CRUISING TO A BRIGHT FUTURE

SHIP CALLS CAIRNS HOME I

A SENIOR P&O Cruises executive has flagged one of their ships being based at the Port of Cairns for more than two years.

Senior vice president P&O Cruises Australia Sture Myrmell told The Cairns Post on board Pacific Eden that he expected the vessel to home port at Cairns for the long term.

But, he said, that would depend on future bookings, not only by residents of the region, but from further afield.

Pacific Eden made its first voyage to Cairns yesterday morning under the P&O flag, returning for the home port season from September to December next year and again in 2017. Sister ship Pacific Aria arrived earlier this month, was at port on Sunday and Monday and returns on Wednesday next week.

“The numbers are looking promising and will certainly help a home port being established for the long haul,” Mr Myrmell said.

“Cairns has a lot of potential ... huge potential,” he said.

Mr Myrmell said Sydney and Brisbane guests could easily and quickly take two hours to fly to Cairns to join the ship, particularly for the cruises to Papua New Guinea.

“The popularity of cruises from here will determine the future,” he said.

Mr Myrmell said more cruises booked from Cairns would “clearly will help our decision”.

He said having a fleet of five ships in Australia enabled the company to visit more ports and have their liners based at home ports.

“By creating home ports we are able to take the products to the people and underpin the value of cruising.

“The locals in Cairns have a tremendous opportunity to go cruising from home.”

Mr Myrmell said the company was pleased the Government had extended the deadline to complete an environmental impact statement by Ports North looking at ways to allow larger ships to enter the port.

“We support infrastructure development throughout the region,” he said.

Mr Myrmell said P&O preferred to dock at a port than anchor offshore and tender passengers to land.

“Cairns is a great port in that regard to be able to dock in the middle of town. That is always going to be popular with guests,” he said.

Mr Myrmell said P&O was fortunate to have medium sized ships such as Eden and

Aria that could moor at Cairns. Ports North chairman Russell Beer said the authority would help P&O extend its home porting at Cairns.

“Ports North is very excited to be welcoming P&O’s ship,

Pacific Eden, to our harbour this week,” he said.

“Ports North will be working with P&O Cruises with a view to making their 2016 and 2017 seasons a great success with a view to their home porting of their ships in Cairns extending beyond 2017.”

Cairns Business and Leisure Travel managing director Martin Keating said customer bookings for next year and 2017 were good, “in line with expectations”.

“Customers don’t have the hassle of flying to Brisbane or Sydney to catch a ship,” he said.

He said many generations of families were taking cruises as well as groups of friends.

“These cruises are affordable, almost luxury, holidays for families,” Mr Keating said

He said he was confident P&O would extend the home port after 2017.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive Alex de Waal said the 1500passenger Pacific Eden would bring a $16 million boost to the region next year and in 2017 with passengers flying in and out.

“Home porting delivers significant economic benefits with provisioning by local suppliers and travellers undertaking pre and post-cruise touring,”touring, he said.