New P&O ship makes several inaugural visits during eight-night roundtrip from Sydney
By
Rebecca Gibson |
P&O Cruises Australia’s latest ship Pacific Eden cruised into her namesake port – Eden – for the first time on 10 January.
The 55,820gt ship, which officially joined the P&O Cruises Australia fleet in November 2015, brought 1,500 guests to Eden, which is located on New South Wales’ Sapphire Coast. While in Eden, guests were able to take tours to the Killer Whale Museum and local oyster farms, and take in the coastal art scene.
“Pacific Eden is a beautiful ship and Eden is a beautiful coastal town – this maiden visit was a match made in heaven,” said Sture Myrmell president of P&O Cruises Australia. “In addition to the Sapphire Coast’s many attractions, Eden has the only deep water harbour between Sydney and Melbourne, making it an ideal cruise destination for our increasingly popular short break cruises and regional itineraries. In this case, it was a particularly nice synergy for our ship which shares the town’s name – we’re sure the Eden community will embrace our Eden as one of their own as she becomes a familiar figure in the harbour in the coming months.”
Pacific Eden called in Eden as part of her eight-night roundtrip from Sydney, which includes visits to various regional towns. The ship made her inaugural call to Mornington Peninsula in Victoria on 12 January, enabling guests to visit its famed geothermal hot springs and coastal hamlets.
“Mornington Peninsula offers a wonderful opportunity for P&O’s cruise passengers to explore a whole range of local attractions including waterfront dining at the historic township of Sorrento, a chance to swim with dolphins and a taste of the region’s fine wines,” said Myrmell.
After leaving Mornington, the ship will head to Portland for the on 13 January, before calling at Kangaroo Island and returning to Sydney.
Pacific Eden is to return to Mornington Peninsula on 30 January and Eden on 2 February and 13 March, while Pacific Jewel will make her maiden visit to Mornington on 6 March. The three visits to Mornington are expected to generate more than half a million dollars for the local economy.