It’s a case of Dr Seuss versus Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Who will win on this battle for the hearts, minds and wallets of Aussie households with children on the lookout for a cruise vacation at sea?
Adolfo Perez, Carnival’s SVP of worldwide gross sales and commerce advertising shrugged off stiff competitors from Disney Cruise Line which is bringing Disney Marvel to spin its magic in Australian waters for the primary time in October subsequent yr. When bookings opened for Disney cruises on Thursday (Sept 29) there was such a rush to snare a household cabin that its web site crashed – aggravated by Hurricane Ian in Florida.
Nevertheless, the Miami-based Mr Perez who’s visiting Sydney informed Cruise Passenger, that Carnival has been cruising in Australia for the final 10 years and the model is thought for its “enjoyable” ships.
Relating to Dr Seuss vs Mickey and Minnie Mouse?
“We don’t actually compete. We have now been right here for 10 years and Aussie households know the model, love our waterslides and kids’s actions comparable to Dr Seuss, our particular character parade and interactive story time – they at all times have nice holidays onboard Carnival ships.
“It is because dad and mom have time alone whereas their children are being entertained and so they usually come collectively at mealtimes. We regularly, even have multi-generational households onboard Carnival ships together with grandparents, mums-and-dads and grandchildren – and so they all have time.”
He’s excited Carnival is bringing its second ship to cruise in Australian waters this season, with Carnival Luminosa, homeporting in Brisbane from November for six months. She’s going to provide an array of itineraries to Aussie favorite locations comparable to Barrier Reef, Airlie Beech and as extra South Pacific Islands reopen their borders to Noumea, Lifou Isle in New Caledonia, Port Vila and Thriller Island in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
“Luminosa is at present being retro-fitted to make the previous Costa Luminosa extra of a Carnival enjoyable ship. She could have all of the services that youngsters love together with water slides, cafes serving pizza, hamburgers and, in fact, ice-cream.”
Mr Perez stated the road is at all times on the lookout for new actions comparable to video games exhibits so as to add to its lengthy record of leisure onboard in addition to new locations.
He identified that Carnival’s fleet of 24 ships cruise from Mexico, Panama, Europe and Trans Pacific which attraction to Aussie households. By finish of subsequent yr, he plans so as to add one other cruise ship to the fleet.
“We wish to get People to sail on Carnival ships to Australia and vice versa – to draw extra Australians to go on cruise holidays in America.
“Our particular sauce is our crew. They take further excellent care of the shoppers – each the adults and the youngsters.
“Carnival Splendor is doing very properly and is nearly offered out in 2022 – with only a few cabins left. Luminosa has seen a spike in bookings too and persons are so excited to see a Carnival ship based mostly in Brisbane.
“All through Covid, we by no means stopped advertising our model and our ships. Costs have been very aggressive. As much as 2019, now we have seen a gradual enchancment in yield yearly.”
A few of favorite locations for Aussie cruisers embody South Pacific, Fiji and Hawaii. Whereas they’re snug with three to eight-day itineraries, the road is seeing rising curiosity in longer cruises of 9 to 12 days.
