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Pacific ExplorerP&O’s flagship has already achieved several milestones as the first cruise ship to return to Sydney on April 18, the first cruise ship back to Brisbane and, more recently, the first to return to New Zealand and Fiji.

Guests on the October 1 cruise have been given the good news about the Noumea and Lifou calls but also advised that Vanuatu is not quite ready to reopen to cruise calls.

“As our own return to service gathers pace the South Pacific is reconnecting with cruise tourism knowing how important its contribution is to island economies,” said Marguerite Fitzgerald, President of P&O Cruises Australia.

“With New Caledonia coming back online, P&O is once again widening its cruising horizons, and we look forward to Vanuatu reopening its maritime borders to cruise ships before too long.

Guests sailing from Sydney on October 1 on a nine-night itinerary have been advised that they will now make history as New Caledonia reopens its maritime borders to cruise tourism.

Having already recorded a series of restart ‘firsts’, P&O Cruises Australia’s flagship Pacific Explorer is set for another in becoming the first cruise ship to return to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.

Pacific Explorer will make an overnight call to Noumea accompanied by local celebrations to mark the return of cruising, followed by a call to Lifou in the Loyalty Islands.

“Our positive relationships with these countries have been built up over decades, and there is shared confidence and trust in what we do.”

The amended itinerary is as follows:

Saturday, 1 October 2022: Depart Sydney

Sunday, 2 October 2022: At Sea

Monday, 3 October 2022: At Sea

Tuesday, 4 October 2022: Noumea

Wednesday, 5 October 2022: Noumea

Thursday, 6 October 2022: Lifou

Friday, 7 October 2022: At Sea

Saturday, 8 October 2022: At Sea

Sunday, 9 October 2022: At Sea

Monday, 10 October 2022: Arrive in Sydney

Guests have also been advised of specific New Caledonia requirements, including sailing on the cruise. All guests must hold international travel insurance with cover for cruising and COVID-19 and the possibility of being subject to further Covid-19 testing before disembarking.

Written by: Jill Walsh