If this isn’t the feel-good story of the year, we’re not sure what is. A pet galah named Harri was found two weeks after his owners had reported him missing.
But where was Harri? Enjoying a cruise on the Sea Princess of course.
As the story goes, Harri’s parents and vet have assumed the galah boarded the cruise when it was docked in Brisbane on January 21.
The biggest plot twist in the story? Harri’s owners, Michelle and Brett Cozzi, and their four-year-old daughter Georgia had been planning a cruise of their own just as Harri had gone missing.
Clearly, Harri got the wrong memo and boarded the incorrect ship. Though everyone onboard the Sea Princess was pretty happy to have him.
When found, Harri was given one of two options by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), be euthanised, or enjoy the rest of his cruise undisturbed and kept in a cabin.
Harri, the luxury traveller he is, chose the latter.
Speaking to Travel Weekly, Carnival Australia Corporate Communications Manager David Jones said, “They say every day in cruising is different but this is a truly unique situation.
“To have Harri the galah cruising as a stowaway on one of our ships, Sea Princess, while his family cruises on another of our ships, P&O’s Pacific Aria, is truly unique.
“It’s a classic feel-good story with everyone in the two cruise lines and government authorities doing everything they can to achieve a great family reunion when Sea Princess arrives in Brisbane on Sunday while accounting for all biosecurity requirements.
“Needless to say the lines are running hot between Sea Princess and Pacific Aria to give the family regular updates on Harri’s progress.
“We even delivered a bottle of wine to the family on Pacific Aria from Harri with a note saying ‘hope you’re having as much fun on Aria as I’m having on Sea Princess’.
“The family are the heroes in this. Harri was microchipped and his family easily contacted as a result.”
According to ABC News, MPI’s border clearance services manager Andrew Spelman said, “The bird could have been carrying avian diseases with the potential to harm New Zealand’s native bird population,”
“There was also a requirement for MPI officers to check on the bird and its containment facilities at every new port visit in New Zealand.”
Spelman said MPI needed photographic evidence of Harri’s containment and the name of the officer looking after the bird.
“The vessel operators have been very particular in following our directive, so we’re satisfied any biosecurity risk has been mitigated,” he said.
