MEDIA RELEASE
December 18, 2010

The largest cruise ship ever to be based in New Zealand, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl, has arrived in Auckland with preparation now underway for her spectacular naming ceremony at Queens Wharf on Tuesday.

A giant ferris wheel is being erected on the wharf today as the cruise line prepares for its massive Pacific Island Family Christmas celebration to mark the ship’s arrival.

Open to the public, the event will feature performances by headline acts Dane Rumble and Stan Walker, a spectacular fireworks display over Auckland harbour and a range of free entertainment including circus and street performers, a visit from Santa and face painting for the kids.

The celebration will coincide with the official naming of the ship with triple Olympic medallist Barbara Kendall, set to become Pacific Pearl’s godmother as she breaks a magnum of New Zealand bubbles on board.

At 63,500 tonnes, Pacific Pearl is the largest cruise ship to call New Zealand home.

"P&O Cruises is very excited to bring New Zealand its first homeported superliner - it really is a mark of how much the cruise industry has grown in this country over the past few years," said Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises.

“Not only is New Zealand becoming a more popular destination on the international cruise calendar, more and more New Zealanders are taking a holiday at sea each year.”

The family Christmas celebration will provide a great chance for Aucklanders to see the ship up close and sample the food and entertainment it offers, with food stalls at the festival serving cuisine from Pacific Pearl's restaurants and cafes, including Luke Mangan's Salt Grill.

During the event, a cruise prize will be raffled, with proceeds going to Variety – The Children’s Charity in its appeal to help the children of the men tragically lost in the Pike River Mine disaster. A second cruise will be auctioned on board the ship at the VIP function, with the proceeds also going to the same charity.

The fourth ship in P&O Cruises’ fleet, Pacific Pearl will carry 1800 passengers and features a giant poolside entertainment screen, a Salt Grill by Luke Mangan restaurant, multiple bars and lounges including a swim-up bar and an aerial acrobatics rig spanning the width of its pool deck.

An eight-night cruise onboard Pacific Pearl departing Auckland January 18, 2012 visiting New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, starts from just $999 per person quad share.
*subject to availability, conditions apply

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