Oceania Cruises Names Claudine Pépin Godmother of Sirena
MIAMI, Fla (Dec. 1, 2015) - Longtime member of the Oceania Cruises family, Claudine Pépin will serve as godmother for Sirena at the ship's christening ceremony in Barcelona on
April 27, 2016. Claudine's father, legendary master chef Jacques Pépin, has been Oceania Cruises' Executive Culinary Director since the line's inception. Jacques' involvement with the line has blossomed into a family affair, with Claudine joining him on Oceania Cruises' annual Jacques Pépin Cruise to co-host special culinary events and cooking demonstrations.
"Claudine's passion for food, wine, travel and deep family traditions make her the perfect choice for Sirena's godmother," said Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer for Oceania Cruises. "If the culinary world had a royal family, it would be the Pépin family. As we continue to expand upon our finest cuisine at sea offerings, we are excited to deepen our
relationship with the Pépin family and absolutely thrilled to have Claudine serve as godmother for Sirena."
An acclaimed cookbook author and regular co-host on Jacques' PBS show "Heart and Soul in the Kitchen," Claudine will officially christen Sirena by breaking a bottle of champagne against the ship's hull during an intimate pier-side celebration in Barcelona. Following the ceremony, she will sail on Sirena's maiden voyage with her father, mother, husband and 12-year-old daughter, Shorey.
During the maiden voyage, Claudine will interact with guests at cooking demonstrations and book signing events which will take place throughout the cruise. All guests booked on the maiden voyage will receive a complimentary copy of Claudine's cookbook, Let's Cook French, which was published earlier this year and pays homage to French-style family home cooking.
"It's truly an honor to be Sirena's godmother, and to celebrate its christening and maiden voyage with my entire family," said Claudine. "We'll be cooking together, enjoying delicious food - and, of course, laughing as much as possible. It will be a pleasure to share this special experience with all guests aboard Sirena."
Many culinary fans have watched Claudine and her father prepare classic French dishes on the James Beard award-winning series "Jacques Pépin's Kitchen: Cooking With Claudine," "Jacques Pépin's Kitchen: Encore with Claudine," and "Jacques Pépin Celebrates.
Earlier in her career, Claudine served as brand ambassador for Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon Champagne in New York while teaching food and wine pairing at the French Culinary Institute (now the International Culinary Center) and the Sommelier Society in New York. In 2002, Claudine was named Woman of the Year by the Académie Culinaire de France - Filiale des Etats-Unis.
About Sirena
Offering the finest cuisine at sea, the 684-passenger Sirena will offer diverse and destination-rich itineraries appealing to both seasoned world travelers and passionate cruisers who crave a more intimate and luxurious cruise experience. Before entering service on April 27, 2016, the ship will be elevated to Oceania Cruises' standard of elegance by undergoing a 35-day, $40 million refurbishment, using the recent makeover of Insignia as a blueprint.
The maiden voyage for Sirena will be an incredible 14-night cruise from Barcelona to Venice. During its inaugural season, the ship will sail on Mediterranean and Caribbean itineraries featuring a mix of classic destinations and exotic new ports of call.
Among its elegant offerings are two specialty restaurants, a brand new concept restaurant called Tuscan Steak and the beloved guest favorite from Marina and Riviera, Red Ginger. Also debuting on Sirena is Jacques Bistro, a new gourmet lunch experience at the Grand Dining Room which features some of legendary chef Jacques Pépin's signature dishes. Sirena will also feature more recent additions to the Oceania Cruises fleet such as Baristas and the cook-to-order grill at Terrace Café.
Sirena's most palatial and prestigious accommodations - the Owner's and Vista Suites - will debut with an elegant new design that features a crisp and modern motif. The line will also introduce a new collection of scented Bvlgari bath amenities that are exclusively available to guests booked at the Concierge Level or above, and designed to perfectly complement the luxurious accommodations.
For more information about Oceania Cruises, call 855-OCEANIA (855-623-2642) or contact a professional travel agent.
About Oceania Cruises
Featuring a fleet of intimately luxurious ships, Oceania Cruises offers an unrivaled vacation experience renowned for the finest cuisine at sea and destination-rich itineraries spanning the globe. Seasoned world travelers are drawn to Oceania Cruises' expertly crafted voyages, which call on more than 330 ports across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and the Americas. Spacious and elegant accommodations aboard the 684-guest Regatta, Insignia and Nautica and the 1,250-guest Marina and Riviera invite guests to explore the world in unparalleled comfort and style. Oceania Cruises will add a fourth 684-guest ship in April 2016 when Sirena officially joins its fleet.
CONTACT:
Jason Lasecki
Oceania Cruises
305-514-3912
jlasecki@prestigecruiseholdings.com
Kelsey Walker
Ketchum Public Relations
404-879-9294
kelsey.walker@ketchum.com
