By Bahnfrend - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

Gladstone will once again welcome the P&O Pacific Explorer to the region on Thursday February 28.

The ship will be docked in Gladstone from 9am until 7pm, bringing with it 1998, mostly domestic, travellers and more than 900 crew.

The seven-night Southern Great Barrier Reef Cruise will depart from Sydney on Monday February 25. 

Gladstone is the second stop on the itinerary following its stop in Mooloolaba. From Gladstone it will travel to Tangalooma before returning to Sydney.

The Feast on East Markets will be held at the East Shores Precinct from 9am – 6pm, in conjunction with the arrival of the Pacific Explorer.

The event will showcase around 75 stalls from around the region, including arts, handicrafts and food. Live entertainment from local performers will be held throughout the day.

It comes after the MS ALBATROS headed to Airlie Beach instead of Gladstone on Friday due to the weather conditions.

Most of her 540 passengers will be German-speaking according to the Airlie Beach Ambassadors Facebook page.

The page also states that the MS ARCADIA, which was due on Monday, will likely be cancelled due to forecast wild weather.