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P&O's Pacific Explorer to arrive in Sydney on 18 April, kicking off Australian cruise return

In keeping with Sydney Harbour’s rich maritime heritage, on April 18, P&O Cruises Australia’s flagship Pacific Explorer will return home to lead the restart of cruising in Australia.

In keeping with Sydney Harbour’s rich maritime heritage, on April 18, P&O Cruises Australia’s flagship Pacific Explorer will return home to lead the restart of cruising in Australia.

Pacific Explorer’s arrival after an absence of more than two years will be embraced by cruise suppliers as a sign that their businesses and livelihoods will soon be in recovery mode with the resumption of cruising based on comprehensive protocols to support its return. 

The P&O Cruises Australia flagship’s arrival is also expected to capture the imagination of Sydneysiders as it enters the Heads on Easter Monday in returning to its home port.

The Easter Monday holiday arrival will give the city’s ‘boaties’ an opportunity to escort Pacific Explorer as the ship makes its way up the harbour to the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) to be alongside at 10.30am.

Sydney Harbour
Sydney Harbor

President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said Pacific Explorer’s return marked the start of rebuilding cruise tourism in Australia, which, prior to the pandemic, contributed more than $5 billion a year to the national economy. 

“Seeing Pacific Explorer sail into Sydney Harbour will be an emotional moment for our employees, many thousands of guests and our numerous cruise suppliers, travel agents and entertainers,” Ms Fitzgerald said. 

“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. 

“We will use the coming weeks to prepare Pacific Explorer to be cruise ready to lead the resurgence of cruising,” concluded Ms Fitzgerald.

P&O Pacific Explorer

If you’d like to join the celebrations, here is the approximate schedule for Pacific Explorer’s arrival on Monday 18 April:

  • 9.30am – Pacific Explorer enters Sydney Heads
  • 10.10am – Passing Fort Denison
  • 10.20am – Passing the Sydney Opera House
  • 10.30am – Alongside at the OPT

For more information, head to www.pocruises.com.au