Pacific Explorer due next Wednesday

This week on 1 November 2023, the cruise ship P&O Pacific Explorer is due to arrive on Norfolk Island as their final stop on their “Bounty Adventure Cruise” of the Pacific.

Known as Dora the Explorer, the vessel last visited Norfolk Island on 14 September and this week’s visit will be their final scheduled visit of P&O ships for 2023 which has been a successful season with six P&O cruise ships able to unload passengers this year, and the last vessel was only a week earlier on Monday 23 October with the visit of P&O Pacific Adventure.

This October – November 2023 cruise is a ten-day voyage, it is a “Round-trip Bounty Adventure” which started at Auckland and travels the Pacific. The first stop was scheduled to be Mystery Island, Aneityum, Vanuatu and Port Vila, Efate Island, Vanuatu, but due to the Tropical Cyclone Lola, crossing Vanuatu this week, the passengers will spend time enjoying the cruise ship and staying safely away from the stormy weather.

Other Pacific Islands they will visit are Lifou island, New Caledonia, Noumea, Grande Terre Island, New Caledonia and the final stop Norfolk Island before returning to Auckland, New Zealand. With an estimate of 2330 passengers and about 900 crew, they departed from Auckland on Tuesday, 24 October, and on the final leg of the adventure they will arrive here on Norfolk Island on Wednesday 1 November. As they depart our friendly shores, they will enjoy a cruise back to Auckland as a final stop on 3 November 2023.

If the passengers are able to disembark, they will be bused around the island and can explore Kingston and enjoyed the World Heritage Convict Area, known as KAVHA, (Kingston Arthur’s Vale Historic Area). Others may stroll along the wonderful lagoon shoreline or snorkel in Emily Bay. The shops and cafes will once again be busy in town, as visitors will be bused into Burnt Pine. Local tourist industries will have a busy day welcoming and sharing our local hospitality.

I will be excited if the passengers are able to come ashore as I have family visiting from New Zealand. It will be great to catch up with them and share our love of Norfolk Island, and the history at Kingston.

Pacific Explorer was also known as Dawn Princess, the former name of the P&O Cruise Ship. I have read that the Pacific Explorer is able to carry up to approximately 2000 - 2300 passengers.

The last cruise ship to visit was 23 October 2023, P&O Pacific Adventure with approximately 2700 passengers on board and approximately disembarking 2400 – 2500 barking at Cascade Pier.

The next scheduled cruise ship is on Sunday 5 November 2023, the Holland America cruise ship Noordarn, with approximately 2380 passengers.

This web page has information and updates of the current position of the vessel.

Pacific Explorer Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review | CruiseMapper

I have photos I took on the last visit of the P&O Pacific Explorer at Cascade Pier. It will be wonderful to see the passengers ashore on this week and I am sure they will have a great day exploring our beautiful Norfolk Island.

We wish the passengers safe travels and a great holiday as they cruise the South Pacific on the Pacific Explorer P&O Cruise and let’s hope we have calm seas when the cruise ship arrives, and they can come ashore and enjoy a visit to our friendly Norfolk Island shores.

Betty Matthews

27 October 2023