P&O has added a new
destination to Australian
cruising with the maiden visit of
Pacific Jewel last weekend.
NEVER before visited by a major line,
Queensland’s Moreton Island has been placed
on the cruise map following the first of six calls
to be made by P&O this year.
Jewel arrived at the new port on 16 March as
the highlight of a four-night ‘SeaBreak’ from
Sydney.
The company has ensured a festival
atmosphere every time the ship docks, with
live music, roving entertainers, dancers and
food stalls set up around the shore.
The first arriving passengers were greeted on
Saturday by Queensland Tourism Minister Jann
Stuckey, Carnival Australia CEO Ann Sherry and
Tangalooma Island Resort Director David
James, before heading off to experience the
attractions including dolphin feeding, sandduning,
quad bike tours, canoeing, snorkelling
and bird-watching.
P&O’s visits are expected to inject more than
$1 million into the local economy.
Sherry said she was pleased to introduce
Australians to this part of the east coast.
“Moreton Island is literally on our doorstep
and we’re delighted to be giving close to
12,000 interstate visitors the opportunity to
experience its beauty for the first time in 2013.
“The response from our passengers has been
overwhelmingly positive and I know they will
return home to spread the word about what
an exceptional discovery Moreton Island is.”
Queensland Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey
said the creation of a new destination at
Moreton Island reflected that cruising had
been the fastest growing segment of the
state’s tourism market during the past year.
Queensland’s cruise industry is Australia’s
second biggest after NSW.
“The most recent available figures show that
the cruise industry generated an estimated
$590 million for the Queensland economy in
2011-12,” Stuckey said.
For more, see www.pocruises.com.au, a travel
agent or call 13 24 94.
