No Smoking Please

As anyone who has traveled in Europe knows, Europeans are heavy smokers. Emphasis here is on heavy. Nothing ruins the enjoyment of a great meal like the strong odor of tobaco smoke. Several years ago we were actually forced to leave an incredibly wonderful meal in a Paris restaurant as the smoke from one chain-smoking patron was so overwhelming that we could barely breathe and actually lost our ability to taste the meal. This individual in fact smoked while eating.

Well, there is relief in sight.

Paris, France, has gone smoke-free in all public spaces, including cafés and restaurants, starting January 2, 2008. The city approached the ban in stages: it outlawed smoking in venues like schools and hospitals in February of 2007, but granted a few additional months for patrons of bars, cafes, and restaurants. Hats Off to the Parisians for this effort.

Now, if only we could get the same law passed in other European cities.

Uncorked: Fine Wine at Sea

Wine is the drink of choice these days amongst many beverage aficionados. It’s not just the big, bold delectable taste that has people coming back for more; it’s also the social aspect that wine often brings to the table that has people raising their glasses. From wine tastings to wine dinners to wine tours and wine cruises, this tasty grapey goodness is today’s latest craze. We recently hosted a pre-wedding dinner in the wine cellar of a restaurant.

Cruise lines have done an amazing job integrating wine onto their ships. Of course wine has always been available at sea, especially in the main dining room with dinner, but hop on any cruise ship today and you’re sure to see a wine tasting event on the activity schedule. Onboard wine tastings are quite popular these days. The tasting is often held in a shipboard lounge with either a sommelier or a staff member with a vast knowledge of wine. A nominal fee often applies and includes a number of wines to taste. Wine tastings are a great way for the novice to acquire a new skill or for the wine expert to refine their palate. Wine and food pairings take these onboard wine tastings one step further in showing what type of wine goes with what type of food. Wine isn’t just for dinner anymore but is also enjoyed at lunch and after dinner as well. Speaking of dinner, you’ll not only find a wide range of everyday wine in the main dinning room, but when you choose to dine in one of the specialty restaurants (found on many of today’s cruise ships), you will often find an upgraded wine list with reserve collections and older vintages. For example, Oceania Cruises wine cellars hold a vast collection of over 150 vintages that even the most discerning oenophiles will appreciate.

Another way to enjoy cruising and wine together is on a specially themed wine cruise. Holland America, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Silversea are the masters of hosting wine themed cruises and offer many sailings throughout the year, to a variety of destinations. Some of the events also feature celebrity chefs along with wine and food pairings. Highly regarded wine experts provide insight and education into the fascinating world of wine. One can enjoy enlightening guest lectures, wine tastings, wine and food pairings, and even optional private tours to world-class wineries and cellars.

River Cruising offers yet another aspect of wine enjoyment where passengers can enjoy the many fine and boutique wines and accompaniments produced in the areas in which they are cruising.

Crystal Cruises has something very unique just for lovers of fine, rare wines. Onboard the Crystal Symphony and the Crystal Serenity is The Vintage Room. This unique enrichment experience focuses on wine, with food specially prepared and paired to complement the specific fine wines selected for the evening. The room is available for dinner on a first come, first served basis and is also available for private parties all at an additional fee.

Not only can you enjoy great wine on your cruise, but now you can enjoy that same wine in the comfort of your own home. Many of the cruise lines including Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, and Celebrity Cruises are creating proprietary wines that are available for sale on board and some are even available on-line.

So grab your glass and raise a toast to a great combination of wine and cruising. These two classics go perfect together and are sure to please just about everyone.