Day Dreaming: Starting your own AUS/NZ based cruise line - ideas.

[RadioBoy]

Hey all,

 

Recently my wife and I were on a cruise and we were joking around about what we would do if we started a cruise line based out of Australia (that would be specifically aimed at an AU/NZ audience). As the cruise went on, we would have little brainwaves as to what features we would add to our ships.

 

While creating my own cruise line will never happen, I would love to know what ideas you would love to see on a cruise.

 

To get it started:

Bunnings style Sausage Sizzle on the pool deck every day.

TWO UP in the casino.

Mandate that bread is NOT sweet.

YUM CHA/DIM SUM for lunch (at least once per cruise and on a sea day).

 

In the real world, they probably wont be financially viable, appeal to the masses etc.... or if they do exist, you have a unique spin on things.

 

I am interested to see your responses. 🙂

 

 

[lyndarra]

The poolside grill would have "Works" burgers, including egg, bacon, pineapple, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, fried onions and BBQ sauce.

 

[RadioBoy]

46 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

The poolside grill would have "Works" burgers, including egg, bacon, pineapple, lettuce, tomato, beetroot, fried onions and BBQ sauce.

 

 

I like it. just like the fish and chip shop burgers.

[lyndarra]

1 minute ago, RadioBoy said:

 

I like it. just like the fish and chip shop burgers.

Yep.

[OzKiwiJJ]

We have to have Gelatissimo Bundaberg Ginger Beer gelato. It's a new flavour they created this summer and it's amazing. Apparently there are six bottles of ginger beer in every batch. A new Aussie summer treat.

[GUT2407]

Meat pies of course.

 

and Lamingtons, Pav and Vanilla slice

[lyndarra]

2 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

Meat pies of course.

 

and Lamingtons, Pav and Vanilla slice

And sausage rolls. And pasties.

[OzKiwiJJ]

29 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

 

 

and Lamingtons, Pav and Vanilla slice

 

Both types of Lamingtons: chocolate, and pink ones (jelly cakes?) as these are very popular in NZ.

 

Real pavlova, not those pathetic meringue nests. Big wedges, crisp on the outside and melt-in-the-mouth marshmallow on the inside, smothered in fresh cream and served with plenty of fresh, tart fruit (strawberries, passionfruit, raspberries, kiwifruit, mango etc).

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by OzKiwiJJ

[OzKiwiJJ]

Lots of smaller dining venues, that cover all the popular cuisines of Australia and NZ: Italian, Greek, French, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Mod-Aus/NZ that showcases local produce. Included in the fare, naturally.

[lyndarra]

And pineapple lumps for the Kiwis or for Assies wanting a taste before they get to 'n zd.

Edited January 31, 2019 by lyndarra
spelled n wrong.

[GUT2407]

6 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Lots of smaller dining venues, that cover all the popular cuisines of Australia and NZ: Italian, Greek, French, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Mod-Aus/NZ that showcases local produce. Included in the fare, naturally.

Wouldn’t that be nice.

[GUT2407]

3 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

And pineapple lumps for the Kiwis or for Assies wanting a taste before they get to 'n zd.

I love Pineapple lumps, Coles often have them the reject shop used too, but haven’t seen them there for a while.

[gbenjo]

44 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

Meat pies of course.

 

and Lamingtons, Pav and Vanilla slice

I knew you would want meat pies 😱         But how about a check in process where the guest gets an implant preloaded in their wrist with all their details and they just get scanned at the terminal and loaded on board....and the check in staff don't  have to put up with all those  SPETHIAL people and all their demands 😁😁😁....... but I do like the idea of a pie shop

[GUT2407]

19 minutes ago, gbenjo said:

I knew you would want meat pies 😱         But how about a check in process where the guest gets an implant preloaded in their wrist with all their details and they just get scanned at the terminal and loaded on board....and the check in staff don't  have to put up with all those  SPETHIAL people and all their demands 😁😁😁....... but I do like the idea of a pie shop

How about decent check in staff, that’d be a winner for all the spethshial peoples like Me andMrs Gut

[RadioBoy]

10 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

How about decent check in staff, that’d be a winner for all the spethshial peoples like Me andMrs Gut 

 HAHAHA.... A streamlined check in process would be great.

 

A good bakery on board would be a must.  As everyone has said: Pies, Vanilla Slice, Pav's etc.... it would be a winner.

 

And the variety of restaurants idea is a great one!  On our recent cruise (P&O) my wife commented on how good the curries were. This is obviously down to the background of the staff on board.... so let it shine!!!!

 

We also said there should be a tattoo parlour (not that I would be a customer) but I notice that the impending "Virgin Voyages" have that idea on its way.

[RadioBoy]

55 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

And pineapple lumps for the Kiwis or for Assies wanting a taste before they get to 'n zd.

 

AND.... Lolly Cake.  I became obsessed with it when i was on a NZ cruise a few years ago.

[gbenjo]

1 hour ago, GUT2407 said:

How about decent check in staff, that’d be a winner for all the spethshial peoples like Me andMrs Gut

Won't need them if they use the implants.......oxymoron ...spethshial peoples like ME ( please exclude Mrs Gut) 

[Elorac123]

What about a buy one drink and get one  for  $1 or $2 

Cheers Carole

[VK3DQ]

If your starting a new ozzie cruise line offer what the other lines dont

 

No Kids   No Casino , no photographers , no "ART" sales ,and no cruise director, just a nice comfortable ship with good food and fair prices at the bar, so that Us oldies can enjoy ourselves  at a reasonable price. scrabble and card games and a good well stocked library and of course good internet included in the price. and "sensible booze policy"  Totally non smoking. 

 

Thats what we want ....and dont suggest Viking .. I said reasonable price will pay 15% above say RCCL for such a deal

 

Regards

 

John

 

PS I think most of us have had the dream at sometime or other .....

 

Oh Yes and the type of music that lets you hold the girl while you dance ...live music not over loud

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by VK3DQ

[VK3DQ]

What about an Australian "Hertiguruen"  Melbourne -Newcastle =Gladstone -Cairns -Port Moresby  and return

 

 

A route that the old Centaur used to run back in the early 1960s if my memory serves

 

I was wrong Centaur was based out of Fremantle ..but I'm sure she made at least one or two trips to PNG

 

 

Regards

john

Edited January 31, 2019 by VK3DQ

[LC1950]

Good coffee!!!!!  Is that too much to wish for? 

 

And while we're on that subject of dreams and wishes - a Brunetti outlet with their to-die-for Italian hot chocolate (hold the cream) and their chocolate cannoli.  Especially beneficial on those cold, wet and bouncy N Z runs.

[losfp]

What would I want to see in a cruise line that caters for Aussie customers?

- Decent coffee is number one. Depending on the barista, it can vary very significantly between decent to dreadful

- More varied casual food options instead of the usual burger/pizza/hot dog options. As mentioned, meat pies, lamingtons, sausage sizzles.

- Limit the number of ridiculous fancy shops. Why are they taking up valuable cafe/sitting space? Exactly what percentage of a cruise ship's passenger list on any given cruise are shopping for expensive clothes and handbags and jewelry etc every day that would require dedicated shopping space on a ship instead of going shopping in ports?

- Well appointed kids clubs with flexible / extended hours

 

What would *I* want to see in a cruise line?

- No Casino

- More areas with comfortable, large, well lit tables for socialising or playing board/card games

 

[RadioBoy]

I see that coffee is clearly sore point for a lot of people.

 

We were talking about this before.... if we went for the big American style cruise liner and had "branded" outlets, we would have something like a St Ali coffee on board. Complete with Melbourne hipster barista's as well! HA!

[OzKiwiJJ]

No, no, no! Not a big American style cruise ship! A smaller ship with decent sized cabins and, even more importantly, decent sized bathrooms with showers that have doors not curtains. I like the wardrobe / dressing area concept that Princess as on all but the smallest ships. Big balconies with padded chairs and foot rests (more flexible than a lounger).

 

One shop, well stocked with basics - toiletries, cosmetics, some inexpensive jewellery, a simple range of clothing including plus sizes. Essentially a place where people can replace items that they need without having to waste time on shore days trying to find shops. Maybe a few ship-branded items for mementoes or gifts.

 

A full promenade deck, nice and wide so there is room for loungers and walkers, and good shelter in inclement weather. Real teak decking.

 

Guest launderettes, two per deck so there are plenty of machines.

[RadioBoy]

3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

No, no, no! Not a big American style cruise ship!

 

HA. I agree with you about the "big".  I was more thinking about the branding aspect! (the dreamer side of me was slipping away and the financial side of me was taking over! 🙂 )