Riri River Canoeing near Santo, Vanuatu

by P&O Cruises on December 20, 2011 · View Comments

Follow ‘the chief’ Paul Harragon as he explores this natural spring with “the purest, sweetest water” in a canoe.

paul harragon riri river vanuatu

His expectations were high, but as you can see in this video, Paul was certainly not disappointed:

“This is amazing! It’s like you’re floating on air – it’s so clear! This is once-in-a-lifetime stuff!”

Keen to try this magical experience for yourself? Check out the details of this tour and start getting excited about your next holiday in this idyllic location:

Canoe The Riri River



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Stunning Cascade Waterfalls, Port Vila, Vanuatu

by P&O Cruises on December 8, 2011 · View Comments

Christine and Paul were on their first holiday without the kids, their first cruise and their first time out of Australia.

Walking through the forest, crossing rivers and swimming under waterfalls – this tour was the perfect way to celebrate their time alone.

“I couldn’t get over that last part – it was just spectacular!”

Stunning Cascade Waterfalls, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Feel like you deserve to get away with your partner and swim under a tropical waterfall? Why not check out the details of this shore tour and make it happen?

Cascade Waterfalls

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Christine and Paul were on their first holiday without the kids, their first cruise and their first time out of Australia.
Walking through the forest, crossing rivers and swimming under waterfalls – this tour was the perfect way to celebrate their time alone.
“I couldn’t get over that last part – it was just spectacular!”Christine and Paul were on their first holiday without the kids, their first cruise and their first time out of Australia.

Walking through the forest, crossing rivers and swimming under waterfalls – this tour was the perfect way to celebrate their time alone.

“I couldn’t get over that last part – it was just spectacular!”

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Seven romantic ideas for the couple on a cruise

by P&O Cruises on October 28, 2011 · View Comments

Being at sea and on holiday instantly puts you in the mood, however, if you really want to treat you and partner to some pampering or celebrate a special occasion together, P&O Cruises has plenty to offer.

Seven romantic idea for couples on a cruise

Here are some of our favourite onboard romantic experiences:

1. Breakfast in Bed

Neither of you have to rush off to work so enjoy the luxury of rest time.

For a complimentary continental breakfast delivered to your cabin, just fill out the breakfast card included in your cabin compendium and hang it outside your door before you go to sleep.

2. Snuggle up for a Movie

All cabins have their own TV with movie channels, where satellite reception permits.

There is also a great choice of first run films, some yet to be released locally in Australia.  Order in a guilty dessert to truly rival any night at the cinema.

3. Kid-free Escape

Indulge in a cocktail in the Oasis – a tranquil spot for adults only with daybeds, a bar, hot tub and spectacular 360-degree views.

If you have kids, we’ll take care of them in Kids Club programs while you grab a romantic moment alone together.

Find out more about the Oasis

4. Pamper the Body

Make yourselves feel beautiful and relaxed at the Aqua Health, Spa & Fitness® (currently Lotus Spa® on Pacific Sun and Pacific Dawn).

She can get a facial, while he enjoys a massage, or you can both try a sensuous wrap.

The Pacific Pearl includes a couples’ room with fully equipped whirlpool and steam sauna.

5. Fine Dining

Get dressed up and dine in style at one of our signature restaurants, such as salt grill, boasting the cuisine of internationally acclaimed celebrity chef Luke Mangan.

6. Stay in a Suite or Mini Suite

These lavish cabins offer everything you need to spoil the one you love. When you stay in a suite there are more than 25 extra luxuries included, such as:

- Welcome glass of champagne

- Private balcony

- Fully loaded iPod with docking station (Suite only)

- Bathrobe and slippers

- Pillow concierge

- Jacuzzi/Bath

More details on suite and mini suite facilities

7. Wedding and Renewal of Vows

What could be more special and unique than declaring your love at sea? Let us take care of everything for your big day. We can arrange the following:

- Weddings

- Civil unions (New Zealand only)

- Renewal of vows

- Commitment ceremonies

For more information download the Ceremonies at Sea brochure, which details our wedding package.

Wedding ceremonies can also be organised at a port of call in Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Fremantle and Auckland on embarkation day.

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You’re all booked for your cruise but the days won’t pass quick enough until your holiday begins – here’s one way to get you and your travel companions excited about the trip ahead!

The world of cinema has long been in love with the glamour of life aboard a cruise ship. The romance of sailing out to sea with a lover; the adventure of seeing foreign land on the horizon; the delight in making new friends on deck, at dinner or at a show. Here are some of our favourites moments on the silver screen:

1. An Affair To Remember (1957)

An affair to remember

It doesn’t get more glamorous than Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Acclaimed as one of the most romantic films of all time, this story has the two characters meet on a transatlantic ocean liner and fall in love, despite both of them being in a relationship. Even if you’ve seen this classic, it’s always worth watching again before your trip.

2. The Talented Mr Ripley (1999)

Starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett, this is a fantastic thriller set in the 1950s. Tom Ripley (Damon) poses as an affluent Princeton graduate and meets the wealthy young heiress Meredith (Blanchett) onboard a ship from New York to Italy. After several plot twists and turns in Italy, he finds himself onboard once more, this time racing from one side of the ship to the other to maintain his identity deception.

3. Out to Sea (1997)

Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau head up this comedy about two grumpy old men who embark on a luxury cruise and are forced to work as dance hosts in order to pay their way. Of course, they both manage to fit in time for finding a love affair as well.

4. Diamonds are Forever (1971)

This action-packed film, starring Sean Connery as James Bond, includes some key scenes aboard a cruise ship in which Bond escapes with Tiffany and fights the bad guys who are trying to kill them with a hidden bomb.

5. Ship of Fools (1965)

A classic drama, which was nominated for and won many Academy awards, it follows a group of eccentric characters onboard an ocean liner bound to Germany from Mexico in 1933. The film features a large cast of well-known actors, including Vivien Leigh.

Are you a big film buff? Don’t miss our Cinematastic show onboard including routines from movies like The Pink Panther, All That Jazz, Flashdance, Titanic and more.

Did we mention our ships also have recent releases on the big screen and in cabin?

More information on our entertainment onboard

What are your favourite cruising films? Let us know! www.facebook.com/POCruises

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Theme night costume ideas: Island

October 10, 2011

A popular part of the P&O Cruises onboard experience is our theme nights – the nights are generally announced onboard so packing ahead can be a bit tricky!
Luckily, there are costumes available to buy onboard, however, you may want to stand out from the crowd by making use of what you have in your luggage.

We [...]

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Taking care of your skin while on holiday

September 30, 2011

Skin cancers account for around 80% of all new cancers diagnosed each year in Australia.
Dr. Kerryn Greive, Scientific Affairs Manager at Ego Pharmaceuticals/SunSense, shares with us some healthy advice for keeping your skin safe during your cruise holiday.

“When we go on holidays it is a great opportunity to spend time in the sun; the [...]

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Discover WWII relics in Vanuatu

September 16, 2011

Did you know – during WWII the island of Santo, Vanuatu, was a base for more than 100,000 soldiers? As a result, the town of Santo is a bit like a living military museum, with WWII remnants such as buildings, airfields, and oddly wide streets.
The crown jewel of the town’s attractions, however, is the 30,000-ton [...]

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Cruiser talk: 10-time cruiser talks holiday activities

September 12, 2011

We recently chatted with cruising regular and active P&O Cruises Australia Facebook community member, Lynda Barry, about the social side of life at sea.
Here, she talks activities on land and fun for the whole family.

Which onboard activities have been a hit with you and your family?
Our favourite activity is definitely trivia. It’s really about the [...]

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Learn to cook Japanese onboard with Sachie

September 8, 2011

We are so pleased to welcome the lovely Sachie of Sachie’s Kitchen in Auckland onboard our Food & Wine Short Break cruise departing Auckland on 5 October. She will doing a live culinary demonstration and hosting a seven-course degustation.
Sachie is originally from Aichi in Japan and the home-styled recipes she teaches were handed down [...]

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Cruiser talk: My favourite holiday memory

September 6, 2011

As a 10-time cruiser, Lynda Barry has many memories to choose from. Here’s what stands out most:
“My family thinks (my favourite memory) was the time I was hypnotised by Greg Hudson on our very first cruise in January 2007. I have the DVD of my embarrassing moment hidden away so they can’t blackmail.

However, my actual [...]

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