With Pacific Explorer’s first guest cruise in two years sailing away on May 31, P&O Cruises Australia last week took the ship ‘test sailing’ in preparation for its return to service after a long stay dockside.
The three-night ‘activation cruise’ departed last Thursday, hosting shoreside staff, suppliers and travel agents as they prepared the ship for normal service.
The test sail was to finetune the overall experience prior to welcoming paying guests onboard the ship’s first commercial cruise in over two years.
“Pacific Explorer’s wonderful crew want to have the ship really humming when guests board for their four-night cruise from Sydney to Brisbane,” said President of P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald.
“The test sailing was their first chance to deliver fantastic service for more than two years, so they wanted it to be just right for our guests on 31 May.”
“To achieve this, Pacific Explorer went for a test sailing in preparation for the big day when our guests step onboard.
“Thank you to our shoreside staff, suppliers and travel agents for their support in getting Pacific Explorer ready,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
P&O Australia’s $400 million luxury liner Pacific Explorer has been moored at Circular Quay in Sydney since famously arriving on Easter Monday to great fanfare, particularly from the travel industry.
“For our suppliers and for so many others, our flagship’s arrival is a symbol of the resurgence of their businesses and livelihoods as hope and optimism replace uncertainty.”
Pacific Explorer’s first guest cruise will be a four-night round trip from Sydney to Brisbane departing on May 31. It will be the first passenger liner since 2020 to depart Sydney Harbour on a passenger cruise.