P&O Cruises has announced that it will base its superliner Pacific Jewel in Fremantle for a season of cruises to Indonesia, Asia and Western Australian ports, in a move which marks a multi-million dollar economic boost for the State.
Revealing details of its new 2014-15 schedule of cruises today, the cruise line said its 70,000-tonne superliner Pacific Jewel would sail on seven roundtrip cruises from Fremantle between March and May 2015.
The season, which will include eight turnaround calls by the superliner in Fremantle and 11 visits to other Western Australian ports, is expected to generate more than $10 million for the local economy in passenger and crew spending, provedoring and port charges.
Fremantle last hosted a P&O Cruises’ ship in 2011, when the smaller 47,000-tonne Pacific Sun was based in Western Australia for a series of cruises.
Pacific Jewel’s Fremantle program will feature new P&OSeaAsia cruises, including two 12-night sailings to Lombok, Bali and Komodo Island in Indonesia, as well as calls to Broome and Geraldton, priced from $1299* per person quad share. Meanwhile a 14-night cruise from Fremantle to Singapore, with calls to Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, is priced from $1299* per person quad share.
Pacific Jewel will also sail on two eight-night cruises to the Western Australian ports of Geraldton, Broome and Exmouth and will visit Esperance during a cruise from Adelaide or Melbourne to Fremantle. In addition, the superliner will offer three 3-night sojourns at sea, known as P&OSeaBreaks, for those wanting a shorter holiday.
In all, Pacific Jewel will make 19 calls to Western Australian ports including eight to Fremantle, four each to Broome and Geraldton, two to Exmouth and one to Esperance.
Announcing the move, P&O Cruises Senior Vice President Tammy Marshall said the new schedule confirmed Western Australia’s position on the nation’s cruise map.
“As demand for cruising grows across Australia we’re seeing an increase in passenger numbers from Western Australia as well as growing interest in the State’s cruise destinations from travellers across Australia,” Ms Marshall said. “Our latest program responds to that demand and we expect Pacific Jewel’s season of cruises from Fremantle to be very popular among local and interstate travellers.”
Ms Marshall described the new program as a milestone for the cruise line, with its fleet of three ships offering roundtrip cruises from every mainland state for the first time.
P&O Cruises is Australia’s leading cruise line, carrying hundreds of thousands of Australians on holidays each year on its three ships: Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl. Pacific Jewel carries 1900 passengers with features including Aqua HealthSpaFitnes – the largest spa in P&O Cruises’ Australian fleet – an aerial for circus performances on deck and five dining options including Salt Grill by Luke Mangan. The ship also offers eight bars and lounges, two swimming pools and four kids’ clubs.
For more information visit www.pocruises.com.au phone 13 24 94 or see a licensed travel agent.
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