Tag Archives: P&O Australia

P&O Australia Expecting ‘Rebound’ of Local Cruise Industry

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P&O Cruises Australia earlier this week announced the next stage of its fleet transformation with both the Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter (ahead of schedule), arriving in the first half of 2021 in a mark of confidence in the expected rebound of the local cruise industry, according to the company.

The ships are the current Golden and Star Princess. The Pacific Adventure will begin sailing from Sydney on April 30 next year and the delivery of Pacific Encounter is being brought forward by at least six months to ensure the local fleet is poised to drive the resurgence of cruising at the right time, the company said.

The Pacific Encounter is scheduled to call Brisbane home from May 7, 2021 – but additional voyages may be added even earlier, depending on the timing of the return of cruising in Australia.

“The arrival of these much-anticipated ships, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, in the first half of next year represents a step-change for the fleet and a sign of confidence in the market,” P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said.

“This investment in our fleet is a demonstration that P&O Cruises Australia is ready to lead the industry in bouncing back when government and public health authorities agree it is appropriate to begin sailing again with protocols in place.

“It is also a mark of respect for our many loyal guests as well as crew, fresh food suppliers, entertainers and musicians, shore tour operators and port logistics partners who are looking to be a part of the resurgence of the Australian cruise sector over time.

“These have been challenging times for the entire community and, for our part, we have sought to use this operational pause to fast-track our planned fleet refresh. Our pathway to a return to cruising may be unclear but we wanted to give our guests confidence about our future fleet and our commitment to Australia and New Zealand,”  Myrmell said.

Key Takeaways: 

  • The Pacific Adventure will call Sydney home. Her first voyage is a three-night Short Break scheduled for April 30, 2021.
  • The Pacific Adventure was originally planned to debut in November this year but was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Brisbane’s new international cruise terminal will become the new homeport for the Pacific Encounter. At this stage, her first voyage is scheduled to depart Brisbane on May 7, 2021, and is a three-night Short Break. Additional voyages may be added earlier, the company said.
  • The Pacific Explorer will be homeporting from Auckland, New Zealand from February 6, 2021, to her last voyage on April 25, 2021.

The company, citing COVID-19, also said the watersides will be installed at a later date.

Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria to Leave P&O Australia Fleet in 2021

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Pacific Aria

The Pacific Dawn (Ex-Regal Princess (1991–2007))
P&O Cruises Australia has announced that the Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria will leave the fleet in 2021 as the Pacific Encounter will join the company; the ship is currently sailing as the Star Princess.

Buyers for the 1994-built Pacific Aria, with capacity for 1,258 guests, and the 1991-built Pacific Dawn, with capacity for 2,020 guests, were not named.

In 2020, the Golden Princess will move to P&O Australia and become the Pacific Adventure.

In late 2021, the Pacific Explorer, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will comprise the new look P&O fleet with a total capacity of about 9,000 guests — equivalent to the brand’s capacity when the fleet consisted of five smaller ships, the company said. 

In announcing the farewell of Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria, P&O said the ships would not leave the fleet until February and April 2021 respectively.

“We have a clear picture of the P&O fleet of the future and it is a very exciting prospect with the brand well-positioned to continue to lead in this dynamic market,” said P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell. 

“When we embarked on this transformation two years ago, we committed to refresh the fleet over time and to set the brand up for continued success.

“P&O’s Pacific Adventure will be introduced with our distinctive look and feel along with some new onboard features that means P&O Cruises remains the driving force for cruising in Australia and New Zealand.

“For all of us at P&O, the announcement that Pacific Encounter will be the next ship to join the fleet in 2021 is another exciting moment in the evolution of our cruise line.

“It is always sad to farewell much-loved ships. Both ships are close to our hearts with Pacific Dawn particularly special to us and the many thousands of guests who have sailed on her.”

P&O wants to give guests every opportunity to sail on Pacific Dawn’s final cruise as the ship will depart Melbourne on February 8, 2021 sailing to Singapore via Brisbane. There are three great options for guests to farewell the ship:

• Option One — a fantastic short break cruise from Melbourne to Brisbane.
• Option Two — the Asia and Explorer cruise from Brisbane to Singapore.
• Option Three — the ‘full farewell’, a combined 17-nights voyage from Melbourne right through to Singapore.

The Pacific Aria will depart Melbourne on April 9, 2021 sailing to Singapore via Fremantle with three options:

• Option One — a fantastic six-night ‘Southern Discovery’ cruise from Melbourne to Fremantle calling at Esperance and Albany
• Option Two — the Asia and Australia Explorer 12-night cruise from Fremantle to Singapore
• Option Three — the ‘full farewell’, a combined 18-nights voyage from Melbourne right through to Singapore via Fremantle.

Zen Cruises to Start in India with Pacific Jewel

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Pacific Jewel

Another new cruise line is entering the fold as Zen Cruises announced today it had purchased the 1990-built P&O Pacific Jewel and intends to start service in 2019 out of India.

The cruise brand is owned by Essel Group, which describes itself as a “multi-faceted business conglomerate, with a legacy of over 90 years.”

The company today announced the appointment of industry veteran Jurgen Bailom as President and CEO of the Group’s upcoming cruise line business, Zen Cruises Private Limited.

“Bailom will steer the company on a course to captivate Indian cruise passengers with an offering par excellence,” the company said.

The Pacific Jewel entered service in 1990 as the Crown Princess after being built by Fincantieri. It also served as the A’Rosa Blu, AIDAblu and Ocean Village Two before moving to P&O Australia as the Pacific Jewel in 2009. It will wrap up its service career with P&O in March.

Bailom was previously at the head of Grupo Vidanta Cruises prior to Essel Group. He has also held senior corporate director positions within several of Royal Caribbean’s brands.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Essel Group which has done pioneering work across sectors and consider it a great opportunity to be at the helm of India’s first cruise company. India has a 6,632 km long coastline along nine states and two union territories which presents the tremendous potential to promote and grow cruise tourism in India. We intend to take the cruise liner experience to a new level for people in India, and I look forward to unveiling our plans soon,” Bailom said.

No further information was released.