PHOTO: Watch the Partnership Pow Wow video of Michelle Fee interviewing Dondra Ritzenthaler. (Image courtesy of Cruise Planners)

Dondra Ritzenthaler, senior vice president of sales at Celebrity Cruises, is a seasoned travel industry executive who is credited for raising awareness of the importance of sales support for travel agents far and wide. I sat down with her to talk about how Celebrity offers a modern luxury experience focused around food and wine for guests and how agents can sell those culinary experiences in a “bullish” 2015 for cruise sales.

Michelle Fee: When I think of Celebrity Cruises, I immediately think of food and wine. Can you describe what partnering with “Top Chef” brings to your guests?

Dondra Ritzenthaler: We’ve partnered with Bravo and its Emmy award-winning television show “Top Chef” to bring you the tantalizing Top Chef at Sea experience. It’s a match made in, well, the kitchen — and the results are simply mouthwatering. There’s something on just about every sailing — including Quickfire Challenges and Top Chef Nights in the Main Restaurant — along with a Top Chef Signature Sailing, where our guests will be joined by some of the show’s most talented “cheftestants.”

Fee: Staying with the food theme, you also have a cool restaurant called “The Lawn Club Grill” located on the top deck of the Solstice Class ships. What can you tell us about it?

Ritzenthaler: The Lawn Club Grill is unlike any other restaurant on board. It is bright and modern, near a lawn of real, manicured grass and surrounded by an endless view of the sea. The restaurant celebrates the flavorful joys of outdoor grilling. The highlight of dining at the Lawn Club Grill is the opportunity to serve as your party’s “Grill Master” by being paired with a Celebrity chef to assist in preparing the menu for your table over custom-built, ventilated grills.

Fee: If you had to choose one restaurant during your Celebrity cruise, which one would be the “can’t miss it” experience? And what is your favorite item on the menu?

Ritzenthaler: Qsine is a very different type of restaurant full of surprise and delights, as well as unexpected twists on familiar favorites, different textures, tastes and presentations pleasing all the senses at once. It’s difficult to pick my favorite item on the menu, but the Disco Shrimp that arrives with a disco ball never fails to put a smile on my face.

Fee: Celebrity Cruises has many itineraries that sail to amazing destinations. Can you pick one sailing in 2015 that would be on your bucket list and tell us why?

Ritzenthaler: You are right — we have many itineraries that sail to amazing destinations. If I had to choose one, I would select Galapagos. Sailing on Celebrity Xpedition is definitely a bucket list item. With our modern luxury evolution, we’ve thought of almost everything our guests could need to relax, enjoy and explore these legendary islands. Our packages are all-inclusive — from five-star accommodations in Quito to our guided tours and excursions, even the gear you’ll need, like snorkeling equipment, wetsuits and binoculars.

Fee: Travel agents can be overwhelmed with all the promotions in the marketplace, so what should savvy agents do to make sure they stay informed about the latest Celebrity Cruises promotions?

Ritzenthaler: One of Celebrity Cruises’ guiding principles for any promotion is to keep it simple and relevant. All our promotions can be found on www.CruisingPower.com.

Fee: How do you see the surge of our strong Wave Season continuing the rest of the year?

Ritzenthaler: We are very bullish on 2015. We are in a very good booked position and believe our momentum will continue. As you remember, we opened bookings for our 2016-17 cruise deployment earlier than we ever have, and we have a good head start on 2016 business as well. So yes, we feel very good about the booking climate the rest of the year.