Pacific Encounter, the latest addition to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, today sailed from Singapore on her way to Australia, another step in the revival of Australia’s $5 billion a year cruise industry.

Pacific Encounter will sail into Sydney Harbour on August 2 where flagship Pacific Explorer is already home ported having become the first of Australia’s home-grown cruise line to return home after more than two years.

Encounter’s time in Sydney will be a relatively ‘brief encounter’ before heading to Brisbane where she will continue the long tradition of basing P&O ships at the epicentre of the Queensland cruise market.

President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said Pacific Encounter’s arrival would be another step towards the rebuilding of Australia’s cruise industry.

“Knowing that we have a second P&O ship only weeks away reminds us all that cruising is making a return to normal scheduling,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“It is hard to believe that as warmer weather returns, Australia is now on the way to having a near normal 2022-23 summer cruise season.”

“This is testament to our onboard and shoreside teams and to the many P&O passengers who were patiently waiting during the pause for the opportunity to cruise again.”

“We can’t wait for Pacific Encounter to depart on her first guest cruise from Brisbane on August 20, a 7-night Barrier Reef Discovery Cruise. This itinerary will include Pacific Encounters’ maiden call to Cairns helping to bring cruise tourism back to Far North Queensland.”

During her recent ‘wet dock’ in Trieste, Pacific Encounter received her P&O transformation. This included the creation of its multi-storey atrium and the addition of new dining outlets from Australian chef and restaurateur, Luke Mangan, and award-winning Melbourne chef Johnny Di Francesco.

So, it is time to share the news – Pacific Encounter is on her way.