Cruise holidays are renowned for offering excellent on board dining, but 2015 looks set to be the year for passengers to be wowed by wine and become connoisseurs of cocktails as cruise lines introduce a whole range of new drinks being served afloat.

Guests can enjoy a bespoke, tailored service that breaks the barriers of yesterday's limited drinks menus, with quirky cocktails and unique vintage wines transforming the bars and restaurants of ships into places to take a journey of exploration. Passengers are being offered a greater choice than ever, with many new developments in 2015 demonstrating the scale of investment that cruise lines are making in drinks they serve on board.

The Cruise Lines International Association highlights some new wines and cocktails taking to the seas in 2015:

Chocolate Chilli Margarita Anyone?

Princess Cruises have created a new range of cocktails including the chocolate bacon bourbon and chocolate chilli margarita, recently unveiled on the line's newest ship, the Regal Princess. In its inaugural Caribbean season, the ship will showcase the new range of 'Chocolate Journeys', partnering with master chocolatier Norman Love, which will then be rolled out across the rest of the fleet throughout 2015. This also includes desserts and truffles, and specialist chocolate and wine pairings.

Wine and cocktails are proving evermore popular on board and, during the maiden year of the Royal Princess in 2014, its waiters served an incredible 700,000 cocktails, and 150,000 bottles and 200,000 glasses of wine.

Robotic Royal Propels in to the Digital Age

Two new bartenders have joined the team at Royal Caribbean this year, but passengers may be surprised to see that they're not as human as the rest of the crew; the new bar is run entirely by bionic mixologists. Quantum of the Seas is the first to showcase this innovative offering, which can deliver bespoke and classic cocktails up to a speed of two per minute. It took 41,600 man hours to create the two robotic bartenders that offer guests an extensive menu of 21 mixers including flavoured vodkas, sprigs of mint and even melon-flavoured liqueur.

Britannia Rules with the Blighty Mojito

Launching this year with the arrival of P&O Cruises' Britannia ship is a new bespoke cocktail available in the ship's Crow's Nest bar. The Blighty Mojito uses one of the many artisan gins served at the bar - Mason's Yorkshire Gin (the first gin currently from this region from husband and wife duo, Karl and Catherine Mason).

In the last year, P&O Cruises has served just under 1.5 million cocktails across its fleet, as well as serving over 1.5 million bottles of wine. For mojitos alone, P&O Cruises used 514,000 mint leaves and 21,500 limes in 2014.

Carnival Stirs Up Magic at the Alchemy Bar

Currently available across seven of their ships, Carnival passengers don't need to be mix-masters to appreciate the Alchemy Bar – only curious enough to try something new. Carnival has been stirring up some magic behind the scenes to produce a tasty series of cocktails served at this unique vintage-themed cocktail 'pharmacy'. The cruise line's cocktail specialists can prescribe passengers with something from the bar, with both non-alcoholic and alcoholic elixirs, or create a bespoke concoction from its veritable variety of unique ingredients.

Oceania Invests in a Bigger Cellar

New additions from the executive cellar master for Oceania Cruises includes the Chilean Almaviva, expanding the cruise line's selection of fine wines from across the globe. The expression of new world meets old is a memorable bottle made from a blend of classic Bordeaux varieties, in which Cabernet Sauvignon predominates. For passengers who prefer a drop of white, there are finally competitors to the classic Burgundies and Gaja wines. The Rossj-Bass Chardonnay, from Piedmont, Italy, is all about elegance, finesse and minerality. With its perfect balance of crisp dryness, what better way is there to enjoy an ocean sunset than whilst sitting on the deck with a glass?

Voyages to Antiquity Unveils the Captain's Choice       

Wine might be complimentary with dinner on the MV Aegean Odyssey but Voyages to Antiquity still takes great care to select and serve excellent quality local wines from the countries they visit on their Mediterranean itineraries. The line has taken this to new heights to the extent that their Master, Captain Roland Andersson, paid a visit to the picturesque vineyard of Giovanni Bellia in the Veneto wine producing region of Italy. Whilst the ship was moored in Venice, the captain travelled to personally taste and select the Italian wines that would be served at his and his passengers' tables. Voyages to Antiquity has included a visit to the wine producing region of Stellenbosch on its 2015 Christmas/New Year cruise around South Africa and will be including visits to Bordeaux, Loire, Cadiz  Opporto and Funchal in the summer of 2016 where those with a discerning palate will be able to enjoy the wines produced in these regions.

Azamara Sources the Vintage

Both of Azamara's boutique ships, the Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest, have their own speciality 'Wine Cellars' on board - an 8,000-bottle collection of limited production, small label and rare vintage wines. From France to California, Argentina to South Africa, the Azamara Wine Cellar will delight passengers' palates, and its knowledgeable sommeliers will help pick the perfect wines for an evening meal. Guests can also look to the daily on-board news for Wine Corner gatherings in the Mosaic Cafe, where they can discover and taste new wines with the sommelier's guidance. Guests can also arrange their own private dinner or wine-tasting in the Wine Cellar through the sommelier or concierge.

ENDS

Photo credit: The Alchemy Bar, Carnival Cruise Lines

About CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is the world's largest cruise industry trade association with representation in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. CLIA represents the interests of cruise lines, travel agents, port authorities and destinations, and various industry business partners before regulatory and legislative policy makers.

For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit www.cruiseexperts.org. CLIA can also be followed on the Cruise Lines International Association's Facebook and Twitter fan pages.

For further information:

Charlie Hampton, Claire Lowe and Pippa Chester

Bell Pottinger on behalf of CLIA

Tel: +44 (0)20 3772 2519 / 2524 / 2666

E-mail: clia@bellpottinger.com