Knitted with love by P&O Cruises’ passengers, a bounty of blankets has been delivered to a Vanuatu hospital during Pacific Jewel’s recent visit to Port Vila.
Passengers onboard the cruise line’s ships have been busy turning hundreds of Save the Children’s Born to Knit kits into warm blankets for newborn babies as part of a new partnership with the children’s organisation.
Crew members from Pacific Jewel donated the blankets to the Vila Central Hospital maternity ward on behalf of the cruise line and its passengers.
Deputy Cruise Director Alun Sullivan, who has been driving the program onboard Pacific Jewel, said it was a rewarding initiative for crew and passengers alike.
“It's a fantastic activity that unites our passengers and crew in a great mission – after all, who could resist knitting blankets for little babies?”
“The highlight was seeing two sets of twins born within a few hours of one another wrapped up in blankets made on our ship,” said Melissa Yates, Pacific Jewel Administration and Revenue Director.
Since the P&O Pacific Partnership launched in January, the cruise line has offered its passengers the chance to give back to the Pacific Island communities they visit with knitting needles and small change.
Nichola Krey, Country Director Vanuatu - Save the Children Australia, said it was great to see how the partnership was already benefiting children in Vanuatu.
“The blankets, beanies, jumpers and all the other garments knitted by P&O Cruises’ passengers will make a huge difference to children and newborns who will now be kept snug and warm during the cooler winter months. We’re so grateful to the cruise line and their passengers for supporting our work in Vanuatu,” she said.
The Born to Knit program has been so popular onboard P&O Cruises’ fleet that it only took
passengers a few months to knit hundreds of squares to create more than 40 colourful blankets. Several hundred more kits have been made available onboard.
The P&O Pacific Partnership is part of Carnival Australia’s ongoing charity program, Carnival Cares, which also supports Lifeline Australia.
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