In keeping with Sydney Harbour’s maritime heritage, on April 18, the flagship of P&O Cruises Australia Pacific Explorer is expected to return home to restart cruising in Australia.
The arrival of Pacific Explorer after an absence of 2+ years will be embraced by suppliers as a sign that their livelihoods and businesses will soon be in recovery mode with the restart of cruising based on comprehensive protocols.
The arrival of P&O Australia's flagship is also expected to catch the attention of Sydneysiders as she enters the Heads on Easter Monday in returning to her homeport.
The Easter Monday holiday arrival is expected to give the city’s ‘boaties’ a chance to escort Pacific Explorer as the cruise ship makes her way up Sidney Harbour to the OPT-Overseas Passenger Terminal to be alongside at 10:30 a.m.
According to Marguerite Fitzgerald(President of Carnival Australia and P&O Australia), Pacific Explorer’s restart marked the start of rebuilding cruising in Australia, which, before the COVID crisis, contributed USD 5+ billion per year to the national economy.