Cruises to the Sun are Getting Bigger from Brisbane
Date: 13 Jun 2007
The biggest ship ever to be based in Queensland, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun, will embark on a series of more than 40 cruises through to January 2009 when the ship debuts from its new homeport in Brisbane on November 17.
P&O Cruises President Gavin Smith said the 1900-passenger Pacific Sun would increase Queensland cruising capacity by up to 500 passengers on each departure and provide even more options for holidaymakers.
Pacific Sun will offer a huge choice of itineraries to an abundance of ports dotted throughout the South Pacific and north Queensland, including breathtaking islands in Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia, the stunning Whitsundays and tropical Cairns and Port Douglas.
The ship will also operate the first extended round-trip voyage to set sail from the Queensland capital, with a 21-night Kiwi Adventure Explorer Voyage departing Brisbane on November 28, 2009. The voyage will call into Sydney and Melbourne before heading south to Tasmania and visiting Burnie, Coles Bay, Port Arthur and Hobart, then onto an array of scenic New Zealand ports including Milford Sound, Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland.
“Basing Pacific Sun in Brisbane is an exciting step for P&O Cruises and furthers our commitment to Queensland cruising,” Mr Smith said.
“Cruising from Queensland has offered us the flexibility to operate even more cruises, more often with our seven-night itineraries from Brisbane proving immensely popular in recent years.
“Brisbane is closer than Sydney to the tropical ports of New Caledonia and north Queensland, so Pacific Sun will now be able to offer increased capacity on these shorter, great value, seven-night cruises which also regularly attract passengers from southern states keen to sail straight to the sun.
“In fact many interstate visitors combine their cruises with a short stay on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, generating further benefits for the Queensland economy.”
Latest research supplied by Tourism Queensland shows that the 2005-06 cruise season was worth $107.6 million to the State’s economy – an eight-fold increase from 2001 when the industry was estimated to be worth just $14 million.
At 47,000 tons, the 1900-passenger Pacific Sun provides endless fun and games with a huge 35-metre waterslide and three kids’ clubs guaranteeing loads of activities for all ages, as well as five restaurants and cafes, multiple bars and lounges and two pools to keep adults entertained.
Fares for Pacific Sun cruises from Brisbane start at $795 per person in a four-berth inside cabin for a seven-night South Pacific itinerary, or a seven-night tropical north Queensland cruise.*
For more information about Pacific Sun, contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 69
*Fares are cruise only, per person, in Australian dollars, in complete inside quad cabins based on lead cabin category available.
