With
Reuben Goossens
Cruise’n’Travel
Journalist / Cruise Reviewer
&
Maritime Historian
Please
Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned
cruise site and it is NOT associated with any cruise company or
travel agency! Although the author has been in the passenger
shipping industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but
continues to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order
to better to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide
information for those intending a cruise in the future.
P&O
Cruises Australia has currently three ships: MV Pacific Dawn,
Pacific Jewel, Pacific Sun
Joining
these ships late 2010 will be the Pacific Pearl
Photo
provided by & © Carnival
1 – Beginnings of P&O & Orient Lines
Ever since 1932, Australians and New Zealanders have had an ongoing love affair with cruising on a British P&O liner, be it the Strathaird, Oronsay, Arcadia, Oriana, and other P&O ships until this day. However, currently P&O Cruises Australia operates three fine ships.
The modern P&O
Cruises certainly has a long and a well established history as
it’s origins goes back to the establishment of the famed
Orient Line in 1777, followed in 1852 when the Peninsular &
Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) came into being. Both
companies collectively operated their ships on the Australian and
2
- P&O & Orient Lines First two Australian Cruise
The
three funnelled RMS Strathaird departs
Photograph from the P&O archives
Peninsular
& Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) became the
first major world shipping company to operate pleasure cruises
out of Australia and on Friday
Commemoration
stamp released by the
The
commemorative stamp above shows her only with a single funnel see
the note below
Photo
© P&O/Carnival plc
Authors
note: After her World War II trooper’s duties RMS
Strathaird was fully refitted and she had her forward and aft
dummy funnels removed and she became a single funnelled liner in
1947. Therefore, when she originally visited
The
ever popular Verandah Café on the Strathmore
Photo
author’s private collection
Cruise number Two: RMS Oronsay.
The
very next day Orient Lines RMS Oronsay departed
RMS
Oronsay
Photo
author’s private collection
In
the seventies P&O, as well as Italian, Greek, Russian and
ships from other nations made cruising more affordable. But then
came ex Sitmar liner)
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
The
elegant
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
3
- P&O Cruises
As
Sitmar Lines SS Fairsky she was the very last passenger steam
Ship ever built
This
is a postcard of a wonderful cruise ship, the Pacific Sky!
Postcard
from the author’s private collection
When Fair Princess was sold to an Asian interest to become a cruising casino an excellent ship was obtained from Princess Cruises, the Sky Princess and she was renamed Pacific Sky, During her latter days (after the arrival of Pacific Sun) she was relocated to Brisbane, which was a first for P&O and this set and new standard and a record in cruising for Queensland!
MV
Pacific Sun seen just after her arrival in Australia and in the
new P&O livery, no gone and back to all white!
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
With the massive success of cruising in Australia P&O decided there was a need for a second ship and the Carnival Group decided on sending an ex Carnival ship MV Jubilee, which was given a comprehensive refit, which was described as her being “Australianised” and she was renamed Pacific Sun. Based in Sydney she became a popular ship indeed, whilst the Pacific Sky was doing well in the north.
Pacific Sun was followed by another Carnival ship the ex Tropicale, and she was renamed Pacific Star and she became the second ship to be based in Brisbane whilst the Pacific Sky was to be relocated to Singapore, but having had engine problems, she was soon sold.
MV
Pacific Star is seen here departing Brisbane as she sails along
the Brisbane River towards Moreton Bay and out to sea
Then
came the news that Australian cruise lovers had been waiting for,
as a new addition was chosen for P&O and it turned out to be
the magnificent 70,000-ton MV Crown Princess that soon became
Pacific
Dawn seen berthed at the Brisbane Portside Cruise Terminal on
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
The
Pacific Star was soon sold and Pacific Sun took her place up in
Then in 2009 Pacific Dawn’s identical sister the ex MV Regal Princess arrived in Australia which had bees renamed Pacific Jewel, and this ship now offered Sydney and NSW cruise lovers a whole new range of facilities, sich as circus at sea, both in the theatre and out on the pool deck as well as countless other features all described on her special webpage. But, she does have one of the largest and most luxurious *©Oasis Spa’s afloat, if not on any ship anywhere!
MV
Pacific Jewel based in
Photo
provided by & © Carnival
Pacific
Jewel’s luxurious ©Oasis Spa
Photo
provided by & © 2009 Carnival
With
the arrival of the Pacific Jewel the ships are now based as
follows: Pacific Jewel is based in
The now all white Pacific Sun seen after her Brisbane 2010 refit and she will sail from various ports
Photo
provided by & © Carnival
MV
Pacific Pearl, built as the glamorous Star Princess to arrive in
Photo
provided by & © Carnival
Pacific
Star has visited
P&O
UK’s MV Arcadia seen in
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
Pool
Deck – Here we see the aft pool, there is another pool
forward with a swim up bar pool
Photograph
© Reuben Goossens
P&O offers affordable cruises, a vacation that everyone can enjoy. Whatever you are seeking, a cruise certainly has it; it offers efficient and friendly service, world class entertainment, countless bars, lounges and showrooms, superb cuisine, excellent children’s facilities with playgrounds and their own pool and youth centres with computer games, all this is combined with a host of exotic destinations.
All P&O ships offer superb accommodations, ranging from economical 4 berth cabins, excellent value twin/double bedded cabins, and some of the most affordable balcony cabins. At the top end are luxury suites or mini suites. However, no matter the accommodation of choice, the entire ship is for everyone to enjoy!
Dinning on a P&O ship is always an event, one I certainly look forward to when I cruise on a P&O ship! It starts, either with a casual buffet Breakfast in the buffet or out on deck, or a fully served a la carte Breakfast in the main Dinning Room. A continental breakfast is also available in your cabin*. Like breakfast, lunch can also be taken up in the buffet or out on deck, or be pampered and enjoy the a la carte lunch in main Dinning Room. #For dinner a la carte dinning is available in the main Dinning Rooms. Or you might enjoy one of the various popular *alternative dinning options.
P&O
has upgraded its services greatly over the recent years with #“Your
Choice Dinning” means that you can dine when and with whom
you wish throughout the day, be it in the Restaurant or in the
Buffet, or you might choose the unbelievable *Seafood and
Steakhouse and the popular *Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant! On
some ships there is also the superb optional *“Salt Grill
Other new features include the use of your mobile phone anywhere at sea, except in certain locations of the ship, such as the dining room and show lounge etc, and that is for obvious reasons! In addition even ATM machines are available, dispensing Australian dollars, which can be used at most of the Pacific ports P&O ships visit.
Pacific
Jewel Pool Deck & Circus platform amidships
Photo
provided by & © Carnival
Ever since 1932 P&O has provided a highly skilled and a professional crew and it is their first priority to ensure that your cruise vacation will be a holiday to remember. Thus, no matter where you are on board, be it by the pool, relaxing on a deckchair, or sipping a cocktail under the stars, there will be someone close at hand to attend.
The author has sailed on countless times with P&O Australia cruises and I can highly recommend them, for P&O offers superb value for money.
No, P&O does not pretend to be Cunard Line, thus you are not sailing on the Queen Mary or a super deluxe millionaire style five/six star ship, but you are cruising on one of the best 4 star value packages you will ever find that is perfectly tailored for the Australian and New Zealand market. P&O cruise ships have been tried and proven for 78 long years and believe me it works, and that is why almost every departure from our shores is almost fully booked!
Go
and get your brochure now and book as soon as possible for berths
for 2010/2011 as they are selling amazingly fast. The 2009/2010
cruise bookings in
Come
and join all those who are discovering the best value vacation
yet, for it is an all inclusive vacation: excellent
accommodations with private facilities, satellite TV and an in
cabin safe and so much more, three superb meals per day as well
as afternoon tea and tea, coffee, on tap at the buffet all day,
etc, friendly service from a super efficient staff, entertainment
that never seems to stop including latest release movies, deck
and other sports facilities, swimming pools, Jacuzzis,
children’s facilities that are second to none! Then there is
the ym and for those who want to indulge in that little extra
luxury the *Spa. And more than that, these floating resorts take
to various exciting destinations, whereas on a land based
location you are at the one place and everything else is optional
extra!
Come on … Let’s go cruising on a P&O cruise in 2010 or 2011, for I certainly will and just for interest, This review is not base on P&O having given me a “Freebie” for they are certainly not that generous - I pay my fare!
All
items marked with an *comes at a small extra charge and that
includes the *Oasis Spa and the “Adults only Oasis”
outdoor area.
Cruise
& ship reviewer, maritime historian, author & lecturer
These
include Cruise reviews and photo pages
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Cruises
P&O
Cruises
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Cruises: Sun Princess / Dawn Princess
Cunard:
Queen
Mary 2 / Queen Victoria / Queen Elizabeth
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the Latest Cruise NEWS read our …
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further cruise information?
Then
contact Australia’s longest Registered Cruise Agency
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Who is the Author of Cruise-Australia &
ssMaritime?
Commenced
in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960
Contact
the Author …
Please
Note: Cruise-Australia is a non-commercial and privately owned
cruise site. The author has been in the passenger shipping
industry since 1960 and is currently semi-retired, but continues
to write cruise and ship reviews and articles in order to better
to inform cruise and ship enthusiasts and provide information for
those intending a cruise in the future.
However,
if you are interested in a cruise, I am happy to refer you to a
dedicated cruise agent in
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