In keeping with Sydney Harbour’s rich maritime heritage, on April 18, P&O Cruises Australia’s flagship Pacific Explorer will return home to lead the restart of cruising in Australia.

Pacific Explorer’s arrival after an absence of more than two years will be embraced by cruise suppliers as a sign that their businesses and livelihoods will soon be in recovery mode with the resumption of cruising based on comprehensive protocols to support its return.

The P&O Cruises Australia flagship’s arrival is also expected to capture the imagination of Sydneysiders as it enters the Heads on Easter Monday in returning to its home port.

The Easter Monday holiday arrival will give the city’s ‘boaties’ an opportunity to escort Pacific Explorer as the ship makes its way up the harbour to the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) to be alongside at 10.30am.

President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said Pacific Explorer’s return marked the start of rebuilding cruise tourism in Australia, which, prior to the pandemic, contributed more than $5 billion a year to the national economy.

The approximate schedule for Pacific Explorer’s arrival on April 18 is as follows:

• 9.30am – Pacific Explorer enters Sydney Heads
• 10.10am – Passing Fort Denison
• 10.20am – Passing the Sydney Opera House
• 10.30am – Alongside at the OPT