The debut of the Celebrity Edge this December comes with more than a few firsts for meetings and incentives at sea—magic carpet rides and a reimagined Garden of Eden to a Nobel Laureate godmother (Malala Yousafzai).
An exclusive partnership with TableMation Studios adds table animation to the mix at Le Grand Bistro. “Le Petit Chef” and his culinary bag of goodies will appear beside the plates of attendees sailing with Celebrity Edge to prepare each course right in front of them before the actual dish is served. It’s a mind-blowing and highly entertaining experience, to say the least, and a clear testament to Celebrity’s commitment to immersive culinary experiences, says Lisa Vogt, associate VP of corporate incentives & charter sales.
“Culinary is Celebrity’s top pillar. We also have in-house Michelin-starred chef Cornelius Gallagher, who has created new menus that are inspired by and locally sourced from the amazing regions we visit.”
Groups can further explore this tech-meets-culinary vibe at Celebrity Edge’s lush Rooftop Garden, where “Taste of Film” outdoor film and food pairings take place, through “Blendtique,” a new team building activity that has attendees blending their own bottles of wine and designing their own labels, and shore excursions that offer an authentic taste of port destinations. In Scotland, a guided tour and tasting at the legendary Glenmorangie Distillery or sips along the Loch Ness and ruins of an old castle may be on the agenda; in Malta, it may be a tour of UNESCO sites followed up with limoncello sips in a charming village. A partnership with the Emmy-nominated PBS series “Moveable Feast with Fine Cooking” immerses attendees in dishes inspired by ports of call and crafted by the show’s most popular chefs.
“We also have over 200 sommeliers onboard and 29 bars and lounges with incredible and delicious offerings, Vogt adds. “We received the wine spectator award seven years in a row for our onboard wine lists.”
Meet-and-greets with celebrity chefs can be arranged and Celebrity can take groups into local markets for a “Chef’s Market Discoveries” experience to meet farmers and local producers, and to choose the ingredients that will highlight a dinner back on the ship. And while at sea, groups can try their hands at Macallan whiskey tastings, martini flights and mixology classes or learn how to make the caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail.
