Christmas comes but one a year – but P&O Cruises and its guests have been giving to Pacific Islanders for years.

This Christmas, four P&O ships — Pacific Explorer, Pacific Dawn, Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria — children at a record five island destinations during Christmas.

Kids at Port Vila, Mystery Island, Luganville, Lifou and Isle of Pines where the beneficiaries.  Toys were purchased by guests through the P&O Pacific Partnership program and dollar-matched by P&O.

The Partnership ensures that island communities can share in the benefits of cruising at destinations that continue to welcome cruise visitors to their island homes. P&O has been cruising the region for 85 years.

Funded by contributions from P&O guests, the Partnership has raised more than AUD$1 million since its inception to support a variety of community programs.

“The Christmas tradition of Santa and P&O ships delivering gifts to island children also delivers wonderful holiday magic and our crew members love being part of it,” said P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell.

“It also points to the very close and wider connection we and our guests have to island communities through the contribution of the P&O Pacific Partnership.

“The gift deliveries and the Partnership are an indication of how much the people of the Pacific Islands mean to us and to our guests who love the idyllic destinations and amazing cultural experiences.”