P&O Cruises has cancelled Pacific Aria’s Cairns-based cruise season in 2019.
P&O Cruises has rescheduled Pacific Aria’s 2019 deployment, following the announcement that Pacific Eden will leave its fleet in Apr 2019 to join Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
The cruise line noted that “such a significant change to the make-up of the fleet means that Pacific Aria will be needed elsewhere and its Cairns-based cruise season in 2019 will not proceed as planned”.
The company’s website indicates Pacific Aria will instead spend 2019 cruising out of Sydney and Brisbane.
Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia president Sture Myrmell said “there might be some initial disappointment about Pacific Aria’s homeporting in 2019 but the overall picture for Cairns is very positive knowing that our commitment to the region is as strong as ever”.
Carnival Australia and Ports North have completed discussions on Cairns’ potential for continuing growth as a cruise hub, with the planned Cairns Shipping Development Project set to improve access for large cruise vessels.
More in tomorrow’s issue of Cruise Weekly.