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Unique Cruise Solutions The news you need to know |
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Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional |
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Spirited Aussies challenge American-style cruising |
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Having committed to sail out of Australia until 2017, Carnival
Spirit’s Australian team has been keeping a close eye on how their local
clientele are responding to the various aspects of cruising, including the
all-important food and beverage offering. Sprite is now called lemonade and, where Americans tend to be rum based drinkers when it comes to their down time, Aussies prefer a gin and tonic - meaning that gin supplies have had to be increased exponentially since the ship’s launch. The continuous challenge of making the perfect coffee has meant that the beans have been ever-changing and the onboard baristas have not only been trained up by leading Australians in that field, but they have also toured Sydney and plan to tour Melbourne in search of the perfect cup. Australian’s dining habits have proved interesting, with local passengers enjoying an average of 10 kilograms of salmon per day and ensuring that lamb remains the number one dish served onboard – a selection seldom ordered by Americans. “Your slip, slop, slap messaging has really worked,” Carnival Cruise Lines Australia and New Zealand director Jennifer Vandekreeke said. Sun conscious Australian cruisers have been insisting on 30 plus sunscreen rather than the American favourite of 15 plus and sales of sun-safe products onboard have quintupled. Aussie families have also wanted to spend more time together, according to Ms Vandekreeke. For a cruise line that is famed for its comprehensive ‘Camp Carnival’ youth program, the team Down Under has had to tweak activities to make them more ‘whole family friendly’, whilst also ensuring that couples and singles not wanting to associate with children aren’t affected. The result is an array of activities including family karaoke, family piano bar hour, family movies and more options for families to dine together. Many of these families make up a group that Carnival Cruise Lines has dubbed ‘cruise rookies’ – first time cruisers looking for a new cruise experience. Over sixty percent of cruisers sailing aboard the first Carnival ship to be homeported outside of North America, have been ‘cruise rookies’ and a majority of these locally based with the line not actively marketing Carnival Spirit in the USA. The ‘cruise rookie’ is being marketed to in the company’s most recent promotion offering up to $300 “cash back” per cabin on a range of cruises sailing in 2013 and 2014. Carnival Spirit is currently sailing on her inaugural voyage to New Zealand and will celebrate her maiden call into Melbourne on 16 February. |
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Worldwide Travel & Cruise Assoc., Inc. 150 S. University Dr. Ste E, Plantation, FL 33324 - USA Tel: +1 954 452 8800 Fax: +1 954 252 3945 EMail: sales@cruiseco.com |
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