– NCL Wins Best Wine Programme and Best Alcohol-Free Programme at the 2023 Vibe Vista Awards Making It the Most Awarded Company in Vibe Conference History –
– Company’s Chefs Inducted into Prestigious Culinary Organisation, L’Académie Culinaire de France –
JOHANNESBURG (13 March, 2023) –Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, has announced multiple award recognitions for its esteemed food and beverage programme by Vibe Conference, the premier conference for beverage professionals, and the L’Académie Culinaire de France, the acclaimed culinary organisation.
The Brand was awarded Best Wine Programme and Best Adult Alcohol-Free Programme at the 2023 Vibe Vista Awards, which distinguishes the top performers in chain and hotel beverage programmes. With nine Vibe Vista awards over the last five years, including the Best Overall Beverage Programme in both 2019 and 2022, NCL is the conference’s most accoladed brand within the hotel, casino, multi-unit chain restaurants and cruise line industries.
“The foundation of our guest first philosophy is built on continuously innovating the onboard experience and further developing our award-winning food and beverage programmes,” said Mark Kansley, Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations at Norwegian Cruise Line, “We are thrilled to share the accomplishments of our skilled onboard culinary and beverage professionals whose talents continuously showcase NCL’s commitment to excellence and innovation in creating unique dining experiences for our guests.”
Vibe recognised NCL’s expansive wine portfolio which features an organic and biodynamic wine menu, a rare vintage wine programme curated by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson and the Meet the Winemaker series which offers guests the opportunity to engage with world-renowned winemakers through exclusive culinary experiences and intimate engagements across its fleet. The Company was also awarded for its outstanding alcohol-free programme which includes a dry bar menu with low-alcohol, zero-waste and ready-to-drink cocktails first featured at Vibe Beach Club on NCL’s new, award-winning ship, Norwegian Prima.
In addition to the recognition of the Brand’s beverage programs, NCL Director of Culinary Operations Eric Bilodeau and Fleet Executive Chef Patrice Mick were recently inducted into L’Académie Culinaire de France in the French Consulate of New York City, as profound representatives that impart French Culinary Art into the world. As Director of Culinary Operations, Bilodeau assists with hotel operations and serves as the Company’s certified Executive Pastry Chef for the overall creative offering and execution in bakery and pastry. Fleet Executive Chef Mick assists with the culinary operations and training development of all shipboard culinary members ensuring elevated guest service standards across the fleet. Bilodeau and Mick’s dedication showcases NCL’s commitment to providing the best guest experience at sea.
The Académie Culinaire de France, founded in 1879, is now present in all continents with 1,080 members worldwide. Chefs are recognised for the esteemed award based on their background, career, passion for French cuisine and dedication to teaching the future culinary generations. The prestigious honor is shared by previous inducted NCL Corporate Executive Chef Didier Lailheugue and Senior Director of Culinary Christian Pratsch.
For a sneak peek at the incredible culinary talent across the NCL brand, watch Lailheugue, Bilodeau, Pratsch and Michael Koertgen, Corporate Executive Chef – Research and Development, on EMBARK with NCL’s “Great Cruise Cookoff” episode here, where they battle it out in the kitchen for the opportunity to feature their dish on the all-new Norwegian Prima.
For more information about the Company’s award-winning 18-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please get in touch with a travel professional or visit www.ncl.com.
###
About Norwegian Cruise Line
As the innovator in global cruise travel, Norwegian Cruise Line has been breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising for 56 years. Most notably, the cruise line revolutionised the industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal vacation on their preferred schedule with no assigned dining and entertainment times and no formal dress codes. Today, its fleet of 18 contemporary ships sail to 400 of the world’s most desirable destinations, including Great Stirrup Cay, the company’s private island in the Bahamas and its resort destination Harvest Caye in Belize. Norwegian Cruise Line not only provides superior guest service from land to sea, but also offers a wide variety of award-winning entertainment and dining options as well as a range of accommodations across the fleet, including solo-traveller staterooms, club balcony suites, spa-suites and The Haven by Norwegian®, the company’s ship-within-a-ship concept. For additional information or to book a cruise, contact a travel professional, or visit www.ncl.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, visit the NCL Newsroom and follow Norwegian Cruise Line on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube @NorwegianCruiseLine; and Twitter @CruiseNorwegian.
Media Contact:
PublicRelations@ncl.com
Norwegian Cruise Line
Locally Issued by:
Kim Taylor, Big Ambitions
