It's no secret Australians love a cruise holiday - in fact, more than a million of us took to the seas in 2017.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But can you imagine getting to have your say in a cruise ship's design?
Cessnock friends Kylie Gray and Julie Horn are doing just that, after becoming one of six teams to win their way into the P&O Adventurers.
The Adventurers will help design P&O Cruises' new ship, the Pacific Adventure - a 3100-guest ship that will call Sydney home from October 2020.
They will work closely with P&O's team onshore to test, taste and experience all the new elements of Pacific Adventure including food and beverage, entertainment, the ship's look and feel and family activities.
From thousands of applications, 13 teams of finalists - friends, couples and families - were invited to audition in front of a judging panel (which included P&O Cruises' president Sture Myrmell) at a jam-packed day held at P&O's Sydney headquarters.
Kylie and Julie - who became friends when they worked at the Bonds factory together more than 20 years ago - entered the competition after seeing it on Facebook.
Assisted by their kids, the fun-loving pair set off to Peace Park at Weston to film their audition video - recreating the boat scene from Titanic.
Julie said they were "blown away" to be announced as one of the winning groups.
"We are both disability workers and cannot wait to come up with some new ideas for the new ship," she said.
Kylie said she is excited to be able to put forward ideas and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes of the ship, and that she can't wait to sail on the new ship with family and friends.
The pair say they like cruising because you can do as much - or as little - as you want.
"You only have to unpack once, everything is done for you, there is endless food and you meet new friends," Kylie said.
And if you're envious of their windfall, well - you've got to be in it to win it.
"To anybody that thinks 'geez, lucky buggers' - enter things and you might win too!" Julie said.