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
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
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.
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.
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
- Monday February 22 – Pacific Aria – Wewak, PNG*
- Sunday March 6 – Pacific Pearl – Stewart Island, New Zealand
- Thursday March 10 – Pacific Dawn – Gladstone, Queensland*
- Sunday April 3 – Pacific Aria – Fraser Island, Queensland
- Saturday May 7 – Pacific Eden – Ujung Pandang, Indonesia
- Monday May 9 – Pacific Eden – Probolinggo, Indonesia
- Tuesday June 21 – Pacific Jewel – Conflict Islands, PNG*
- Thursday July 28 – Pacific Eden – Jakarta, Indonesia
- Monday August 1 – Pacific Eden – Langkawi, Malaysia
- Tuesday August 2 – Pacific Eden – Krabi, Thailand
- Wednesday August 3 – Pacific Eden – Phuket, Thailand
- Thursday August 4 – Pacific Eden – Sabang, Indonesia
- Monday August 8 – Pacific Eden – Sihanoukville, Cambodia
- Tuesday August 9 – Pacific Eden – Ko Chang, Thailand*
- Thursday August 11 – Pacific Eden – Koh Samui, Thailand
- Friday September 30 – Pacific Eden – Gizo Island, Solomon Islands*
- Saturday October 1 – Pacific Eden – Honiara, Solomon Islands
*first ever ocean cruise ship call to destination
Title Photo Credit: http://www.bestofpng.com
