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P&O Pioneers More of PNG in Unprecedented Regional Program

One of themost remote island groups in the world – the privately-owned Conflict Islands –is set to be the latest tourism hot spot for Australian holidaymakers withP&O Cruises announcing it will make the first cruise ship calls to thepicturesque Papua New Guinea atoll next year.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

With itsexpanded fleet cruising from eight homeports between 2016 and 2018, the cruiseline has released details of its latest itineraries which will see P&O continuingto pioneer new cruise destinationsincluding the uninhabited ConflictIslands and Queensland’s Fraser Island.

In June 2016,Pacific Jewel will become the first cruise ship tocall at the untouched Conflict Islands as part of P&O’s Papua New Guineaitineraries. A picturesque group of 21 islands surrounding a blue lagoon that ishome to one of the world’s most biodiverse reef systems, the name of thearchipelago is in stark contrast to the reality, with the Conflict Islandsconsidered one of the most peaceful places on the planet. In a landmarkpartnership for the region, P&O Cruises has worked with eccentric entrepreneurand passionate conservationist Ian Gowrie-Smith to bring cruise ships to hisislands – one of only a few parcels of land owned freehold in Papua New Guinea.

Furtherbridging the gap with Australia’s exotic neighbour, P&OCruises will offer its first international sea break in 2017 with PacificEden's second Cairns season including four-night roundtrip itineraries toAlotau in Papua New Guinea with scenic cruising through Kawanasausau Strait andMilne Bay.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Sture Myrmell said P&O wasthrilled to be bringing the wonders of Papua New Guinea within reach of moreAustralian holidaymakers.

“We have been pioneering cruising in the Pacific for eight decades andare still discovering fantastic cruise destinations for our guests.PapuaNew Guinea is one of the most extraordinary places on earth and even thoughit’s our neighbour, its picturesque islands are relatively untravelled – untilnow,” Mr Myrmell said.

“With the expansion of our fleet between 2015 and 2017, the destinationand itinerary possibilities are endless.We’re taking modern Australiancruise holidays to the next level in the coming years – it’s a very excitingtime for local cruising.”

The latestprogram, which goes on sale on November 17, also includes the first cruisecalls to Fraser Island, with Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden set to offer shortbreaks to the pristine Queensland island from Brisbane and Sydney.

Ensuring Queenslandersget a taste of both P&O Cruises’ latest ships, Pacific Aria and PacificEden will have stints joining Pacific Dawn cruising from Brisbane between July2017 and March 2018. Among the unprecedented line up of 30 short break departures,the ships will cruise to Aussie favourites including Hamilton Island, theWhitsundays and Newcastle (for the Hunter).

SatisfyingAustralians’ increasingdesire to recharge with short breaks, Mr Myrmell said cruises of two to four nights were astandout feature of the new program with a record 85 on offer from five home ports.

The latestprogram is the first to include the expanded fleet, with Pacific Explorer setto join the P&O family in 2017, offering a range of Pacific Island, SeaBreak, Australia and Main Event itineraries from Sydney. Three ships (PacificDawn from Brisbane and Pacific Explorer and Pacific Jewel from Sydney) will cruiseto the 2017 Melbourne Cup while in 2018, Pacific Explorer will make herAustralia Day debut in Sydney Harbour alongside Pacific Aria and the cruiseline will make its fifth appearance at the Australian Open.

In a coup forWestern Australia, Pacific Eden will return for an encore Fremantle season fromApril to June 2017, offering a series of 10 cruises including a new nine-nightitinerary featuring P&O Cruises’ first scenic cruising along the stunningKimberley coastline as well as the return of popular Indonesian cruises and shortbreaks to Esperance and Margaret River.

With thelargest local fleet opening up a plethora of program possibilities, the cruiseline will also offer its longest summer season in Melbourne. Pacific Jewel willcall Victoria home for 109 days from November 2017 until March 2018, offering 18cruises including a new 12-night New Zealand itinerary which features StewartIsland and Fiordland National Park, a New Year’s cruise to the popular Pacific Islandsand Sea Breaks to Eden in New South Wales and Kangaroo Island in SouthAustralia. Guests can also combine a six-night Southern Getaway to SouthAustralia and five-night Taste of Tasmania cruise to get the most of thesouthern coastline.

Asia cruisingis also set to heat up in winter 2017 with Pacific Eden returning to Singaporeto offer two week-long itineraries around Thailand and the Andaman Islandsincluding calls to Ko Chang and Krabi in Thailand and Sabang in Indonesia. Theweek-long itineraries can be combined into a 14-night Asia extravaganza.

Meanwhilefestive holidaymakers can avoid expensive flights and have a fuss freeChristmas and New Year with friends and family on one of 12 cruises departingfrom three Australian ports over the height of the holiday period in 2017.

The first 100cabins booked on a new program itinerary will receive special extras includingpriority check-in and tenders, welcome gift packs and onboard credit.

Formore information visit pocruises.com.au, or see a licensed travel agent.

Notes to editors: Theregion’s largest and longest-serving cruise operator, P&O Cruises Australialeads the way in cruising as Australasia's only 'home brand' and its favouritecruise line. P&O Cruises has been sailing the region for more than 80years, and has pioneered new destinations around Australia, the Pacific andAsia including Papua New Guinea, as reported in the New York Times’ 52 topdestinations for 2015. On November 25, 2015, P&O Cruises will welcome twoadditional ships to its current three-ship fleet becoming the nation’s largestcruise line with five ships cruising from eight home ports in Australia, NewZealand and Singapore. The addition of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden has pavedthe way for exciting new cruise options including deployments from everymainland state in Australia and an extended deployment from Auckland. The pairherald a new era for P&O Cruises, as reflected in its new brandrepositioning - P&O Cruises, Like no Place on Earth.

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