CARNIVAL AUSTRALIA used the unique occasion of virtually simultaneous departures from Melbourne on Wednesday (27 March) to set up a “photo opportunity” for the newly transferred Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter.
The former P&O Cruises Australia vessels Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter spent 10 and 7 days respectively at the Ports Victoria-operated Station Pier after the facility won the tender to host the pair while they underwent transformation into Carnival ships, following the parent group’s decision to retire the historic P&O brand.
Carnival Australia says the migrated ships retain onboard ‘P&O Fan Favourites’ while having ‘Signature Carnival Fun’ added. They will begin cruising under their new identities from tomorrow (29 March), the 2,636-pax Carnival Adventure from Sydney and the 2,600-pax Pacific Encounter from Brisbane. Judging by the Carnival website several early cruises are booked out.
The external transformation of the pair was completed with the addition of white Carnival badges to each side of the vessels’ funnels, and application of ‘Carnival Choose Fun’ logos and Southern Cross ‘swirls’ to the hulls.
The ships departed Station Pier within 20 minutes of each other on Wednesday in perfect conditions, guided by Port Phillip Sea Pilots.
