SSR 2 P&O's Pacific

 

Secondary Source Report: P&O’s Pacific

By Hayley Fitzgerald

Complete citation:

Douglas, Ngaire and Douglas, Norman. P and O's Pacific [online]. Journal of Tourism Studies, Vol. 7, No. 2, Dec 1996: 2-14. Availability: https://search-informit-com-au.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/documentSummary;dn=980202048;res=IELAPA ISSN: 1035-4662. 

Web access:

 https://search-informit-com-au.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/fullText;dn=980202048;res=IELAPA

Accessed: 02/10/2020

 

Image Credit: Journal Article title page ‘P&O’s Pacific’ from The National Library.

 

Key Words: Australian, tourism, South Pacific, history, cruise, tourism literature, P&O, ship, academic research.

Brief Overview: This journal of academic research ‘P&O’s Pacific’ by Ngaire and Norman Douglas, contributes to the history of tourism in the South Pacific. The journal looks specifically at the history of cruising and tourism literature. The journal also focuses on Peninsular and Orient Steam Navigation Company (P&O) as one of the most active organisations in world and regional cruising this century, through Australian and Pacific connections. As well as development of Pacific Island locations to entertain the passengers while ashore.

Summary of key points:

-          In the mid 1970's a decline in cruising as a transport option but was offset by cruising as a tourism activity in itself.

-          Cruising to the Pacific Islands from Australia began over a century ago.

-          Document the role of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in South Pacific cruising.

-          P&O in the South Pacific and its move into cruising (from point A returning to point A) as opposed to line voyages (from point A to point C via point B).

-          The shift from the earlier “cargo-driven ports” of call to the latter “passenger-driven” ports of call and the gradual establishment of a Pacific cruise circle.

Important Quotations:

“The period between the two world wars was the time when cruising came into its own as a desirable tourist experience. Cruising purely for pleasure - as opposed to a means of getting from one place to another - was initiated in 1844 by Arthur Anderson, Co-founder of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O)” (pg. 3)

 

“P&O's first ship in Australian waters was the Chusan which sailed into Sydney on 3 August 1852 after a harrowing eighty-day voyage from London.” (pg. 3)

 

“The post war era saw a flurry of ship ordering by P&O to replace its heavy loses. By 1955 seven new fast passenger ships, Himalaya, Chusan, Orcades, Oronsay, Arcadia, Orsova and Iberia were servicing the Australian immigrant trade, providing line voyages to England, and doing short South Pacific cruises” (pg. 4)

 

“Nine cruises operated in 1966, by 1969 they had increased to 36. With the arrival of the Oriana and the Canberra in 1961, the latter launched on 16 March 1960 by Australian Dame Pattie Menzies, another new era of tourist shipping began. Both ships carried nearly 2,000 passengers In luxurious surroundings and outdoor recreation areas were featured extensively in all promotional material with special emphasis on the pool decks. The company predicted that tourist shipping in the region would double.” (pg. 5)

 

“World War 11 had revolutionised air transport and one of the legacies was a series of first-class airstrips strategically placed like stepping stones across the South Pacific.” (pg. 5)

 

“The mid 1970s was also a period of international crisis in fuel supplies and costs; this affected itinerary planning considerably, with some shipping lines withdrawing from the market altogether or cancelling cruises, both moves having long reaching effects on island economies.” (pg. 7)

 

Usefulness to our group topic or individual project:

 This journal would provide usefulness to a group topic or individual project through providing an insight into the history of cruise liners in the tourism industry in Australia. As this journal goes through different eras highlighting important aspects of cruises in tourism literature, thus providing an understanding of that specific voyage history.