Pacific Explorer

Pacific Explorer in Sydney, Australia, 2017
History
Name:

Dawn Princess (1997–2017)

Pacific Explorer (2017–present)
Owner: Carnival plc
Operator: P&O Cruises Australia
Port of registry:
Route: Australia and New Zealand
Builder: Fincantieri, Italy
Cost: US$300 million
Yard number: Monfalcone 5955
Launched: 11 July 1996
Maiden voyage: 10 May 1997
Refit: June 2009
Identification:
Status: In service
Notes: [1][2]
General characteristics
Class and type: Sun-class cruise ship
Tonnage:
Length: 856 ft (261 m)
Beam: 105.6 ft (32.2 m)
Draught: 27 ft (8.2 m)
Decks: 10 passenger decks
Deck clearance: 3.208 m (10.52 ft)
Installed power: 46,080 kW (combined)
Propulsion: Diesel-electric; two shafts
Speed: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (maximum)
Capacity: 1,998 passengers
Crew: 924
Notes: [1][3]

Pacific Explorer (previously known as Dawn Princess) is a cruise ship since June 2017 operated 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 Jacuzzis, seven lounges and bars, and two children centres. Some restaurants offer “anytime dining” where passengers can dine at any time.

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

Princess Cruises

Ports of call

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 is now in Australia as of September 24, 2008, beginning its run with a 28-day itinerary circumnavigating Australia, after a month serving Hawaii, Tahiti, and the South Pacific.[4] From this point on, Dawn Princess will remain in Australia permanently sailing from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth alongside Sun Princess.

Refurbishment

In June 2009, Dawn Princess was dry-docked in the Port of Brisbane, Australia, for refurbishment. During the refit, a Movies Under the Stars screen was added to the main pool area, making Dawn Princess the tenth ship in the Princess fleet to offer this feature. Another addition was the Sanctuary, an adults-only private sunbathing area at the front of the ship, as well as a refurbishment of the photo gallery and maintenance of other public rooms.[5]

In June 2017 "Pacific Explorer" was dry-docked in Sembawang Singapore, for refurbishment and re-branding from "Dawn Princess". Public spaces were significantly refurbished or added along with two waterslides, a splash park, "The Edge" adventure activities and barefoot bowls. New restaurants and bars were added including "Luke's" burgers, 400 Gradi gourmet pizzas, The Pantry, and The Bonded Store with Archie Rose Distillery.

Accidents and incidents

On 31 October 2011, it was announced that a technical fault in the propulsion system caused the ship to sail at reduced speed, what would cause a delay in the departure of its next cruise scheduled to depart from Sydney on 1 November 2011. This fault was not deemed to compromise safety of passengers and crew.

On 25 September 2017, it was announced on board that there had been an outbreak of Gastroenteritis onboard Pacific Explorer. However at this time there was an outbreak of Gastroenteritis in Sydney. This suggested the presence of a norovirus on board the ship. The following decks were affected: Decks 9,10,11,12 & 14 which contains the Pantry Buffet Restaurant. To help limit the spread handwashing was mandatory all over the ship. In the two teenager kids clubs every hour the rooms would be cleared and Disinfected and Hand sanitizer was passed around every 30 minutes. Cruise Operations continued as normal and the itinerary was not changed.

P&O Cruises Australia

On October 7, 2015, Carnival announced that Dawn Princess would be transferred in May 2017 to its Australian subsidiary P&O Cruises Australia as the Pacific Explorer.[6] The Dawn Princess entered drydock on 26 May 2017 in Singapore (Sembawang) for conversion to Pacific Explorer to be released for cruises on 22 June.[7]

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 Dora The Explorer on 2 July 2017 at Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal after arriving from its maiden voyage.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Advanced Masterdata for the Vessel Dawn Princess". VesselTracker. 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Ward, Douglas (2005). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Singapore: Berlitz. ISBN 981-246-510-3.
  3. ↑ Ward, Douglas (2008). Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. London: Berlitz. pp. 335–336. ISBN 978-981-268-564-3.
  4. ↑ "Princess Cruises : Australia Coastal". Princess.com. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  5. ↑ "Dawn Princess Drydock". Flickr.com. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  6. ↑ "Dawn Princess to be Transferred to P&O Australia". Cruise Industry News. 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  7. ↑ "P&O UNVEILS EXCITING NEW FEATURES ON PACIFIC EXPLORER". 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  8. ↑ Pacific Explorer Christened in Sydney
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