Country is King as P&O Cruises Announces New Zealand’s Debut Country Music Festival at Sea


Tuesday, July 13, 2021

P&O Cruises Australia is inviting country music fans to grab their boots and scoot onboard Pacific Explorer for New Zealand’s inaugural Country Cruise.

Departing Auckland on 11 November, 2022, the special three-night cruise will feature a string of latest and greatest country music stars, performing new hits and well-loved classics across the ship.

Guests will also be able to enjoy a range of other country music activities during their getaway, from line dancing and ukulele lessons to bush poetry and a country music sailaway party.

With country music on the rise, P&O expects the cruise to be a popular addition to its New Zealand Short Break offerings, according to the cruise line’s Head of Entertainment Brett Annable.

Mr Annable said the cruise theme reflected growing interest in different styles of country music, from folk and bluegrass to rockabilly and country rock.

“Country music is king for a lot of New Zealanders so we’re looking forward to creating a fantastic festival atmosphere onboard Pacific Explorer as we take this genre to sea,” Mr Annable said.

“From morning to night, the New Zealand Country Cruise will offer a fabulous line-up of country music performers, with guests able to sit back and relax as they enjoy the music or get their boots on to dance the cruise away.”

The debut New Zealand Country Cruise follows P&O’s highly successful inaugural Australian Country Cruise, which sailed from Brisbane in late 2019.

Pacific Explorer offers a wide range of bars, lounges and restaurants, from the popular casual dining restaurant Luke’s and the Neapolitan pizzeria 400 Gradi to the sultry Pan-Asian restaurant Dragon Lady.

The ship also features a host of entertainment options including two adrenalin-pumping waterslides, the exciting P&OEdge Adventure Park and a chilled barefoot lawn bowling green.

Bookings for the inaugural New Zealand Country Cruise are now available. Fares start from NZ $449per person for a quad-share cabin on the three-night cruise departing Auckland on 11 November, 2022.