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Australia’s Latest Ship Pacific Eden Makes Maiden Call to Melbourne

Melbournehas welcomed Australia’s latest cruise ship P&O Cruises' Pacific Eden onits maiden visit to the city, ahead of its debut Victorian season next year.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Heralded as a game changer for the Australiancruise industry, the 55,820-tonne Pacific Eden will return to Melbourne in February nextyear as part of P&O Cruises’ biggest season of cruising from the city.

Testamentto the growing popularity of cruising in Victoria, Pacific Eden and PacificJewel will offer 18 cruises from Melbourne from December 2015 to March 2016,carrying an estimated 30,000 guests and delivering more than $15 million intothe local economy.

Accordingto industry figures, Victoria is one of the fastest growing cruise states inAustralia with 175,570 Victorians cruising in 2014, an increase of 24 per centon the previous year.

PacificEden’s visit today is part of its inaugural Australian cruise, a 10-nightitinerary which departed Fremantle on Sunday November 15. The next call isSydney where it will be officially named with sister ship Pacific Aria as partof P&O's five ship spectacular on Wednesday November 25.

PacificEden and Pacific Aria take local cruising to the next level with a stunningdesign which reflects the contemporarystyle of modern Australia, while capturing the relaxed and sometimes cheekyspirit Australians are known for.Pacific Eden features 15 dining options including a plush private diningroom and Luke Mangan’s Salt grill, luxe new bars, a resort-style pool deck, P&O’sfirst penthouse cruise suites and a child-free Oasis with private cabanas.

P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Sture Myrmell said the addition ofPacific Eden and sister ship Pacific Aria had increased the cruise line’s fleetto five ships, enabling P&O to base a second ship in Victoria for the firsttime.

“Victoria is really coming into its own both as a cruise destination anda homeport, so we’re thrilled to have the capacity to be able to base one ofour latest ships in Melbourne next summer. With her modern Australian designand quirky touches, Pacific Eden is sure to become a fast favourite among Victoriansas she offers an exciting line up of cruises from the state,” Mr Myrmell said.

MrMyrmell said Pacific Eden’s 2016 deployment would form part of a record fourmonth season in Melbourne, with Pacific Jewel kicking off the cruise line’s firstsummer deployment in the state next month.

PacificEden’s cruises include a South Pacific itinerary, short breaks to KangarooIsland in South Australia and Eden on New South Wales’ south coast as well asthemed cruises with a three-night Comedy cruise departing Melbourne on February16, 2016, priced from $399* per person quad share.

For more information visitpocruises.com.au, or see a licensed travel agent.

*Price is per personquad share. Subject to availability, conditions apply.

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