The latest addition to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, Pacific Encounter is en route from Singapore to join Pacific Explorer, sailing into Sydney Harbour on 2 August for another step in the recovery of Australia’s annual $5 billion cruise industry.
The flagship Pacific Explorer is homeported in Sydney and was the first of Australia’s P&O fleet to return home after more than two years.
Pacific Encounter’s time in Sydney will be a ‘quick encounter’ before she heads to Brisbane to continue the long tradition of basing P&O ships at the epicentre of the Queensland cruise market.
The ship’s first guest voyage will be a seven-night Barrier Reef Discovery Cruise, departing from Brisbane on 20 August.
President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said Pacific Encounter’s arrival would be another step towards the rebuilding of Australia’s cruise industry.
“Knowing that we have a second P&O ship only weeks away reminds us all that cruising is making a return to normal scheduling,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“It is hard to believe that as warmer weather returns, Australia is now on the way to having a near-normal 2022-23 summer cruise season.
“We can’t wait for Pacific Encounter to depart on her first guest cruise from Brisbane on a seven-night Barrier Reef Discovery Cruise, which will include her maiden call to Cairns, helping to bring cruise tourism back to Tropical North Queensland.”
To find out more, visit pocruises.com.au
