Cruise ship ahoy!

P&O cruise ship ‘Pacific Pearl’ is now at sea and bound for the Sunshine Coast!

With wind and swell forecasts looking favourable, the 64,000 tonne super liner is expected to drop anchor off Mooloolaba at around 8am Saturday morning and begin ferrying its 1,800 passengers to the nearby Wharf precinct.

Deputy Mayor Cr Chris Thompson said once ashore visitors would be welcomed with open arms.

“From the moment passengers arrive they’ll be given every opportunity to discover the many attractions of the Sunshine Coast and have a wonderful and memorable experience during their Saturday stopover here,” Cr Thompson said.

“Council commissioned two special Sunshine Coast branded surfboards that local TAFE students will be carrying around on the day for visitors to take photos with and share on social media for the rest of the world to see what a fantastic time they’re having on the Sunshine Coast.

“The Pacific Pearl’s planned visit here has been made possible by the active support and encouragement of council working with P&O. It’s a wonderful opportunity for local businesses, particularly coming on the end of the busy school holiday period and during a time of the year when tourism is traditionally a little quieter.”

Sunshine Coast Destination Limited CEO Simon Ambrose said the Pacific Pearl was the first of four cruise ships pencilled in for visits in 2015.

“If all goes well this weekend and passengers rate their experience here highly, we could have up to a dozen more cruise ships dropping anchor off Mooloolaba in 2016,” he said.

“We’ve been helping local tourism operators get ready for Saturday and we’ll also have a pop-up visitor centre at the Wharf where our ambassadors will provide information for passengers and help them navigate their way to all the local hot spots.”

“We’re also hoping the Pacific Pearl’s visit can boost the region’s profile on Trip Advisor. We’ll be encouraging visitors to share their Sunshine Coast experience on the world’s largest and most popular travel website.”