There’s nothing quite like Australia Day in Sydney, and P&O Cruises is adding to the spectacle with four magnificent ships berthed in the harbour, plus the creation of a new LEGO replica ship on shore – which revellers can help to build.
P&O Cruises president Sture Myrmell said the cruise line was pleased to be working with LEGO for Australia Day: “The kids’ clubs on all our ships feature a range of fantastic LEGO activities which our guests love, so it’s very exciting to be able to bring the action to land for Australia Day with this special chance to make an amazing ship model with Ryan.”
P&O Cruises president Sture Myrmell with Ryan McNaught and his creation.
So amid the cruising concerts, ferrython, tug and yacht ballet, tall ships race and more that make up the harbourside holiday fun, here’s how to get on board with P&O’s Australia Day celebrations on land and sea.
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On Land
P&O and the Museum of Sydney are calling all LEGO fans to help Australia’s only certified LEGO professional, Ryan McNaught, to build a model of Pacific Eden in the museum’s forecourt, between 9am and 3pm on Australia Day, January 26 – and it’s free.
Pacific Eden’s sister ship, Pacific Aria, is already enshrined in LEGO inside the museum as part of the Sydney Harbour Icons with LEGO Bricks exhibition, on until July 31, 2016.
The model, made out of more than 163,000 bricks, took McNaught 353 hours to build and weighs more than 80 kilograms. It has a mini Luke Mangan (whose Salt Grill restaurant is on all P&O ships) chasing a pig; David Hoff (formerly Hasselhoff) on the dance floor; and McNaught himself in the Shark Shack club on the top deck playing LEGO with some kids.
On Sea
The real Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria will cruise into Sydney Harbour from 6am to 8am alongside Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel, with more than 6,500 guests onboard.
They’ll have a ringside seat for all the festivities, including the 9.30pm fireworks launched from a barge between two of the P&O ships. Last year, Pacific Pearl kicked off the Tall Ships race with a blast of its horn.
And, of course, there will be onboard Australia Day parties, including live guest performances for passengers. It’s the first time P&O will have four ships on the harbour for Australia Day.
