Saturday’s bad weather has prevented passengers from coming ashore on the first visit to the Sunshine Coast by P&O’s Pacific Pearl.
There had been much planning, preparation and great anticipation among Sunshine Coast and Mooloolaba tourism operators ahead of the visit. The bad weather also disrupted the planned Paddle to the Pearl boat race which had to be content to charter an alternate course as the vicinity around the ship was too dangerous.
While it may have been technically possible to ferry guests to shore, deteriorating weather through the course of the day made the whole operation too dangerous.
Naturally guests and tourism operators were disappointed. However the support, collaboration and warm reception by the Sunshine Coast to the visit has reinforced P&O’s commitment to the Sunshine coast as a cruise destination.