Lovingly knitted by volunteer passengers aboard P&O Cruises vessels, the line recently delivered a plethora of new blankets to a Vanuatu hospital during a scheduled port-of-call. The blankets were made from hundreds of “Save the Children” knit kits as part of a new P&O partnership with the children’s charity. It turned out the initiative was incredibly popular with passengers, who responded in droves to invitations to participate in the mass knit, which saw more than 40 blankets made in a few short months. “It’s a fantastic activity that unites our passengers and crew in a great mission – after all, who could resist knitting blankets for little babies,” deputy cruise director Alun Sullivan said. “The blankets, beanies, jumpers and all the other garments knitted by P&O Cruises’ passengers will make a huge difference to children and newborns who will now be kept snug and warm during the cooler winter months. We’re so grateful to the cruise line and their passengers for supporting our work in Vanuatu,” Save The Children Australia country director Nichola Krey added. Pacific Jewel crew member Janita van Niekirk is pictured above donating the blankets to the maternity ward at the Vila Central Hospital, alongside Nichola Krey from Save The Children and Pacific Jewel Senior Nurse Liz Preston.
