P&O Five Ship Spectacular: Giant cruise liners host party in Sydney

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This was published 8 years ago

P&O Five Ship Spectacular: Giant cruise liners host party in Sydney

By Larissa Ham
Updated
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It had all the ingredients for a Sydney party to remember: five giant cruise liners in the harbour together for the first time, dozens of live music acts and DJS, and 9000 passengers poised with party shoes and piña coladas.

And Wednesday night's historic five-ship spectacular didn't disappoint, with P&O – and the weather gods – pulling out all stops to welcome two new ships to its fleet, the Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

Even before headline act Jessica Mauboy strode on Pacific Aria's stage in an all-white jumpsuit, the party was sending ripples across the harbour.

Fireworks light up Sydney Harbour as part of the P&O Five Ship Spectacular.

Fireworks light up Sydney Harbour as part of the P&O Five Ship Spectacular.

See: On board P&O's newest ships, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden

P&O's five liners, dotted around Sydney Harbour in striking fashion after arriving in a V-formation early Wednesday, acted as centre stage for five separate celebrations. The fun kicked off around 4pm amid perfect blue skies and ended with fireworks under a full moon.

Mauboy, performing with the Sydney Harbour Bridge as backdrop at Circular Quay, was one of 25 live acts, including The Veronicas and Samantha Jade, to entertain passengers decked out for the white-themed celebrations.

The extravagant night marks a new direction for P&O, which is sparing no expense to let the world know that it's leaving buffets and sometimes-troubled booze cruises in its wake.

Before Wednesday's party, P&O Cruises senior vice-president Sture Myrmell said it "was sure to become an iconic moment in Sydney Harbour's history as well as providing lasting memories for the thousands of guests on board".

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The company's newest ships, Pacific Area and Pacific Eden, were refurbished in Singapore, and are unrecognisable from the cruise ships that many Australians have holidayed on in past decades.

Both new ships feature stylish resort-style pool decks with retractable roofs, more upmarket dining options than those of old, theatres, a cellar door, sumptuous jazz bars, a casino and an adventure park, among other things.

Cruising has become big business in Australia. According to CEO of Carnival Australia (which owns P&O), Ann Sherry, the Australian cruise industry will this year generate $3.6 billion in economic activity in Australia, and support more than 10,000 jobs – mostly in New South Wales.

Ms Sherry said more than one million Australians a year now choose to holiday aboard a cruise ship.

Of course cruising is not traditionally known as a health retreat (though there are now plenty of healthy eating options, plus mini tennis courts, a basketball court and plenty of stairs to climb), and feeding the army of passengers is an industry in itself.

Over one year across P&O's new expanded fleet, hungry passengers are expected to consume 75,000 litres of milk, 900,000 kilograms of chicken and 480,000 dozen fresh eggs.

And, one can only imagine, untold amounts of cakes, cocktails and sparkling wine – only a skerrick of it cracked over the bows of the company's two newest ships.

See also: Largest ship to be based in Australia arrives
See also: Cruising season 2015/16: Everything you need to know

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