- Pacific Adventure sailed out of Sydney tonight with fireworks, fireboats and a defiantly sounding her foghorn.
- The ship will visit Eden, and then return to Sydney on March 14, marking the end of P&O Cruises in Australia after 92 years.
- Guests will celebrate with a special cocktail party onboard.
There were fireworks. Fireboats. And a foghorn salute to 92-years of history.
The beloved Pacific Adventure sailed out of Sydney Harbour tonight, with passengers onboard for the very last time under the historic Australian brand.
Her sister, Pacific Encounter was in Brisbane, due to also sail out on her last voyage before Cyclone Alfred hit. Cruises on the Encounter were cancelled, but tonight, passengers on the Adventure will toast her farewell.
She will return on March 14 for passengers to disembark, before sailing off to be transformed into the Carnival Adventure.
While Pacific Encounter is currently circling off the coast of Brisbane as it waits for port space to return. The ship is set to dock on Tuesday, March 11, marking its final ever voyage as part of P&O Cruises.
Pacific Adventure was set to visit the Moreton Islands, but the cruise line was informed that the rough conditions caused by Cyclone Alfred wouldn’t allow for this visit. Luckily, the cruise line worked quickly to make sure Adventure would still get a worthy send-off and the ship will visit Eden instead.
The cruise line wrote in an email to guests: “Unfortunately, we have just received an update from Moreton Island who have advised that conditions have now changed on the Island and we will no longer be able to make our scheduled call on Wednesday. As we know, the situation in the area continues to evolve due to the flow on impacts from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and we apologise for the required update to your itinerary.
“We are pleased to advise that we will now be able to visit beautiful Eden on the Sapphire Coast in southern NSW. Eden lives up to its name and presents a holiday haven for nature lovers, foodies, and history buffs alike.”
Guests who no longer wish to sail will receive a full refund, and those who stay on but had shore tours planned at Moreton Island will receive this money back as well.
The marked occasion of P&O’s final sailing will be celebrated, there will be a cocktail party on board to pay tribute to the grand legacy of the cruise company that has been sailing is Australia for the better part of a century.
Cruises mourn P&O Australia’s final days
Cruiser Kerrie Kelso says it’s a tough day for her.
“It’s a sad day, I have so many wonderful memories of cruising with P&O my first with the Fairstar which kickstarted my cruising addiction, I also was lucky enough to cruise on the Pacific Sky, Pacific Jewel, Pacific Sun, Pacific Pearl, Pacific Explorer and the Pacific Adventure. I loved them all for different reasons.
“I have met so many wonderful people onboard who remain friends to this day, the crew amazing people always there to help and make our cruise memorable.”
Maggie Lomax reminisces on her great experiences with the line.
“Our first cruise was on Pacific Jewel, it was so memorable, and the staff were so helpful and kind. Our next cruise was on Pearl with the family, the sailaway parties were so entertaining, so thank you P&O for that. Explorer was our next cruise the staff again were so helpful…then our next cruise was booked on the Adventure for 2025 and here we are saying goodbye to P&O.”
Kathryn Gurr has loved cruising ever since stepping onto the Pacific Sun.
“My love of cruising started on the Pacific Sun, and since then I’ve been on Pacific Jewel, Pacific Pearl, Pacific Eden, Pacific Aria And Pacific Adventure. So many fun times and wonderful memories. I will miss P & O.
“I did Carnival Splendor last week, and I’m hoping when they convert Pacific Adventure to Carnival they keep the ship relatively the same and only add the extras from Carnival that I did enjoy”
Trista Evans feels nostalgia for her first-ever cruise, a honeymoon with P&O.
“Our first cruise was on Pacific Jewel and it was our honeymoon. A year later we took our kids to Fiji on Pacific Jewel and that started our family’s love for cruising. Over the years we’ve been on a quite few P&O cruises and never once came off thinking it was a bad cruise. So sad to think P&O won’t be here anymore.”
Lisa Maree Vella couldn’t be more grateful for memories that will “last a lifetime”.
“Our first Cruise was the Pacific Jewel, in 2012, then the Pearl, after that we did Carnival, Royal Caribbean, 15 cruises later and after the Covid pandemic, we just did a P&O Cruise last December to Tasmania on the Adventure, it was a lovely trip. Farewell P&O thank you for the memories they will last a lifetime”
Another cruiser, Jennie Morton talks through her history with the line.
“Today we will board for her last P&O cruise. My first cruise was on the Pacific Jewel in 2011. Our cruise was affected by a cyclone and the tsunami that hit Japan.
“Never thought I would cruise again, yet it was only the start. Cruised on Pacific Jewel twice and the Pacific Explorer twice. We have also cruised Royal Caribbean, Carnival and NCL.”
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There has been no explanation of why the are quitting the P & O brand. Doesn’t seem logical when occupancy on the P & O ships is over 90% for every cruise and most near 100%. They are losing 100 years of advertising and marketing to an extent that P & O was a household name. No amount of marketing will turn the negative name of Carnival into a loved brand like P & O. It appears some executive needed to justify their expensive salary and make changes for the sake of justifying their job. This may be the end of cruising in Australia.
Iam so blessed to have been part of P&O’s final voyage, with the Pacific Adventure.
All the crew helped to make my first cruise spectacular.
Time spent with my best friend Marie . The cruise gave us memorable experiences and many stories to tell .
“Who would of thought a broken watch falling over board landing on a tug boat was possible “
We spent our honeymoon on Orcades in 1969 also sailed from Melbourne to South Hampton in 1999. This is the end of a wonderful era of cruising.God Bless
Just did my 1st cruise on Pacific Adventure and it was a wonderful experience and has ignited my inner cruiser. The shows,staff and food were awesome. It went above my expectations of a cruise,and I will definately be doing more cruises on The new Carnival Adventure. I’m hoping the beautiful interior of this amazing ship stays the same. Thanks P&O for introducing me to the world of cruising. Was a pleasure.Michelle
Just did my 1st cruise on Pacific Adventure and it was a wonderful experience and has ignited my inner cruiser. The shows,staff and food were awesome. It went above my expectations of a cruise,and I will definately be doing more cruises on The new Carnival Adventure. I’m hoping the beautiful interior of this amazing ship stays the same. Thanks P&O for introducing me to the world of cruising. Was a pleasure.Michelle
Although we have only cruised on Pacific Encouter for 7-8 times out of Brisbane our closest port ️From the beginning our first cruise to Cairns Just to see if we liked it ⚓️We have love all our adventures And thank P&O for the fantastic memories Cheers Cheryl and Des Coster
Only started cruising a few years ago & only been on Pacific Adventure a few times such a wonderful ship i feel very sad, but going on the ship 17th of May with my sister under Carnaval just love the ship .Sandra Thomas x
My first cruise ever was on P&O Oriana to the Pacific Islands in 1985. Then a couple of years later with CTC cruise line, then my first cruise with my Husband was on Pacific Jewel for our 20th Wedding Anniversary sailing on Valentines day to the Pacific Islands, then The Pacific Jewel again in 2014 on Fiji Adventure, we found the Edge activities so much fun. We have also been on Royal Carribean, then Princess Cruises to Alaska, the Pacific Explorers first cruise out of Adelaide after Covid-19, then Pacific Explorer in November/December last year on a comedy cruise from Melbourne to Adelaide.
We will miss P&O Cruises Australia, as they were iconic in bringing cruising to Australia. The staff on all P&O ships were amazing. They were all friendly, and very helpful, the entertainment was always excellent. Good bye P&O Australia you will be greatly missed by many.
Sad to see the end of P&O..
The wife and self been on several cruises with them, started with P&O ORIANA doing the Pacific, next the Fife Ship Spectacular out of Sydney, we were on Pacific EDEN… with the group “The Veronicas” also the Pacific, next the Eden again from Cairns doing Papua New Guinea and several other Islands nearby.. fantastic cruise…next on the Pacific ARIA from Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, some Ports around Tasmania and return to Adelaide..
Our last one was on the EXPLORER, again from Adelaide to the south of NZ. Fjords, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Melbourne and Adelaide… fantastic 10 days..
Have been sailing away on all P&O ships since the 1960’s. In fact my wife and I met as 18 year olds during a South Pacific cruise in 1965 and married 1970 (still together). Of all of them we have had the privilage of sailing on countless times our favourites were the Pacific Eden and Aria both beautful ships. No matter which ship, we have always found the crew to be exceptional.
Thank you P&O Australia. You have served your country well and I have no doubt thousands will miss your presence.
My family and I were on the second last cruise of PacAd that should have been to Moreton Island but was diverted, due to Cyclone Alfred, to Hobart. As I said several cruises ago that P&O Australia was setting standards above those “acceptable for Australia” and that if they continued, like every other Australian product that was any good it would be shutdown. If you can’t beat ’em, buy ’em. Very sad. I expect the “new” Carnival version of these ships will be somewhat lower quality. (Hope I’m wrong.) Just like comparing Princess and RCI in Australia to Princess and RCI in the US. Generally Aussies aren’t given the standards overseas cruise customers receive. As a regular cruiser since 1969 I have seen a lot of changes – not always for the better. Farewell P&O Australia – thanks for the memories.
Very Very sad to say goodbye to p&0 have been cruising since fairstar and all the ships in between some of them 2 or 3 times as always felt safe and welcome. The P&O cruise team always made you feel very important. The staff always did an incredible job they work really really hard. Will miss them terribly
Very sad and poignant day, especially for loyal Australians
We sailed from Melbourne to Singapore on the P&O ‘Pacific Explorer’ – the 1st leg was Melbourne to Freemantle from 27th Jan to 3rd Feb, with a 4 night stopover in Perth. We then re-embarked in Freemantle to cruise to Singapore. We disembarked on 18th Feb in Singapore and the Ship went into “dry docks” the next day for refurbishment. The first item that was removed from the Ship on 19th February was the P&O signage on top of the Ship. It was sad to see that go
Bon Voyage Pacific Adventure I worked at head office in Hunter Street in the late 60/70s married a fellow P&Oer so this is part of a personal history very sad to see part of our maritime history disappear. Goodbye P&O.