Cruising a popular option for PNG

Since P&O’s first dedicated cruise to Papua New Guinea, the country continues to grow in popularity as a cruising destination.

A recent study released by Carnival Australia, the Australian Government and World Bank Group member IFC, in June found that cruise tourism brought A$5.9 million into Papua New Guinea’s economy in 2015.

P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell told Travel Weekly its a destination made for cruising as it offers a string of stunning, remote ports, which would be very hard to reach by land or air, as well as a colourful culture and rich history.

This is something Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA)’s Australia and New Zealand representative, Lauren Whicker agrees with.

“The cruise industry in Papua New Guinea has really taken off in recent years opening up the destination to a new type of traveller. The increase in cruising options is making PNG more accessible to travellers who previously may have found PNG too ‘off the beaten track’ for their tastes,” Whicker told Travel Weekly.

“Cruise-ships are able to access some of the more remote islands and locations in PNG, giving visitors direct access to the raw culture and breathtaking scenery while still having the creature comforts of the ship,” Whicker added.

Tapping into this, P&O Cruises have over the past three years extended the range of cruises, now sailing to eight spectacular remote destinations across Papua New Guinea.

“Our latest port of call in Papua New Guinea, the Conflict Islands, was introduced in June this year when we became the first cruise line to ever call there,” Myrmell said.
In addition to existing cruises from Sydney and Brisbane, next month P&O cruises launch its first seven-night roundtrip PNG cruises from Cairns in Queensland’s far north. Then in 2017 the cruise company will be introducing the very first international seabreak cruise – a four-night cruise from Cairns to Papua New Guinea.
“It’s very exciting to be a cruise pioneer in our region and to see the benefits of cruise tourism flow through to the communities we visit,” Myrmell added.

P&O’s cruises to Papua New Guinea are also working with the prestigious National Geographic Travel, with a team joining a Pacific Aria voyage to the islands earlier this month.

The trip marked the first time that National Geographic Travel has worked with a cruise line in Australia, as well as its first visit to the remote Papua New Guinea Islands of Alotau, Kitava and Kiriwina and the city of Rabaul.

US-based Associate Photo Producer Jess Mandia and Associate Producer Becky Davis travelled to Brisbane to join the memorable 10-night voyage, which saw them learning about the history of Papua New Guinea, visiting special sites such as the skull caves of Alotau and Rabaul’s live volcano and enjoying beautiful snorkelling in the waters off Kitava and Kiriwina.

During their trip the duo produced daily Snapchat pieces and posted several images on the NatGeoTravel Instagram and Twitter accounts, attracting more than half a million likes. A story will appear on the National Geographic Travel website next month.

Photo - Jess Mandia, Captain Tony Herriott, Becky Davis

Pictured are (L-R): Jess Mandia – National Geographic Associate Photo Producer, Pacific Aria Captain Anthony Herriott and Associate Producer Becky Davis.

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