P&O Cruises mark 90th anniversary and add Townsville to port calls

P&O Cruises are celebrating the company’s 90 years of cruising in Australia and have announced the addition of Townsville to its line-up of port calls from 2025. P&O’s Pacific Encounter cruise ship will also call Brisbane’s upgraded International Cruise Terminal home.

Throughout 2023, P&O Cruises will see more than 118 ship visits across Queensland, providing more than $500 million, both directly and indirectly to the state’s economy.

Setting sail into Townsville is being made possible by the $251 million Channel Upgrade at the Port of Townsville, being delivered by the State Government.

The project will see the 14.9-kilometre channel widened from 92 metres to 180 metres in width.

Due to be complete in 2024, the channel upgrade enables the port to accommodate larger vessels up to 300 metres long. This includes cruise ships capable of carrying more than 2,000 passengers.

The project is part of a broader $1.6 billion, 30-year expansion plan for the Port of Townsville.

QLD Premier Palaszczuk noted that P&O’s commitment means more tourists, both locally, interstate and internationally able to experience not only South-East Queensland but also more of North Queensland.

Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises President, Marguerite Fitzgerald adds “holding almost 40% of our market, Queensland is the epicentre of cruising. Our guests love cruising in Queensland, and we love cruising here. That’s why we have invested and will continue to invest in Queensland.

“Whether it’s supporting the Port of Brisbane through significant upgrades, calling the capital home for our magnificent Pacific Encounter or unlocking North and Far North Queensland through adding Townsville to our itinerary – we are proud to back Queensland and make it the number one destination for cruising.”

Port of Townsville CEOChief Executive Ranee Crosby shares “The Port of Townsville extremely excited to welcome P&O Cruises to the line-up for our 2024/25 Cruise Season.

“The Pacific Encounter and Pacific Explorer will be the biggest cruise ships Townsville has ever seen, carrying more than 4,500 passengers and almost 2,000 crew between them.

“These two vessels are the first to book in anticipation of our readiness to accommodate larger ships following the Channel Upgrade project. They are proof that the upgrade is going to deliver prosperity directly into North Queensland businesses, with $2.25 million expected to flow into the city during the two visits.

“P&O’s confidence in Townsville will help power our city’s cruise tourism into its next evolution, and the Port is looking forward to working closely with Townsville City Council, Townsville Enterprise and local tourism operators to ensure that we are ready to make the most of this exciting next phase.

“The Port of Townsville is now warmly welcoming bookings for cruise ships up to 300m long for visits from 1st December 2024.”