Vibrant welcome for Pacific Dawn in PNG
Traditional war canoes escorted P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn into Milne Bay for the inaugural visit to Papua New Guinea, with the superliner arriving during the sacred Kenu and Kundu Festival – an annual event with cultural performances, canoe races and vibrant costumes.
P&O Cruises has worked closely with PNG Tourism Promotion Authority to open up cruise tourism in the region. The Papua New Guinea Government funded the construction of a purpose built wharf at Alotau and jetties at several other ports to allow the cruise line’s superliners to call.
The visit is the first of six scheduled calls for the cruise line at Alotau over the coming 18 months.
On hand to welcome the ship and head of P&O Cruises Ann Sherry was prime minister Peter O’Neill, along with the governor for the Milne Bay Province, Titus Philemon, the CEO of PNG Ports, Stanley Alphonse, and the CEO of PNG Tourism, Peter Vincent.
Pacific Dawn is calling at Doini Island and the Trobriand Islands during the inaugural nine-night roundtrip cruise from Brisbane.
Pacific Dawn will offer a second cruise to Papua New Guinea in November, while next year’s schedule will feature four cruises to the region from both Brisbane and Sydney.
Photo by Colin Taimbari
Ian Jarrett
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