Tag Archives: Pacific Aria

P&O Cruises sails to the dark side and serves up new Australian Open cruise

Posted: May 5, 2022

Australia, Onboard Features, Press Release, , , , ,

P&O cruises is cruising to the dark side of the country, with a cruise to the unique Dark Mofo midwinter festival in Hobart.

Commencing June next year from Sydney on the Pacific Jewel, the six-night cruise will allow guests to enjoy the art, food, music, light, film and oddities featured in the incredible annual celebration of the dark for three full days.

The cruise includes entry to Tasmania’s iconic Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) which stages the Dark Mofo festival.

Pacific-Pearl-in-Melbourne-for-the-Aus-Open

Pacific Pearl at the 2016 Australian Open

 

In another new sailing for January 2018, Pacific Eden will cruise south from Brisbane on a six-night roundtrip Australia Day cruise. Guests will enjoy a day of spectacular celebrations on Sydney Harbour on January 26, as well as visits to Newcastle and Moreton Island on the cruise.

Meanwhile, P&O is intensifying in the west, with four more cruises in 2017 including its first ever four-night seabreak to Exmouth from Fremantle. Sailing on Pacific Eden from Fremantle on June 26, 2017.

Pacific Eden

Pacific Eden will brace her presences in the west

Other extra short break options include a four-night cruise from Fremantle to Busselton, gateway to Margaret River, and a three-night weekend comedy cruise.

Travellers who enjoy a longer cruise will be able to enjoy a spectacular 10-night cruise along the Western Australian coast including scenic cruising through the Kimberley and visits to Broome, Exmouth and Geraldton on a Pacific Eden cruise departing Fremantle on June 12, 2017.

World Heritage-listed the Great Sandy Strait Fraser Island Welcomes P&O Cruises

Posted: April 14, 2022

Australia, Press Release, , , , , ,

After several years of fastidious development, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Aria navigated her way through the Great Sandy Strait, opening up the World Heritage-listed destination to cruise tourism.

The 55,820-tonne Pacific Aria entered the tidal strait to the west of Fraser Island, gently cruising through the Great Sandy Strait – a series of protected bays and sand flats – before dropping anchor off the island’s Kingfisher Bay Resort.

P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said the cruise line had wanted to visit Fraser Island for some time, but had only been able to introduce cruises to the world’s largest sand island following the addition of two mid-sized ships – Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden – to its fleet late last year.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Pacific Aria’s historic visit has been a feat of modern navigation. Our team worked closely with local authorities including Maritime Safety Queensland, the Gladstone Regional Harbour Master and the Australian Hydrographic Service to update shipping charts in the strait and carefully plan cruise calls around high tides,” Mr Myrmell said.   [/pullquote]

P&O also enlisted former harbour master Captain Mike Lutze, the solitary skilled Fraser Island pilot, for the maiden call and will remain working with him to train Australian Reef Pilots to safeguard the sustainability of forthcoming cruise visits to the island.

The maiden Fraser Island call was part of a four-night roundtrip cruise which departed Brisbane on April 1. Pacific Eden will make the next Fraser Island call on December 12 as part of a four-night roundtrip cruise from Sydney departing on December 10, 2016.

A additional five Fraser Island calls are scheduled for 2017.

Mr Myrmell said Fraser Island was one of 15 regional destinations added to P&O itineraries in recent years as a result of the cruise line’s fleet expansion and the increase in short break cruises.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “As P&O expands, we’re thrilled to be leading the way in introducing more of Australia to cruising, especially Fraser Island, which boasts some of the world’s most magnificent scenery, wildlife and visitor experiences. It’s a very exciting time for cruise tourism in Australia with passenger numbers continuing to surge and it’s great to be able to share the economic benefits of this growth with communities around the nation,” Mr Myrmell said.   [/pullquote]

P&O Cruises Australia partnered with the island’s Kingfisher Bay Resort to offer its guests the ultimate Fraser Island experience. P&O Cruises guests will also have the opportunity to revel in the resort’s services, guests can participate in a range of events including bush tucker tasting, a visit to the Central Station rainforest and crystal clear Lake McKenzie, mangrove walking tours and beach Segway rides.

Queensland is home to more cruise destinations than any other state in Australia, with P&O ships sailing to 10 ports within the State. In recent years P&O has unlocked new Queensland ports including Mooloolaba and Moreton Island, followed by Gladstone last month and now Fraser Island.

According to industry figures, Queensland is the second biggest source market for Australian cruisers with nearly 240,000 Queenslanders cruising in 2014, an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year.

Photo Credit: Mark Fitz Photography 

P&O Makes Marks the Start of 17 Maiden Calls in 2016

Posted: February 23, 2022

Australia, Countries, Onboard Features, Press Release, , , , , , , ,

P&O Cruises is maintaining its reputation as a cruise pioneer in local waters, making its maiden call to the remote town of Wewak in Papua New Guinea today – the first of 17 inaugural calls to an array of new ports this year following the expansion of the cruise line’s fleet.

P&O Cruises Pacific Aria has made history and sustaining P&O Cruises Australia’s reputation as a cruise forerunner in local waters.  Pacific Aria cruised into the colourful capital of the East Sepik province, located on the famous Sepik River town - Wawak in Papua New Guinea marking the first of 17 inaugural calls to an collection of new ports this year.

East Sepik province

East Sepik province

Photo Credit: carelesswhistler.com

The maiden calls continue P&O’s longstanding journey of discovery in Australia and the Pacific, which has seen the cruise line drive the growth of the local cruise industry by adding an array of exciting and exotic destinations to the cruise map.  In recent years, close to a dozen new Australian ports have been introduced to P&O’s itineraries, delivering substantial benefits to regional communities around the country.

P&O continues to drive the advancement of the local cruise industry by bringing cruiselings to new exhilarating and outlandish destinations in Australia and the Pacific.

Pacific Pearl will make P&O’s first call to the secluded Stewart Island at the nethermost part of New Zealand’s South Island.

Stewart-Island-New-Zealand

Stewart Island

Photo Credit: blacktomato.com

Pacific Dawn will become the first cruise ship to visit the port of Gladstone

Following Pacific Dawn, Pacific Aria will sail to the World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, being the first P&O ship sailing the world’s largest sand island located off the southern Queensland coast.

World Heritage-listed Fraser Island

P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said the continued expansion of P&O’s fleet had opened up new horizons for the cruise line.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “We have been pioneering cruising in the Pacific for more than 80 years and we are still discovering fantastic cruise destinations for our guests,” Mr Myrmell said.   [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “The addition of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden to our fleet late last year and our continued expansion with Pacific Explorer in 2017 and our new build in 2019, has made it possible to extend our itinerary offering like never before and build a wide range of new destinations into our schedules.   [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “In some cases these are not just maiden visits for P&O, they are the first visits by any cruise line, so it’s a very exciting time for us and a great honour to be welcomed so enthusiastically by local communities.”   [/pullquote]

In June, Pacific Jewel will be the first cruise ship to call at one of the most remote island groups in the world – the privately-owned The Conflict Islands owned by British-based Australian, Ian Gowrie-Smith and his family. Located in the pristine waters of The Coral Sea, the Conflict Islands comprise of 21untouched islands and boast the most extensive biodiversity and coral reefs in the world

Pacific Eden will make a series of maiden calls across Asia and the Pacific between May and October as part of its inaugural Singapore and Cairns seasons.

The boutique size of Pacific Eden makes it the perfect cruise ship to cruise to the smaller locations, Pacific Eden will become the first cruise ship to ever visit Ko Chang in Thailand and Gizo Island in the Solomon Islands.

 

Ko Chang in Thailand

Gizo Island in the Solomon Islands

Other maiden calls for P&O on Pacific Eden’s itineraries include Sabang, Ujung Pandang, Jakarta and the fascinating volcano port of Probolinggo in Indonesia; Langkawi in Malaysia; Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui in Thailand; Cambodia’s Sihanoukville and Honiara in the Solomon Islands.

P&O Australia’s Maiden Calls – 2016  

  1. Monday February 22 – Pacific Aria – Wewak, PNG*
  2. Sunday March 6 – Pacific Pearl – Stewart Island, New Zealand
  3. Thursday March 10 – Pacific Dawn – Gladstone, Queensland*
  4. Sunday April 3 – Pacific Aria – Fraser Island, Queensland
  5. Saturday May 7 – Pacific Eden – Ujung Pandang, Indonesia
  6. Monday May 9 – Pacific Eden – Probolinggo, Indonesia
  7. Tuesday June 21 – Pacific Jewel – Conflict Islands, PNG*
  8. Thursday July 28 – Pacific Eden – Jakarta, Indonesia
  9. Monday August 1 – Pacific Eden – Langkawi, Malaysia
  10. Tuesday August 2 – Pacific Eden – Krabi, Thailand
  11. Wednesday August 3 – Pacific Eden – Phuket, Thailand
  12. Thursday August 4 – Pacific Eden – Sabang, Indonesia
  13. Monday August 8 – Pacific Eden – Sihanoukville, Cambodia
  14. Tuesday August 9 – Pacific Eden – Ko Chang, Thailand*
  15. Thursday August 11 – Pacific Eden – Koh Samui, Thailand
  16. Friday September 30 – Pacific Eden – Gizo Island, Solomon Islands*
  17. Saturday October 1 – Pacific Eden – Honiara, Solomon Islands

*first ever ocean cruise ship call to destination

Title Photo Credit: http://www.bestofpng.com 

Newcastle Signals Its Growing Popularity As A Cruise Destination

Posted: January 27, 2023

Australia, Press Release, , , , , , ,

Pacific Aria has made her maiden visit to Newcastle today docking in Channel Berth about 8am allowing its 1500 guests to spend the day exploring the city and surrounding areas including Stockton’s sand dunes, dolphin cruises at Port Stephens and food and wine tasting tours of the Hunter Valley.

Pacific Aria’s is sailing on a five-night roundtrip cruise from Brisbane  inaugural Australia Day cruise –and is projected to inject close to $300,000 into the local economy.

P&O accounts for almost half of the cruise calls to Newcastle this season, with three of its five-ship fleet visiting the port city on five separate occasions - a significant increase on the cruise line’s single visit during the 2014-15 summer cruise season. This season’s five calls are expected to deliver a combined financial contribution of about $1.5 million to the local economy.

Their will be a significant increase on the cruise line’s visit with three of its five-ship fleet visiting the port city on five separate occasions compared to a single visit in the 2014-15 summer cruise season, The five calls is anticipated to provide about $1.5 million to the local economy.

CEO Port of Newcastle Geoff Crowe and Pacific Aria Capt Colm Ryan plaque exchange in Newcastle

P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said Newcastle was an increasingly popular call for P&O following the expansion of its fleet last year, which had opened up new itinerary opportunities.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Newcastle has a lot to offer our guests, from its beautiful beaches to the nearby Hunter Valley wine region. Its location between Melbourne and Brisbane makes it an ideal destination for our increasingly popular short breaks, providing a great way for holidaymakers from Victoria and Queensland to enjoy a long weekend indulging in some of the best food and wine Australia has to offer both onboard our ships and in the Hunter region,” Mr Myrmell said.   [/pullquote]

Glandore is one of four Hunter Valley wineries featured on P&O ships, with wines from Margan, Cockfighter’s Ghost and Tyrell’s also offered onboard.

P&O Cruises Breaks Records At The Start of 2016

Posted: January 18, 2023

Australia, Press Release, , ,

Australia’s passion and obsession with cruising has bolstered bookings for P&O Cruises’ holidays, with the cruise like rejoicing over an awesome start to 2016, with the first week of January demonstrating to be the highest booking week in history – up 84% compared to the same time last year

Moreover, Thursday January 7 was P&O’s largest booking day ever, with travellers taking advantage of the cruise line’s latest 24-hour sale.

P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said the cruise line’s latest ships, Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria, were in hot demand, with past guests and new cruisers all eager to get onboard and experience the new look and feel of P&O’s product.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “We’ve been selling our expanded five-ship fleet for more than 12 months, but the bookings for Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden are really pouring in now that the ships are here and people can see for themselves how impressive they are,” Mr Mrymell said.   [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “In 2016, P&O will welcome more than 420,000 passengers onboard our five ships – reinforcing our position as Australia’s leading home cruise brand. Our 2016 inventory is filling up fast, so travellers should move quickly if they want to cruise this year.” [/pullquote]

Mr Myrmell said the cruise line had plenty more excitement in store for its agent partners and guests.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We can’t wait to take the next steps in the evolution of our brand with the addition of Pacific Explorer next year and our brand new ship in 2019, as well as the debut of a raft of new ports and itineraries.  There’s going to be lots of great cruise news to share over the coming months.”[/pullquote]