P&O’s first guest cruise is today

AFTER a successful test sailing last week (CW 23 May) P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Explorer’s first guest cruise departure will take place later today from Sydney, as the ship leads the resurgence of the industry in the country.

Explorer will cruise on a fournight sailing to Queensland, where on Thu she will become the first cruise ship to alight paying guests at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, after christening the new facility on last week’s test voyage.

“Today is an emotional moment in time for so many people who have looked forward to the resumption of cruise operations in Australia and the rebirth of the $5 billion a year cruise industry,” said Carnival Corporation’s local President Marguerite Fitzgerald.

“For P&O Cruises Australia and its suppliers, its shoreside and onboard staff and its travel agent partners, the first guest cruise on flagship Pacific Explorer also marks the return of economic opportunity.

“The first guest cruise to Brisbane is day one of the resurgence of cruising in this region.”

Explorer’s arrival at the new International Cruise Terminal, which was underwritten by Carnival, comes in the 90th anniversary year of P&O’s first ever cruise in Australia which took place in Dec 1932, when the mail steamer Strathaird called in Brisbane on a seven-night cruise from Sydney.

In Aug, P&O’s Pacific Encounter will take up residence in Brisbane as her home port, carrying on the legacy of the much-loved Pacific Dawn, which made more than 500 circuits of the Brisbane River.

In mid-Jun, sister brand Princess Cruises will also home port Coral Princess in Brisbane, marking a 10-year relationship between the cruise line and the city, while next year will see Carnival Cruise Line home port a ship in the city.

P&O is currently hosting a Welcome Home Sale, which offers a $1 deposit and up to $300 onboard spending money per room - see the cover page for more.

Pictured: Explorer’s crew members prepare the ship’s staterooms for her first guest cruise since the pandemic.