An Occasion to Remember as P&O Cruises Celebrates 175 Years

HRH The Princess Royal named Aurora in 2000 and Oceana in 2003

To mark 175 years of its worldwide cruising history, P&O Cruises invites past passengers and crew to share their memories on a new website dedicated to celebrating the cruise line’s colourful heritage.

Travellers are encouraged to upload their stories, photos and memories of P&O Cruises on the website (www.175yearsofcruising.com.au), which already contains a collection of fascinating historical items.

Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises in Australia, launched the website to celebrate the 175th anniversary of its sister line in the UK, P&O Cruises World Cruising.

Facebook fans can also share their cruising memories on P&O Cruises’ Facebook page (www.facebook.com/POCruises).

P&O fleet Southampton

Meanwhile, 175th celebrations commenced in the UK cruise line’s home port of Southampton on July 3, local time. The Grand Event saw all seven ships of the P&O Cruises fleet come together for the first time to mark the historic occasion.

P&O Cruises World Cruising managing director, Carol Marlow said it was an honour to have Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal attend the official reception on board Oriana.

“As one of our esteemed godmothers* Princess Anne’s presence and the congregation of our entire fleet to celebrate 175 years of heritage will go down in British maritime history and provide long lasting memories,” Ms Marlow said.

The Grand Event is part of a year of celebrations in 2012, marking 175 years of heritage. P&O Cruises can trace its roots back to 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was awarded the Admiralty contract to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond.

Today, P&O Cruises is Australia’s leading cruise line providing the only year-sound sailings on its three ships – Sydney-based Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel and Brisbane-based Pacific Dawn. P&O UK World Cruising liners Oriana, Arcadia and Aurora regularly visit Australian and New Zealand ports.

For more information regarding the Grand Event in Southampton yesterday please see www.grandevent175.co.uk