A gourmet weekend onboard Pacific Dawn
By: Lisa Wolff, Yahoo!7 Travel

Glancing around the passenger terminal heaving with excitable travellers waiting to embark P&O's Pacific Dawn, I realised that the new era of cruising has definitely arrived.

The queues revealed people of all ages, from tiny babies to sprightly retirees and the entire gamut in-between.

The masterminds behind the P&O liners realised that many firsttime cruisers are reluctant to board a ship for more than a couple of days. So they've introduced the weekend short break journeys - from Friday afternoon to Monday morning - giving passengers a good taste of cruise life without the commitment.

A girl's getaway
While longer trips seem to attract families, this shorter one was popular with girl's groups, couples and those celebrating a birthday or anniversary. It didn't matter at all that this was a cruise to nowhere (the ship hugged the coast towards Brisbane and then returned to Sydney). There was plenty happening onboard to keep us occupied while at sea.

The weekend cruises are bundled together with a theme. This one, much to the delight of my appetite, was a food and wine cruise, with a focus on Hunter Valley produce. Three winemakers from reputable wineries in the region had been invited onboard to host tastings and masterclasses.

Plus, as a delicious bonus, Andrew Clarke from two-hatted Rock restaurant was to prepare a six-course degustation dinner for all passengers.

Gourmet fantasy
A meal like this, which included a decadent finale of truffle creme brulee, would normally cost about $120 a head so it made the all-inclusive fare even more value for money.

After checking out our comfortable room (with a balcony, might I add) on one of the upper decks, we went to explore. We started at the basement and made our way to the spa and well-equipped fitness centre for a quick look. A gym would be useful on a longer voyage but for this cruise, my priority was to exercise my tastebuds, and there are certainly plenty of places to eat on board.

The first night, we tried out the Steakhouse. It carries a $25 surcharge per person but the steaks are of excellent quality and are accompanied by as-much-as-you-can-eat veggies and chips. The 600g rib-eye was declared star of the evening.

Desserts were, at times, a disappointment, although I did hear that a new pastry chef will soon be joining the crew to improve the sweeter side of things.

You'll never be hungry here
We enjoyed brekkie and lunch at the Cafe del Sol buffet - which offered long queues and a hearty selection of food. I say, forget the free coffee here though (there's only a machine) and opt for one of the spots around the ship that offer authentic espresso.

The more formal 'Palm Court's' menu has been revitalised to include an a-la-carte menu together with a daily specials selection. The restaurant has an open seating policy but we did need to book specific time slots upon boarding.

Many passengers joined in the popular wine tastings ($9 per person), hosted by the winemakers (Bruce Tyrrel from Tyrrel's Wines, Duane Roy from Glandore Estates and Craig Stansborough from Grant Burge Winery) and were lucky enough to get a spot in the fascinating wine masterclass ($16 per person) held in the plush Captain's study. We also gleaned some coffee tips in the Barista demo's, followed by the sampling of beers and a variety of cheeses.

We joined a special tour of the ship's kitchen, a large, gleaming room filled with giant-sized mixers and industrial ovens. The galley produces over 10,000 meals per day to feed the hungry 1980 passengers and 742 crew. It is here that they make their own bread (about 15,000 rolls per day), ice-cream and even desalinate the water for drinking.

So much to do at sea
In between all of the gourmet activities, we tried our luck in a game of Bingo, watched a cabaret in the show lounge, boogied on the sun deck and relaxed with a book, enjoying the unfamiliar sensation of just doing nothing - Bliss.

On the final day, we woke up on Monday morning to admire the setting as the Pacific Dawn sailed under the Harbour Bridge with the first rays of light peeking through the sky. Climbing back on dry land, we felt as if we had been on holiday for much longer than just two days.

Judging from the relaxed grins on the other passenger's faces, it looked like we all had enjoyed our first taste of cruising. I can't wait for the main course!

Pick your cruise...
P&O Cruises has announced three more gourmet mini-cruises sailing from Sydney, Brisbane and Fremantle in 2010 following the sell-out of its first food & wine cruise onboard Pacific Dawn.

I highly recommend you consider one of the following cruises:

• Pacific Sun - from Fremantle on 17th December, 2009.
• Pacific Jewel - from Sydney on 29th January, 2010.
• Pacific Dawn - from Brisbane on 10th February 2010.

Let's go Cruising Now.... No one knows cruising in Australia better than P&O Cruises. That's why we have won so many industry awards. There's always something new to discover on board! Like the amazing array of new facilities, exciting range of activities and spectacular entertainment, all designed to offer you a magical cruising experience. Fresh menus created by our master chefs with stunning signature dishes will delight every palate. While we constantly search for new ways to improve the P&O Cruise experience, one thing will never change - the exceptional service we've been providing our passengers for over 75 years. From the moment you step aboard, our friendly staff will take care of every need. Let us take you on a holiday like no other. For more details, visit the P&O Cruises website. Cruise Weekly provides you with all the latest cruising information, including news, deals, competitions and much more. For more details, visit the Cruise Weekly website.