The History and Facts of P&O Cruises
PO or P&O Cruises has been dubbed as the company which invented and gave birth to cruising. It was in 1837 when P&O Cruises was and founded and since then, PO Cruise ships have been providing memorable worldwide cruising experience to voyagers. The first voyages offered by PO cruises were called excursions. In this sea voyage, passengers from England have sailed the sea together with royal mails aboard ships which docked on Mediterranean and Iberian Peninsula ports. On their way home, the said passengers traveled on-board the other PO mail trips.
PO cruises is no different from all other cruising companies which have their own struggles and difficulties during their formative years. However, PO cruises is one of those companies in the industry which are fortunate to survive the test of time and make a great name and reputation in the cruising business. Back in 1835, there was a man named Arthur Anderson, a native of Shetland, who founded and launched his very own newspaper. In order to fill the empty space in the periodical’s first issue, Arthur placed a newspaper advertisement about a make-believe voyage to the islands of Scotland.. His idea was described as revolutionary yet it foretold of today’s still growing holiday industry worldwide.
Years later, P&O cruises placed the so-called pioneer advertisement on the Times newspaper in London about a sea voyage aboard Tagus, a paddle steamer weighing 782 tons. From then on, PO cruises has been developing it long-established classical voyages.
Nowadays, P&O Cruises is the leader of all cruise lines in New Zealand and Australia which provides journeys to popular destinations in Asia, South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. PO cruise ships depart from ports in Auckland, Newcastle, Fremantle, Brisbane and Sydney. Pacific Sun (capable of carrying 1,900 passengers), Pacific Dawn (can accommodate 2,050 passengers) and the Pacific Jewel which can also carry 2,050 passengers, consist PO’s local fleet of ships. Personal cruising preferences are allowed and offered to passengers of Pacific Dawn which has balcony cabins, exceptional entertainment activities and 5 evening dining venues. The Pacific Jewel has the largest floating spa and Pand O’s very own evening entertainment called Pacific Cirque, which is a circus show on sea.
Aside from holding a big name in the cruising industry, another exceptional fact about PO cruises is its outstanding involvement in the community. Some passengers may be enjoying the excellent services on-board the P&O cruise ships yet they probably do not know that PO cruises also perform noble contributions for the members of society. P&O cruises partners with three charity institutions and support projects which will enhance the lives of less endowed people.
These three charitable institutions supported by P and O cruises are:
- Make- a-wish foundation – As a gold supporter of Make- a-wish, PO cruises contributes in making the wishes of special children and their family come true. PO holds yearly events and donation gathering for Make- a-wish projects.
- Catherine Freeman Foundation – Passengers and crew member help in collecting donations for this foundation’s projects which are intended to assist in providing education for the indigenous Australians.
- Lifeline Australia – PO cruises donates surplus supplies from its offices and ships like appliances, computers and blankets to the foundations whose projects are intended for helping people with mental health problems.