Tantalising new flavour just a lick away
April 12 2012
Tantalising new flavour just a lick away
P&O Cruises has announced an exciting new partnership with Kiwi-owned New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream that will see the two companies launch a tantalising new P&O Cruises ice cream flavour.
Currently in development, the special flavour will be revealed when P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn sets sail from Brisbane on 1 May after receiving an extreme makeover, which includes the addition of the first at-sea New Zealand Natural Ice Cream Parlour.
As well as being available onboard the Pacific Dawn, it will be sold at all 75 New Zealand Natural retail stores across New Zealand and Australia from early June.
Sture Myrmell, Vice President of Hotel Operations for Carnival Australia which operates P&O Cruises, said with the popularity of cruise holidays booming in New Zealand, they were always looking for new and unique ways to surprise and delight passengers.
“Our ships go through a large amount of ice cream each season, so I’m certain the addition of a custom-built New Zealand Natural parlour will be a huge hit with our passengers,” Mr Myrmell said.
“We’re particularly excited about the new P&O Cruises flavour New Zealand Natural is creating – and because it will be stocked in New Zealand Natural stores as well as onboard our ships, everyone will have the chance to enjoy it.”
Mr Myrmell said while he can’t reveal the flavour, it would be something with mass appeal, “with a Kiwi twist”.
Speculating about what sort of flavour New Zealand Natural is developing, Auckland chef Nick Honeyman, a regular guest on the Good Morning television show who experiments with different ice cream flavours every week, said he hoped it would be something that reminded him of his childhood and was “a little playful”.
“I’d love to see some quintessential Kiwi childhood flavours coming through, such as Pineapple Lumps or L&P. This would definitely give it that New Zealand twist and I’m sure, mass appeal,” Mr Honeyman said.
The New Zealand Natural Premium Ice Cream Parlour is not the only new lick Pacific Dawn will get when she undergoes her extreme makeover.
Other new features to appear on Pacific Dawn include a giant LED entertainment screen on deck which will show movies, NRL, AFL and State of Origin matches; the transformation of several food and beverage venues; and the creation of new, interconnecting family rooms, a first for P&O Cruises set to add to Pacific Dawn’s family-friendly appeal.
Mr Myrmell said the company would also be supporting Australian-based charity Lifeline, with the donation of hundreds of tables, chairs, bed bases, lamps and pieces of artwork removed from the ship during its refurbishment to local Lifeline stores.
Based in Brisbane, Pacific Dawn is a popular option with New Zealanders keen to cruise from Australia. Stay tuned for Pacific Dawn’s big reveal on 1 May and the announcement of the new P&O Cruises ice cream flavour.
For more information about P&O Cruises call 0800 780 716 or visit www.pocruises.co.nz.
Ends