First-Ever MasterChef Cruise Event Itinerary Unveiled

LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The programming lineup for the first-ever MasterChef Cruise was announced today for the seven-day culinary journey sailing to the Caribbean Nov. 8-15, 2014. Foodies and fans of America's most-watched cooking competition series MASTERCHEF (Mondays, 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX) will hone their culinary skills while getting up close and personal with their favorite series talent with over 15 hours of event programming including Mystery Box Challenges, MasterChef Trivia, Tag Team Challenges, cocktail parties, meet and greets, demonstrations and more.

Presented by Shine America, producers of the television series, and events company Life Journeys, the MasterChef Cruise features culinary events and demonstrations with world-class Michelin-Star Chef and MASTERCHEF judge Graham Elliot; series winners Christine Ha and Luca Manfe; the first-ever MASTERCHEF JUNIOR winner Alexander Weiss; previous season contestants Becky Reams and Bri Kozior and the current season's winner (to be revealed on the Sept. 15 finale).

MasterChef Cruise guests will be offered hours of entertaining and instructional events and demonstrations, including:

• Christine Ha's Mac-n-Cheese at Sea Competition - Christine will judge the first-ever Mac-n-Cheese at Sea competition where guests will compete to create their best version of the classic dish.
• Blind Taste Test with Graham Elliot - A few willing audience members will have the opportunity to test their taste buds with a challenge led by Graham.
• Tag Team Sushi - Get a front-row seat to the famous Sushi Tag Team Challenge featuring the MasterChef Stars.
• Master the Macaroon with Alexander – Learn to master Alexander's signature dessert, the ever-elusive Macaroon.
• Designer Pasta - Learn how to make authentic, homemade pasta with a demonstration from Luca Manfe.
• Craft Cocktails – Create craft cocktails with the MasterChef season 5 winner.
• The Finale - The MasterChef Stars compete in an all-out food war to see who is crowned the first-ever "MasterChef Cruise Champion."

For additional details and the full MasterChef Cruise itinerary visit www.masterchefcruise.com.

Many of the activities will take place in the ship's Vista Show Lounge, which showcases state of the art video equipment, high-resolution LED panels and a seating capacity of 856 guests.

"MASTERCHEF fans and food lovers alike are in for an incredible journey with hours of original live programming that both entertains and instructs," said Vivi Zigler, President Shine 360° and Digital, Shine America. "Guests will get to live the 'MASTERCHEF experience with some of the most skilled and beloved talent from the series, while also honing their own culinary skills."

"We are thrilled to be a partner with Shine America on the official first-ever MasterChef Cruise and can't think of a more ideal setting than sailing to the Caribbean with such passionate fans of the show," said Ibis Kaba, Executive VP/Producer of Life Journeys.

The cruise will set sail from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and visit Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line's award-winning private island in the Bahamas.

Headliner chef Graham Elliot is a self-described "Navy brat" who has traveled the world and all fifty states. He's a creative culinary wizard with an innate ability to successfully juxtapose four-star cuisine with humor, wit and out-of-the-box artistry. At age 27, he became the youngest Four Star Chef to be named in any major U.S. city and was named one of Food & Wine magazine's "Best New Chefs" in 2004. He also is a judge for MASTERCHEF and MASTERCHEF JUNIOR. In recent years Elliot has accrued several prestigious accolades, including multiple James Beard Foundation nominations as well as being named one of Crain's Chicago Business list of "40 Under Forty." Elliot operates the award-winning Graham Elliot Bistro in Chicago.

As a special highlight, cruisers will meet the winner of Season 5, who will be revealed in the season finale airing Monday, Sept. 15 at 8:00pm PT on FOX.

Fares for the seven-night "MasterChef" cruise begin at $1,442 per person, double occupancy, and include activities associated with the MASTERCHEF Cruise shipboard programming. Premium programming opportunities are available for an additional cost.

For more information and to make reservations, visit masterchefcruise.com or call 1-888-259-9191, ext. 1262. 

About Life Journeys
California-based Life Journeys Inc., is the nation's premier travel tour production company. Life Journey's vision is to bring together an array of authors, celebrities, speakers, musicians and organizations that inspire, motivate, educate, entertain and empower the minds and spirits of their audience in various locations around the world by creating a unique brand of customized, one-of-a-kind cruise and land event productions.

About Shine America
Shine America is the U.S. division of Shine Group, an award-winning global production and distribution organization with 30 production companies across 12 countries. Shine America is a leading television studio that creates inspired and compelling programming including current unscripted series MasterChef (FOX), MasterChef Junior (FOX), The Biggest Loser (NBC), Minute to Win It (GSN), The Face (Oxygen), Restaurant Startup (CNBC) and Fake Off (TruTV). Scripted series include Peabody Award-winning The Bridge (FX), as well as upcoming dramas Gracepoint (FOX) and Utopia (HBO).

Shine America incorporates several divisions including unscripted format label Ardaban, which develops and distributes original content to the U.S. marketplace including series Beat The House (HGTV) and The One That Got Away (TLC). The global Shine 360° division builds brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine Group's distribution arm, Shine International, distributes Shine America's extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries.

SOURCE Shine America