SANTA CLARITA, Calif.,
July 29, 2014 /CNW/ -- Princess
Cruises today announced a delectable new partnership with
internationally acclaimed master chocolatier and pastry designer
Norman Love. "Chocolate Journeys,"
the line's new onboard chocolate experience will entice guests with
an impressive array of onboard chocolate offerings among which are
custom-crafted desserts, chocolate and wine pairings, and exquisite
chocolate bites created by one of the top names in artisan
chocolate.
Since debuting Norman Love Confections in 2001 after a notable
career as a pastry chef for many luxury resorts, Love has since
received wide-spread recognition for his hand-crafted,
chocolate-making artistry including being named as one of the "top
10 chocolatiers in North America"
and creating "the best ultra-premium chocolates in the
nation." His sea-going chocolate creations will debut this
fall aboard the new Regal Princess for her inaugural Caribbean season, and will continue to roll
out to the rest of the Princess fleet throughout the next year.
"Around the world there's incredible passion for chocolate, as
evidenced by ever-growing consumption and the plethora of specialty
varieties," said Jan Swartz,
president of Princess Cruises. "So we're excited to partner
with one of the best chocolatiers in the world to bring some
additional moments of decadence and delight to our guests with
truly amazing chocolate experiences that we know they'll love!"
Swartz added that she believes the partnership with Norman Love was meant to be, because of the
line's close association with the iconic TV show "The Love Boat"
and Princess' reputation for romance. "Based on his name alone this
is a perfect match," she said.
In a recent national survey conducted by the cruise line about
people's passion for chocolate, Princess found that 58 percent of
women would choose chocolate over sex; 69 percent surveyed have
frequent chocolate cravings; 53 percent surveyed would turn to
chocolate over a friend when feeling sad; two thirds surveyed
(67 percent) eat chocolate more often when they're happy than when
they're stressed; 81 percent agree that chocolate improves their
mood; and 84 percent would like to receive chocolate as a gift.
"One thing is for certain, chocolate makes people happy," said
Love. "So what I create and what Princess Cruises offers its guests
are quite similar – what could make people smile more than savoring
decadent chocolate creations while enjoying their cruise
vacation? I think we have a winning combination."
Love has personally trained Princess Cruises' pastry team to
deliver this unprecedented chocolate experience across the
company's fleet of ships.
"Chocolate Journeys" will offer Princess' guests the following
sweet experiences:
Decadent Desserts – Norman
Love has produced 15 chocolate dessert designs for Princess
Cruises that will be offered on a rotational basis in the ships'
main dining rooms, specialty restaurants (Sabatini's and Crown
Grill) and Chef's Table experience. Examples of the desserts
include a Chocolate Tart with Vanilla Mousse and Flourless
Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Pistachio Dome with Almond and Pistachio
Nougatine, and a truly unique Chocolate Tiramisu with Mascarpone
Cream and Espresso Gelato that shouldn't be missed.
(Complimentary in main dining rooms. Specialty restaurants carry
a cover charge.)
Chocolate & Wine Pairings – In Vines, Princess'
signature wine bar, wine and chocolate enthusiasts alike can sample
Norman Love's exquisite Black™
Single Origin Dark chocolates paired with specific wine varietals
designed to enhance the tasting experience, all selected by Love.
(Extra charge)
Captain's Welcome Reception Treats – Guests will be able
to toast the start of their cruise with a glass of bubbly along
with "Chocolate Love Pop" truffles created by Love, at the
signature welcome reception hosted by the Captain.
(Complimentary)
Chocolate Libations – Throughout the ships' lounges and
bars, guests can splurge on a number of decadent chocolate drinks
including a Chocolate Salted Caramel Hard Shake, Chocolate Bacon
Bourbon Bliss or a Chocolate Chile Margarita. (Extra
charge)
Chocolate Dessert Demonstrations – Princess pastry chefs
will treat guests to entertaining and informative demonstrations so
they can learn some simple tips for creating tasty chocolate treats
for their family and friends back home. (Complimentary)
Chocolate Petits Fours at Formal Night – Chocolate bites
designed by Love will accompany the dessert menu presented to
guests following the formal night dinner, for guests to enjoy as
they peruse the evening's sweet endings.
Norman Love Renowned Boxed Chocolates Available for
Purchase – Passengers wishing to bring some of Norman Love's exquisite chocolate confections
home to family or friends (or to enjoy themselves during the
cruise) will be able to purchase these extraordinary creations in
the onboard shops.
Chocolate Spa Treatments – Because chocolate is not only
for eating, the ship's Lotus Spa will offer guests the opportunity
to relax with the aroma of pure bliss by offering a Chocolate
Indulgence Body Treatment combining a chocolate renewal scrub,
whipped chocolate body mask and chocolate massage oil. (Extra
charge)
Additional information about Princess' new Chocolate Journeys
experience can be found at www.chocolatejourneys.com.
Methodological Notes:
The Princess Cruises Chocolate
Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 nationally
representative U.S. adults ages 18+, between
July 18th and July 23rd, 2014, using an email invitation and
an online survey. The margin of error for this survey is +/-
3.1%.
About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in
cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company
operating a fleet of 18 modern ships renowned for their innovative
design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and
amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer
service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess
carries 1.7 million guests each year to destinations around the
globe ranging in length from three to 111 days. The company is part
of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).
About Norman
Love:
Norman Love is
the award-winning master chocolatier who has been lauded 13 times
by a leading consumer ratings magazine including recognition six
times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolate, and most
recently as a Best Buy for Special Chocolate for Valentine's Day 2014. In June, 2014, Love was
selected as the only American pastry chef to speak at the inaugural
World Pastry Stars event in Milan,
Italy. Love regularly appears on numerous television shows
including the Food Network as a guest judge and also appeared on
Julie Child's classic show, "Baking
with Julia" on PBS. His company, Norman Love Confections, creates
and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from the
Fort Myers, Florida corporate
headquarters that encompasses both production and retail
operations. His chocolate salons are stylish retail shops with an
intimate ambience in which customers may purchase chocolates or
linger over house-made pastries, gourmet coffees, lattes and
smoothies. For more information, visit
www.normanloveconfections.com.
Newsroom:
Additional media information is available at princess.com/news.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/130684
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140728/130685
SOURCE Princess Cruises