LINER’S GUESTS HOME ON THE GRANGE

WHEN Peter Dillon orders drinks he doesn’t ask that they come on a tray, he asks for a semi-trailer.

And no matter wherever he may roam – be it Alaska or the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Mexico or the South Pacific – this boy from Oz will find himself figuring out just how many bottles, cans and Tetra Paks he’ll need to slake the thirsts of two-and-a-half times more people than the entire population of the little town from whence he hails in rural NSW.

Peter Dillon is Beverage Manager aboard the luxury 1258-passenger cruise ship Veendam, a long way and a big step up the career ladder from Ganmain – population just 578 – in NSW’s Riverina.

And he’s found out along the way that when they’re on holidays folks like a drink, although no two cruises, he says, are the same: when most passengers are Americans they’ll drink their way through more spirits and cocktails than will Europeans, who tend more towards Champagnes and white wines. While if there are a plenty of Aussies aboard, the call will be for beer, beer and more beer.

It’s a juggling act that Peter has mastered since he began getting paid to cruise the world a near-decade ago, having left tiny Ganmain for the bright lights of Sydney and a course in Hospitality Management.

With an appropriate certificate under his belt, he headed for Ireland where he admits that in 1999 “on the verge of broke,” he heard about a job on the cruise ship Coronia, applied for and got it.

He was easily bitten by the sea bug and jobs on other ships followed, including in the Beverage Department on Queen Mary 2’s highly-publicised maiden voyage, and later on her older sister QE2.

He switched again earlier this year, landing the prestigious Beverage Manager role aboard Veendam that’s presently sailing the Baltic, and says he gets a particular kick watching guests’ interest in Australian wines on the ship’s Wine List.

“We’ve a nice representation from Australia amidst over 160 labels on board, including amongst premium brands Rosemount, the boutique Fox Creek, Penfolds’ St Henri, and for those who’ve something special to celebrate, Grange at US$320 (AU$390) a bottle... and yes, it’s a consistent seller.”

When the Veendam sails on a 10-night cruise, Peter will have 10,000 bottles of wines and Champagnes in the ship’s cellars, but remarkably up to half of these won’t be purchased for consumption on board. They’ll be bought and given away by passengers as mementos to new-made friends, or taken off-ship to others back home.

And so they’ve some idea of what wines are being served in the ship’s bars and restaurants, for just US$10 passengers can join this easy-going Aussie’s regular Tasting Sessions of everyday ‘pouring’ brands, or US$29 to taste premium labels. “The premium tastings are limited to between ten and twenty guests a session, and it’s really great to see how true wine enthusiasts enjoy Australian premium labels that may be new to them, the more-so when they follow up by ordering them at dinner.”

And what are the biggest sellers from the ship’s bars? “The Cocktail of the Day by far, with Margaritas probably the most popular daily special,” Peter says. “Then Martinis, Manhattans and white wine.”

So finally we ask the Big Question: just how much booze do his guests collectively drink their way through on an average 10-night cruise?

The answer’s a figure of headache-inducing proportions, considering guests spend the majority of very day ashore sightseeing: 600 bottles of Champagne, 1670 bottles of red and white wine, 41 bottles of Scotch, 108 of Vodka, 24 Gin, 55 of Rum, 5500 cans and stubbies of beer, 8540 cans of soft drinks, and 1800 litres of iced tea.

Just thinking about it’s enough to bring on a hang-over, but does Peter have any plans to give it all up and come home? “Certainly not yet, I’ve got a great job and love it,” he says. “But I do have a flat in Woolloongabba in Brisbane to fall back to when I take a break.”

For information about cruising aboard the Veendam see travel agents, phone Travel the World on (02) 8296 7072 or check-out www.traveltheworld.com.au