Windstar Cruises Unveils 2010 Signature Collection Hosts
Windstar Cruises Unveils 2010 Signature Collection Hosts
Windstar Cruises, which operates a three-ship fleet of luxury yachts, unveiled its 2010 Signature Collection Host Series, which offers guests the opportunity to cruise with distinguished experts in the culinary arts, wine, photography and writing. Hosts in 2010 include: top chocolate artisan Fran Bigelow of Fran’s Chocolates; renowned winemakers Jay Schuppert of Cuvaison Estate Wines and Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars; San Francisco area restaurateur, author, national radio and television personality Narsai David; photographer Roger Paperno; and author Joe Wolff of the popular travel books "Cafe Life"; acclaimed restaurateurs Chef Don Curtiss and Michelle Quisenberry of Seattle's Volterra Restaurant; and Chef Keith Luce of celebrated Northwest restaurant The Herbfarm.
Schuppert, president of Cuvaison Estate Wines, hosts Wind Surf's Lisbon to Barcelona sailing which departs April 4, 2010, and visits the ports of Tangier, Morocco; Malaga, Spain; Alicante, Spain; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; and Valencia, Spain. Cuvaison's winery is situated on the historic Silverado Train in Northern Napa Valley and is known for its award-winning wines. Schuppert will lecture on wine and conduct wine tastings during the voyage. Cruise fares start from $2,399 per person, double occupancy. For more information on Cuvaison Estate Wines, visit www.cuvaison.com.
Culinary expert David hosts Wind Star's Barcelona to Rome sailing departing May 1, 2010. Ports of call include Mahon, Spain; Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Alghero, Italy; Porto-Vecchio, France; and Portoferraio, Italy. One of California's leading gourmets, David is a national television and radio personality, as well as Macy's Culinary Expert and shares the simple pleasures of cooking, food and wine through education. David launched Narsai's Restaurant, Market and Catering businesses which quickly became a culinary mecca for traveling gourmets. David will entertain guests with a lecture and cooking demonstration on his culinary arts. Cruise fares from $2,399 per person, double occupancy. For more on David, visit www.narsai.com.
Bigelow will host Wind Surf's Rome to Venice sailing departing May 2, 2010, visiting Capri, Italy; Taormina, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Hvar, Croatia. Bigelow is considered one of the best chocolatiers in the country and has been credited for sparking the artisan chocolate renaissance in America. Fran's Chocolates offers a selection of luxurious chocolate confections and signature truffles created with the finest, all-natural, local and organic ingredients handmade daily in small batches with refined techniques. Bigelow will discuss how she creates extraordinary chocolates and will conduct chocolate tastings. Cruise fares from $2,599 per person, double occupancy. For more information on Fran's Chocolates, visit www.franschocolates.com.
Executive Chef Luce of The Herbfarm, the Pacific Northwest's only AAA Five Diamond restaurant, will host Wind Surf's Rome to Venice sailing departing June 6, 2010. Ports of call include Capri, Italy; Taormina, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Hvar, Croatia. Luce trained at the New York's Rainbow Room, Le Cirque and La Cote Basque as well as top Michelin-starred restaurants in France and Italy. Luce will speak on culinary techniques and provide cooking demonstrations. Cruise fares start from $2,749 per person, double occupancy. For more information on The Herbfarm, visit www.theherbfarm.com.
Winemaker Dunham of Dunham Cellars will host Wind Surf's Rome to Venice sailing departing July 25, 2010. Ports of call include Capri, Italy; Taormina, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Hvar, Croatia. Dunham trained in all phases of winemaking through an internship with Hogue Cellars and served as assistant winemaker at the prestigious L'Ecole No. 41 winery under the tutelage of Marty Clubb. Dunham will discuss the wine making process and conduct wine tastings. Cruise fares from $2,749 per person, double occupancy. For more information on Dunham Cellars, visit www.dunhamcellars.com.
Chef Curtiss and Quisenberry will host Wind Surf's Sept. 5, 2010, Rome to Venice sailing which visits Capri, Italy; Taormina, Italy; Kotor, Montenegro; Dubrovnik, Croatia; and Hvar, Croatia. Curtiss was formally trained in classic French cuisine and taught at the Sofitel French Culinary school. He RAN Miami's Le Cafe Royale before becoming executive chef of Cafe des Artes on Ocean Drive. Guests will discover Tuscan cooking with Curtiss and Quisenberry. Cruise fares from $2,749 per person, double occupancy. For more information on Volterra, visit www.volterrarestaurant.com.
Photographer Roger Paperno and author Joe Wolff host Wind Surf's October 17, 2010, Venice to Venice sailing which visits ports of Rovinj, Croatia; Opatija, Croatia; Trogir, Croatia; and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The duo produced the popular travel series "Cafe Life Rome", "Cafe Life Florence" and "Cafe Life Venice." The books profile family-owned cafes and bars in Italy featuring photos, interviews and history. Paperno and Wolff will share their experiences about working on the book as well as traveling, photography and writing. Cruise rates start from $2,599 per person, double occupancy. For more information on Paperno and Wolff, visit www.rogerpaperno.com and www.joe-wolff.com. Windstar Cruises operates three sailing yachts carrying just 148 to 312 guests on cruises throughout Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. For more information, call 877.530.5699