By
Rebecca Gibson |
Diageo Global Travel and Middle East will partner with Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line to deliver onboard cocktail training courses in 2013, as part of the prestigious mixology competition, Diageo Reserve World Class.
After identifying the cruise industry as a developing sector in the global cocktail market, Diageo has invested heavily in cruise programmes, welcoming Norwegian and relaunching its partnership with Princess, which began last year.
“Introducing our bartending talent to Diageo Reserve World Class will take the quality of our guest service to new levels of excellence,” said Wesley Cort, director of restaurant and beverage development and operations for Norwegian Cruise Line. “Our guests are seeking luxury experiences and the finest spirits while on vacation. This programme will help our bar team to enhance those experiences with expanded knowledge of premium spirits, fresh ideas for cocktails and an ability to entertain our guests.”
The Diageo programme, which was launched in 2009, will train more than 400 cruise line bartenders across the world in the most progressive cocktail trends such as Retro Chic, Tropical Journey and Hollywood Bollywood Hong Kong. Participants will develop their showmanship skills, before competing against one another in a series of heats. The finalist will participate in the Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year final from 4 July to 9 July onboard Azamara Journey in the Mediterranean.
“One of our bartenders reached the global final last year in Rio de Janeiro and we are hoping to recreate this success in 2013,” said Peter Tobler, vice president, food and beverage operations, Princess Cruises. “We believe this partnership with Diageo GTME will further excite our cruise passengers and make their fine drinking experience onboard our ships even more memorable.”