General News
29 August, 2022
Ship Makes Spectacular Arrival
As P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter arrived in Brisbane on Saturday to begin year-round cruising, some leading Cairns tourism operators were among a group of suppliers to ‘claim’ the elegant cruise ship for Queensland.
The Cairns supplier contingent included Nikki Giumelli, owner of the Bad Fishy Jetboat adventure and Tina and Rory Murphy, owners of Hummers and Harleys.
Both businesses have welcomed the return of cruising to Far North Queensland.
Nikki Giumelli said the return of the cruise market would benefit other businesses within FNQ.
“As a family-owned and operated business in Cairns, the cruise market provides a huge boost for our business, with arrivals we can plan for and guests who love our jet boating product,” Ms Giumelli said.
“We are thrilled to host cruise guests again and wowing them on the stunning Cairns Trinity Inlet!”
Tina and Rory Murphy said the arrival of the Pacifica Encounter was vital for the tourism industry in FNQ.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Pacific Encounter to our waters and to claim her as our own for Queensland!” they said.
“Her arrival brings with her a renewed confidence for our family-owned tourism business, and we’re excited to be soon welcoming her passengers to our slice of paradise in Far North Queensland.”
Pacific Encounter will play a major part in the revival of the Queensland cruise market, rebuilding Australia’s $5 billion cruise industry and reopening cruising to the South Pacific.
President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said Queensland, with more cruise destinations than any other Australian state, was vital in rebuilding cruise tourism in Australia.
“Queensland has already done so much to support the restart of cruising with the phased return of domestic itineraries, but it can now also be the springboard for the reopening of cruising in our region,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“We are looking forward to a near normal summer cruise season around Australia in 2022-23, and Pacific Encounter will be a big part of that ongoing success story here in Queensland,” she said
