CHEF ENGLISH JOINING QM2 CRUISE

Celebrated chef and Cunard partner Todd English will join the festivities on board Queen Mary 2 on July 1 for her Independence Day Celebration voyage from New York to Boston. While on board, English will develop a new menu with the flagship’s culinary team, debuting later this summer, as well as sign copies of his cookbook, Cooking in Everyday English: The ABCs of Great Flavor at Home. Fans of English can follow him on Twitter (@ChefToddEnglish) and Facebook (Facebook.com/ChefToddEnglish).

PRINCESS DEPLOYS TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES

In this age of uber-connectivity, we are never far away from our smartphones, tablets and computers that stream news and entertainment to us on a 24/7 basis. And while we cruise to relax and unwind -- and even disconnect when we want to -- we still want our technology to be at the ready.

Along those lines, Princess, in partnership with UIEvolution, Inc. and VIDELIO-HMS, has announced they have deployed UIEvolution's Guest Evolution platform on the Sapphire Princess, the Sun Princess and the Diamond Princess. The three ships were successfully upgraded with improved guest in-room experiences using much of their existing network and ship infrastructure.

Previously, the system was rolled out on Royal Princess, delivering "the world’s first truly HTML5-based next generation TV solution to passenger and crew TVs." What does that mean? The platform features:

• A vast library of video and premium movie content.
• A completely open App Store that allows for HTML5 apps to be easily loaded and run across the in-room entertainment system.
• On-board ship location, mapping and routing
• Information on ship activities, shore excursions and port guides with video assistance and information
• Streaming radio channels
• Fully localized options for native language and accessibility

Now, if only it could reserve that lounge chair by the pool, we would be all set. -- Gerry

'VIKING STAR' IS FLOATED OUT

Aquavit Terrace on Viking Star

Viking Ocean Cruises has announced its first ship – the 930-passenger Viking Star – was “floated out,” marking the first time the new ship touches water. The traditional ceremony took place June 23, at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside Venice, Italy. Viking Star is set to debut in early 2015 with maiden voyages in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

CARNIVAL LAUNCHES 'HOW-TO' VIDEO SERIES

Here's an idea that's both fun and useful. Today Carnival Cruise Lines launched a new “How To” video series to give "an inside look at the line’s signature recipes, fun-filled tips, special guests and vacation-inspired ideas that extend some of the most popular elements of the Carnival vacation experience to computer screens, tablets and mobile devices everywhere."

The first segment in the biweekly series is entitled “How to Make a Texas-Style Burger” -- featuring best-selling author, restaurateur, Carnival partner and Food Network personality Guy Fieri. The gi-normous burger can be special-ordered aboard the Texas-based Carnival Triumph, as well as Carnival Freedom, once that ship repositions to Galveston in February 2015.

Here are more details from Carnival:

"Upcoming 'How To' videos will show viewers how to master a myriad of shipboard specialties, including iconic recipes from the popular BlueIguana Cantina, deliciously mixed cocktails from the vintage-themed cocktail “pharmacy” Alchemy Bar, and, of course, creating the line’s legendary towel animals.

"In addition to Carnival’s YouTube channel, the how-to videos will be available on the line’s Facebook fan page and Twitter profile."

Special note to Carnival videographers: If you need any "extras" for the Alchemy Bar videos, we're available! -- Gerry

HAIL THE ROYAL POINCIANA TREE

One of the pleasures of living in the Palm Beaches is the annual blooming of the Royal Poinciana trees, often referred to as "flame trees." And no wonder, given their bright orange-almost-red flowers. They brighten up landscapes, homes and parks all around the area. You can read more about them here. In the meantime, just enjoy the beauty while it lasts. -- Gerry

IN CONCERT WITH CARNIVAL

Carnival has combined two of our very favorite things -- cruising and music -- into one when they created their Live Concert series. Later this week, we'll have the opportunity to experience it first hand when we embark on the Carnival Ecstasy out of Miami bound for the Bahamas. Performing on that cruise will be famed songstress and "Grease" star, Olivia Newton-John.

Olivia Newton-John (Carnival)

This Live Concert will have a special meaning for me. In another lifetime, as the former rock music writer for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, I had the opportunity to interview Newton-John at the beginning of her career. She was doing a concert at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. Wonder if she will remember that? (Insert smiley face here). 

The Live Concert series features 15 artists altogether representing just about all the music genres. The list includes: 38 Special, Chicago, Daughtry, Foreigner, Gavin McGraw, Jennifer Hudson, Jewel, Kansas, Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, REO Speedwagon, STYX and Trace Atkins.

There are 49 performances in all on various Carnival ships. The series wraps up on Dec. 15 with REO Speedwagon on Carnival Fascination.

Carnival notes: "Tickets cost $20-40 each and a limited number of VIP tickets are also available for each show for $100-$150 each. The VIP experience includes an artist meet and greet, complimentary photo with the band, seating in the first three rows and a commemorative laminated concert pass. All tickets can be purchased through Carnival’s online shore excursion system prior to sailing, or on board participating ships at the shore excursion desk based on availability."

They also note guests must be booked for their cruise before they can purchase tickets to the Live Concert.

Rock music
writer Gerry

Looking back, why didn't someone think of this brilliant idea sooner? It would be so much better to review concerts on luxury cruise ships vs. those smokey arenas.

Look for our complete report, coming up here. -- Gerry

'QUEEN ELIZABETH' DRY-DOCK IN 4 MINUTES

Talk about your dry-dock "Cliff Notes." Cunard has condensed 20 days of work, re-fitting and re-furbishing the Queen Elizabeth, into a four-minute video. Among other things, nine new single staterooms were created, 25,000 square meters of carpeting laid, 3,000 mattresses replaced, 1,200 flat screen TVs installed and new awnings added on the sun decks.

Over 20 days in May and June, they note "950 contractors worked with ship’s staff around the clock to complete the work at the Blohm+Voss yard in Hamburg, Germany, drinking 54,300 cups of coffee, more than 35,000 cups of tea and 9,000 bottles of water, and consuming more than 80,000 meals – with 13,500 sachets of tomato sauce - over the duration of the 265,000 man-hour project." Workers have to eat, right?

Let's cue the video:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 'ROYAL PRINCESS'

Has it really been a year? (Credit: Princess)

Princess Cruises is celebrating the first birthday of Royal Princess, launched a year ago by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge. Princess notes that "during the past 12 months Royal Princess has traveled 120,000 miles and carried 150,000 guests. The ship has set sail on 44 cruises, and visited 39 ports in 20 countries throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean." Pam and I spent a memorable week onboard last December -- our review is here. 

GREAT FOOD WITH A VIEW

Hotel La Darsena, Lake Como, Italy  (TripAdvisor)

TripAdvisor's list of "10 dazzling lakeside hotels" reminds us of the meal we had at a restaurant on the shores of Lake Geneva, in the New York Finger Lakes region while on a tour of its wonderful wineries. It was one those idyllic days in early spring. Great views, great wine, great company  -- who could ask for more? Happy Friday, all! -- Gerry

AMTRAK LAUNCHES CHINESE LANGUAGE SITE

Call this the Dept. of Who Knew? "Besides English, Chinese is the second-highest language encountered throughout the Amtrak system." Accordingly, "Amtrak is launching today a Chinese-language version of its website to serve as a resource for the increasing number of Chinese-speaking residents of and visitors to the United States. The site is accessible by clicking on the Chinese-language link on the Amtrak.com homepage or at zh.amtrak.com.

"Outside of the United States, China is one of our top Asian markets," said Amtrak Chief of Sales Distribution and Customer Service Debbi Stone-Wulf. "We want our Chinese-speaking passengers worldwide to take advantage of the many services available to them on our website."

From Birmingham to Beijing, "All Aboard!" or  全體到齊 -- Gerry

CELEBRITY MARKS 10 YEARS IN GALAPAGOS

When you think about faraway ports and exotic locations, one place that comes to mind is the Galapagos Islands, off Ecuador. This year Celebrity Cruises is celebrating 10 years of providing passengers unique destination experiences. But Celebrity's commitment goes beyond that, as they detail in this latest release:

"Building on 10 years of involvement in the Galapagos Islands, Celebrity continues its commitment to supporting and empowering the communities of the region with a medical clinic, fishing and agriculture cooperatives, and a partnership with the Galapagos Conservancy, which includes a matching program to double the value of guests’ donations. Now for vacationers, Celebrity has introduced more Galapagos experiences that include:

2nd ANNUAL KEY LIME FEST COMING UP

Key lime lovers -- It's almost that time again. The second annual Key Lime Festival is coming up in July, with an assortment of events to honor that tart and tasteful fruit. Here's the complete rundown from the press release:

"The creation of the world’s largest Key lime pie, the wacky Miss Key Lime Pageant, pie-eating and cooking contests and other tasty temptations await Key West visitors July 3-5 during the second annual Key Lime Festival.