Port of call:The beauty of Moreton Island.Credit:Tourism and Events Queensland
Relax your body but exercise your mind on your next cruise holiday,suggests Katrina Lobley.
Within minutes,Kim McCosker has passengers eating out of her hand. Or,more precisely,nibbling on her easy-to-make apple slice and two-ingredient cupcakes.
An Australian cookbook publishing phenomenon and the brains behind the 4 Ingredients empire,the Sunshine Coast-based McCosker is at ease and so is her audience,as she liberally sprinkles her cooking demonstration with words such as"darl"and"hon".
P&O regular:Food phenomenon Kim McCosker.Credit:Aaron Tait Photography
A regular guest on P&O Cruises,McCosker is on board the Pacific Dawn's inaugural cruise to Queensland's Moreton Island,along with animal behaviourist Dr Joanne Righetti,who helps passengers solve pet problems.
"I treat it as if I'm having a cup of tea with 400 of my closest friends,"says McCosker of her cruise ship demonstrations."It's a conversation – not a lecture or tutorial.
"It's not scripted,it's very raw and very real,so whatever comes into my head comes out of my mouth and often,ooh,I wish I could shove it back in there. But they're often the funniest parts."
P&O Cruises senior vice-president Tammy Marshall says the line runs more than 50 themed cruises a year,centred on food and wine,lifestyle or comedy. While passengers may not know the line-up of guest speakers when they book,they board a cruise with"a lot of expectation".
"We've found that customers are choosing these cruises because of the content and they want to hear from the experts,"she says.