Top Chef: The Cruise Is a Real Thing That Is Happening

Bravo Media has announced that in April of next year, Top Chef will take over a Celebrity ship for a five-day Caribbean cruise, offering fans "the chance to spend quality time with the show's judges and chefs, making this a one-of-a-kind culinary vacation experience."

Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons will host the voyage, which sets sail from Miami and makes stops in Key West and Cozumel. The trip runs from April 11 to April 15. There'll be interactive Quickfire challenges, question-and-answer sessions, demos, and menus inspired by the show. The list of confirmed chefs so far includes Hubert Keller, Tim Love, Jennifer Carroll, Tiffany Derry, Chris Hanmer, Michael Isabella, Spike Mendelsohn, Hosea Rosenberg, Angelo Sosa and Casey Thompson.

Last week rumors floated that Top Chef was filming aboard a Celebrity cruise ship in Alaska, and it all makes sense now. Expect a tie-in on the program in the near future. Celebrity begins taking reservations on August 16th via the Top Chef: The Cruise website, which is not yet live. Hopefully there won't be a norovirus epidemic on the cruise ship (it happens) because that would be a media firestorm. Here's the press release:

FANS OF BRAVO MEDIA’S “TOP CHEF” INVITED TO SET SAIL ON
LUXURIOUS CULINARY JOURNEY

Inaugural “Top Chef: The Cruise” on Celebrity Constellation to
feature show’s judges and chefs in series of interactive events

NEW YORK, August 14, 2012 The most sought-after “reservations” in town for April 2013 will not be on land, but rather will be at sea, with the launch of the first-ever “Top Chef: The Cruise,” aboard the modern, luxurious Celebrity Constellation. The announcement was made today by Bravo Media, Celebrity Cruises, Magical Elves and Rose Tours, and offers fans of the Emmy-winning “Top Chef” reality competition series the chance to spend quality time with the show’s judges and chefs, making this a one-of-a-kind culinary vacation experience.

Hosted by two of “Top Chef’s” most beloved stars, Tom Collicchio and Gail Simmons, and featuring past “chef’testants,” the April 11-15, 2013 cruise will sail roundtrip from Miami, Florida, with stops in Key West, Florida and Cozumel, Mexico. During the voyage, guests will have the opportunity to savor events such as interactive “Quickfire” cooking challenges, culinary demonstrations, question-and-answer sessions, Top Chef menus and more. Guests also will enjoy Celebrity’s own award-winning culinary offerings, with cuisine created by a James Beard-featured chef, and inimitable, personalized service.

“The incredibly engaged fans of Bravo’s Top Chef are in for a one-of-a-kind and personal opportunity with Top Chef: The Cruise,” said Ellen Stone, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Bravo. “With complete access to talented former chef’testants and our amazing judges, Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, fans will experience and taste the Top Chef culinary feats firsthand!”

Joining Colicchio and Simmons are chefs from past seasons of “Top Chef,” “Top Chef Masters” and “Top Chef Just Desserts,” including Hubert Keller, Tim Love, Jennifer Carroll, Tiffany Derry, Chris Hanmer, Michael Isabella, Spike Mendelsohn, Hosea Rosenberg, Angelo Sosa and Casey Thompson. Additional chefs to be announced shortly.

“There’s no better setting for ‘Top Chef: The Cruise’ than a Celebrity Cruises ship, because of the complexity of our culinary operation, the quality of our food offerings and the variety of our dining concepts,” said Dondra Ritzenthaler, Senior Vice President, Sales, Celebrity Cruises. “We offer an update on the luxury vacation, so not only is food a standout aspect of what we offer, but so are modern, of-the-moment experiences and the chance for guests to explore what they’re passionate about – just like what they get by watching ‘Top Chef.”

Staterooms go on sale on August 16, 2012, at 12 pm EST at www.topchefthecruise.com. Additional information can also be found at the site.

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