South Australians can be part of P&O Cruises’ Sydney Harbour party

SHIPPING line P&O Cruises will have its fleet of five ships — including two new vessels — converge on Sydney Harbour in November, and South Australians can join the party by cruising from Adelaide.

For Escape travel story by Melinda Browning. P&O cruise. Pacific Jewel. Pacific Jewel sails out of Sydney Harbour.

SOUTH Australians can grab front-row seats for one of the most spectacular marine cavalcades seen on Sydney Harbour when P&O Cruises parades its expanded fleet of five ships later this year.

The company’s two new ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden, will join Pacific Pearl, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Dawn in a sail-past of the Harbour’s iconic sights such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House as well as multimillion-dollar homes, Taronga Park Zoo, and the Sydney residences of the Prime Minister and Governor-General.

The ships will converge on the harbour on Wednesday, November 25, with about 15,000 passengers and crew.

Sydney is expected to turn on a party atmosphere for the event with official escort vessels, arcing water sprays, a flotilla of pleasure craft watching, onlookers packing the foreshore and a air brigade of media helicopters filming the scene.

The nation’s cruising gateway, Sydney, has never previously hosted five cruise ships from one cruise line on the same day.

Pacific Eden will return to Adelaide for several cruises in 2016, giving South Australians much easier access to take a cruise holiday.

King William Travel spokesman Geoff Spark said being part of the event would be a memorable way to round off a cruise.

“This is great news for Adelaide passengers as no longer will they need to pay extra for airfares from Adelaide to predominantly Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane and Perth to join a cruise,” he said.

“They will also save on the transfers from those airports to the cruise terminals and back. Not only will they save costs but also time by being able to board in Adelaide.

“The cruise ships coming into Adelaide are very important for our tourism sector and the state’s economy. Keep them coming.”

King William Travel has limited cabins available on Pacific Eden, sailing from Fremantle for 11 days on November 15 via Esperance, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and finishing in Sydney for the P&O party.

Fares including home transfers, flights ex-Adelaide, ship return transfers and inside cabin accommodation are from $1921 per person twin share.

King William Travel also have limited cabins for the six day Adelaide to Sydney sector of this cruise with fares from $1042 per person twin share.

Pacific Eden has features including Luke Mangan’s Salt Grill & Bar, Dragon Lady offering Asian feasts, and Angelo’s — the best of Italian.

Multiple pools, bars, lounges, a spa, gym, theatre and sports courts are also on board.

P&O Cruises chief executive Ann Sherry said the gathering of the fleet would underline P&O Cruises’ status as Australia’s iconic home brand, offering the largest number of ships located year round in Australian ports.

“Last year, nearly 834,000 Australians took a cruise holiday and P&O Cruises’ addition of two more ships will help the industry achieve its goal of a million passengers a year in 2015, five years ahead of schedule,” she said.

Originally published as South Australians can be part of P&O Cruises’ Sydney Harbour party