P&O Cruises’ Pacific Jewel and Pacific Dawn have arrived in Lyttelton and Tauranga ports flying New Zealand flags at half-mast as a mark of respect for the Pike River tragedy where 29 miners lost their lives.
In a further mark of respect all passengers and crew on board both ships joined New Zealanders nationwide in observing two minutes silence.
Donations will also be collected onboard and given to the Pike River Miners’ Relief Fund Trust.
P&O Cruises will also donate to the trust fund the proceeds from its traditional end-of-cruise charity auction where the navigational charts used by the captain and deck officers during the cruise are auctioned to passengers.
This will happen on all P&O cruises throughout December, including the maiden voyage of P&O Cruises’ latest addition to its fleet, Pacific Pearl, which departs from Auckland on December 22.
