P&O Cruises meat pies

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun will take centre stage for Australia Day celebrations in Sydney on Thursday, with the cruise ship ‘dressed’ with two of the biggest Australian flags ever displayed on the harbour.

Sailing into Sydney around 6am with around 1900 excited cruise passengers onboard, Pacific Sun will be moored mid-harbour for the spectacular national day celebrations.

The two giant-sized Australian flags – each measuring a mammoth 44 metres by 22 metres – will be unfurled on Pacific Sun port and starboard sides from around 7am.  

Pacific Sun’s Australia Day role comes as the countdown begins for the ‘Sydney Festival of Cruising’ throughout February – a record month for cruise ships in Sydney for the summer cruise season.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said Pacific Sun’s Australia Day involvement and the Festival of Cruising were signs of community confidence in cruising and its growing economic contribution.

“We are delighted Pacific Sun and her passengers will be part of the Australia Day celebrations on the harbour with the ship dressed appropriately with her two huge Australian flags,” Ms Sherry said.

“Along with the looming Festival of Cruising, it’s a reminder of the importance of cruise ships to the local economy with combined spending in Sydney by passengers, crew and cruise ship operators of $400 million in 2010-2011 alone.

“Passenger ships are a vital part of Sydney Harbour’s maritime heritage and this year marks the 80th anniversary of local cruising when P&O’s Strathaird sailed on a five-day cruise to the South Pacific.”

In the spirit of Australia Day celebrations, Pacific Sun’s booming ‘whistle’ will be used as the starter’s signal for the magnificent Tall Ships’ Parade at 3pm.

Pacific Sun’s passengers on a three-day Australia Day cruise – a first for P&O Cruises – will have a front row vantage point for the harbour spectacular.

Also in keeping with the day, they will be enjoying an Aussie icon – 2000 gourmet meat pies with the P&O Cruises’ brand baked into the pastry by Pacific Sun’s expert chefs.

To cap off an amazing day, Pacific Sun will reposition to Wharf 5 Darling Harbour after the Tall Ships’ Parade for front row viewing of the evening’s fireworks.

WHERE TO SPOT PACIFIC SUN:
5.20 am – Pacific Sun enters the Heads
6 am – Ship moors at Athol Buoy near Bradleys Head
7-8.30 am – Australian flags unfurled on both sides of Pacific Sun
3pm – Pacific Sun’s ‘whistle’ starts the Tall Ships Parade
4.30pm – Pacific Sun repositions from Athol Buoy to Wharf 5 Darling Harbour
4.45 pm – Pacific Sun sails under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
5.30pm – Pacific Sun comes alongside at Wharf 5 for firework celebrations
11pm – Pacific Sun sails to sea