Onshore suppliers are desperately awaiting the return to cruise and the boost to their businesses.

In2food

If you have eaten a meal on a cruise ship in Australia, you have tasted the fresh produce grown, prepared and delivered by In2food; the team supplies every cruise line that comes into Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

Hundreds of tonnes of produce per week is delivered to cruise kitchens. It’s the end point of a long production line that includes buyers, market agents, growers, transport providers, stevedores, port agents, ship crew and security guards who all work together to get salad on your plate.

When the cruise industry, which is responsible for $5.2 million in spending and more than 18,000 Australian jobs, was halted in March this year, so too did the business of many cruise line suppliers.

Now they’re counting down the days until they can return to doing what they love – making your cruise a memorable one by sharing the things they create.

General manager of cruise ship supply and export at In2food, Paul Nelson, said his team is the most skilled in Australia, with more than 50 years of experience.

“The relationships are amazing and everyone involved is like one family getting stuff done around the country,” he said. “They are really excited to get back to what they love doing.”

If you have eaten a meal on a cruise ship in Australia, you have tasted the fresh produce grown, prepared and delivered by In2food.

Adora Chocolates & Glandore Estate Wines

Adora Chocolates and Glandore Estate Wines are a match made in heaven. A standard across all P&O ships, this tasting is always a hit. After great success onboard, the chocolate and wine pairing sessions were moved from the deep blue to the rolling green hills of the Hunter Valley, currently the only place on land you can take part in the experience.

Duane Roy, General Manager and Winemaker at Glandore Wines said he has lost count of the people who have visited the Hunter cellar door after tasting Glandore Wines on a cruise. The partnership has built an important foundation for business growth, even more important now the supply of 15,000 bottles per year to the ships has been paused.

“I have always been amazed that such a large organisation would deal with a small winery, but the commitment from P&O to partner with small high-quality wine producers has never waivered in the 12 years we have been supplying them,” he said.

Next time you find yourself on a P&O ship, Mr Roy recommends the ginger spiced truffle and Hunter Valley shiraz pairing – it’s his favourite.

Wheeler’s Oysters

The Sapphire coast has been hit by two tragedies this year, first the bushfires and then the pandemic that stopped tourists rushing back to support the bush. Wheeler’s Oysters felt the impact of both.

The locally owned Pambula venue boasts an oyster farm, a restaurant, a takeaway shop and an oyster bar, all of which are frequented by cruisers on a shore excursion in Eden.

Shelley Check of Wheeler’s said having guests from cruise ships means, “We are able to share our beautiful Sapphire coast and our delicious oysters and oyster tour experience with visitors, interstate, intrastate and also international.”

The team at Wheeler’s said they are looking forward to sharing their oysters and having that tourist buzz back. Although Wheeler’s pivoted toward local customers recently, offering home delivery and direct warehouse pickup, they are ready to welcome guests back to their tiny seaside town.

Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery

Larry and Bev Turner have been running Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil Distillery on Kangaroo Island with their family for 29 years. Having cruise ship passengers visit creates jobs at the distillery, and secures future business and sales for Emu Ridge.

Bev is most looking forward to the happy atmosphere tourists bring.

“It’s a huge bonus to get the influx of visitors on cruise ship days,” she says. “They are always a great bonus to us all”.

A trip to Emu Ridge is steeped in history, not only the almost 30 years of eucalyptus oil distilling but also the broader history of Kangaroo Island. The sense of community also shines through; the on-site gift shop is a charming display of local people’s arts, crafts and produce.

The Kangaroo Island Cider cellar door is also located at Emu Ridge and visitors can enjoy a tasting flight with a meal in the café or pick up a six pack to take home.