P&O promotes Australian cruising to North America

With the introduction of P&O’s Pacific Dawn, Princess Cruises are now actively promoting the Australian product to North American cruisers.

With voyages available on three ships, Pacific Sun, Pacific Star and the new Pacific Dawn, which will sail on P&O Australia’s largest program ever in 2007-08 as the line celebrates its 75th anniversary season.

The schedule features 95 sailings to choose from on a wealth of itineraries departing from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland.

This move will give North American passengers the chance to experience P&O’s fun Australian-style cruising while travelling to an intriguing line-up of destinations, including idyllic islands and exotic ports of call such as Pago Pago, Bora Bora, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tonga, as well as the best of Australia.

Onboard, passengers will enjoy P&O’s casual “Aussie” atmosphere and traditional dining, featuring entertainment and food options geared to local “down under” tastes.

“We’re very pleased to be able to open up these wonderful sailings to passengers here in North America,” said Jan Swartz, Princess’ Senior Vice President of Customer Service and Sales, adding, “This arrangement will make booking a P&O Australia voyage nearly as easy as booking a Princess cruise, and gives our customers an unusual opportunity to experience new destinations and Australian hospitality.”

The 2,050-passenger Pacific Dawn, familiar to many Princess fans from her days sailing as Regal Princess, debuts as Australia’s first “superliner” in November, with the ship’s first season featuring 10 different roundtrip Sydney itineraries, ranging from seven- to 28-day sailings.

Highlights include regular cruises to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and even a 28-day cruise to French Polynesia, calling at a wealth of Pacific Islands, including Bora Bora, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

The 1,900-passenger Pacific Sun sails on an extensive roster of itineraries, ranging from seven to 13 days in length, sailing roundtrip from its new homeport of Brisbane as well as Sydney, the ship featuring voyages not only to the tranquil South Pacific Islands, but also a week-long Queensland sailing highlighting the best of the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding areas.

The 1,350-passenger Pacific Star sails from Brisbane and Auckland, New Zealand, offering South Pacific island voyages as well as cruises between Australia and New Zealand. Itineraries range from seven days up to a 21-day Australia odyssey highlighting the best of the country’s eastern coastline.

A report by Philip Thorniley, TravleMole’s Cruise Industry Correspondent