P&O Cruises - MV Pacific Pearl

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. Please read my statement at the bottom of the page!

MV Pacific Pearl

P&O’s superb new Gem is bound for New Zealand & Australia in 2010 & 2011

This is the new Gem of a ship to sail the Pacific for P&O Australia in 2010

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, CEO of Carnival Australia, operators of P&O Cruises, said. “We wanted to choose a name for our next ship that reflected the magic of cruising, and the waters of the South Pacific,” - “It was a difficult decision but we chose Pacific Pearl as the name of our next cruise ship because it evokes these wonderful and tropical images of the places we visit.” - “Pearls are such beautiful jewels and are also synonymous with Australia and this region so it seemed a good fit for this next step in the growth of our business.” - “We know Pacific Pearl, along with her sister Pacific Jewel, will prove winners with Australians and New Zealanders alike given their superb features and their great size.”

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 France for Sitmar Cruises and was originally to be named Fairmajesty, however, prior to her completion, Princess Cruises acquired Sitmar Cruises and the ship was completed and named Star Princess.

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 Arcadia, in memory of another much loved P&O liner that had ended her long and esteemed career in 1979. The Arcadia was given a multi-million-dollar refit prior entering service in her new role, taking British passengers to the Caribbean, Europe, and undertaking the annual P&O Around the World Voyage.

P&O UK’s MV Arcadia seen in Sydney’s Darling Harbour No 10 - 24 February 1998, with the author having just disembarked

Photograph © Reuben Goossens

The author sailed on Arcadia’s maiden world cruise in 1998. However, in May 2003, P&O Princess Cruises transferred the Arcadia to a new Carnival Plc brand name, “OceanVillage Cruises” and after a refit she was renamed MV OceanVillage and she has served under that name (until November 2010), but it was decided by Carnival to end the brand, and being such an excellent ship to transfer her to P&O Cruises Australia.

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 New Zealand cruise lovers!

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

The two story Marquee Theatre and Showroom

Connexions Bar

The superb sports Lounge – The Oval Bar

Aft on Leisure (12) Deck you will discover the Plantation-Restaurant and Buffet

Pacific-Pearl’s brand new massive outdoor LED movie screen

The Plash Bar, aft of the forward pool on Leisure (12) Deck – This is the way to go!

This is a typical twin bedded room - all of these are convertible into a queen sized bed

Cabins on Pacific Pearl are particularly spacious!

A Mini Suite with a private balcony – Suites are also available!

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 on the right

Photograph © Reuben Goossens

A favourite room onboard - the circular Horizon Court lounge (Now it is the Bayside Lounge & Bar)

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

***********************************

For Information and Reservations

Email Corie: info@cruisespecialists.com.au

Or Phone Toll Free

--1800 427 847--

www.cruisespecialists.com.au

Brisbane & International – Phone: +61 7 5546-6798

Fax: + 61 7 5546 6849

(Please NAME the SHIP you are enquiring about)

For other agencies around Australia & NZ or for International readers

There is a listing of recommended Australian, New Zealand & International Cruise’n’Travel Agents

ENTER HERE

***********************************

Visit our many features on the following Carnival PLC Cruise Companies

P&O Cruises Australia: Pacific Sun / Pacific Dawn / Pacific Jewel / Pacific Pearl

View our 2009 to 2011 P&O Australia & NZ Cruise Calendar

P&O Cruises UK: Aurora / Oriana / Artemis

Princess Cruises: Sun Princess / Dawn Princess

Cunard: Queen Mary 2 / Queen Victoria / Queen Elizabeth

Seabourn: Seabourn Yachts

For the Latest Cruise NEWS read our …

P&O/Princess/Cunard/Costa/Seabourn/Carnival News Updates

***********************************

Return to the - Cruise-Australia.com - INDEX

Who is the Author of Cruise-Australia & ssMaritime?

Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

Contact the Author …

When sending an email please name the ship you are requesting information or speaking about!

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 Australia, New Zealand or further afield on my recommended “cruise agents” page, for these are agents that specialise in cruising and they will be able offer excellent service you and the best fares available! Be assured, I do NOT receive any commissions or favours from these agents, and in the vast majority of cases these agents will not even be aware of my, or mu site’s involvement, as I provide the enquirer with the requested information of the agents (in their region) including their contact details. Reuben Goossens.

Cruise-Australia.com

& Cruise-Australia.net

Classic Liner enthusiasts visit

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

Where the ships of the past make history the 1914 built MV Doulos Story

Visit our “Classic Ocean Voyages” Campaign Feature

Photographs on cruise-australia.net are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

This notice covers all pages, although, I have done my best to ensure that all photographs are duly credited and that this notice is displaced on each page, that is, when a page is updated!

gold coast mechanics Counter