Forget pies and pavlova, Australia’s leading cruise line P&O Cruises has revealed that Australia is a nation of ice cream lovers with holidaying passengers consuming a whopping 100,000 scoops of ice cream since New Zealand Natural ice cream parlours were introduced across the fleet last year.
On average, 1300 scoops of ice cream a day are finding their way into cones, sundaes, milkshakes and thickshakes onboard Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl.
P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said the combination of ice cream and cruising was irresistible for passengers, who have been consuming the onboard treat at a rate of knots.
“We always knew our passengers were true blue Aussies and now we have the proof – they love eating ice cream, no matter what time of year it is!” Ms Marshall said.
As of last month, P&O Cruises' New Zealand Natural parlours had served 100,000 scoops of ice cream and more than 20,000 thickshakes and milkshakes, which include up to five scoops of ice cream.
New Zealand Natural Managing Director Shane Lamont said his company was delighted with the immediate popularity of the onboard parlours.
“100,000 scoops is an exceptional performance in only a few short months and reinforces the merits of combining our two unique and truly fun brands,” Mr Lamont said.
While it's evident cruisers are among Australia's biggest ice cream fans, the cruise line can reveal that most passengers opt for a single scoop, with only a small number requesting a triple tower.
P&O Cruises’ passengers’ favourite flavours are Cookies and Cream followed by Chocolate Ecstasy, P&O Cruises Chocolate Hokey Pokey, Chocolate Hokey Pokey and Vanilla.
P&O Cruises introduced its New Zealand Natural Ice Cream parlours progressively last year with the first on Pacific Dawn in May followed by Pacific Pearl in August and Pacific Jewel in December.
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