<p><span class="CenterSubTextGray">Premium vacation brand Celebrity  Cruises, employer of one of the world's largest staff of sommeliers,  will illuminate its extensive onboard wine program later this year when  it launches its second annual "Wine Harvest Celebration." Guests on  Celebrity's cruises departing November 1 to December 11, 2010 - the time  of year just after the seasonal harvesting of grapes used to produce  wine - will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of exclusive  wine-related events, including those offered year-round through the  cruise line's "Celebrity Life" onboard programming series.<br /><br /> "We see a Celebrity cruise and a wine celebration as 'the perfect  pairing,'" said Jacques Van Staden, Celebrity's Vice President of  Culinary Operations. "A high percentage of our guests are wine  enthusiasts, which is why year-round, we offer up to 480 wines per  sailing and a number of wine-focused Celebrity Life activities. Our  fleetwide Wine Harvest Celebration is a seasonal event that gives guests  yet another way to celebrate their passion as we find even more ways to  celebrate wine and its role in modern society."<br /><br /> Among the highlights of Celebrity's Wine Harvest Celebration will be an  emphasis on French food, wine and spirits, presented in partnership with  the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, available to  guests onboard Celebrity's ships from November 1-19, 2010.<br /><br /> Celebrity will reprise its 2009 industry-first unveiling of Beaujolais  Nouveau simultaneously across the fleet, on November 18 (November 19 on <em>Celebrity Century</em>).  Hosted by a guest speaker and Celebrity's own Cellar Master, the event  will offer guests the opportunity to sip the eagerly-anticipated light  wine from oak casks and commemorative bottles, while enjoying live music  and dancing, canap&eacute;s, a gourmet French cheese pairing and a roast  carving station.<br /><br /> Guests with a passion for cool music and rich chocolate are likely to be  "seduced" by Celebrity's "Jazz, Port and Chocolate Tasting Seduction,"  with a complimentary glass of port wine and a deluxe chocolate buffet  and fountain, all set against a backdrop of light jazz music.  					    						 					  			Throughout the course of the celebration, a "Celebrity Wine  Harvest Exposition" will be open to all guests on embarkation day.  Hosted by Celebrity's certified sommeliers, the event features a  complimentary glass of house wine, canap&eacute;s and hors d'oeuvres, and an  overview of the varied wine experiences and packages available for  guests, paired with the opportunity to make reservations for  limited-capacity events.<br /><br /> Additionally, among the wine-focused experiences offered year-round through Celebrity Life are:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>"Wine Appreciation 101" presents tastings of six different varietals  and wine appreciation tips offered by Celebrity's certified  cellarmasters.</li>
<li>"The Art of Food and Wine Pairing" explores how certain flavor  components, such as acids in food, can impact the flavor of wines.</li>
<li>"Celebrity's World Wine Tour and Silent Auction" allows guests to  taste wines from each of the regions represented in Celebrity's global  wine program, including South Africa, France, Germany/Austria, Italy,  Spain, the U.S. and South America. The tastings are paired with canap&eacute;s,  fruits and cheeses, and highlighted by a silent auction of premium  wines packaged at special prices.</li>
<li>"The Riedel Comparative Wine Crystal Workshop" is a one-hour seminar  Celebrity has offered since becoming the first cruise line endorsed by  Riedel to offer it in 2007. Participants learn and experience how  dramatically the shape of a wine glass can affect the outcome of flavors  on the palate, and hear the interesting tale of how the Riedel family  has influenced the crystal industry.</li>
<li>Complimentary wine tastings.</li>
<li>Every sailing will feature presentations by Celebrity's certified Cellar Master, a guest winemaker, or a guest speaker.</li>
</ul>
Only the Riedel workshop requires pre-registration; guests can  sign up once onboard, at the Celebrity Wine Harvest Exposition or at  the guest relations desk. Some of Celebrity's wine-focused activities  require guests to pay a participation fee.<br /><br /> Celebrity's Wine Harvest Celebration will be offered on nine of its ten ships; <em>Celebrity Xpedition</em>, the 92-guest mega-yacht sailing year-round in the Galapagos Islands, will not offer these activities.<br /><br /> Celebrity Cruises is designed for discerning cruisers, with modern,  sophisticated environments, impeccable service, enriching and inspiring  onboard programs, and world-class cuisine. The ultimate in premium  cruising, Celebrity sails in Alaska, Bermuda, California, Canada/New  England, Europe, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and  year-round in the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also  offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Canada, Europe and  South America. Celebrity's mega-series of honors include being named the  top mega-ship line in Cond&eacute; Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice  Awards (November 2009). Celebrity's fleet currently consists of 10  ships. Its $3.7-billion investment in building five stylish Solstice  Class ships between 2008-2012 represents the largest newbuild commitment  for a single brand in industry history.</span></p>