Pacific Aria

Pacific Aria as Ryndam departing Tallinn, Estonia 3 July 2013.
History
Name:
  • Ryndam (1994–2015)
  • Pacific Aria (2015–)
Owner: P&O Cruises Australia
Operator:
Port of registry:
Builder: Fincantieri
Yard number: Monfalcone shipyard 5883
Completed: 9 September 1994
Identification:
Status: In service
Notes: [1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Statendam-class cruise ship
Tonnage:
Length: 219.4 m (720 ft)
Beam: 30.8 m (101 ft)
Draught: 7.71 m (25.3 ft)
Depth: 19.13 m (62.8 ft)
Decks: 13
Deck clearance: 11.42 m (37.5 ft)
Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
Capacity: 1,258 passengers
Crew: 602
Notes: [1]

Pacific Aria is a cruise ship of P&O Cruises Australia. Built for the Holland America Line in 1994 as the Ryndam, in November 2015 it was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia and renamed.

History

Pacific Aria as the Ryndam at Oranjestad, Aruba.

Pacific Aria is the third Statendam-class ship ordered by the Holland America Line after the company's acquisition by Carnival. The preceding two ships in this class are Statendam (now Pacific Eden) and Maasdam, both of which are still active. The Holland America Line previously had a passenger ship named Ryndam, a 12,340 gross ton ship built by Harland & Wolff, Belfast in 1901 and scrapped in 1929.[2]

Pacific Aria's styling builds upon that of the ships that were active for Holland America at the time of the purchase by Carnival, specifically the layouts of MS Noordam and MS Nieuw Amsterdam. Public rooms such as the Explorers Lounge, Crow's Nest and Lido Restaurant, as well as their placement on the ship, all are transfers from these previous builds.

In 2015, Ryndam spent her last season with Holland America Line cruising out of Harwich, UK before she transferred to P&O Cruises Australia. She departed Harwich on Saturday 12 November bound for Rotterdam, where she then further sailed to Singapore before being dry docked ready for her new life with P&O Cruises Australia. The ship was transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in 2015 and renamed Pacific Aria.

Concept and Construction

Built at Fincantieri, Ryndam features art specifically commissioned for the ship, including the sculpture featured in the central atrium that spans three decks—Lower Promenade, Promenade and Upper Promenade. Included amongst the art collection are pieces gleaned from previous Holland America ships from their more than 130-year history. Since Holland America recycles their ship names (new versions of Noordam and Nieuw Amsterdam are currently sailing), some references to previous ships that bore the name Ryndam can also be found.

The ship features 10 passenger-accessible decks, from the Sky Deck to A Deck. B Deck and below are reserved for crew activities, service facilities and crew accommodations. B Deck is only accessible to passengers during tendering operations. In order to facilitate moving of service equipment and supplies, Ryndam's B Deck features a classic "Broadway" construction—a wide central passage that runs the full length of the ship.

The ship is powered by twin diesel-electric engines with a top cruising speed of 22.6 knots (41.9 km/h; 26.0 mph).

Signature of Excellence program

Pacific Aria as the Ryndam in the Aurlandsfjord in 2013.

Ryndam received SOEP1 which included Pinnacle Grill specialty restaurant, the Neptune Lounge for suite guests, the Culinary Arts Center with demonstration kitchen, expanded children’s and teens’ facilities, enhanced stateroom amenities, and improved dining and enrichment offerings and recently received SOEP2 in February 2010 which included Spa Staterooms, Mix which is a bar type lounge & Showroom at Sea (nightclub/lounge).

Incidents

During Ryndam's inaugural season in Alaska, a fire broke out in one of the shop storage lockers on the ship's B Deck just off the "Broadway" corridor during docking operations in Juneau, Alaska, causing minor damage. The fire was quickly contained and cruise operations were unaffected.

In February 2007 Ryndam returned to San Diego from a ten-day tour with 110 passengers sickened from a norovirus outbreak. A CDC report filed later that year listed 40 violations.[3]

On 27 November 2010, an intoxicated passenger released Ryndam's stern anchor while the ship was in international waters en route to Florida. No damage to the ship was reported.[4]

In April 2015 two passengers on board the ship were found dead in their cabin by cruise staff. At approximately 11.30am local time two guests on board MS Ryndam were found deceased in their stateroom in what appears to be a murder-suicide, said the statement from Holland America Line. "The cabin was immediately secured and the authorities, including the FBI, were notified." Police Sgt Ricardo Cruz said blood was found inside the cabin, but the cause of death remains unclear. "We don't know yet whether an object was used or what the motive was," said Cruz. [5]

On 3 July 2015 the Ryndam had to cut short a cruise trip due to a norovirus outbreak. It was on a 14-day cruise which had departed on 20 June for a sail to Iceland and Norway. It underwent a clean in the Port of Harwich and returned to service on 4 July 2015.

P&O Cruises Australia

On 3 October 2015, the Ryndam departed Venice on its farewell voyage with the Holland America Line to Singapore.[6] It was given a make over by SembCorp Marine in Singapore, before being transferred to P&O Australia and renamed the Pacific Aria. It was officially renamed in Sydney by Jessica Mauboy on 25 November 2015.[7][8] It sails under the P&O Australia brand out of Australian ports year round.[9][10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Ryndam". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Ted Finch (14 December 1997). "Ryndam". The ShipsList. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Norovirus Outbreak Holland America Line Cruise Ship Ryndam - February 15, 2007". Cruise Bruise. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  4. ↑ "Anchor Drop Lands Cruise Passenger in Brig". The Smoking Gun. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  5. ↑ Cruise couple found dead in cabin in apparent murder suicide The Telegraph
  6. ↑ "Ryndam & Statendam Bid Adieu to Holland America Line with Exotic Farewell Cruises". Holland America. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Australia's latest cruise ship, P&O Cruises Pacific Eden Cruise News TV 18 November 2015
  8. ↑ P&O Cruises' Five Ship Spectacular will rock Sydney Harbour P&O Cruises 25 July 2015
  9. ↑ "P&O to add two new ships as Australian cruises to grow to a million passengers a year by 2016". Escape. Herald Sun. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  10. ↑ Behind the scenes at the makeover of P&O' two new Australian cruise liners before they hit Sydney Harbour on November 25 Herald-Sun 4 November 2015
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