Seniors and young people
without children are now the
most wanted passengers on
Carnival Cruise Lines’ fun ship.
“IT’S not just for kids.”
That’s the message from Vicky Tomasino,
the sales whiz who has been dispatched down
under from Carnival Cruise Lines’ Miami
headquarters to drum up business in
Australia.
“Carnival Spirit is very multi-generational,
there’s something for everyone and plenty to
do that doesn’t require having children,”
Tomasino told Cruise Weekly.
“We are also a great option for 65 to 75 year
olds, couples, honeymooners, girls getaways
and family reunions.”
According to Tomasino, the average age of
passengers on Carnival Spirit, which is
currently based in the United States, is 48.
“I’m trying to swing back that pendulum, to
show Australians that we have a lot to offer all
ages,” she said.
While bookings for school holiday and
Christmas cruises are “very tight”, other
itineraries on other dates are far from sold
out.
“When the kids are in school, Spirit is still
sailing year-round,” Tomasino said.
In her new role as Senior Manager –
Business Partnership, Tomasino is educating
local travel agents about the special features
and itineraries of the 2,680-passenger Spirit,
which will be permanently based in Sydney
from October.
The most common query is what makes
Carnival Cruise Lines different to P&O.
As she tells the agents: “The big difference is
that we are bringing the newest and largest
ship to be home-ported in Sydney – it was
built in 2001 and has all the bells and whistles.”
Carnival Spirit is also very different to Royal
Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, “whose ships
are only passing through for a few months”,
she said.
“Because we have committed to be in
Australia year-round until at least 2017, we
are able to change things to make the ship
more comfortable for Australians, such as
installing Australian power points, using
Australian dollars as the onboard currency,
stocking local beers and wines, and improving
the coffee.”
Tomasino also reminded Victorians that
Spirit would have “a couple of departures”
from Melbourne in 2013.
Meanwhile, Tomasino will spend the next six
months travelling around Australia, hosting
consumer information events and training
travel agents.
“I’m also speaking to senior citizen clubs to
tell them about our 16 bars and lounges, the
fine dining, the Broadway-style shows, the
comedy clubs and the adults-only Serenity
deck,” she said.
“It’s not just the Green Thunder [waterslide].”
