO Schwartz upon arrival. Room prices per night, based on double occupancy, reflect a discount of approximately 40 percent:
Room type "Summer Celebration" rate*
Superior room $395
Avenue room $495
Park view room $595
Anticipating and catering to travelers' needs in true Ritz-Carlton
style, the hotel's return to Central Park after a four-year absence
marks the return of five-star luxury to Manhattan, pampering guests
with complimentary Bentley limousine service, a multi-million
dollar art collection, Burberry raincoats "on loan"
for inclement days, and the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Club overlooking
Central Park. Additionally, telescopes in park view rooms; the
fine dining Atelier restaurant; and a staff dedicated to providing
service, comfort and warmth create a feeling of staying in a personal
townhouse on the park.
Within walking distance of Fifth Avenue's finest shops, boutiques and cultural attractions, the 277-room Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park offers traditional five-star luxury and features Chef Gabriel Kreuther's first solo restaurant, Atelier, and La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. For more information and reservations, contact The Ritz-Carlton toll-free at 800-241-3333, the hotel directly at 212-308-9100, or online at www.ritzcarlton.com.
Two Vacation Packages for Summer and Fall Showcase Regional Food, Wine,
Superb food, fine wines, romance, and centuries of history, art and
architecture: these are the great reasons to visit France. Now, Hôtel de
la Cité, Orient-Express Hotels' historic masterpiece in southern France,
offers a convenient and luxuriously comfortable approach to enjoying and
appreciating them all.
The hotel, constructed on the former site of an Episcopal palace in the
ancient city of Carcassonne, Europe's most stunning example of a fortified
medieval city, and listed by the French National Conservation Trust, has
introduced two packages that showcase both food and wine and France's
history and architectural beauty as reflected in one of the world's most
impressive feats of engineering and design. This is the famous Canal du
Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Canal, built in the mid-1600's,
is a 360-kilometer waterway linking the Mediterranean and the Atlantic
Ocean, with 328 locks, aqueducts, bridges and tunnels. Designer
Pierre-Paul Riquet is renowned for transforming what amounts to a feat of
civil engineering that helped launch the Industrial Revolution into a work
of astonishing art and beauty.
Both vacation packages include deluxe accommodations, fine dining and
memorable excursions to landmarks of the region as well as little extras
such as flowers, sparkling wine and petit fours in the guestroom. Both
are priced from $890 per room per night for two people, VAT and taxes
included, through October 31, 2002 (two night minimum required).
The "Gourmet Indulgence in Medieval France includes:
- Two nights deluxe accommodations
- Daily buffet breakfast
- One a la carte dinner at the gourmet "La Barbacane" restaurant,
including a selection of fine regional wines
- A half-day chauffeured and escorted visit to the vineyards at Corbieres
and Minervois
- Wine tasting at leading domaines and wineries
- Free parking at the hotel or car transfers from the Carcassonne airport
or train station
The "Romancing the Canal du Midi" package includes:
- Two nights deluxe accommodations
- Daily buffet breakfasts
- One a la carte lunch or dinner at "Chez Saskia" including a selection of
fine regional wines
- A half-day excursion on the hotel's own cabin cruiser, the Gabriella,
along the Canal du Midi
- Lunch at a local inn along the Canal
- Free parking or car transfers from the Carcassonne airport or train
station
Hôtel de la Cité blends history and elegance with modern comforts and
personalized attention. Each of its 50 guestrooms and 11 suites are
uniquely appointed with antique furnishings and luxurious fabrics. All
air-conditioned rooms overlook the ivy-covered ramparts of the Cité, and
offer marble bathrooms, televisions and direct-dial telephones. There is
also a heated outdoor swimming pool majestically set among lush, tranquil
gardens and statuesque cypresses and the only one inside the walled city.
An 18-hole golf course and horseback riding are available nearby, as are
other leisurely pursuits.
Offering both indoor and alfresco dining options, La Barbacane, the
hotel's signature dining outlet that is open for dinner daily, is renowned
for its innovative French cuisine, prepared under the direction of
Executive Chef Franck Putelat, who was recently awarded his first Michelin
Star in the 2002 Red Guide. Less formal dining options are available at
Bistro Chez Saskia and the seasonal Le Jardin de L'Eveque café. The
property also is a haven for business gatherings and social events,
offering three well-equipped meeting rooms to accommodate groups up to 100
delegates. Hôtel de la Cité was purchased by Orient-Express Hotels in May
1997. Since that time, the company has invested millions of dollars into
the property, which has long been known as a respite for luminaries, heads
of state and other elite travelers.
Based in London and founded in 1976, Orient-Express Hotels (OEH) owns and
operates 29 highly individual deluxe hotels worldwide, six tourist trains,
a river cruise ship and two restaurants around the world including the
recently acquired La Residencia in Deià, Mallorca and partnership with Le
Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, Great Britain. Each OEH entity,
famous in its own right, offers a distinctive style and heritage, and is
known for an unparalleled commitment to luxurious accommodation,
personalized service and award-winning cuisine. In addition to Hotel
Cipriani and Palazzo Vendramin - Venice Italy, the European Collection of
Orient-Express Hotels include: Hotel Splendido & Splendido Mare -
Portofino, Italy; Villa San Michele - Florence, Italy; Reid's Palace -
Madeira, Portugal; Quinta do Lago - The Algarve, Portugal; Lapa Palace -
Lisbon, Portugal and Hotel de la Cite - Carcassonne, France.
For information or reservations, please call The Leading Hotels of the
World at (800) 223-6800.
LOS ANGELES, July 08, 2002 - Punch In Syndicated
News service. World-class master chef Nobuyuki "Nobu"
Matsuhisa, chef/owner of 14 restaurants worldwide, is bringing
his legendary cuisine to the newest ship in Crystal Cruises' Six-Star-rated
fleet, Crystal Serenity, creating a culinary alliance that pairs
two of the world's leading names in food, wine and gracious hospitality.
Beginning with the luxury liner's July 2003 Inaugural cruise,
"The Sushi Bar," one of the ship's new specialty restaurants,
will exclusively feature Nobu's menu selections prepared by a
Nobu-trained chef. Nobu will also oversee The Sushi Bar's intimate
design, as well as craft a six course menu and other selected
dishes for the ship's Asian restaurant, "Silk Road."
Nobu's inventive cuisine has been redefining
the meaning of "sushi" since the opening of his first
restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1987. While connoisseurs can sample
his fare in his eponymous restaurant empire in Los Angeles, New
York, London, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Miami Beach, Aspen, and Las
Vegas, this marks a global expansion, as Crystal Serenity is designed
for worldwide cruising.
Nobu will work alongside Crystal's award-winning
chefs for extensive training on the delicate nuances of preparing
his eclectic cuisine - an innovative blend of classically styled
Japanese foods with distinct Peruvian and European influences.
In addition to Nobu's personal involvement supervising operations
and hosting culinary demonstrations aboard Crystal Serenity, chefs
from his worldwide collection of prestigious restaurants will
also join the ship to lead cooking demonstrations and observe
the operation.
Commenting on his culinary partnership
with Crystal Cruises, Nobu says, "Crystal Cruises has a reputation
for good food, good service, and hospitality that is exquisite.
I feel confident that my cuisine will only enhance an existing
tradition of excellence."
"We are thrilled to be partnering
with one of the great masters of the culinary world," says
Toni Neumeister, director, culinary operations, Crystal Cruises.
"Like Nobu, we share a deep appreciation of discovering
the world and its people through food. We look forward to presenting
our savvy clientele with yet another new dimension of choice and
superior quality aboard Crystal Serenity."
Menu selections at The Sushi Bar will feature
Nobu classics such as Peruvian style whitefish sashimi with ponzu;
Matsuhisa shrimp with caviar; lobster ceviche with limestone lettuce;
tuna tataki with cilantro dressing; tempura with yuzu miso sauce;
new style sashimi including yellowtail with jalapeño; and
broiled black cod with miso.
He has been described as a "sushi
mogul" and without question there is an air of celebrity
that surrounds Nobu and each of his restaurants. Yet it is his
unwavering passion to communicate his "kokora" - or
his heart in Japanese - through every single dish he makes that
has earned him a litany of awards almost too numerous to list,
beginning with his 1989 award as one of Food & Wine magazine's
10 Best New Chefs and highlighted by Matsuhisa's 1993 recognition
as one of the top destination restaurants in the world according
to The New York Times.
Like Nobu, Crystal has earned the highest
ratings in its industry. For the sixth consecutive year, Crystal
Cruises was named best in its class (ships carrying 400-1,500
passengers) in the 2001 readers' surveys conducted by Travel +
Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines.
In addition to The Sushi Bar and Silk Road
for evening dining, Crystal Serenity will offer an Italian restaurant,
Prego, a main dining room,and a resort-like outdoor pool deck
for casual dinners.
The Nobu alliance is the latest development
in Crystal's continued pursuit of culinary excellence that includes
exclusive partnerships with the world's leading names in food
and wine - Piero Selvaggio's Valentino and Wolfgang Puck's Chinois
on Main for Valentino at Prego aboard Crystal Harmony and Crystal
Symphony, and Chinois at Jade aboard Crystal Symphony, respectively.
The luxury line's devotion to sharing the joys of food and wine
with guests is further evidenced by its own highly regarded Wine
& Food Festival, now in its seventh year.
Crystal Cruises currently operates the
50,000-ton, 940-guest sister ships, Crystal Harmony and Crystal
Symphony, two of the most spacious and luxurious vessels cruising
the world. Their unique size in the luxury market allows for
smooth sailing and a wide range of innovative facilities, generous
amenities and elegant accommodations.
The 68,000-ton, 1,080-guest Crystal Serenity
will feature a higher space-per-guest ratio than her sister ships,
expanded areas for spa services and other athletic, cultural and
intellectual pursuits, and an increased number of penthouses and
enlarged staterooms. Approximately 85% of its all outside staterooms
and suites will offer private verandahs.
Crystal Cruises is booked exclusively through professional travel agents. For a complimentary brochure, call 800.820.6663. Visit the web site at www.crystalcruises.com.
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