PACIFIC EXPLORER

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Cruise ship had to skip call at Mystery Island due to medevac

The 'Pacific Explorer' was forced to skip a visit to the final destination on its itinerary after a passenger suffered a serious medical emergency onboard. The ship had departed from Auckland on Oct 1, and called at Norfolk Island before visiting several islands in Vanuatu. On Oct 8, the ship was anchored at Mystery Island, one of the southernmost islands of the archipelago. Passengers were scheduled to disembark at 8:30 a.m. LT for a day on the island before the ship sailed back to Auckland. 10 minutes before they were to go ashore, the captain said someone had suffered a serious medical emergency and they were no longer allowed off the ship. The crew attempted to come up with a resolution involving authorities from Vanuatu and New Caledonia to send a helicopter or plane to Mystery Island to pick up the passenger and take them to a hospital for adequate medical treatment. This was unsuccessful. The vessel had to leave Mystery Island to sail seven hours to Mare, New Caledonia, where the French Army sent a military helicopter to take the passenger off the ship and transported him to Noumea for medical treatment. Report with video: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/po-cruise-ship-diverted-military-helicopter-winches-ill-passenger-to-safety/LVKMMM4GDNBNFDVJZV24ZSXE4E/

Medevac in Auckland

A passenger aboard the Pacific Explorer experienced a medical emergency shortly after the ship departed from Auckland on July 8, 2024. The emergecy occurred at 03:50 a.m., prompting a swift response from Hato Hone St John (charitable organization), who was assessed and transported to Auckland City Hospital in serious condition. The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) managed the operation, determining it was necessary to turn the vessel back toward Auckland to facilitate the medevac. The passenger, identified as a young person, was safely evacuated upon the ship's return to port. The Police Maritime Unit assisted in the transfer from the ship to the hospital, ensuring the patient received prompt medical attention.

Cruise ship will exit fleet

The 'Pacific Explorer', which has run many trips out of Auckland, will be retired in February 2025, as the the P&O Cruises Australia brand will be folded into Carnival Cruises to boost guest capacity and increase operational efficiencies. Itineraries will run as normal and any guests affected by the changes will be notified in coming days. Two of P&O's ships, the 'Pacific Encounter' and the 'Pacific Adventure', will be rebranded and operated by Carnival Cruise Line.