It's In the Mail!

Date: 26 Jun 2008

Passengers sailing on Pacific Dawn’s 28-night Tahiti voyage enjoyed a novel way to send their postcards back home this week – by tin can.

The opportunity came as the ship sailed by the spectacular volcanic Tongan island of Niuafo’ou – also known as Tin Can Island.

Rising steeply from the ocean floor and offering no safe anchorage, the remote island’s name harks back to the early 20th century when its inhabitants used to swim out to meet passing steamers and give them their post in a tin can.

While the construction of an airstrip on the island in the 1980s made the tin can service redundant, Pacific Dawn’s 2050 passengers enjoyed a reenactment on June 23 as they sailed by the island.

As passengers watched, gold-plated tin cans containing more than 2000 letters and postcards were lowered over the side of the ship to locals from Tin Can Island waiting in their dinghy.

The mail will be marked with the island’s distinctive "Tin Can Mail" stamp then sent on to passengers’ friends and family.

Pacific Dawn will sail by Tin Can Island again next year as part of a 28-night round trip voyage to Tahiti, visiting 14 ports. Departing Sydney on June 4, 2009, fares are priced from $4995 per person twin share.

For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises Australia on 13 24 69 or visit www.pocruises.com.au