P&O Cruises Calls for Tales from the High Seas on Arcadia

British cruise line, P&O Cruises, wants to hear from Australians with a story to tell about their travels onboard the historic Arcadia ships as it prepares to mark next month’s inaugural Australasian visit of the new Arcadia – the fourth P&O ship to bear the name.

Many Australians fondly remember P&O’s second Arcadia, which was launched in the UK in 1953. During her 25 years of service, this Arcadia carried more than 430,000 passengers around the world, including thousands of UK immigrants travelling to their new home land of Australia.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which represents the UK P&O Cruises’ operations in Australia, said the cruise line was keen to build on the history of Arcadia and its passengers and celebrate the latest ship’s arrival with passenger reunion.

"After World War II, more than one million Britons sailed to Australia as part of the largest planned mass migration in history and most of these came on P&O ships, including Arcadia," Ms Sherry said.

"There are so many Australians whose families originally sailed to Australia to begin a new life on Arcadia, and we would love to hear those wonderful stories of family history, and share their memories. People make friends for life on a cruise ship and some even meet the love of their life so we are sure there are plenty of stories to tell."

P&O Cruises plans to post a selection of stories about the liner voyages which carried immigrants from the UK to Australia on a special Arcadia website, while those with the best stories to tell will be invited to a reunion onboard the latest Arcadia.

Arcadia will visit Fremantle on February 12, Albany on February 13, Adelaide on February 16, Melbourne on February 18, Sydney on February 20-21, Brisbane on February 23 and Whitsundays on February 25.

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See the Ships

Thursday 12 February

From 7am – Arcadia will make her way into Fremantle Harbour. She will dock at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal at 8am before departing at 6pm.

Monday 16 February

6.00am – Oriana will make her way into Sydney Harbour. She will dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay at 7am before departing at midnight.

From 7am – Arcadia will sail towards Outer Harbour, docking at 8am. She will remain in Adelaide until 6pm.

Wednesday 18 February

From 4.30am – Arcadia arrives into Port Phillip before docking at Station Pier at 8am before departing at 6pm.

From 7am – Oriana sails into Brisbane River, docking at Portside Wharf at 8am where she remains for the day. Oriana will depart Brisbane at 6pm.

Friday 20 February

6.00pm – Arcadia will arrive in Sydney Harbour, docking at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at 7.00pm. Arcadia will remain in Sydney over night, departing on Saturday 21 February at midnight. Please note: there will be no fireworks display as part of the visit.

Monday 23 February

From 7.30am – Arcadia sails into Brisbane River to dock at the Fisherman Island Wharf. Arcadia will remain in Brisbane for the day, departing at 6am.

Friday 27 February

From 7am – Aurora makes her way into the Brisbane River, docking at 8am. She will then depart Brisbane at 6pm.

Sunday 1 March

From 6.30am – Aurora will make her way into Sydney Harbour, anchoring at Point Piper Buoy at 7.00am then berth at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at 9.00pm. She will remain in Sydney overnight, departing on Monday 2 March at 6pm.