Page 25 - Explore Magazine Spring 2017

“James Bond”-style underwater lounge debuts at Ponant
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The world’s first underwater cruise ship lounge, complete with
vibrating sofas and an innovative sound system capturing the
acoustics of the sea, will offer passengers an “immersive sensory
experience of the subaquatic world,” according to French cruise
ship company, Ponant.
Sitting two to three metres below water level within the ship’s
hull, the dark and cavernous Blue Eye Lounge has more than a hint
of a Bond villain’s lair. Passengers will see the underwater world
through two giant eye-shaped portholes while live footage of the
surrounding marine life will be projected onto digital screens that
will “wallpaper” the room.
Sound transmitted via hydrophones will be captured in a five-
kilometre radius of the ship. The high-tech space also comes
with “body-listening sofas” that vibrate to promote “corporal
resonance” (where sound waves are transmitted across the body),
allowing passengers to experience the rhythms of the ocean and
its marine mammals by “listening through their entire body.” The
underwater projectors also allow guests to observe subaquatic
organisms from the outside decks and balconies of the ship.
The new Blue Eye Lounge will available on Ponant’s fleet of four
new luxury yachts, the first two of which (Le Lapérouse and Le
Champlain) will be launched in 2018, followed by Bougainville and
Le Dumont-d’Urville in 2019.

Fashion and glam aboard Queen Mary 2
Fashion royalty Iris Apfel will join a line-up of fashion icons setting
sail on board Queen Mary 2 for the cruise line’s second annual
Transatlantic Fashion Week from 31 August to 7 September 2017.
The unique fashion voyage invites guests to enjoy the glamour of
Queen Mary 2 while being treated to seven days of runway shows,
dinners and exclusive unveilings before sailing into New York for
Fashion Week.
At 95, Iris is a jet-setting celebrity known for her individual style
and flair. Iris has featured in cutting-edge style campaigns for
Macy’s, MAC, Kate Spade, Swarovski and other big-name brands.
She has become renowned for her signature look of bold round
glasses, oversized bangles and necklaces and rich, flamboyant, Garden of eden comes alive on board new Celebrity Edge
colourful garments.
Celebrity Cruises has revealed an exciting feature on its newest
Over the course of Transatlantic Fashion Week, Iris will be ship, Celebrity Edge, which debuts next year, with architects aiming
presenting a Q&A session and introducing a showing of Iris, a to design Eden, a dynamic environment that changes from morning
documentary featuring fashion, creativity and her soaring to night so guests experience something new every time they visit.
free spirit.
Eden is a unique multi-level experience spanning three decks at
“I’ve lived quite a life of fashion the aft of the ship, with more outward-facing glass than any other
room at sea and spectacular views. By morning, Eden is a sanctuary
and can’t wait to experience escape where yoga, a good book, or coffee and a croissant can
be enjoyed with expansive views. In the afternoon, Eden becomes
style at sea,” Iris says. “I look more playful, with hands-on cooking classes, cocktail-making skills
and wine tasting.
forward to being inspired by As the sun sets on Eden, the evening ushers in Eve at Eden, a sinful
fusion of performance art, culinary exploration and nightlife unlike
the elegance and glamour of nothing else at sea, that promises to indulge guests’ every sense in
the Eden Restaurant. Here, “Edenists” will serve a choreographed
the occasion and life on board, series of experiential culinary temptations.

especially the formal nights on As dinner comes to an end, guests will be prompted by sensory
cues to tempt them back upstairs past the Tree of Life (a living
my voyage across the Atlantic.” tree installation) to Deck 5. Here, the Library of Plants towers 18
feet above Eden Bar, offering its bounty of fresh ingredients and
garnishes for handcrafted, artisanal cocktails.
Queen Mary 2’s Transatlantic Fashion Week voyage departs
Southampton on 31 August, 2017. Celebrity Edge will homeport in Fort Lauderdale and set off on her
first sailing on 16 December 2018.

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