P&O Cruises turned up the heat on the talented contestants from Network Ten’s MasterChef Australia recently, challenging the show’s teams to cook for almost 2000 passengers in their biggest ever challenge.
The cruise line invited MasterChef to film a cooking challenge onboard its latest superliner, Pacific Jewel, with the hit program’s blue and red teams vying to win the tastebuds of passengers at their traditional Sail Away party.
Each team had to produce 4000 canapes featuring four different recipes, with passengers voting at the end of the challenge to determine the winner.
To add even more pressure, the MasterChef challenge was filmed in just eight hours onboard Pacific Jewel in Sydney’s Darling Harbour as the ship was readied for a 10-day cruise to New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
At the same time, 2000 passengers were disembarked and another 2000 embarked.
MasterChef’s Pacific Jewel challenge will air on Wednesday June 2 at 7.30pm on Ten.
Sture Myrmell, Vice President Hotel Operations for P&O Cruises, said there were some tense moments during the challenge for the contestants.
“Our highly experienced chefs are used to preparing daily meals for 2000 guests – it’s not easy but the MasterChef teams controlled their nerves on the day and pulled it off,” Mr Myrmell said.
Fares for a 10-night cruise onboard Pacific Jewel departing Sydney on August 7, 2010 to the South Pacific start from $1399 per person twin share. Passengers will visit New Caledonia’s capital of Noumea, as well as Ouvea (may change to Lifou) in the Loyalty Islands and Vila and Wala in Vanuatu.
For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 94 or Find a Cruise online
* All prices are per person, twin share. Subject to availability, conditions apply.