P&O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer is featuring on a new Australia Post Norfolk Island commemorative stamp that celebrates one of the region’s most beautiful cruise destinations with deep historic connections to Australia’s home-grown cruise line.
In addition to being home to descendants of the HMS Bounty mutiny, Norfolk Island was the signature port of call on P&O’s first cruise in December 1932 when the mail steamer Strathaird began Australia’s love affair with cruising.
The stamp issue happens to coincide with the cruise line’s 85th anniversary celebrations while depicting the contemporary face of cruising with Pacific Explorer, which is shown anchored off Norfolk Island, still a sought-after tourist destination.
It is the first time a P&O Cruises ship has graced an Australia Post postage stamp, to be used on hundreds of thousands of letters and packages set to ‘travel’ to ‘destinations’ in Australia and around the world.
Marking the cruise line’s place in Australia’s rich maritime philatelic heritage, Pacific Explorer sails in good company with other ships previously represented on Australian stamps, including the First Fleet and Australia II, the remarkable ‘winged keel’ winner of the 1983 America’s Cup yacht race series.
Pacific Explorer was chosen because of the cruise line’s longstanding connection to Norfolk Island dating back to the first-ever cruise from Australia, which gave birth to cruise tourism in this region.
Norfolk Island, with its pristine environment in the South Pacific Ocean, has captured the imagination of generations of Australia travellers. Tourism is vital to the local economy and cruise ship visits are very much a part of this.
P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said it was a great honour for Pacific Explorer, as the flagship of Australia’s home brand cruise line, to be portrayed on an Australia Post Norfolk Island stamp.
“It is a perfect combination of Pacific Explorer, a ship that Australian cruise guests have taken to their hearts, and Norfolk Island, a destination that is so welcoming to visitors with tourism a mainstay of the island economy,” Mr Myrmell said. Australia Post Philatelic Manager Michael Zsolt said cruise ships were a popular theme for stamp collectors.
“We have been issuing Norfolk Island stamps for the last few years and are thrilled to feature cruise ship tourism in our latest issue. Based on real photographs, the beautiful artwork will no doubt appeal to both cruise enthusiasts and stamp collectors,” Mr Zsolt said.
The $2 stamp was designed by Jamie and Leanne Tufrey and is available from today at participating Post Offices while stocks last.
SOURCE: P&O CRUISES
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