P&O Cruises cancels homeporting seasons for Adelaide, Fremantle and Cairns

Adelaide, Australia - March 5, 2015: P&O Pacific Jewel cruise ship is docked at Port Adelaide to pick up passengers, Outer Harbour, South Australia

Continued uncertainty around the resumption of Aussie cruising has prompted P&O Cruises Australia to can its 2022 homeporting seasons for Adelaide, Fremantle and Cairns.

The decision means a P&O ship will not be based (or homeported) from the cities for seasons scheduled for the first half of 2022.

The cruise line will also cancel cruises scheduled to call in Papua New Guinea until October next year.

As a result, the following cruises will be cancelled:

  • Adelaide: cruises scheduled to depart from 18 February 2022 to 28 March 2022. The next homeporting season is scheduled for February 2023.
  • Fremantle: cruises scheduled to depart from 2 April 2022 to 25 April 2022. The next homeporting season is scheduled for April 2023.
  • The changes also mean the Fremantle-to-Singapore cruise scheduled to depart on 25 April 2022 will be cancelled.
  • Cairns: cruises scheduled to depart from 2 June 2022 to 29 June 2022. The next homeporting season is scheduled for May 2023.
  • Cruises scheduled to start in Cairns during this period all included multiple calls in Papua New Guinea. The country’s borders remain closed to most travellers.
  • The changes also mean the cruise due to re-position from Singapore to Cairns will be cancelled. The cruise was scheduled to depart Singapore on 19 May 2022.

In October, P&O extended its voluntary pause in operations for a further month until mid-February next year, applicable to cruises scheduled to depart from 15 January 2022 to 14 February 2022.

The cruise line has also revealed both passengers and crew members would need to provide proof of vaccination before boarding its ships when they begin sailing again.

Meanwhile, Graeme Blackman, the Sydney marine engineer who inspired the ‘Fly the Flag for P&O’ campaign, has turned his workshop into a cruise ship replica to advocate for the return of cruising in Australia.

Inter-Marine’s Mortdale workshop looks like a cruise ship, even including a ship’s bell when meetings are called to arrange technical services for an arriving ship or planned dry dock.

Graeme Blackman and Ross DiBartolo

When workshop staff stop for a break, their amenities room could easily double as a top deck lounge on a cruise ship.

“When it comes to the cruise ships, we are like family,” Blackman said.

“When there are no ships, there is no business for us either.

“We are also a technical supply chandler, so we can get requests from the ships for various equipment for repair, maintenance and upgrades.

“And when the ships come in, we also go on board to assist with this work. Since the pause in cruise ship operations, we have seen our turnover fall by as much as 80 per cent.”

Blackman flies three flags outside his workshop – the Australian flag, the P&O Cruises Australia flag and the Carnival Australia flag, which inspired the Fly the Flag campaign.


Featured image source: iStock/moisseyev

Latest News

  • Famil

TravHost launches expert hosting service to transform industry famils

TravHost offers a pioneering service bridging the gap between media professionals, travel agents and tourism organisations, addressing the demand for exceptional famil hosts. Founded by seasoned travel media professionals Fiona Harper and Carolyne Jasinski, TravHost is poised to revolutionise the way tourism organisations and travel companies approach famils. With decades of experience in tourism and […]

  • Tour Operators
  • Travel Agents

Book big and bag a spot of the TTC Tour Brand’s Top Achievers’ Famil

TTC Tour Brands’ Top Achievers Famil incentive is back, rewarding top-selling agents with the chance to embark on an unforgettable trip to a destination that remains a secret – for now. Agents who have sold any Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver and Contiki, from 1 December 2024 to 14 March 2025, go into the […]

  • Business Travel
  • Conferences

New Zealand International Convention Centre to open in February 2026

The New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC) has announced it is opening its doors to New Zealand and world conferences and events in February 2026. The long-awaited NZICC is set to transform New Zealand’s conference and events industry, boosting visitation and the wider economy with its world-class facilities. Located in the heart of Auckland’s CBD, […]

  • Cruise
  • Events

AmaWaterways invites AU/NZ travel trade to An Evening with AmaWaterways events

AmaWaterways has announced the dates of its upcoming An Evening with AmaWaterways events for travel advisors, just over a year after it entered the Australian and New Zealand markets. Dedicated to travel advisors, the events will be held in six cities and will be hosted by AmaWaterways’ regional sales managers, plus feature a presentation from […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

Mooloolaba cruise season boosts Sunshine Coast tourism and trade

Mooloolaba is set to welcome a series of cruise ships through February and March 2025, significantly boosting local businesses and tourism to the Sunshine Coast. Their arrival is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere and provide a substantial economic uplift to the region. Viking Sky kicks off the season on Sunday 8 February, with 930 […]

  • Food & Beverage

Little Pete Brewing opens first of its kind open-air bar

Little Pete Brewing has opened a new open-air bar at 543 Step Rd, Langhorne Creek, a must-visit South Australia destination for a drink with a view. The first-of-its-kind open-air bar sits on 8ha, surrounded by vineyards and paddocks, with the Bremer River flowing nearby and framed by majestic ancient river red gums. “We always felt […]

  • Events

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025

CENTREPIECE is set to make a splash at AIME 2025 with a one-of-a-kind activation that showcases their world-class event capabilities to inspire event planners and decision-makers. CENTREPIECE is located in the heart of Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Victoria’s epicentre for live sports and entertainment and home to world-renowned venues including Rod Laver Arena, AAMI Park, […]

  • Destinations
  • Tourism

NYC Tourism + Conventions announces two exciting new events

NYC Tourism + Conventions has announced ‘NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025’ and ‘Value Family Activities’ events lined up for this year. NYC Off-Broadway Week 2025 2-for-1 ticket sales for this event have begun with this season’s program featuring 29 Off-Broadway performances, including 18 new participants. The twice-yearly program runs from 17 February through 9 March with […]

  • Events
  • Tourism

Jeju wins bid to host 2028 Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has successfully secured the 14th Asia-Pacific Microscopy Conference (APMC14) for Jeju in November 2028. This was achieved in partnership with the Korean Society of Microscopy, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Jeju Convention Bureau, and Jeju International Convention Center. Korea was selected as the final host after strong competition at the 13th […]

  • Cruise
  • Food & Beverage

Oceania Cruises sets new standard for onboard dining: one chef for every 10 guests

Oceania Cruises, renowned for The Finest Cuisine at Sea, has set a new standard for onboard dining with an exquisite new menu evolution in The Grand Dining Room. Launching on its newest 1,200-guest ship, Allura, in July 2025, the reimagined menus introduce over 270 brand-new recipes, from curated Signature Eggs Benedict breakfast selection to a chic French […]