Australia’s most luxurious cruise liner, the ‘Love Boat’ Pacific Princess, arrived in Adelaide today to open SA’s summer cruise season.
Sporting the same name as the company’s famous but now retired TV ‘Love Boat’, P&O Cruises’ Pacific Princess docked at Adelaide’s Outer Harbour at 8am as part of an exotic 28-day voyage from Africa. The sleek 30,000-ton ship sails at 6pm today for Melbourne and Sydney where she will be based until April offering Australians premium cruises to the South Pacific and tropical north Queensland.
Today’s visit by the 670-passenger liner is estimated to have generated $300,000 for the SA economy through passenger and crew spending, port fees and stores.
One of the world’s most spacious cruise ships, with 46 tons per passenger, Pacific Princess is renowned for her elegant Titanic-like staircase, rich country club décor, sumptuous cuisine spanning more than 15 courses a day, indulgent spa sanctuary and the private balconies adorning more than two thirds of cabins.
The boutique liner has won a loyal following amongst cruise fans since her debut in Australia in 2002, with surveys showing 100 per cent of passengers recommend her to others and 97 per cent indicating they would sail on Pacific Princess again.
“The fact we can now base a premium liner like Pacific Princess in Australia shows how cruising is booming, with sea-based holidays now the fastest growing sector of the travel industry,” said P&O Cruises Australia Managing Director Gavin Smith.
“This summer brings our biggest cruise season yet in Australia, with a record six local and visiting P&O Cruises ships carrying more than 100,000 passengers between now and April 2005.”
Mr Smith said Pacific Princess provided Australians with a premium but affordable cruise experience.
“For all the romance, style and indulgence that Pacific Princess offers, fares for her 2005-2006 program are available from only A$2245 per person* for an eight-night cruise including all main meals and entertainment, which represents excellent value,” he said. “And unlike other luxury liners that visit Australia, we use Australian dollars while the ship is based here.”
Christened in 2002 by Gabi Hollows, the founding director of the Fred Hollows Foundation and one of Australia’s ‘living national treasures’, the 11-deck Pacific Princess carries 370 crew –one for every two passengers – and features a ship-top pool, outdoor jacuzzis, Asian-themed spa complex, jogging track, four restaurants, eight bars and lounges, a library with a fireplace, casino and shopping arcade.
Mr Smith said Pacific Princess would return to Adelaide on October 3 and 31 in 2005 while P&O Cruises’ popular UK superliner Oriana would visit the city in March 2006.
“Adelaide is a popular port of call for our passengers and we know cruising is increasingly popular with South Australians as well,” he said.
* Fare based on a complete twin inside cabin