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P&O Cruises and Gold Coast singing star Ricki-Lee have remastered a classic state anthem, ‘Love You Queensland’, 30 years after its first release, which from today becomes the theme song each time the cruise line sails from Brisbane.

The collaboration has given the anthem a modern new sound with its release also marking the one-year countdown to P&O flagship Pacific Explorer being based in Brisbane from October 2020.

ARIA nominated singer-songwriter Ricki-Lee today performed her dynamic version of the much loved ‘Love You Queensland’ at an exclusive gig in Brisbane onboard P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn.

For the first time, the new version will this afternoon be played on Pacific Dawn to more than 2000 guests as the ship departs on a four-night cruise to the Whitsunday Islands.

P&O Cruises Head of Entertainment Brett Annable said P&O wanted Queenslanders to have a uniquely Queensland anthem that also sets the scene for Pacific Explorer calling Brisbane home.

“The sailaway song is played at the start of every P&O cruise leaving Brisbane, a celebration of singing and dancing with friends and family on the top deck as the ship leaves port,” Mr Annable said. “Guests and crew can’t help but feel that the cruise holiday starts at that moment.

“We also wanted to celebrate the one-year countdown to Pacific Explorer’s arrival in Brisbane by collaborating with Ricki-Lee, a much-loved Queensland talent and one of the hottest artists in Australia, to give our guests a sailaway song to remember.”

‘Love You Queensland’ has been remastered with the help of Garry McDonald and Laurie Stone, the original composers of the song, which was originally played throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Queensland is a P&O heartland state with the cruise line basing a ship in Brisbane since 2004. By the end of this year, P&O will have carried more than 1.6 million guests on nearly 950 cruises departing from the city.

P&O’s flagship Pacific Explorer’s first cruise from Brisbane will be the popular seven-night Pacific Island Hopper itinerary departing on October 24, 2020, followed by a seven-night Main Event themed cruise to the Melbourne Cup.

Cruises on Pacific Explorer sailing from Brisbane are available now. Fares start from $699* per person for a quad share cabin on a seven-night cruise to the Pacific Islands departing Brisbane on November 28, 2020.