PNG cruise return to be marked by Carnival ships arrival

Alotau, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, September 30, 2019. View from the harbor across to the container port and cruise terminal
By James Harrison


Ships from two Carnival Australia brands are set to return to Papua New Guinea as the country’s maritime borders are reopened for ships at Milne Bay Province and Conflict Islands.

As part of her inaugural season down under, Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess will visit the Conflict Islands making her maiden call on October 4 during a 12-night itinerary from Sydney.

It is the first of a number of maiden calls Princess ships will make as part of the fleet’s global restart.

Three days later, P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter will call at Alotau in Milne Bay Province during a 10-night cruise from the ship’s Brisbane home port, which also includes calls to Kiriwina Island, Rabaul and Conflict Islands.

Guests sailing on the Pacific Encounter voyage are being advised that their cruise itinerary will now include the return to PNG.

P&O Cruises’ sister ship Pacific Explorer has already notched up a number of firsts in reopening cruising to traditional cruise destinations in the Pacific. The P&O flagship was the first cruise ship back to Sydney and Brisbane and the first to cruise to New Zealand and Fiji. And, as recently announced, Pacific Explorer will be the first cruise ship to return to New Caledonia.

“We are delighted that Papua New Guinea and its idyllic island communities in the Milne Bay Province and New Britain are about to see the benefits of cruise tourism’s resumption,” said Marguerite Fitzgerald, president of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia.

“We are seeing ‘normal’ cruise operations steadily evolve putting together the elements and destinations that make Australia and the Pacific such a vibrant region for cruising.

“We also know that our guests and crew can’t wait to reconnect with the people of PNG and other island nations. With PNG coming on board, we can now look forward to Vanuatu becoming the next nation to reopen.

“Once Vanuatu is back online, the full suite of destinations that make cruising in our region so special will be restored.”

Image: View from the harbor across to the container port and cruise terminal (iStock/Kirsten Walla)

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