Celebrity Cruises Presents "Sense-Sational" New Book

Culinary leader's "Excite the Senses" allows consumers to recreate multi-dimensional onboard experience at home

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Jul 29, 2011, 01:16 ET

MIAMI, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Known for its culinary leadership and commitment to offering guests the absolute best experience during their precious vacation time, Celebrity Cruises now invites them to take that experience home, with an immersive new book, Excite the Senses.

An engaging 400-page book that will find itself right at home on the coolest coffee tables, Excite the Senses provides an up-close and personal look at Celebrity Cruises' exceptional dining experience, complete with recipes, rich photography, and a host of tips for entertaining and hosting friends and family in Celebrity style at home.

"We titled this 'Excite the Senses' because what we offer onboard and what we present in the book centers around ensuring that every aspect of our culinary experience satisfies and appeals to all five senses," said Celebrity's Senior VP of Hotel Operations Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. "Our dining experience goes well beyond appealing to the senses of taste and smell alone; it appeals equally to the senses of sight, sound and touch. It's multi-dimensional, as is the content of the book, so we wanted the title to reflect that."

Inspired by Celebrity's charismatic Vice President of Culinary Operations and James Beard-nominated Master Chef Jacques Van Staden, Excite the Senses offers an inside look at Celebrity's widely varied menus; upscale, modern restaurants, and vast wine program – one of the most extensive in the business – designed to appeal to everyone from the novice to the sophisticated oenophile.

"Excite the Senses is a window into the amazing world here at Celebrity Cruises, and a core part of that world is the culinary experience," said Van Staden. "The dining experience is an essential part of every guest's vacation, and we're committed to making it particularly unique – with every dish prepared fresh, from scratch; customized menus that change daily in the main dining room; and genuine, engaging service. We do all this within chic, stylish restaurants that each have their own identity and overall atmosphere of modern luxury, which is profiled in words and rich photography in the book."

Excite the Senses features more than 250 signature recipes created by Van Staden and team, blended with easy-to-adapt tips and anecdotes from members of the line's highly-skilled, global culinary staff, and informative profiles of vintners and other partners Celebrity hand-picked to create its widely varied dining experiences.

Recipes include the intimate, elegant specialty restaurant Murano's "Wild Forest Mushroom Cappuccino"; the imaginative, future-forward Qsine's "Chocolate Tombstone," and, from Blu, Celebrity's specialty restaurant offered exclusively for guests in its distinctive AquaClass staterooms, "Lump Crab Martini."

The beneficial "at-home" tips range from how to create the perfect antipasto and how to read a wine label, to how to pour a perfectly blended cappuccino, and how to orchestrate holiday meals to ensure every dish is served hot and fresh.

"To identify the best tips, we consulted our dedicated shipboard staff," said Van Staden. "They are the amazing individuals who implement the innovative, top-quality dining experience we deliver every day. Whether it's a barrista serving a cappuccino perfectly blended to a guest's liking at Cafe al Bacio, or a certified sommelier recommending the perfect wine pairing at Murano, our staff's extensive knowledge and dedication to delivering the best vacation experience is what sets Celebrity apart. And this book is designed to help consumers easily create a little of the artistry and magic we present onboard in their own homes."

Excite The Senses is available beginning today at CelebrityLifestyleBook.com, for a purchase price of $59.95 USD. A sneak peek at the book also can be accessed on the site.

About Chef Jacques Van Staden, Vice President of Culinary Operations, Celebrity Cruises:

Since taking the helm of Culinary Operations at Celebrity Cruises in 2007, the visionary Van Staden has led the development of an utterly distinctive onboard dining experience, bringing together top food trends from around the globe, top talent, and stylish surroundings. The James Beard-nominated Master Chef honed his skills working under the legendary late chef Jean-Louis Palladin of Jean-Louis at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC. Next, he ran his own signature Mediterranean tapas restaurant, and eventually returned to the Watergate Hotel as executive chef. Then, in the dining mecca of Las Vegas, Van Staden accepted the role of executive chef at the chic London Club, and later collaborated with Andre Rochat as executive chef of the Michelin star-rated Alize at the top of The Palms. Vacationers enjoying the dining experience across the Celebrity fleet can see, taste and experience the difference resulting from Van Staden's endless imagination: the old-world influence of his European roots, the exceptional array of wines inspired by his upbringing in South Africa, and an overall new-world sensibility stemming from his work in some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the U.S.

About Celebrity Cruises:

Celebrity Cruises' iconic "X" is the mark of modern luxury, with its cool, contemporary design and warm spaces; dining experiences where the design of the venues is as important as the cuisine; and the amazing service that only Celebrity can provide, all created to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationers' precious time. Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrity's fleet currently consists of 10 ships, with one additional Solstice Class ship, Celebrity Reflection, scheduled to join the fleet in Fall 2012. For more information, dial 1-800-437-3111, visit www.celebritycruises.com or call your travel agent.