<p>P&amp;O Cruises has released its new 2010-11 program packed with cruising firsts, including two ships sailing from Brisbane in 2011 and a new season of summer cruising from Newcastle.<br /><br />The growing popularity of cruising from Brisbane has prompted P&amp;O Cruises to introduce a second ship, with Pacific Sun joining superliner Pacific Dawn from March 2011 to offer 16 cruises from the Queensland capital, boosting capacity by 50 per cent for the first half of 2011.<br /><br />The new program also features P&amp;O Cruises&rsquo; Pacific Pearl&rsquo;s first seven months of cruising from Auckland and Sydney, with highlights from Sydney including a new 10-night cruise to New Zealand in March 2011 and a 28-day voyage to Tahiti in July, following the success of Pacific Dawn&rsquo;s cruise this year.<br /><br />P&amp;O Cruises has expanded its offering of themed cruises following the sell-out popularity of its shorter &ldquo;sampler&rdquo; cruises this year, with the latest program featuring more three-night Comedy and Food &amp; Wine cruises as well as new four-night Lifestyle cruises from Sydney, Newcastle and Auckland.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Pacific Sun will offer Novocastrians a longer season of summer cruising in 2011, sailing eight cruises from Newcastle to the South Pacific, New Zealand and around Australia in February and March.<br /><br />Jenny Lourey, Senior Vice President of Carnival Australia, which operates P&amp;O Cruises, said the new program provided more variety for Australians planning their next cruise holiday.<br /><br />Highlights of P&amp;O Cruises&rsquo; 2011 program include:<br /><br />&bull; A new three-night Lifestyle cruise onboard Pacific Jewel departs Sydney February 11, 2011. Fares start at $699* per person<br /><br />&bull; A nine-night cruise from Newcastle onboard Pacific Sun to the South Pacific including Port Vila, Ouvea and Noumea, departing March 6, 2011. Fares start at $1899* per person<br /><br />&bull; Pacific Pearl&rsquo;s 28-night voyage from Sydney to Tahiti visiting Norfolk Island, Tonga, Papeete, Moorea and Bora Bora in Tahiti, Samoa, Tin Can Island, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia departs July 1, 2011. Fares start at $5599* per person.<br /><br />P&amp;O Cruises has also introduced new Special Occasions packages, available for purchase pre-cruise, to add a special touch to onboard celebrations. Priced from $80, the birthday and special occasion packages include a bottle of sparkling, red or white wine, dinner for two at the Steakhouse (or the new Salt Grill by Luke Mangan onboard Pacific Jewel) and portrait photograph.</p>