Carnival Cruises has decided to move their cruise liner Carnival Spirit down under. From October 2012 it will be based in Sydney and specifically target New Zealand families.

Apparently the company did extensive research to find out what Australians and New Zealanders actually want from a cruise holiday. What they discovered was that Carnival actually had a lot in common with Kiwis: a dedication to quality and a keen desire to explore the great outdoors and experience new things.

This knowledge led the company to the decision to target the New Zealand market. Before heading south Carnival Spirit will undergo major refurbishments to bring it in line with what the Kiwi market wants from a cruise liner.

To cater for the New Zealanders’ love of water sports, the ship will get two major new water features: a splash park and a thrill slide. Called Waterworks, this will offer the steepest slide currently available on a cruise ship.

There will be a section with a near vertical drop to get Kiwi pulses racing and kids of all ages screaming. The splash park’s oversized soaking water bucket will no doubt be a hit with the young ones.

The ship’s onboard entertainment programme will also undergo major changes to bring it in line with Southern tastes.

New Zealanders are spoilt when it comes to cuisine, wine and coffee – they have access to the world’s best. Carnival Cruises, therefore, decided to source all food in Australasia. The Carnival Spirit will also be stocked with some of the best wines and coffees in the world.