by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:30 AM ET, Fri March 4, 2016
Photo via Wikipedia
P&O Cruises Australia announced on Thursday that the company will transfer the Pacific Pearl ship out of its fleet as part of its current expansion and renewal program.
According to Oivind Mathisen of CruiseIndustryNews.com, P&O Cruises Australia's Pacific Pearl will be taken out of service fleet in April 2017, finishing its time with 294 cruises on its resume and having carried a total of over 500,000 passengers.
During the ship's five years of service for P&O Cruises, the ship had become a favorite among the company's employees and customers. While many are sad to see the ship taken out of service, P&O Cruises is in the midst of a renewal program that has already seen the addition of the Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden cruise ships.
The brand is also adding the Pacific Explorer ship to its fleet in 2017, and is building the first-ever ship designed specifically for the Australian market, expected to be delivered in 2019.
The final journey for the Pacific Pearl will be a 16-day voyage to Singapore on March 27, 2017, giving cruise enthusiasts a final opportunity to pay homage to the P&O Cruises ship.
P&O Cruises president Sture Myrmell released a statement about the Pacific Pearl news:
"In becoming a much loved passenger favorite, the Pacific Pearl made a huge contribution to building the cruise category in the region particularly in New Zealand, introducing thousands of holidaymakers to the joys of cruising."
"In addition to contributing to the growth of cruising in Australia, the Pacific Pearl played a big part in growing the New Zealand season by more than 20 percent over the past four years. This year, P&O Cruises is sailing from Auckland for a record 140 days."
"P&O Cruises remains the only cruise line to homeport from New Zealand and we are committed to the market. Following the Pacific Pearl's farewell in 2017, the Pacific Jewel will become New Zealand's ship and will sail from Auckland for two months from September 1 offering fantastic holidays to the Pacific Islands before returning again in 2018."
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