More than 5000 holidaymakers are celebrating Australia Day on three P&O cruise ships on Sydney Harbour today, with guests onboard Pacific Eden enjoying a surprise concert with Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes.
Jimmy kicked off his special morning acoustic performance with the popular Flame Trees, performing to hundreds of guests on Pacific Eden’s Oasis pool deck, against the backdrop of Sydney.
P&O’s ships have been part of the Harbour action on Australia Day for the past five years, with this year seeing three ships – Pacific Eden, Pacific Pearl and Pacific Dawn – berthed in Sydney for the day’s celebrations.
As part of the cruise line’s Great Australian Deck Party, guests are enjoying front row seats to all the Harbour activity as well as a day of Australian movies and food including a BBQ, green and gold pancakes and lamingtons.
Australian music is also high on the day’s playlist, given P&O is one of the nation’s biggest supporters of Australian musicians, with hundreds of live acts performing across their fleet every year.
Jimmy said he was happy to be part of the celebrations onboard Pacific Eden. “You couldn’t get a more amazing setting for an Australia Day concert than a ship on Sydney Harbour – there was a really great vibe to the morning.”
Popular Australian chef Luke Mangan – who has restaurants across P&O’s fleet – was also onboard Pacific Eden during the day, creating a deconstructed “lamb-ington” treat for guests.
P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said Australia Day was a big day on the cruise line’s calendar.
“As Australia’s only homegrown cruise line, as well as the nation’s largest cruise line, Australia Day is a big event for us and we’ve very proud to celebrate it with more than 9000 guests across our five ships today,” Mr Myrmell said.
All three ships on Sydney Harbour will depart the city this evening, with Pacific Pearl returning Friday January 27, Pacific Eden sailing back in on Saturday January 28 and Pacific Dawn cruising back to its homeport of Brisbane. Pacific Aria and Pacific Jewel are both spending the day at sea.
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