Western Australian Debut for Australia’s Latest Ship Pacific Eden
Western Australians will be the first to experience Australia’s latest ship, when P&O Cruises' Pacific Eden cruises from Fremantle on her maiden voyage this Sunday.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Heralded as a game changer for the Australian cruise industry, the 55,820-tonne Pacific Eden is berthed in Fremantle this week, with final touches being made to the ship’s striking features ahead of her inaugural 10-night cruise.
About 1500 guests will join Pacific Eden’s historic first itinerary which will see her call at Esperance (Nov 17), Adelaide (Nov 20), Kangaroo Island (Nov 21) and Melbourne (Nov 23) en route to Sydney.
Pacific Eden will be christened by actress Kate Ritchie in a dual naming ceremony on Sydney Harbour on November 25 with sister ship Pacific Aria, which will be named by singer Jessica Mauboy. The ceremony will be a key part of P&O Cruises’ Five Ship Spectacular which will see its entire five-ship fleet meet in Sydney for the first time for a day of celebrations.
The highly anticipated Australian debut of Pacific Eden follows a dramatic transformation of the ship during a two week dry dock in Singapore. Along with Pacific Aria, Pacific Eden will take modern Australian cruising to the next level with stunning new features including 15 dining options, a plush private dining room, a spectacular spa, luxe new bars, a resort-style pool deck, a child-free Oasis with private cabanas and some of the most spacious rooms across the fleet.
Pacific Eden is set to become a familiar figure in the west, with the boutique ship cruising from Fremantle for a season in 2016 and again in 2017. After sailing from Fremantle this Sunday Pacific Eden will return in April 2016 to offer her first season of 16 cruises, which will include short breaks to Margaret River and Esperance and longer itineraries to Indonesia. The ship will be homeported in Fremantle again from April to June 2017, offering 10 cruises including a new nine-night itinerary featuring P&O Cruises’ first foray into scenic cruising along the Kimberley coastline.
P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Sture Myrmell said the addition of Pacific Eden and sister ship Pacific Aria had increased the cruise line’s fleet to five ships, enabling P&O to base a ship in Western Australia for longer periods of time.
“Western Australia is really coming into its own both as a cruise destination and a homeport, so we’re thrilled to have the capacity to be able to base one of our latest ships in Fremantle for the next two summers. Pacific Eden is sure to become a fast favourite among Western Australians as she offers an exciting line up of cruises from the state, giving local tourism a boost and bringing a wealth of economic opportunities to port towns up and down the coast,” Mr Myrmell said.
Fares start from $499* per person for a three-night food and wine cruise departing Fremantle on April 22, 2016.
*Price is per person quad share. Subject to availability, conditions apply
For more information visit pocruises.com.au, or see a licensed travel agent.
