Pacific Explorer

For the ship that sailed as Dawn Princess 1988–1993, see RMS Sylvania.

Pacific Explorer
Pacific Explorer leaving Fremantle, Australia, 2023
History
Name
  • Dawn Princess (1997–2017)
  • Pacific Explorer (2017–2025)
OwnerCarnival Corporation & plc
Operator
Port of registry
RouteAustralia and New Zealand
BuilderFincantieri, Italy
CostUS$300 million
Yard numberMonfalcone 5955
Launched11 July 1996
DecommissionedFebruary 2025 (Planned)
Maiden voyage10 May 1997
RefitJune 2009
Identification
Statuslist error: <br /> list (help)
In service, Possibly in 2025 for sale.
final call in Sydney in July 2024[1]
Notes[2][3]
General characteristics
Class and typeSun-class cruise ship
Tonnage
Length856 ft (261 m)
Beam105.6 ft (32.2 m)
Draught27 ft (8.2 m)
Decks10 passenger decks
Deck clearance10 ft 6.3 in (3.208 m)
Installed power46,080 kW (combined)
PropulsionDiesel-electric; two shafts
Speed21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (maximum)
Capacity1,998 passengers
Crew924
Notes[2][4]

Pacific Explorer (previously known as Dawn Princess) is a cruise ship operating since June 2017 by P&O Cruises Australia, a cruise line brand owned by the Carnival Corporation & plc. It is a Sun-class cruise ship built by Fincantieri, Italy, in 1997, and features eight restaurants, four swimming pools, five hot tubs/spas/whirlpools, seven lounges and bars, and two children centres.

She is the sister ship to Sun Princess, P&O Cruises' Oceana (former Ocean Princess) and Sea Princess. Pacific Explorer and Sun Princess differ from Oceana and Sea Princess by having exterior bridge wings. Oceana and Sea Princess have internal bridge wings.

As part of the announcement that P&O Cruises Australia would merge with Carnival, it was revealed the Pacific Explorer will not be joining the Carnival fleet and will be withdrawn in February 2025. The future of the ship is yet to be known.[5]

Princess Cruises

Ports of call

Dawn Princess in Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska, United States. Taken in 2006 from Sun Princess

Dawn Princess was targeted to replace Pacific Princess, sailing Australian waters between October 2006 and March 2007, to become the largest ship ever to be based in Australia, but these plans were eventually replaced by Sun Princess as well as being served by Pacific Dawn (previously christened Regal Princess). Dawn Princess began sailing in Australia as of 24 September 2008 with a 28-day itinerary circumnavigating the country, after a month serving Hawaii, Tahiti, and the South Pacific.[6] From this point on, Dawn Princess remained in Australia permanently sailing from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside Sun Princess under the Princess brand until it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed Pacific Explorer.

Refurbishment

In June 2009, Dawn Princess was dry-docked in the Port of Brisbane, Australia, for refurbishment.[7]

In June 2017, Pacific Explorer was dry-docked in Sembawang Singapore, for refurbishment and re-branding from Dawn Princess.[8] February 2020 Pacific Explorer Dry Dock for February 12 to February 27 for refurbishments and maintenance

P&O Cruises Australia

Pacific Explorer in Sydney, Australia, 2017

On 7 October 2015, Carnival announced that Dawn Princess would be transferred in May 2017 to its Australian subsidiary P&O Cruises Australia as Pacific Explorer.[9] Dawn Princess entered drydock on 26 May 2017 in Singapore (Sembawang) for conversion to Pacific Explorer to be released for cruises on 22 June.[10]

It was re-registered to the United Kingdom and arrived in Sydney, New South Wales on 19 June for a 3-day stay before conducting its maiden voyage to the Pacific Islands. She was christened by the Nickelodeon Studios character Dora the Explorer on 2 July 2017 at Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal after arriving from its maiden voyage.[11]

On 2 June 2022, the Pacific Explorer was the first cruise ship to use the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal.[12]

In April 2023, Pacific Explorer sailed from Fremantle to Exmouth to allow passengers and astronomers to witness the Hybrid Solar Eclipse. Onboard were numerous scientists, including Prof. Jonte Horner and Matt Dodds. [13]

In June 2024 Carnival Corporation announced Pacific Explorer will leave the P&O Australia fleet in 2025 as part of the planned shutdown of the P&O brand in Australia. [14]

Accidents and incidents

On 13 December 2022, a woman fell overboard between Melbourne and Kangaroo Island, triggering a search off the coast of South Australia. Her body was found several hours later, and a joint investigation by South Australia Police and Victoria Police was initiated.[15]

References

  1. ^ "P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer Makes Final Visit to Sydney - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News".
  2. ^ a b "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Dawn Princess". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  3. ^ Ward, Douglas (2005). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. ISBN 978-9812467393.
  4. ^ Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. London: Berlitz. pp. 335–336. ISBN 978-981-268-564-3.
  5. ^ "Carnival Cruise Line to absorb P&O Cruises Australia". Seatrade Cruise News. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Princess Cruises : Australia Coastal". Princess.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Dawn Princess Drydock". Flickr.com. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Pacific Explorer Enters Drydock for Transformation - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News". Archived from the original on 14 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Dawn Princess to be Transferred to P&O Australia". Cruise Industry News. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. ^ "P&O Unveils exciting new features on Pacific Explorer". 7 July 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  11. ^ Staff, C. I. N. (2 July 2017). "Pacific Explorer Christened in Sydney". www.cruiseindustrynews.com.
  12. ^ Atfield, Cameron (2 June 2022). "'Cruising is back': New Brisbane terminal finally welcomes passengers". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  13. ^ Frame, Chris (17 April 2023). "Pacific Explorer travelled 1,275km to see the sun disappear!". Chris Frame Official (Maritime Historian). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  14. ^ Frame, Chris (17 April 2024). "Shock news as P&O to be shut down". Chris Frame Official (Maritime Historian). Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Victoria Police called to help investigate after woman's body found off cruise ship". news.com.au. 14 December 2022.