By
Rebecca Gibson |
P&O Cruises Australia’s three cruise ships will simultaneously berth in Sydney for the first time on 26 January to mark Australia Day.
The iconic event also marks the third year the cruise line has been the official sponsor of the Australia Day Sydney Harbour Program.
“We are as Australian as meat pies and kangaroos, so we’re thrilled to bring our entire fleet into Sydney’s iconic harbour for the first time on our national day,” said Tammy Marshall, P&O’s senior vice president.
Arriving at 5:30am, the ships will enter the harbour at 15-minute intervals and are scheduled to be in position by 6:45am. Pacific Dawn will be based off Kurraba Point, Pacific Jewel will berth at Athol Bay and Pacific Pearl will anchor at Point Piper.
To mark the occasion, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel will be decorated with patriotic decals displaying the country’s famous ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ catchphrase, while Pacific Dawn will be draped in Australian flags. Around 6,000 cruise guests will be able to enjoy onboard performances from Australian entertainers, as well as Australian music, movies and a traditional barbeque.
Pacific Pearl will also start the Tall Ships Parade, while a fireworks display will take place between all three ships.
Other Australia Day events on the harbour will include the Ferrython, a 21-gun salute to Australia carried out by the army; a Royal Australian Air Force flyover; a Harbour Parade; a Tug and Yacht Ballet; and a ‘tinnie muster’. For the first time, HMAS Canberra will join the festivities in the centre of the harbour.
Pacific Pearl’s three-night Australia Day cruise from Sydney commences on 24 January, while Pacific Jewel’s three-night Australia Day voyage will depart Sydney the following day. Pacific Dawn will offer her first Australia Day four-night roundtrip from Brisbane on 24 January.