P&O Cruises is offering its passengers the chance to view a rare total solar eclipse this November during cruises on Pacific Dawn and Pacific Jewel.
As the eclipse will be best seen from the Pacific, Pacific Dawn, off the north-east corner of Australia, and Pacific Jewel, which will be cruising the Pacific Islands, will both be in prime position to watch the event on November 14, 2012.
The cruise line will keep passengers informed with stellar documentaries on the ships’ poolside Big Screens as well as lectures from some of Australia’s best-known stargazers.
Instead of watching the eclipse from his home observatory in Brisbane, astronomy lecturer and member of the major Queensland Astronomical society, Peter Anderson, will be onboard Pacific Dawn sharing his lifetime of knowledge of solar eclipses, which he has viewed all around the world.
Meanwhile, fellow Queenslander Rodger MacQueen, who has been helping P&O Cruises’ passengers understand the sky above for more than three years as well as working as an observational astronomy presenter with the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, will give talks on black holes, the Solar System and stellar evolution during Pacific Jewel’s solar eclipse cruise.
The cruise line will provide eclipse shades allowing passengers to view the event safely.
Passengers onboard Pacific Dawn will be able to watch the eclipse from Port Douglas as part of a special seven-night cruise departing Brisbane on November 10 from $799* per person quad share.
Pacific Jewel will also offer a good vantage point during a 10-night Pacific Islands cruise departing Sydney on November 12, priced from $799* per person quad share.
The last total eclipse viewed from Australia occurred in 2002, while the next will not occur until 2028. For more information and bookings contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 24 94 or visit
