P&O Cruises remaster classic Queensland Anthem for countdown to Pacific Explorer 2020 Brisbane homeport

P&O Cruises and Gold Coast singing star Ricki-Lee have remastered the 30-year-old classic state anthem, ‘Love You Queensland’ and made it the line’s theme song for every Brisbane sailing.

The collaboration has given the anthem a modern new sound and its release also marks the one-year countdown to the line’s largest and newest ship Pacific Explorer’s Brisbane homeport from October 2020. The 1,990-guest Pacific Explorer replaces Pacific Dawn which has been sailing from Brisbane since December 2009.

ARIA nominated singer-songwriter Ricki-Lee performed the new version of the much loved ‘Love You Queensland’ at an exclusive gig in Brisbane on board Pacific Dawn today. The 2000 guests departing on a four-night cruise to the Whitsunday Islands on board Pacific Dawn will be the first to hear it live.

P&O Cruises Head of Entertainment Brett Annable said P&O wanted Queenslanders to have a uniquely Queensland anthem that also sets the scene for Pacific Explorer calling Brisbane home.

“The sailaway song is played at the start of every P&O cruise leaving Brisbane, a celebration of singing and dancing with friends and family on the top deck as the ship leaves port,” Mr Annable said. “Guests and crew can’t help but feel that the cruise holiday starts at that moment.

“We also wanted to celebrate the one-year countdown to Pacific Explorer’s arrival in Brisbane by collaborating with Ricki-Lee, a much-loved Queensland talent and one of the hottest artists in Australia, to give our guests a sailaway song to remember.”

‘Love You Queensland’ has been remastered with the help of Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone, the original composers of the song, which was originally played throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Queensland is a P&O heartland state with the cruise line basing a ship in Brisbane since 2004. By the end of this year, P&O will have carried more than 1.6 million guests on nearly 950 cruises departing from the city.

P&O’s flagship Pacific Explorer’s first cruise from Brisbane will be the popular seven-night Pacific Island Hopper itinerary departing on October 24, 2020, followed by a seven-night Main Event themed cruise to the Melbourne Cup.

Cruises on Pacific Explorer sailing from Brisbane are available now. Fares start from $699* per person for a quad share cabin on a seven-night cruise to the Pacific Islands departing Brisbane on November 28, 2020.