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P&O to Make History as Australian Stars Name Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden by Twitter

In a social media first, P&O Cruises hasrevealed that its latest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, will beofficially named by singer Jessica Mauboy and actress Kate Ritchie – viaTwitter.

Announcing the identity of the godmothers,P&O Cruises said the popular Australian personalities would both tweet theofficial naming words in a spectacular dual christening ceremony on FortDenison as the two ships sail either side of the Sydney Harbour landmark onNovember 25.

The social media launch will also see the namingposted simultaneously on the godmothers’ Facebook and Instagram accounts andshared by P&O Cruises across its platforms.

Ann Sherry, CEO for Carnival Australia, whichoperates P&O Cruises, said the cruise line was thrilled that two famousAustralians had agreed to name the cruise line’s latest ships.

“Both Jess and Kate are well known andwell-loved around the country. They epitomise modern Australia and reallyembody the new look and feel of P&O Cruises so we are delighted they willbe naming these very special ships – and in such a modern way,” Ms Sherry said.

“It will be a history-making day – we will havefive ships on Sydney Harbour, a dual christening and we’ll be officially namingthe ships via Twitter, which we believe is a world first.”

The ships’ naming ceremony – which will seeJessica Mauboy name Pacific Aria and Kate Ritchie name Pacific Eden – will be ahighlight of P&O’s history-making Five Ship Spectacular on Sydney Harbouron November 25.

The day will begin with the cruise line’sfive-ship fleet creating a V formation off the Heads of Sydney Harbour early inthe morning, as they meet for the first time.

The ships will then enter the Harbour singlefile, with Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden following their three big sisters. Asthey reach the centre of the Harbour around 8.30am, Pacific Aria and PacificEden will sail either side of Fort Denison, where their godmothers will namethem and Champagne bottles will be smashed on their bows.

The five ships will then berth in the Harbour,with 25 artists performing live concerts onboard for guests in the afternoon –including Jessica Mauboy on Pacific Aria. The ships will sail from Sydney inthe evening following a spectacular fireworks display for Sydneysiders at8.45pm.

Jessica Mauboy is an award-winning singer whogrew up in Darwin in Australia’s north and shot to stardom in 2006 afterappearing on the television show Australian Idol. Her debut 2008 album“Been Waiting” scored double platinum sales and yielded seven ARIA Awardnominations. She has since won two ARIAs and has been nominated again for thisyear’s ARIA awards.

Kate Ritchie is one of Australia's best lovedactresses, having spent 20 years as a lead on Home and Away, a role whichearned her two Gold and three Silver Logies. Kate currently co-hosts the ACRAwinning Nova’s Kate, Tim & Marty national drive show alongside TimBlackwell and Marty Sheargold. Previously she co-hosted the extremely popularbreakfast radio show on Nova 969 with Merrick and Rosso throughout 2008 and2009 and appeared on Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities. Kate has been the hostand narrator of Don't Tell the Bride, she has starred alongside Shaun Micallefand Kat Stewart in the drama Mr & Mrs Murder and in Peter Helliar'sproject, It's A Date.
Two Australian charities will also be thebeneficiaries of the event with P&O Cruises making a financial contributionto charities nominated by the Godmothers.

Jessica Mauboy has chosen the IndigenousLiteracy Foundation as her charity for the event while Kate Ritchie is yet toannounce her charity.

Regarded as game changers for the Australiancruise industry, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden will feature a fresh,contemporary design and a host of special features from multiple restaurantsand a lush private dining room to a resort-style swimming pool deck, with sheercurtains and private cabanas.

For more details of P&O’s Five ShipSpectacular on November 25 visit www.pocruises.com.au/5ships

Media information:
Libby Moffet/Christine Allen MG Media Communications 02 99040011

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