P&O Cruises boosts New Zealand sailings
Tuesday 20 July, 2004
P&O Cruises boosts New Zealand sailings
The 2005 New Zealand cruise season promises to be even bigger than 2004 with a record eight cruises to and from Auckland next winter on P&O Cruises' Pacific Sky.
In addition, the number of available berths on P&O Cruises ships based in Australasia will more than double with the October arrival of newcomer Pacific Sun, sister ship to Pacific Sky.
P&O Cruises' business development manager Shannon Currie said the expansion of the New Zealand cruise season reflected strong demand from New Zealanders for cruises from Auckland.
"When this year's record NZ season
ends in August, nearly 60,000 passengers will have spent an
estimated $43 million in Auckland with visitor numbers for
2003-04 up 5,000 "New Zealanders have
jumped at the chance to cruise on Pacific Sky from Auckland
this year with more than 7,000 passengers booked on the
ship's five cruises to and from Auckland. "This demand has
prompted P&O Cruises to extend next year's NZ cruise season
to offer an unprecedented eight sailings to and from
Auckland," Mr Currie said. P&O Cruises has just released
its new Take Me Away New Zealand brochure detailing Pacific
Sky's season of cruises from Auckland to the South Pacific
between June and August 2005. The cruises range between
eight and 13 nights and include two school holiday sailings
for the first time ever. The brochure also details two
four-night repositioning cruises on Pacific Sky as she sails
between Auckland and Brisbane at the beginning and end of
her New Zealand season.
Mr Currie says Pacific Sky's 2005
New Zealand programme also takes in new ports. "Pacific
Sky is a favourite of Kiwi travellers and with the growth in
cruising we are very pleased to be able to offer new ports
of call. These include Apia in Samoa, Luganville in Vanuatu
and the aptly-named Emerald Bay in New
Caledonia. P&O
Cruises has also released the new bumper 68-page
Australasian brochure - the biggest ever produced by the
company. It details cruises from two to 13 nights to the
South Pacific and tropical Queensland between September 2004
and October 2005 on both Pacific Sky and newcomer Pacific
Sun. The new programme sees P&O Cruises visit an
unprecedented 25 destinations - a 40 per cent increase over
last year - with Pacific Sky sailing from her new base in
Brisbane and Pacific Sun, operating from Sydney. To mark
the release of the full 2004-05 cruise line-up, P&O Cruises
is offering 20 per cent Funside Saver discounts for bookings
made before October 31, 2004. Funside Saver fares on a
seven-night cruise start from NZ$1095 per person in a
four-person cabin and from NZ$1785 per person in a twin
cabin, including all main meals and entertainment
(conditions apply). Fares include breakfast, full buffet
lunch, five course dinners and theme nights as well as
access to the ships' many bars and lounges. There's a
variety of live entertainment every night aboard ship and
each cabin has its own steward. The 46,000-ton Pacific Sky
features three pools, a health spa, gym, ship-top jogging
track, show lounge, cinema, casino, internet centre,
nightclub, library, 24-hour pizzeria and a children's
centre. Details on the new, Funshine four berth fares are
available through travel agents or P&O Cruises on 0800 44 17
66 or visit ENDS
"There's no doubt it's going to be our biggest
year in New Zealand by far. With two school holiday
departures from here, cruising makes great sense for a
winter family getaway especially when you consider all main
meals and entertainment are included in the fare."