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Posted on 04/22/2016 | About Netherlands

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will christen Holland America Line’s new ship Koningsdam in a ceremony in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on May 20, 2016. This will be the twelfth time a Dutch royal family member has launched a Holland America Line vessel since 1929.

The official ceremony will take place on-board the ship during a special 13-day Christening Cruise departing Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, May 9. Following that voyage Koningsdam will spend the summer sailing from the port of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on itineraries to Norway, the Baltic and Iceland. 

MARILYN MONROE COLLECTION ON AUCTION 

This summer Cunard will be showcasing highlights from the world’s largest Marilyn Monroe Collection on the line’s signature Transatlantic Crossing. Passengers on the August 9-16 sailing will have a chance to view this collection on what would be the year of the late actress’s 90th birthday. 

Celebrity auction house Julien’s Auctions will showcase highlights from David Gainsborough-Roberts’ renowned Marilyn Monroe Collection for passengers to view and purchase. 

The Collection is comprised of film costumes, personal gowns and clothing, jewelry, property owned by Monroe, and original photographs and film posters. 

THE MAGIC OF CARNIVAL’S NEW SHIP 

Carnival Cruise Line and the Canaveral Port Authority hosted a special event this week to celebrate the arrival of the Space Coast’s newest ship, the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, and to mark the official grand opening of the ship’s new Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse designed by Food Network star Guy Fieri. 

The event was highlighted by the carving of a massive, six-foot-long pulled pork sandwich by officials from Carnival and the port to commemorate the debut of Fieri’s new BBQ venue which was installed during a multi-million-dollar dry dock last month. 

An extensive makeover also incorporated the new cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, the RedFrog Rum Bar, BlueIguana Tequila Bar, BlueIguana Cantina Mexican eatery and Guy’s Burger Joint, also designed by Fieri. 

FRESH TO THE TABLE 

Avalon Waterways is teaming up with two of Europe’s rising culinary stars; the Wrenkh brothers to design the new Avalon Fresh menu. Karl and Leo Wrenkh are proprietors of a restaurant and cooking school in Vienna and authors of a cook book and are known for their unique vegetarian dishes. 

“We think our travellers deserve healthy, vegetarian food options that taste great,” said Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways. 

“Avalon Fresh is all about creating wholesome menu items where garden-fresh, local ingredients from small farms are married with a sprinkle of ingenuity. This exciting collection of new food will be so mouth-watering, it will be hard to believe it’s healthy.” 

“Our team views dinners as the perfect complement to a day of discovery,” said Clark. “Every dinner features a specialty dish from the day’s destination as well as a choice of wine, including special wines of the region, selected by a professional sommelier and always included with the meal.” 

On each Avalon cruise, the company brings a local chef on board to interact with guests and prepare a special dinner, offering a true taste of the culture.