P&O Cruises has been sailing the Australasian region and making holiday dreams come true for 85 years. With seven home ports in Australia and New Zealand plus destinations all over the Pacific, P&O Cruises gives you the opportunity to explore some of the world's most beautiful destinations.
Swim in the sparkling waters of the Whitsundays, catch glimpses of native wildlife on Kangaroo Island, see volcanic craters and geysers in New Zealand or learn about a different culture in Papua New Guinea. Whether you're looking for an island getaway, a foodie adventure or just a chance to sunbake on a fuss free holiday, P&O has the cruise for you at a budget-friendly price.
Regular Cruises from Auckland operate during June to November and offer a choice of South Pacific Island hoppers, Fiji cruises and the annual Kiwi Explorer cruise. >
Also on offer for Kiwis are shorter 3 or 4 night mini breaks from Auckland which are perfect to sample cruising. Check out the super popular Country Music Cruise, Comedy Escapes and Marlborough Wine Country getaways
Something for Everyone!
See why we love Pacific Explorer. Whiz down waterslides by day, enjoy great restaurants, bars and edgy stage shows at night. There’s something for every member of the family.
When it comes to dining, you are spoilt for choice with 12 dining experiences all included in your cruise fare. Or treat yourself to something special at Luke's our amazing celebrity chef restaurant with Luke Mangan. Enjoy a mouth-watering signature burger at lunch or a delicious 3 course la carte dinner with the sunset. Or try our award winning pizza in 400 Gradi, in partnership with award-winning Melbourne chef, Johnny Di Francesco.
P&O's stylish yet relaxed modern Australian interior designs make Pacific Explorer the perfect place to holiday.
We can’t wait to welcome you onboard.
The Bonded Store
In partnership with Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Sit, swill and savour the finest liquors at warm and inviting The Bonded Store. Set your tastebuds free in this glamorous speakeasy as our mixologists serve up fantastic cocktails. Or get inspired during a gin or whisky masterclass.
Black Circus
Enjoy new levels of entertainment with exclusive dinner and show packages and a glamorous cabaret style show, Love Riot. Get ready for a fetish-laced acrobatic feast for the senses. It’s the ultimate night out full of spectacle and outrageous fun.
Blue Room
Hit the dance floor and cut some shapes to some funky live tunes in the Blue Room. You’ll catch some home grown live acts every night.
Stage Shows- It's Showtime!
All of our original stage shows are developed and choreographed by a leading Australian production company exclusively for P&O Australia audiences, so you can’t see them anywhere else. With an exciting program of shows to choose from, you’ll want to catch them all.
Find your new local
Try a range of delicious craft and small batch beers at the cosy pub atmosphere of Explorer Hotel. We recommend you visit all of our inviting bars and pubs. You’ll find your favourite in no time.
Get splashy and ride our Disco Diver and Super Slider Waterslides as many times as you like, splash out in our interactive waterparks or take a dip in one of the pools or spas.
Challenge your mates or family to a friendly game of Barefoot Bowls. Go on, just roll with it!
Choose your Adventure with P&O Edge. The P&O Edge Adventure Park is your ticket to action and excitement. Try Rock Climbing, The Flying Fox, Walk the Plank and more. Plus there's a special program designed just for kids.
Head to the Arcade and test your skills with the latest video games.
Luke's
Sit back and relax while Luke Mangan takes care of the menu. Enjoy a casual yet mouth-watering burger for lunch or a delicious three course dinner with the sunset.
400 Gradi
Foodies rejoice! We’ve got the world’s best pizza, seriously. Our authentic pizzeria is inspired by award-winning chef, Johnny Di Francesco.
Complimentary Dining
We offer up to 12 different dining options included in your cruise fare. Dine a la carte at Waterfront, Angelo’s or Dragon Lady or if you after something more casual, choose from 9 deliciously different outlets at The Pantry, our food-court style restaurant.
Please note: Stateroom images and features are samples only. Actual furniture, fixtures, colors, configurations and window/porthole views may vary.
Sydney is Australia''s showcase: the oldest settlement, the largest and most thriving city, the cultural melting pot. It curves around idyllic Port Jackson, where sandstone cliffs and bright islands complement the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. Wander the cobbled colonial streets of the historic Rocks quarter, or tour the mansions of Watson''s Bay.
Australia's "Garden City" rejoices in its greenery, from the Fitzroy Gardens to the magnificent Royal Botanical Gardens. Hiding behind the sky-scrapers along the Yarra River are the graceful 19th-century mansions of the city's Gold Rush years. Sample one of the sixty different international cuisines, which make Melbourne the food capital of Australia.
The city of Adelaide is sophisticated and cosmopolitan with a population in the millions. Pride in its heritage and traditional values are prevalent here. There is also a comfort and convenience about Adelaide that is rarely found in cities of its size. The streets contain many lively cafes and restaurants that reflect the huge diversity of its ethnic communities. Visitors of all nations can feel at home here.
Albany, Australia is home to the first deepwater port in Western Australia, Princess Royal Harbor, which happens to be the largest natural harbor on the entire south coast of the Australia mainland outside of Melbourne. Albany has become popular with retirees, with inhabitants enjoying the fresh air, clean beaches, and fine views over the Southern Ocean, while still proving a thriving regional center. Albany's many industries consist of tourism, fishing and agriculture. In addition to the quality of life the residence enjoy, Albany is a clean power society. The Western Power Wind Farm provides 75% of the town's electricity usage with its 12 turbines driven by the strong southerly winds.
Fremantle is a busy commercial cargo port on the southwestern shore of Western Australia. This sheltered, all weather port has two active harbors in operation. The Inner Harbor was opened on May 4 1897 and is located at the mouth of the Swan River adjacent to the historic City of Fremantle. The Outer Harbor, opened on January 11, 1955, is a deepwater bulk port located 20 kilometers south of the inner harbor on the Cockburn Sound. It was specifically developed to service the Kwinana industrial area that expanded rapidly in the 1960s and 70s.
Exmouth is a popular tourist destination because of it's year round fishing and beach weather, not to mention the great diving conditions. Some of the world's finest and most accessible coral reef exploration can be done here. This is because Exmouth is situated alongside the Cape Range National Park and Ningaloo Reef Marine Park. While there, you may have the opportunity to see a whale shark.
Tiny Broome sits in the windswept "Far Corner" of western Australia, on the scenic, arid shores of the Indian Ocean. It became famous early in the century for its pearls and mother of pearl, some of Australia's finest. Pearls are still important here, but tourist attractions -- including the dramatic pearl fishermen's cemetery, and superb ten-mile-long Cable Beach - are Broome's greatest wealth.
Named after evolutionist Charles Darwin, this tropical city on the top end of Australia is a former frontier town with a rough-and-tumble past. Darwin's growth was achieved back in 1871 with the discovery of gold at Pine Creek, and today a number of historic buildings from that era remain. Darwin is also the center of the aboriginal community, the world's oldest culture. From here, you can visit Kakadu National Park, a World Heritage Site renowned not only for its Australian wildlife but Aboriginal rock art.
Long before the Europeans began searching for spices in the West, nutmeg, mace and cloves had brought trade to the Moluccas, the legendary Spice Islands of the East Indies. Ambon, the capital of Maluku province, was the center of the Dutch clove monopoly and was once known as the "Queen of the East." Echoes of Sinbad the Sailor and Captain Kidd drift across deserted beaches and turquoise bays teeming with more species of fish than just about anywhere else in the world. Here in these transparent waters, divers plunge for pearls among pristine coral reefs. Here, too, you can visit intriguing villages with their traditions still intact.
The Great Barrier Reef city of Cairns is the northernmost city of Queensland and is located amidst endless stretches of white sandy beach, attracting visitors from around the world. Although Cairns is the scuba-diving capital of the Great Barrier Reef, you can also wander along the Esplanade, with its remarkable views over Trinity Bay, or explore the Heritage Walk with its fascinating insights into the city's history.
Nestled between the Gold Coast to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north, laid-back Brisbane makes the most of its magnificent beaches, offering an ideal blend of Aussie ease and urban energy. Wander in the lush Botanical Gardens, shop in the Queen Street Mall, or enjoy the countless cafes and restaurants along the banks of the Brisbane River.
New Zealand's largest city is draped over seven volcanoes and wrapped around Waitemata Harbour (meaning "sea of sparkling waters" in Maori). Despite its British feel, it is the world's largest Polynesian city. Shop for Polynesian crafts on Queen Street, the main drag. Or from atop Mt. Eden, overlook the "City of Sails," which will host the America's Cup races in 2000.