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.

MV Pacific
P&O’s superb new Gem is
bound for

This is the new Gem of
a ship to sail the Pacific for P&O Australia in 2010
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival
In past years, since the Fairstar and Fair Princess, P&O Cruises Australia named their new arrivals to their Australian fleet, Pacific Sky, Pacific Sun, Pacific Star and Pacific Dawn all related to the heavenly bodies in one way or another. However with the arrival of their two new additions, the first in December 2009 and the second late in 2010, P&O Cruises decided to change direction and use new names that reflect the Jewels that await all of us in our own magical tropical region, and those that are to be found on P&O’s superb newly added fleet-mates!
In December 2009 the third ship of the Australian P&O fleet was named the Pacific Jewel, and, P&O will name of their forth gem in their ever growing fleet the Pacific Pearl.
The Pacific Pearl is a superb 63,500-tonne cruise ship that was originally built as Princess Cruises MV Star Princess, which later became well known to many Australians as P&O UK’s MV Arcadia which operated around the world voyages, and the author sailed on her maiden world voyage in 1998, and this fine ship after she will have been extensively refurbished to suit our needs will join the P&O fleet first in Auckland in December 2010, and then in Sydney 2011.
Pacific Pearl is now P&O Cruises’ fourth ship and she will be sailing alongside their three existing ships, the superb twins, the 70,000-ton Pacific Dawn based in Brisbane and Pacific Jewel based in Sydney, as well as the ever popular 47,000-tonne Pacific Sun, which is operates cruises from a variety of ports, including Fremantle, Newcastle, Sydney, Auckland and Brisbane.
Ann Sherry,
Pacific Pearl will accommodate around 2,000 passengers and offer a wide range of features including multiple swimming pools, restaurants and lounges, and she has many cabins with private balconies.
The Ships History: This elegant looking ship was built in

An artist impression of the Fairmajesty with
the intended new Sitmar Cruises livery
After a successful cruise career in the USA,
Carnival Plc transferred her to P&O UK in 1997, and she was renamed

P&O UK’s MV Arcadia seen in
Photograph © Reuben Goossens
Her interiors as you can see are simply delightful, and she features superb touches of fine timbers, elegant frosted glass, and thick plush carpets, such as the Blue Room on the starboard side of E (6) Deck, being the middle level of the Atrium. This is one of my favourite rooms and bars afloat! The two level Marquee showroom on Panorama (Prom) and D Decks is a great room offering excellent lines of sight from every corner of the room! As you walk aft past the Boutiques and photo/video shop, you arrive at the popular Connexions Bar, which as you will see is an unusual room indeed, but it will be a popular one, I am sure! This is followed by the my next favourite, the sports bat on board the room with the wow factor, the Oval Bar, which thankfully is a left over from her P&O UK days, and it is a beautifully timbered room with superb curved bar and heaps of sports memorabilia! Atop of the ship far forward is the Bayside Lounge, which used to be named the Horizon Lounge, and this venue is the nightclub and second venue for entertainment on board. It has a spectacular view as the room is round and thus has a view around the ship and the ocean to die for!
However, P&O has added a brand new
feature, a first for P&O Australia, a 7m x 4m state-of-the-art
LED “Big Screen” which is located just in from of her funnel. This
will provide a whole new level of entertainment day and at night! It will showcase everything from sports events,
latest release movies and scenic destination images to P&O Cruises’
very own daily TV shows. Another new innovation for Australian and
Pacific Pearl has multiple
dinning facilities, including the main restaurant the Waterfront Restaurant and
what has become one of the most popular dinning facilities at sea - the “Salt Grill by Luke Mangan” a restaurant that seems
to be booked out early in any cruise on the ships they are now operating on!
There is also the Plantation Restaurant & Buffet and La Luna pizzeria, and
cafes for a barista coffee, chocolates and cakes! It is all there t ensure that
you have the cruise of a lifetime!
Pacific Pearl Photo Gallery

One of the best on any
ship, the Blue Room and Bar
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

The two story Marquee
Theatre and Showroom
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

Connexions Bar
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

The superb sports Lounge – The Oval Bar
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

Aft on Leisure (12)
Deck you will discover the Plantation-Restaurant and Buffet
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

Pacific-Pearl’s
brand new massive outdoor LED movie screen
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

The Plash Bar, aft of the forward pool on
Leisure (12) Deck – This is the way to go!
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

This is a typical twin
bedded room - all of these are convertible into a queen sized bed
Cabins on Pacific
Pearl are particularly spacious!
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival

A Mini Suite with a
private balcony – Suites are also available!
Photo provided by & © 2010 Carnival
Several photos taken by the author of the MV Arcadia in 1998
We need to understand that these
venues will look quite far superior by the time she arrives, for she will be a
much better ship!

The Atrium looking aft
The Info Deck is lower
level on the left, Lounge & Dance floor in the center
Patisserie
(Charlie’s Bar) is on the lower level - right,
Blue Room & Bar
middle level on the left & shopping galleries
Photograph © Reuben Goossens

A favourite room
onboard - the circular
Photograph © Reuben Goossens

Pool Deck – Here we see the aft pool, there is another pool
forward with a swim up bar pool
Now we can clearly see where the new movie screen will be placed in
front of the funnel
Photograph © Reuben Goossens
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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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