CLIA-MEMBER CRUISE LINE GUESTS CAN ENJOY
SOME OF THE WORLD'S BEST WINES

Some of the finest vintages in the world can be found aboard the cruise ships of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The more than 150 ships of the 19 member lines feature extensive wine lists and trained staff that can help guests select the vintage that best suits their meal and their tastes.

The following sampling of some of the CLIA-member cruise line executives’ favorite onboard wines reflects the wide variety of options available when it comes to shipboard selections, from familiar domestic labels to lesser-known wines from vineyards around the world.

Carnival Cruise Lines President Bob Dickinson includes among his favorites the 1998 Stonestreet Legacy Meritage, 2000 Tignanello, 1998 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion and, for champagne, a 1989 Joseph Perrier Cuvee Josephine.

At Celebrity Cruises, Jacques Wulffaert, vice president, total guest satisfaction, hotel operations, recommends Chardonnay Kendall Jackson “Vintner Reserve” Lake County 2001 or Chablis “Vielles Vignes” Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix 2000 for white wine, and Merlot, St. Francis, Sonoma Valley 1998 or Saint-Emilion Jean-Pierre Moueix, France 1998 for red wine.

Crystal Cruises’ Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations Thomas Mazloum named the following among his favorites: Tignanello Villa Antinori 1999; Matanzas Creek Chardonnay 2001; Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2001; and Matanzas Creek Merlot 1999. Line President Gregg Michel cites Caymus Vineyard’s “Special Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1998 as his favorite red wine and Chardonnay Gaia & Rey, Langhe, Angelo Gaja, Piedmont 2000 as his favorite white wine.

The staff at Cunard Line offers their favorite onboard wines. Lee Robinson, vice president of sales, names 2001 Hanzell, Sonoma Valley Chardonnay, while Larry Rapp, vice president of hotel operations, recommends Cloudy Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2001. David Brown, senior vice president marine and technical, cited Opus One, Mondavi/Rothschild, Napa Valley 1985, while Christine Steinberg, chief financial officer, recommends Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet 1997.

Favorite wines of Holland America Line’s Rick Meadows, CTC, senior vice president of marketing and sales, include Conundrum, Caymus, Napa Valley, California, and a Shiraz, Rosemount, Australia. President and COO Stein Kruse selects a 2000 Zinfandel, Pedroncelli, Mother Clone, Dry Creek Alexander Valley, California; a 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus, Napa, California; and a 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, Liparito, Oakville, California.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Peter Tobler, vice president of food and beverage operations, recommends a 2001 Paraduxx from Duckhorn, Napa Valley; a 2002 Shiraz “Estate”, Yangarra, McLaren Valley; a 2001 Pinot Noir Lincourt, Santa Barbara; a 2002 Chardonnay “Dutton Ranch,” Patz & Hall, Russian River Valley; and a 2003 Ferrari-Carano “Fume Blanc” from Sonoma County.

Oceania Cruises Chairman Joe Watters’ favorite white wine is a 2002 Cakebread Cellars, Sauvignon Blanc from Rutherford and his favorite red is a 1998 Dominus, Christian Moieux, Napa Valley. Frank Del Rio, president and CEO, recommends a 2002 Frog’s Leap Chardonnay from Napa Valley for those who prefer white wine and a 2000 Pinot Noir, Domaine Carneros, also from Napa Valley, for those who prefer red.

Princess Cruises’ executives recommend the following: Joseph Saccaro, vice president hotel operations, 2002 Cuvaison, Chardonnay, Napa Valley; Rai Calouri, senior vice president fleet operations, 2003 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand; Franz Rom, vice president food and beverage operations, Don Maximiano, Meritage, Aconcagua Valley, Chile, 1999; Omar Silingardi, director of food and beverage services, Ornellaia, Toscana, Italy 2000.

Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’ Oliver Hammerer, director of food and beverage, cited several international wines among his favorites, including New Zealand’s Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc, Argentina’s Navarro Malbec, South Africa’s Fort Simon Sauvignon Blanc, and Italy’s Gavi Principessa.

Royal Caribbean International’s executives recommend the following: Lynn Martenstein, vice president, corporate communications: Pouilly Fuisse, Montrachet, Chardonnay; Maria Sastre, vice president, total guest satisfaction, Coppula Merlot; and Bob Midyette, manager, fleet beverage operations, Rudd Chardonnay 2002.

Seabourn Cruise Line’s President Deborah Natansohn prefers a Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1993, while Executive Chef Tony Egger likes Opus One, Mondavi/Rothschild, Napa Valley 1998. Debra Gilbert, director of marketing and advertising, lists Stag’s Leap Petite Syrah among her favorites.

Silversea Cruises’ executives offer the following recommendations: Barbara Muckermann, senior vice president, worldwide marketing and communications, Pouilly-Fuissé, Bouchard Père & Fils, Appelation Pouilly Fuissé Contrôlée, France, 2000; David Morris, senior vice president, North American sales, Cabernet Sauvignon, Heitz Cellars Martha’s Vineyard, Napa Valley, 1998; and Marilyn Conroy, vice president, field sales, Jordan Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California, 2001.

Windstar Cruises’ Sandra Scragg, manager of Windstar Marine Hotel Operations, recommends a Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc 2001 and a Sangiovese Stuart Cellars 2000.

For more information on cruises, visit CLIA’s Web site, www.cruising.org, then visit a cruise expert at a CLIA member travel agency. To find a nearby member agency staffed with Accredited Cruise Counsellors (ACCs), Master Cruise Counsellors (MCCs) and Elite Cruise Counsellors (ECCs) – agents who have extensive cruise experience and have completed advanced levels of CLIA’s intensive training program – click on “Find a Cruise Travel Agent” on CLIA’s Web site.