P&O Cruises Australia has announced its largest ever season of cruises, featuring a record four ships offering a range of new destinations - including a voyage to beautiful Norfolk Island from Sydney on its latest superliner, Pacific Jewel.
Departing Sydney in September 2010, the 16-night holiday is a tribute to P&O Cruises’ first cruise from Australia in 1932 on the Strathaird, which made its first call to Norfolk Island.
The inaugural program of the 70,000-tonne Pacific Jewel, which will arrive in Sydney in December this year, features more than 30 South Pacific cruises to postcard-perfect destinations in New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Also on offer are two eight-night cruises around the magnificent Tasmanian coastline, several journeys to New Zealand and two three-day sampler cruises, with prices starting from $589* per person.
Pacific Jewel’s debut is a highlight of the P&O Cruises’ new 2010-11 program, which goes on sale from March 27 and features an unprecedented four cruise ships: Pacific Jewel and her sister ship Pacific Dawn, the popular Pacific Sun and the latest addition, superliner Pacific Pearl, which arrives in Sydney in December 2010.
The program also sees the launch of two new homeports for P&O Cruises, with Pacific Sun set to cruise from Fremantle in the summer of 2009-10 and again in 2010-11, plus Newcastle in September-October 2010.
Meanwhile, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl with both cruise from Sydney, while Pacific Dawn will be based year-round in Brisbane. Pacific Sun will also cruise from Auckland from April to July 2010, with its season including three voyages featuring visits to Norfolk Island.
Announcing the program, Jenny Lourey, Senior Vice President of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises said the growth was testament to the growing demand for cruise holidays in Australia.
"With a record four ships in our fleet we can now offer Australians an unprecedented choice of cruises at any time of year. Holidaymakers will be able to step onboard a P&O Cruises’ ship in five different ports, take their pick from scores of different destinations and sail away for as long as they please – from a short three-night break to a three-week journey," Ms Lourey said.
Highlights of Pacific Jewel’s new program include:
• a 5-night maiden cruise departing Sydney on December 13, 2009 to sail to Burnie and Melbourne, recreating the first-ever Australian mainland cruise by P&O in 1933. Fares start from $1129* per person.
• a 16-night voyage from Sydney to Norfolk Island, P&O Cruises first ever cruise port, also featuring visits to Tonga, Fiji and Noumea and a cruise by the historic site of the famous 1789 mutiny on the Bounty. Prices start from $2969* per person.
• Two 8-night voyages from Sydney to Tasmania, including visits to Port Arthur, Burnie and Melbourne, an overnight stay in Hobart and a scenic cruise through the picturesque waters of Coles Bay, with fares starting from $1429* per person.
For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 69 or visit www.pocruises.com.au