By Land or by Sea

Cliffs of Moher

I recently got back from a trip to Ireland. Before this trip, I had visited Ireland on a cruise.  I enjoyed my time so much that I wanted to go back and explore more.  I wondered how it would compare to visiting it on a cruise.  As a follow up to my last blog post, Hungry for More!, here’s a recap of my experiences of cruise vs. land travel.  

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Hungry from more Ireland

My first trip to Ireland was while cruising on the Celebrity Century in 2008.  I was trying to decide whether or not to go to Ireland for 10 days or take the cruise that included stops in Ireland, Norway, and the Netherlands.  Since I love cruising, I opted for the cruise and thought, this way I can see if I like Ireland and then can always come back for a longer visit. 

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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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