THREE OUT OF THREE P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA SHIPS HOME

Pacific Adventure

The entire P&O Cruises Australia fleet of three magnificent ships has returned home to resume cruising in Australia with the arrival in Sydney today of Pacific Adventure, which later in the day is set to become one of the tallest ships to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Pacific Adventure sailed through the Heads this morning on her way initially to the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Celebrations surrounding Pacific Adventure’s arrival were scaled back as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

A special marine engineering project has given Pacific Adventure the ‘head room’ necessary for the ship to sail under the bridge to the White Bay Cruise Terminal.

Today’s arrival was an important homecoming for the 109,000-tonne 2600-guest Pacific Adventure as it will be based year-round in Sydney to take cruise fans on itineraries to Australian destinations and to the South Pacific where cruising is vital to island economies.

Pacific Adventure’s first commercial cruise will depart from Sydney on October 22 on a three-night comedy cruise.

“All of our ship arrivals since the cruise ban was lifted in mid-April have been emotional moments but it is particularly significant to now have all three P&O Cruises Australia ships back home,” said Marguerite Fitzgerald, President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia.

“Pacific Adventure has also returned to Australia just as the South Pacific continues to reopen maritime borders to cruising with New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea open and Vanuatu hopefully soon to follow.

“P&O has a 90-year heritage of sailing to the Pacific and we look forward to re-establishing contact with island communities that for decades have welcomed our ships and our guests.”

Pacific Adventure’s arrival means that P&O, as Australia’s home-grown cruise line, can expand its presence sailing from a number of Australian ports and from Auckland in New Zealand.

Of the three P&O ships now home, Pacific Encounter is based in Brisbane for year-round cruising, Pacific Adventure is based in Sydney. Pacific Explorer will do cruise seasons from Adelaide, Melbourne, Fremantle and Cairns. Explorer will do an extended Auckland cruise season from June to November next year.

“Our thanks go to our guests who have returned to cruising with such a great sense of enthusiasm and also to our wonderful crew for rising to the occasion so professionally in delivering an exceptional cruise experience,” Ms Fitzgerald said.