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Body found in search for passenger overboard on Pacific Adventure cruise ship due to arrive in Sydney

A body has been found in a large search operation off the coast of Sydney after a man was reported missing off a cruise ship early Monday.

About 10:30am, officers from the Police Marine Area Command retrieved a body from the water. 

The alarm was raised on the P&O vessel Pacific Adventure about 4am when it was about 10 nautical miles, or 18 kilometres, off Sydney Heads.

The ship was due to dock at White Bay Terminal a few hours later but that was delayed as the search was underway.

NSW Police Marine Commander Joseph McNulty earlier said police were hopeful because one of three emergency life rings that had been deployed had not been retrieved, fuelling hope the man may have latched onto it. 

Swells of 4 to 5 metres hindered efforts of rescue teams, which searched a 60-square-nautical-mile area and used infrared technology to search for the man's heat signature. 

A second cruise ship which was in the area has also joined the search. 

Both ships tried to lower life boats in to the water but had to abort due to the rough conditions. 

Family being cared for onboard

At least three police vessels and a number of tug boats were deployed in the search, alongside the Toll rescue helicopter. 

In a statement, P&O said there were more than 2,600 guests still on board the ship, which has now been cleared to return to port in Sydney. 

"Pacific Adventure's next voyage due to depart White Bay this afternoon has been delayed, with the ship expected to leave later tonight on a four-night voyage to Queensland," it said. 

"We thank guests for their care, understanding and patience on what's been a distressing day for guests and crew.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the guest at this difficult time."

Police have launched an investigation into the death and will prepare a report for the coroner. 

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• Travel Updates

Body is found after a man went overboard on a cruise ship just outside Sydney Harbour

A grim update has emerged in the search for a cruise ship passenger who went overboard in waters just outside Sydney.

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A man’s body has been pulled from the water after going overboard on a cruise ship.

P & O’s Pacific Adventure was due to dock in Sydney Harbour at 6am on Monday at the end of a three-day Elvis-themed cruise.

But after a male passenger went overboard in the early hours, the ship remained in the waters just off the city’s Eastern Suburbs while a huge search was underway.

Police have now confirmed a man’s body was retrieved from the water at 10.30am, 10 nautical miles off Sydney Heads.

The development comes after images revealed the “very rocky and windy” conditions in the waters this morning.

P&O’s Pacific Adventure was cleared by NSW Police to return to port shortly before midday.

The ship was hosting an Elvis-themed voyage called ‘Tribute to The King’, promising a long weekend of “themed parties, karaoke, trivia and much more”.

One passenger on board the P&O ship, Kel, said that when the alarm sounded on board the ship she lept out of bed.

“We jumped out of bed so fast,” she wrote.

“Was hectic! Been circling in the same spot for over 5hrs now.”

The Carnival Cruise ship Carnival Splendor was also at sea during the search despite being due in port this morning.

It is understood this ship has been towed into the harbour and docked at Circular Quay at 10.30am.

One passenger on board showed just how turbulent the waves were at sea.

On board Splendor, the passenger, who goes by @auscruisecouple on TikTok, shared a selfie of the conditions.

“We have been offshore since about 4 o’clock this morning unable to dock due to an emergency situation,” she said.

“We are witnessing the helicopter searching and search and rescue boats as well … it is as you can see, quite choppy.”

@auscruisecouple man over board from P&O search and rescue off Sydney since 4am 6 May 2024 #auscruisecouple #carnivalsplendor #pacificadventurer #news #manoverboard #Australia #searchandrescue ♬ original sound - Aus Cruise Couple

Andres Vargas sent images of the P&O ship to news.com.au.

He said at the time conditions were “very rocky and windy.”

Another passenger on board, who asked not to named, told news.com.au earlier today that the situation at sea was “scary”.

“We’re docked out at sea and aren’t allowed in yet due to the search and rescue,” he said before 8am on Monday.

“An announcement came out for us at 7am saying that an emergency rescue operation was being conducted and we weren’t allowed to enter the channel into the harbour.

“We are maybe 20km out from land and will stay here until we get permission to head back in.”

It is understood that Splendor had been on standby to assist in the search

“I don’t think many people know that there is a passenger overboard nearby. We had heard a rumour,” he added.

One man who was supposed to pick up passengers from the Pacific Adventure told 2GB he was told “don’t rush” because “the ship’s stopped outside the head and somebody’s gone overboard.”

A passenger told 2GB’s Ben Fordham they were woken up by a “man overboard call”.

“We got woken up with the man overboard call and from there it’s been all on for a couple of hours now,” he said.

More Coverage

P&O said Pacific Adventure’s next voyage, a 4-night trip to Queensland due to depart White Bay this afternoon, has been delayed until Monday night.

“We thank guests for their care, understanding and patience on what’s been a distressing day for guests and crew,” a spokesperson said.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the guest at this difficult time.”

New details on the Aussie surfers killed in Mexico have emerged after the bodies of Perth-born Jake and Callum Robinson were found down a hidden well.

A man on board a nearby ship where search and rescue efforts are underway to find a missing passenger described the scene is “scary”.

After a desperate search for two Aussie brothers missing on a surf holiday in Mexico with an American friend, the families have been given the worst news.

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Australia & New Zealand Cruises

Explore the wonders down under on a cruise to new zealand and australia, why cruise to australia & new zealand.

Epic landscapes, ancient cultures and laid-back charm – experience it all on board an Australia & New Zealand / Aotearoa cruise with Princess the #1 cruise line in Australia. We’ll take you to golden beaches, rugged outback, world-class cities and beyond. And on board, delight in  local food  and entertainment as our  Across the Ditch  immersive program brings the very best of New Zealand to you.

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Your choice of Australian cruise ports is as grand as the continent itself. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the Sydney Opera House. Trek through one of the world’s last temperate rainforests in Tasmania, sample award-winning wine in Margaret River and snorkel in the crystalline waters of the Great Barrier Reef or ride camelback on a beach in  Broome .

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Marvel at the spectacular scenery of  Fiordland National Park / Piopiotahi , voted one of the 7 Cruise World Wonders by  Condé Nast Traveler . Immerse yourself in Māori culture, see glowworms twinkle in underground caves outside  Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau , stroll the famed Art Deco city of Napier / Ahuriri, and peek into moviemaking magic with  The Lord of the Rings  tour in  Wellington .

The wonders of Australia and New Zealand are like no other! From iconic  cruises from Sydney  to the coastal beauty of  Brisbane / Meeanjin , the rich culture of  Melbourne , the famed wine country of  Perth (Fremantle) / Boorloo (Walyalup)  and  Auckland / Tāmaki Makaurau , the land of the Māori, more departures to and from  Adelaide / Tarndanya  than ever before – each city possesses a vibrant spirit and a unique personality worth discovering.

2025 - 2026 Australia and New Zealand New Cruise Itineraries. Learn more

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Australian Cruising News.com.au

Welcome to Australian Cruising News.com.au

This web site was created by Brian Gaskin who is a Cruise Expert and who has now been on 70 Cruises . I have done inside, outside, balcony and suite cabins on various different ships that have cruised throughout the world. My experience’s to me are very important and I want to share these with you the Australian cruising public.  

I have also done many ship inspections to help me understand better at what a specific cruise ship or cruise line has to offer to a client [potential customer]. To me this is the number one priority and that is why Im here to help educate the Australian cruising public on what ship and cruise might be right for them,  I want help you anyway I can.

My focus is to provide you with the best information on the cruise ships that are based and homeported here in Australian waters every Australian cruising season.

If you are cruising in the future I want to be able to help you by getting the most out of your cruising holiday. I strive to be different from all the other News/ Media outlets and want to provide you with an information source you can rely on.

About my Audience.

I have over 244,000 followers on my website with over 40,000 people who click on and like my website every week. Those who click on my website spend over 6 minutes on the site per visit. I also am a member of 10 major cruising groups on Facebook who have members totalling 4000 members each and I am also a contributor to those sites. I then have my own face book page for my business totalling 4500 members with a weekly engagement reach of over 80,000 people.

My engagement on my facebook site alone has 80,000+ readers per week.

My Audience location as of August 2021 is :

Australian 93% followed by New Zealand 2%, United States of America 2%, United Kingdom 2% then South Pacific 1%

My Audience is made up of 61% of women aged between 25 -55 and 39% men aged between 30-60.

As of April 2020 my return rate on my website is 60% new visitors and 40% returning visitors.

What people say about me?

Chris Frame * Brand, Marketing & PR Professional. Maritime Historian & Author.

*Brian is an expert in cruising with a deep knowledge on passenger ships operating today, cabin types, cruise ship offerings and back up this knowledge with excellent photographs.

John Pond * Editor, Publisher, Travel & Lifestyle Writer. At Various Magazines and Papers.

*Brian has a great deal of cruise knowledge and is a pleasure to work with.

Sanjay Bhasin * CEO at Culture Holidays India Pvt Ltd.

*Brian Gaskin is a true professional who takes the time and effort to ensure that his clients get the very best resources. He knows the ins and outs of cruising & can offer advise that is priceless. Drawing on a breadth of knowledge and experience, he knows the cruise lines, the ships, and the destination through and through. Brian is also an excellent, conscientious & a creative Writer. He is a consummate professional. His work is consistently excellent and on time. A nice bonus is that he is also a very skilled photographer, with a large sales expertise. He is a great photographer and pays attention to small details.

Video’s made while being in the Cruising Industry.

I was the Interviewer with the Film crew from Cruise News TV.

I have also interviewed Ann Sherry in regards to the P&OEdge and John Sharpe the creator of the P&OEdge video attached: https://youtu.be/TkLAkw7bBFQ

I also interviewed David Jones the Cooperate communications manager of Carnival in regards to the 5 Sydney based ships in a salute the Royal Australian Navy : https://youtu.be/mlKQrEy5vp8

The last video shows me interviewing Meg Koffel, Princess Cruises Public Relations Manager in relation to what makes Princess cruises stand out from the rest. : https://youtu.be/SY7YW-eWBKQ

Australian Cruising News has also been approached by Channel nine in Sydney, Australia to comment on the state of the Australian Cruising Industry, we have also been interviewed on several occasions by A Current Affair and have done several stories in relation to the Australian Cruising Industry.

Australian Cruising News also has international reach and we also comment on the state of the Australian Cruising Industry on the International cruising platform www.cruisecrazies.com    Cruise News, Forums, Packing List, Travel Agents, Groups, Blogs and Planning Resources - CruiseCrazies

I was also involved as the official photographer for the Inaugral Jelly Bean Cruise on board Celebrity Solstice on the 23rd of October 2014 supporting the Danii Meads-Barlow Foundation.

The DANII Foundation was formed in 2012 after the tragic unnecessary death of Type One Diabetic (T1D), Daniella Meads Barlow at the age of 17 as a result of nocturnal hypoglycaemia, Dead in Bed Syndrome (DBIS). DANII is Australia’s pre-eminent foundation for the prevention of life threatening Dead in Bed Syndrome (DIBS) and the only organisation dedicated solely to the improvement of the safety and quality of the lives of T1D’s.

As a result of this focus DANII has established an Australia wide consumer campaign to make life-saving remote alert technology for T1D’s affordable and as a result reduce unnecessary complications and complex morbidity associated with poorly managed T1D.

For a video of the Inaugral Jelly Bean Cruise watch here : https://youtu.be/G0oDbwYfe_M

Australian Cruising News.com.au  are proud to be the only dedicated Australian website to promote the Australian Cruising Industry and the ships that are based and homeported here in Australian waters every Australian cruising season, our point of difference is to provide you with fresh local content and we are constantly updating our website to bring you the latest information.

We are aiming to achieve this by using our http://www.australiancruisingnews.com.au  web site which shows you the different ships that are available to Australians throughout the Australian cruising season.

We also have a dedicated Facebook page that also promotes the Australian Cruising Industry called  http://www.facebook.com/AustralianCruisingNews.com.au which also promotes the cruise ships that are based and home ported here every Australian cruising season. You can also catch us on Instagram at : http://www.instagram.com/australiancruisingnews.com.au  , Pinterest : http://www.pinterest.com/auscruisingnews  and Twitter : http://www.twitter.com/AusCruisingNews

Here at Australian Cruising News.com.au we look for to working with you on many exciting projects. We are the HOME Of Australian Cruising!

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WONDERS DOWN UNDER

Australian cruises.

From urban verve to outback wilderness, Australia is a year-round sunny paradise.

A large island nation, Australia delivers the best of both the city and the country, the beach and the bush. The locals here are a laidback and friendly bunch, with a dry sense of humor and their own slang language. Explore cosmopolitan Sydney, home to Bondi Beach's turquoise waters and the architecturally unique Sydney Opera House. Cruise to Australia and visit Queensland to experience the Whitsunday Islands, where you can snorkel to see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest living organism. For an authentic Australian adventure, head to the outback: Check out Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, with its red dome known as Ayers Rock.

From The Bush To The Beach

From urban verve to outback wilderness, Australia is a year-round sunny paradise

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Join the throngs of sun-kissed Australian surfers and catch some of the world's best waves on Australia's beaches.

SWOON OVER SYDNEY

Visit Australia and tour Sydney's urban attractions like the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Taronga Zoo. For outdoor fun, nap on the white sands of Bondi Beach or scale the magnificent rock formations of the Blue Mountains.

MEET MELBOURNE

Melbourne is a hipster haven and Australia's culture, coffee and sports capital. Grab a flat black (the Australian version of an Americano, with espresso and hot water) at Patricia on Little Bourke Street, then rent a car and start off on the Great Ocean Road, which will take you along sweeping views of Australia's southern coast.

HEAD TO THE OUTBACK

In the remote Northern Territory, visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: See the famous dome-shaped red rock rising out of the Central Australian Desert. Or check out Kakadu National Park, where you can see ancient rock art at Nourlangie or hike to the hidden waterfalls at Motor Car, Twin or Jim Jim Falls.

TOWN AND COUNTRY

Get to know the different sides of Australia, from vibrant, modern cities to wild, untamed wilderness.

KING AMONG REEFS

Snorkel, dive and swim along the Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef — you can even charter a glass-bottomed boat to stay dry while seeing the only living organism visible from outer space. The reef is accessible from places like Cairns, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Port Douglas in Queensland.

In Queensland, take a day trip to the surrounding tropical islands: Check out Fitzroy Island and its National Park, where you can laze on the white sands of the coral beach or go bird-watching for for emerald doves and white-bellied sea eagles. See the colored sands at postcard-perfect Fraser Island, or explore the wild island state of Tasmania during your vacation.

PICK A BEACH

Explore Western Australia's Cape Le Grand National Park, which offers stunning coastline set against rolling heathlands filled with kangaroos. Check out Queensland's Gold Coast, where you'll find local favorite Nobby Beach (known colloquially as "Nobby's"). Or get lost in Tasmania's Freycinet National Park, where pink granite cliffs overlook white-sand beaches and clear blue waves.

EXPEDITIONS DOWN UNDER SAY "G'DAY" TO AN OUTBACK ADVENTURE

Choose your Australian vacation adventure: Relax on a tropical island or one of thousands of beaches, hike in a remote national park or venture into the vibrant city.

SAMPLE SYDNEY

A sampler cruise from Sydney is a great way to experience both Australia's biggest city and an exciting cruise.

BE TANTALIZED BY TASMANIA

Tasmania is an underrated Australian state that's home to Cradle Mountain, the World Heritage-listed Port Arthur Historic Site and the eccentric Museum of Old and New Art among other things to do.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Arriving in Australia

The best time to visit Australia depends on where you want to go. The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland and the Northern Territory are best explored during dry season (May to September), while summer is the optimal time to visit southern states like Victoria and Tasmania.

Weather-wise, northern Australia enjoys an endless summer, but it does get cold in Victoria and Tasmania during winter. Meanwhile, Melbourne is known for displaying four seasons in one day, so always have a jacket and umbrella on hand, just in case.

Best Brilliance of the Seas Family Cruises | Royal Caribbean Cruises

March 8, 2024

Enjoy an insider’s guide to discovering the best family cruises for your next vacation onboard Brilliance of the Seas. Start sailing today.

Plan a Winter Vacation Abroad

Uncover the best travel ideas for adventuring on your winter vacation as you voyage on a getaway to visit Australia, New Zealand, & other destinations.

Great Barrier Reef Vacation Ideas

Discover the best water sports to try while on a Great Barrier Reef vacation and start planning your thrilling Australian adventure.

Visit Australia for Kite Flying Vacation

Plan a trip for visiting Australia for a sky-high kite flying adventure. Make your Australian vacation a sensation with these travel temptations!

10 Australian Vacation Experiences

Make your Australian vacation a sensation with these travel temptations! Discover the top 10 remarkable things to do when visiting Australia.

10 Best Things To Do in Australia

From Melbourne to Sydney to iconic animal experiences and world-class wine regions, here are the 10 best things to do in Australia.

A Guide to Australian Beaches

Discover the best Australian beaches for families, wildlife spotting, lounging, learning how to surf and diving into authentic beach culture.

In northern Australia, be aware that stingers (dangerous jellyfish) swarm the seas in the summer, from approximately October to March.

Tipping is not customary in Australia.

The universal phone number for taxi services across the country is 131008.

HOW TO DINE DOWN UNDER

"Fair dinkum" — Aussie slang for "authentic" or "genuine" — Australian cuisine has been influenced by England, New Zealand and even Italy. However, there's nothing more Australian than throwing some steak and snags (sausages) on a barbie (barbecue) — no shrimps allowed.

POPULAR PUB GRUB

There are two dishes to order at an Aussie pub: a chicken parmigiana (called a parmi Down Under) or a burger, which will usually come topped with Australian specialties like beetroot or pineapple. Of course, you can always go for a classic steaks: Porterhouses are popular in Victoria, while rump steaks are particularly beloved in New South Wales.

THE REAL BISCUIT

Australia has some delicious sweet treats, but it's perhaps best-known for perfecting the biscuit. Try Anzac biscuits with oats and golden syrup, lamingtons — a sponge square covered in chocolate and coconut — and Tim Tams, the local favorite brand of chocolate-covered biscuits.

IT'S PIE TIME

Meat pies — with a flaky pastry crust baked around a savory filling of ground meat (typically beef or lamb) and spices — are a traditional Australian lunch or snack found in bakeries across the country. Another favorite is the Chiko Roll, similar to a large spring roll but filled with the signature Aussie ingredients of mutton, celery, barley, rice, carrots and spices.

Related Ports

The Australian coast is dotted with beautiful ports, like Esperance, to explore. In Queensland, Cairns and Airlie Beach are both gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. Meanwhile, Darwin is a gateway to the Northern Territory's rugged natural sights, including Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, and Uluru.

Brisbane, Australia

Adelaide, Australia

Airlie Beach, Queensland

Cairns (Yorkeys Knob), Australia

Darwin, Australia

Esperance, Australia

Geraldton, Australia

Hobart, Tasmania

Melbourne, Australia

Newcastle, Australia

Perth (Fremantle), Australia

Port Douglas, Australia

Port Hedland, Australia

Sydney (White Bay), Australia

Sydney, Australia

Willis Island (Cruising), Australia

Wollongong (Port Kembla), Australia

Eden, Australia

Port Arthur, Tasmania

Cairns, Australia

Penneshaw, Australia

Gladstone, Australia

Exmouth, Australia

Albany, Australia

Related Destinations

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