P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn has made history as the largest cruise ship to sail under Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge.
Carrying 2000 guests, the 47.6 metre high Pacific Dawn passed under the West Gate Bridge, which has a clearance of 50.1 metres, before berthing at Victoria Dock, next to Melbourne’s Docklands early this morning. The central location will give Pacific Dawn’s 2000 guests unprecedented cruise ship access to the city during their two-day stay for the Melbourne Cup.
The 70,285-tonne superliner is one of a record four cruise ships visiting Melbourne for the Cup. P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel are both docked at Station Pier along with Carnival Spirit, from P&O’s sister cruise line Carnival Cruise Line.
Between them, the ships’ 8000 guests will represent around 8 per cent of total attendees at the Melbourne Cup. The four-ship visit is expected to inject more than $7 million into the economy in passenger and crew spending as well as port charges and fees, with the ships spending a combined 12 days in Melbourne.
SOURCE: P&O Cruises