The new Pacific Adventure is officially debuting for P&O Cruises Australia today. Third and final vessel to join the brand’s fleet, the newly transformed cruise ship is kicking off a year-round program of cruises from Sydney.
For its first revenue sailing, the 2,600-guest vessel is departing the Australian port for a three-night themed voyage to nowhere.
In addition to two full days at sea, the “Comedy Cruise” includes special activities onboard, such as adults-only shows, comedy workshops and more.
Continuing its inaugural season, the Adventure is set to offer three- to 12-night cruises that visit several domestic destinations in Australia, including the Sapphire Coast, Tasmania, the Great Barrier Reef and more.
The longer itineraries also feature visits to popular cruise ports in the South Pacific, New Zealand, Fiji and more.
Built for Princess Cruises, the Pacific Adventure originally entered service in 2001.
Before debuting for its new operator, the former Golden Princess underwent a major refit that added new attractions and public areas, in addition to P&O’s signature features.
According to the company, the 109,000-ton vessel now carries the cruise line’s contemporary look and feel, offering an array of “memorable experiences, unforgettable dining options, ultimate relaxation, thrill-seeking waterslides and ziplining.”
Among the new additions is The Byron Beach Club, a private retreat available for certain suite categories, complete with a pool, spas and outdoors seating.
The Adventure also showcases many brand favourites, including Luke’s Bar & Grill by Luke Mangan and 400 Gradi by award-winning Melbourne chef Johnny di Francesco.
For its first full winter season since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Celebrity Cruises is deploying a total of nine ships in the Caribbean. In addition to the new Celebrity Beyond, two other Edge-Class ships and four Solstice-Class vessels will be sailing in the region during the winter.
The season will also see the premium brand offering varied itineraries in Australia, South America, the West Coast and the Galapagos.
Cruise Industry News looked into the company’s full deployment for the Winter of 2022-2023. Here’s the breakdown:
Caribbean and Bahamas
Celebrity Millennium Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2000 Homeports: San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Three to ten nights Itineraries: Seven-night cruises to Southern and Eastern Caribbean departing from San Juan, in addition to varied itineraries departing from Fort Lauderdale in December and January Sailing Season: October 15 to April 15
Celebrity Summit Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2001 Homeports: Miami (United States) Length: Four and five nights Itineraries: Short cruises to Key West, Mexico, the Bahamas and more Sailing Season: October 27 to April 22
Celebrity Silhouette Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,886 guests Built: 2011 Homeport: Miami (United States) Length: Four to ten nights Itineraries: Short cruises to Key West, Mexico and the Bahamas, in addition to ten-night voyages to Eastern Caribbean visiting St. Croix, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and more Sailing Season: November 3 to April 10
Celebrity Beyond Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,260 guests Built: 2022 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Five to eight nights Itineraries: Western and Eastern Caribbean visiting St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras and more Sailing Season: November 4 to April 16
Celebrity Constellation Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2002 Homeport: Tampa (United States) Length: Five to ten nights Itineraries: Southern, Western and Eastern Caribbean sailing to Panama, Mexico, St. Maarten, Colombia, Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Grand Cayman and others Sailing Season: November 6 to April 7
Celebrity Edge Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,900 guests Built: 2018 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Four to 11 nights Itineraries: Southern Caribbean and Panama Canal visiting St. Maarten, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, Bonaire, Curaçao, Aruba and more Sailing Season: November 7 to April 7
Celebrity Apex Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,900 guests Built: 2020 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Six to eight nights Itineraries: Western and Eastern Caribbean visiting Mexico, Grand Cayman, Belize, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts and more Sailing Season: November 12 to April 15
Celebrity Reflection Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 3,030 guests Built: 2012 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Five to eight nights Itineraries: Western, Eastern and Southern Caribbean visiting Aruba, Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and more Sailing Season: November 13 to April 16
Celebrity Equinox Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,850 guests Built: 2009 Homeport: Fort Lauderdale (United States) Length: Nine to 11 nights Itineraries: Southern, Western and Eastern Caribbean visiting Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Barbados, Martinique, Antigua and more Sailing Season: Year-round
Australia and New Zealand
Celebrity Eclipse Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,850 guests Built: 2010 Homeport: Sydney (Australia) Length: Three to 13 nights Itineraries: Varied itineraries visiting New Zealand, Fiji, the Great Barrier Reef, Tasmania, Tonga and more Sailing Season: October 22 to April 19
South America
Celebrity Infinity Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 1,950 guests Built: 2001 Homeports: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Valparaiso (Chile) Length: Nine to 14 nights Itineraries: Brazil, Patagonia, Antarctica, Falklands and more Sailing Season: December 12 to April 4
West Coast
Celebrity Solstice Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 2,850 guests Built: 2008 Homeport: Los Angeles (United States) Length: Seven and eight nights Itineraries: Mexican Riviera and Pacific Coast visiting Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Monterey, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara and more Sailing Season: September 24 to April 22
Galapagos
Celebrity Flora Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100 guests Built: 2019 Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Galapagos Expeditions sailing to Rabida Island, Puerto Egas, Elizabeth Bay, Las Bachas and others Sailing Season: Year-round
Celebrity Xploration Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 16 guests Built: 2007 Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Galapagos expeditions visiting Black Turtle Cove, Sullivan Bay, Calega Tagus, Punta Espinoza and more Sailing Season: Year-round
Celebrity Xpedition Capacity (at 100% Occupancy): 100 guests Built: 2001 Homeport: Baltra (Ecuador) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Galapagos expeditions visiting North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fé Island, Puerto Ayora, Bahia Post Office and more Sailing Season: Year-round
The Pacific Explorer from P&O Cruises Australia is back in Sydney, having sailed into the iconic harbour on Monday morning.
The company said the ship had returned home. The vessel received a spectacular welcome home with a ceremonial water cannon salute celebrating her arrival – marking the start of the rebuild of the $5 billion a year Australian cruise industry, the company said.
The Pacific Explorer became the first cruise ship to return to Australia in more than two years, passing through Sydney Heads at about 9.30am before gliding into Circular Quay mid-morning with an escort of official vessels and Sydney “boaties.”
Her arrival marked a 28-day voyage from Europe where the ship has been paused for much of the past two years waiting to come home to Australia.
The first revenue sailing is set to depart on May 31.
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