Discover Holland America Line's Culinary Magic in your own Kitchen!

Did you ever wish you could savor a favorite dish from your last cruise at home? Ever want to share the delicious gourmet cuisine from Holland America Line with friends and family who didn't accompany you on the cruise?

Thanks to Holland America Line's Master Chef Rudi Sodamin, now you can! Rudi's new book, A Taste of Celebration, offers 18 holiday and special occasion menus, offering nearly 100 recipes in total so you can impress your dinner guests, course after course, time after time.

A Taste of Celebration is the third volume in Rudi's Culinary Signature Collection of cookbooks featuring recipes from Holland America Line.

A Taste of Excellence was a ground-breaking peek inside the cruise ship galley when it was published in 2006, offering the general public a first look at the culinary magic found at sea.

 After the acclaimed first volume, Rudi followed up A Taste of Elegance in 2009, offering 100 more menu-based recipes and the assurance of a great meal, every time.

If you want to serve the premium-class recipes of Holland America Line in your own kitchen, we've included links to each of the books below. Buy one, two or all three, and be sure to set a place for us at the dinner table... we don't want to miss out on all the good eating!

Or, if you want Holland America Line to do the cooking, we've got amazing deals on their premium-class ships, including the brand-new Niew Amsterdam! Click here for the best Holland America Line rates.

Christmas Time on the Danube - Part 3: A Bridge Too Far

Sharon Miceli continues to share her story of her European Christmas Markets river cruise aboard Amalyra, as a guest of AMAWaterways. Sharon....

The quaint Christmas Market is dwarfed by a near-perfect evergreen in the town of Cesky Krumlov.

Two days in Prague had been so much fun and now it was time to make our way to the Intercontinental Hotel where we would meet with the transfer to our ship in Nuremberg. 

The 5-star Intercontinental is located right on the Vltava River and  for guests who book their hotel & cruise package, AMAWaterways reserves those rooms that have the stunning view of the Prague Castle. We were met in the lobby by our Cruise Director, Csaba Tamas, a young Hungarian who was made for his job. At this early hour we appreciated his simple instructions and sunny disposition.

We found out that due to the heavy snows in the days before our arrival the Danube River had risen 13 centimeters, about 5 inches, just enough to make it impossible for our ship to cross under the last 2 bridges on its way to Nuremberg. Therefore we would have to meet the Amalyra in Deggendorf, Germany.

Aboard each bus was a local tour guide who provided great narration throughout the countryside. Making up for our missed port they made an unscheduled stop at a very special place called Cesky Krumlov. Talk about a land that time forgot! This tiny gem of a village high in the mountains of the Czech Republic is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its huge charm far exceeds its tiny footprint.

The snow covered wall marks the entrance to Cesky Krumlov

We entered the city by way of a snowy path that led us under massive walls that looked like Roman aqueducts and supported the ancient castle spanning the gorge high above our heads. We crossed over the moats by way of wooden bridges and heard the story of the brightly painted Butter Tower where freshly churned butter had been stored back in medieval times.

A small inn at Cesky Krumlov. Pick your room from pictures at right; red indicates occupied,  green is vacant

In the tiny square we found their version of a Christmas Market; two stalls and a tree! We had time for lunch and chose to eat at one of the hotels that enclose the plaza. The temperature was dropping rapidly and hot chocolate warmed us for the short walk back to the bus. 

The brightly-painted Butter Tower

Our ride to the ship through the mountainous, unsalted roads reminded me of landing in someone’s hand crafted Christmas Village. The miniature towns and evergreen forests were perfectly flocked with snow that glistened like diamond dust in the sunshine. I was reminded of a flight home from Europe one time when we crossed the Alps. Peering out from my window seat I had been fascinated at the little villages clustered in the ravines and valleys of the highest peaks. I had yearned to visit places like that and now here I was.

Captain Rien Pols, Hotel Manager Ovidiu Nicolescu and Cruise Director Csaba Tamas welcome us aboard Amalyra

It was already dark by the time we reached the Amalyra but the Captain and crew who stood at attention gave us the sunniest of welcomes. We took a few minutes to unpack and get comfortable before our Captain’s welcome reception. 

For two girls who had packed heavily for this winter escapade we found more than enough space for all our gear. The room was beautifully appointed with a desk/dressing table, 2 easy chairs & cocktail table with a candy bowl overflowing with Christmas sweets, lighted closet rod, interactive flat-screen television with free tv, music & movies on demand and free internet & Wifi! The spacious bathroom had a granite-topped vanity and a shower with 3 showerheads! How decadent for a ship! I loved it. 

Captain Rien Pols, from the Netherlands, presented each lady with a long-stemmed red rose as we entered the forward lounge of the Amalyra. We were introduced to the staff while we sipped champagne and admired the richly adorned room complete with no less than 3 Christmas trees.

The lounge was all decked out for the season

The rest of the evening was enjoyed over a sumptuous 6- course gala dinner and dancing in the lounge to the resident piano player. I will devote more time to the food & entertainment aboard the Amalyra because it deserves much attention. But for now I’ll leave you with this “amuse bouche” just to whet your appetite.

A homemade cream puff served aboard Amalyra [Editor's Question: You didn't bring one back for me?]

Thanks, Sharon. Can't wait until you actually set sail!

First Hand Report from Snowmaggedon and Camp de Gaulle

Our own Sharon Miceli just returned from Europe with a tale of her long night at a Paris airport, caused by Snowmaggedon, as the blizzards of 2010 are being called. Indulge us for a moment on this out-of-order installment of her River Cruise adventure.  Sharon, the floor (literally) is yours...

Halfway through our week-long AMAWaterways Christmas Time Cruise aboard the Amalyra we started monitoring severe weather conditions in the UK. Snowstorms, the likes of which had not been seen since 1910, had caused flight cancellations and newsworthy frustrations at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Weary travelers try to find comfort at Charles de Gaulle
Overnight Monday/Tuesday December 20 & 21, 2011

Since our return flight to the US wasn’t for 3 days and connected through Paris we were cautiously optimistic that our route would be trouble free. But as I said, this storm was epic and wreaking havoc on plane, train & road travel. Some were calling it Snowmaggedon!

Christmas Time on the Danube - Part 2: Czeching out Prague

Online Vacation Center's Sharon Miceli continues her journey through Europe's Christmas Markets with a day in Prague. Sharon...

The Old Town Square Christmas in Prague

In my dreams I like to imagine a squeaky clean city in the heart of Europe where 5-star hotels cost the same as modest American motels, where the past is celebrated in the present & where beer costs less than water. I woke today in Prague to find all of that and more!

Christmas Time on the Danube - Part 1: Serendipity and Spareribs

Sharon Miceli, one of Online Vacation Center's Personal Vacation Managers, is spending this week aboard the AMAWaterways river cruise ship AMAlyra for a Christmas Time Cruise along the Danube River. She just filed her first dispatch from what is sure to be an amazing week. Sharon....

My friend, Marlene, and I are aboard our flight to Prague where we will meet with AMAWaterways for their Christmas Time Cruise on the Danube River.

Marlene has Multiple Sclerosis and is participating in clinical trials with the University of Miami. This requires she bring syringes for her daily dose of experimental drugs, so you can imagine how we were dreading the security checkpoint at the Ft Lauderdale airport. We have all heard the stories of public groping and semi-private strip searches and we expected to get the full treatment.

Weeks before the trip, Marlene had her letter from the doctor notarized and I wrote to the TSA via their website and also to their blog team on Twitter asking for any advice that would make the inspection easier for all involved. Disappointingly, I never got a reply from the TSA.

Write your Way Across the Atlantic!

For over 100 years, Holland America Line's part-and-parcel was Transatlantic crossings between Europe and New York. As speedy jet travel came into vogue in the early '70s, regular crossings were discontinued, Holland America transitioned to pleasure cruising and the rest, as they say, is history.

In July 2011, 40 years after discontinuing regular service, Holland America Line will return to it's roots with two nostalgic 9 night crossings between Rotterdam and New York aboard the ms Rotterdam. These are traditional Transatlantic crossings, filled with relaxing days at sea and one extra stop - Cobh or Southampton - which served, in days past, to board/debark additional passengers before or after the crossing.

Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection to Break the Solstice Class Mold

Celebrity Cruises announced a wave of changes to the last two members of the popular Solstice-class this morning, including the surprising news that the Celebrity Reflection will feature a whole new deck of staterooms!

Here's the press release with all the details:

Celebrity Cruises to present more avant-garde industry firsts on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection AquaClass Suites, The Lawn Club Grill, The Porch, The Alcoves and new Michael's Club concept among innovative new offerings

Miami - (December 08, 2010 ) - How do you make the best even better? Celebrity Cruises believes you break the rules, stay ahead of the curve, and provide what vacationers want most - often before they even say they want it. That belief is vividly reflected in the distinctive, luxurious, vacation-enhancing venues Celebrity will introduce on the fourth and fifth ships in its award-winning Solstice Class fleet, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection.


"We recognize that consumers' vacation time is precious, and that's what drives us to continually create new and unique experiences that enhance their rare time away," said Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Dan Hanrahan. "The host of honors our Solstice Class and Millennium Class have won have been incredible validation of that commitment, and on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection, we're capitalizing on the opportunity to further elevate our onboard offerings, particularly in our Solstice Class' iconic Lawn Club, and with our wildly popular AquaClass category of accommodations and its exclusive specialty restaurant, Blu. Initially, we planned to introduce these exciting new enhancements only on Celebrity Reflection, but to our delight, our outstanding partners at Meyer Werft were able to also deliver every new feature with the exception of AquaClass Suites on Celebrity Silhouette."


New Aquaclass Sky suites highlight expanded accommodations


Driven by high demand for Celebrity's industry-first AquaClass category of spa-inspired accommodations, and by way of an additional deck being added to Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity will introduce on that ship the line's first AquaClass Suites, each offering 251 square feet of luxurious interior space and spacious 57-square-foot verandas, and all the amenities associated with Celebrity's AquaClass accommodations, including exclusive and complimentary access to the highly-rated specialty restaurant, "Blu," noted for inviting, modern design and flavorful, healthy, clean cuisine. The new suites also will offer the luxurious 24/7 butler service that is a hallmark of every suite across the Celebrity fleet. In addition to the 34 new AquaClass Suites, Celebrity Reflection also will present an additional eight luxurious new Sky Suites, 19 additional plush ConciergeClass staterooms, and 11 additional inside staterooms, bringing the stateroom/suite total to 1,515.


Maintaining Celebrity's best-in-class, premium space ratio and lauded traffic flow, Celebrity Reflection will offer an additional 245 loungers on the expanded pool deck to suit the increased overall guest capacity, as well as 45 additional seats in the Celebrity Theater, 118 in Oceanview Café, 24 additional seats each in Blu and in Tuscan Grille, four more in Qsine, and 40 additional seats in the main dining room, where Celebrity also offers Celebrity Select Dining^SM, the industry's first flexible dining option allowing guests to choose when they wish to dine on a flexible, day-by-day basis.


The Lawn Club
Inspired by the popularity of its iconic, industry-first Lawn Club, Celebrity will leverage its brand pillars of outstanding dining experiences, enriching activities, relaxation and pampering, and modern design to offer vacationers on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection significantly expanded opportunities to eat and drink, relax and lounge, and participate and socialize within the inviting space.

The Lawn Club Grill

Both Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will present "The Lawn Club Grill," the industry's first outdoor, interactive grill venue. A new, exceptionally social specialty dining option overlooking the lush lawn and soothing sea, The Lawn Club Grill will boast a design likely to be the envy of novice and experienced chefs alike, with gleaming stainless steel grills and other appliances, custom pizza-making tables and large ovens.

By day, in addition to a casual lunch menu highlighted by a variety of high-end burgers, the venue will present interactive demonstrations and classes focused on pizza-making - including the art of dough-tossing - grilling secrets, mouth-watering marinades and more, led by Celebrity's own chefs, as well as guest chefs participating in Celebrity's "Savor Your Destination" program.

By night, in a particularly unique twist, guests will have their choice from an array of top-quality meats to either grill themselves, side-by-side with Celebrity's chefs, or have grilled to order. A nominal surcharge will apply. Complementing the dinner experience will be libations ranging from wines, beer and sangria, all consistent with the casual nature of the 56-seat restaurant.

The Porch

With its chic, Hamptons-style design, modern furnishings, and creative use of natural light, all complemented by the enticing aroma of fresh-baked breads and pastries, The Porch will be the idyllic spot for quick, simple, casual and complimentary breakfasts and lunches. The intimate, 48-seat venue will be the perfect place to enjoy complimentary fresh pastries, salads, paninis and other sandwiches, in addition to specialty coffees, beer and wine, all enhanced by views of the lawn and sea.

The Art Studio

With one of the world's largest corporate collections of contemporary art exhibited across its fleet, and given the enthusiasm guests expressed when the line introduced the industry's first art tours to be offered on an iPad®, Celebrity will further appeal to its guests' love of art in "The Art Studio" within the area of The Lawn Club. There, experienced and novice artists alike can participate in intimate, hands-on instruction from experts in drawing, painting and beading, as well as the art of food, with plating, tastings, mixology and other culinary-themed classes.

The Art Studio also will present exclusive, intimate pairing dinners hosted by guest chefs participating in Celebrity's Savor Your Destination program.

The Alcoves

For a private retreat overlooking the lawn, ocean and coastlines, Celebrity also will present within The Lawn Club "The Alcoves," eight exclusive, cabana-style settings, each designed for two to four guests. Each of The Alcoves on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will offer WiFi for guests who want to stay connected while relaxing, themed picnic baskets and an a la carte beverage menu. The Alcoves will be available as partial or all-day rentals.

Adjacent to The Alcoves, guests will find eight inviting hammocks and two whimsical, oversized Adirondack chairs, each offering complimentary, additional opportunities to relax amidst the atmosphere of the lawn and sea.

Michael's Club
Celebrity's history and future will converge in Michael's Club - a venue found on every Celebrity ship - where the line will present on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection a restyled, casually elegant bar where vacationers can sit back and enjoy the comfortably sophisticated atmosphere while watching the World Cup games and sipping a Chimay Blue.

Across the Celebrity fleet, Michael's Club offers an impressive selection of rare malts, whiskies and scotches. Building on that tradition, the "new" Michael's Club on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will add an equally impressive selection of more than 50 beers, including flavorful craft beers, and will allow guests to participate in engaging experiences such as ideal food and beer pairings, how to pour the perfect draft, or how to select the proper beer glass, all while snacking on homemade, gourmet potato chips and bread sticks, and fresh, lightly-spiced caramel popcorn, amidst a vibe of live music and cool playlists, or major international sporting events airing on the venue's large, 46" TV screens.

The Hideway

Guests seeking a particularly quiet spot to get away from it all can do so in a new venue inspired precisely by that interest. "The Hideaway" on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will provide a high-tech escape for vacationers relaxing with their iPads or perhaps trying out a new Apple product from the Celebrity iLounge, or a low-tech retreat for reading a good book. Inspired by the live trees suspended within the Grand Foyer of every Solstice Class ship, the design of The Hideaway reflects that of an upscale, avant-garde tree house, with cozy, intimate lounging "nests," or niches.

The Solstice Class Difference

"We are constantly dedicated to building every aspect of the Celebrity vacation experience around what vacationers want most during their precious time away, and the greatest validation of that commitment has been the response to our stunning Solstice Class," said Hanrahan. "We're eager to have our guests continue to experience all the distinctive attributes of those stunning ships, as well as the new offerings they have inspired on Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection. We are confident all of this will further solidify our leadership role in the industry and keep vacationers coming back."

In addition to the innovative new venues and experiences, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection will join sister ships Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Eclipse in offering:

• The hip "Celebrity iLounge" that made Celebrity Cruises the industry's first Authorized Apple Reseller

• Uniquely unordinary "Qsine," the first seagoing restaurant to feature a menu and wine list on an iPad®, and an engaging food-as-theater dining experience

• Ten unrivaled restaurants - in addition to "The Lawn Club Grill" and "The Porch"

• Modern, stylish interiors designed by some of the world's best architects and designers, including Adam Tihany

• Cool nightclubs and lounges, including CellarMasters, complete with the industry's first installation of the innovative Enomatic wine serving system

• One of the broadest and best wine offerings in the industry, served by one of the world's largest staffs of certified sommeliers

• One of the world's largest permanent collections of original contemporary art, and the industry's first self-guided art tours to be presented on an iPad®

• Top-tier entertainment, including custom aerial production shows and live music

• The extensive array of fun, entertaining and enriching onboard programming offered through "Celebrity Life," including games, instruction on the latest iPods®, MacBooks® and iLife® classes; language learning through Rosetta Stone®; comparative wine tastings with Riedel Crystal, and enrichment presentations with Smithsonian Journeys

 Sounds like the Solstice Class is moving to the next level!

Home Screen Wallpapers for your iPhone from Allure of the Seas

There are many striking patterns in both the carpet and tile aboard Royal Caribbean's new Allure of the Seas. From aqua and green tiles perfectly at home in the stateroom bathrooms to grand designs on carpets in the public areas, the ship is a feast for the eyes.

The floor of the Royal Promenade (the ship's Main Street, USA, if you will) is a pleasing pattern of beige, light brown and grey tiles.