TUI Travel PLCs Sport Division charter P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn to take Fans to Rugby World Cup

May 4, 2010 - PRLog -- The Sport Division of TUI Travel PLC, the world’s leading leisure travel group, is chartering P&O Cruises’ 70,000-ton superliner Pacific Dawn to ensure 2,000 Rugby Union devotees do not miss the latter stages of the Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.
The fans will be travelling with TUI Travel PLC’s Sport Division of leading sports tour companies including Gullivers Sports Travel supported by Sport Abroad, Thomson Sport and Sportsworld in the UK as well as We Love Rugby in Australia. Rugby supporters from Europe, South Africa and Australia will be able to travel to experience a Rugby-themed cruise of New Zealand’s scenic attractions, in addition to all the drama and excitement of Rugby World Cup, 2011’s key knock-out matches in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Customers can combine an exciting cruise itinerary as well as Rugby themed floating clubhouse with a line up of former Rugby internationals as part of the experience. To cap off the cruise for these devotees of ‘the game they play in heaven’, Pacific Dawn will be in Auckland on Sunday, October 23, for the Final of Rugby World Cup 2011
The Sport Division is a unique collection of some of the most established sports travel and event brands in the world. Part of the Activity Sector of TUI Travel PLC, the Sport Division delivers exceptional services and logistics to major worldwide sporting events.

Darren Mee, Managing Director of TUI Travel Sport businesses, who negotiated the deal with P&O Cruises, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this unique cruise to solve the accommodation issues we face in the latter stages in New Zealand during Rugby World Cup 2011. Pacific Dawn is a superliner offering the best facilities for all Rugby fans. This is not the first time we have chartered a ship, in 2005, we chartered Pacific Sun for the British & Irish Lions Tour in New Zealand and it was a great success. Gareth Chilcott (former Bath, England, British & Irish Lions prop), who has been Gullivers’ MC on tour for the past 20 years will be taking to the high seas with the Rugby community on Pacific Dawn for the duration of the Tournament to keep all things ship shape. By taking on this commitment we can ensure that fans are able to experience the latter part of the Rugby World Cup 2011 in an atmospheric and unique environment and experience the warm hospitality of New Zealand and its distinctive culture. We look forward to a very successful Rugby World Cup 2011, growing our relationship with P&O further and providing fans with a great experience”.  

“Pacific Dawn will be far more than a floating hotel for Rugby World Cup 2011 with its nearly 200 balcony cabins and a host of exciting features, P&O Cruises’ first superliner; Pacific Dawn is complete with its own jogging track, pizzeria, nine bars and lounges, five superb restaurants, gym and a magnificent health spa. Pacific Dawn will be home for 2,000 passengers whose passion for Rugby will be satisfied both onboard and onshore during the course of the cruise.” said Ann Sherry AO, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises. Under proposed itinerary arrangements, Pacific Dawn will arrive in Auckland on October 4, 2011, after repositioning from Brisbane.
Package price starts from
£5,295 for 20 nights with Gullivers Sports Travel
$4250 for 11 nights with We Love Rugby

Ends

Notes to Editors
TUI Travel Sport Division is a unique collection of some of the most established sports travel & event brands in the world. TUI Travel’s Sport Division is part of the Activity Sector of TUI Travel PLC, focusing on delivering exceptional services and logistics to major worldwide sporting events for fans, teams, clubs and sponsors. Appointments include official Travel Agent for Rugby World Cup 2011, British & Irish Lions Tours, Ashes Series, ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC World Twenty20, ICC Official Tour Provider, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Hong Kong Sevens, Participating Tour Operator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Official Overseas Travel Provider for englandfans, The FA’s official supporters club and Travel Provider for UEFA Under 21 Championships 2009, officially involved with  the Olympic Games, Wimbledon Championship and The British Grand Prix. Companies in the portfolio include www.gulliverstravel.co.uk www.thomsonsport.com www.sportsworld.co.uk www.eventsinternational.co.uk www.sportabroad.co.uk www.thefanatics.com www.astsports.com.au www.williment.co.nz  

TUI Travel PLC is a leading international leisure travel group which operates in approximately 180 countries worldwide and serves more than 30 million customers in over 27 source markets. Headquartered in Crawley, near Gatwick airport in the UK, the Group employs approximately 50,000 people and operates a pan-European airline consisting of 146 aircraft.  The company mainly serves the leisure travel customer and is organised and managed through four business Sectors: Mainstream, Specialist & Emerging Markets, Activity and Accommodation & Destinations. In the financial year ended 30 September 2009 TUI Travel had revenues of £13.9bn and an underlying profit before tax of £366m. For more information visit www.tuitravelplc.com

Carnival Australia
Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, is Australia’s leading cruise company
Pacific Dawn is one of three cruise ships in the P&O Cruises fleet with a fourth, Pacific Pearl, to join the fleet in December 2010. Carnival Australia is part of the global cruise company, Carnival Corporation, which operates a fleet of 96 ships worldwide with another 10 ships scheduled for delivery between now and 2012.


For Further Information Please Contact:
Lynsey Devon, Activity Sector PR Manager
Tel: 07930 631493 or 020 8939 8708
Email: lynsey.devon@tuitravel.com