Giving the Kiwi trade a fresh perception of P&O Cruises is one of the key objectives for the line this year, says Belinda Clark, sales manager New Zealand.

The comments come as Pacific Explorer begins a five-month season of home porting in Auckland. The ship arrived from Cairns on Friday and is now on her first winter voyage out of New Zealand – taking in New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

An industry gathering hosted by P&O at Harbourside in Auckland’s Ferry Building on Friday celebrated the return of cruises – with the star of the show, Pacific Explorer, clearly visible from the venue’s deck.

P&O New Zealand manager Belinda Clark notes another milestone – 20 years since the company started cruising New Zealand. ‘Next year we will carry 50,000 Kiwis. It’s not our biggest season but it is our most diverse, with events like our Pride Cruise, Country Cruise, Tribute to the King cruise and Kiwi Explorer Cruise.’ She says a key message for the trade is to get clients to book quickly, with even some of the later 2023 cruises getting close to selling out.

• Gerard Murphy, Bon Voyage Cruises... Gerard Murphy, Bon Voyage Cruises...
• Emma Bull, GO Holidays, Debbie... Emma Bull, GO Holidays, Debbie...
• Mike Southcombe, Travel Advocates; Belinda... Mike Southcombe, Travel Advocates; Belinda...
• Sarah Hunter, helloworld; Cherryl Browne,... Sarah Hunter, helloworld; Cherryl Browne,...
• Toni Paltridge, First Travel Group;... Toni Paltridge, First Travel Group;...
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P&O Cruises Australia has flagged a return to cruising at the end of May, with the launch of a new 2022 programme of sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.

The move follows the Federal Government’s decision to lift the cruise ban from April 17.

P&O Cruises is extending its voluntary pause in operations across Australia and New Zealand.