Thread: New superliners for Sydney & Brisbane

P&O Australia - press release



P&O Cruises Australia’s two biggest markets – Sydney and Brisbane – will each get new superliners to drive even further growth in cruising, which is already at record levels.

Brisbane will now become the new homeport for Pacific Dawn, making it the first time a superliner has been based in this city, while Sydney will welcome the latest addition to the Australian fleet, Pacific Jewel.

The move follows new research which shows how the distinctive features of each ship are better suited to the holiday requirements of passengers in their new home ports.

It found that Sydneysiders tended to be more focused on taking time out for themselves when they are on holidays compared with Queenslanders who place more emphasis on being entertained.

Jenny Lourey, Senior Vice President of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said the research findings had prompted the decision to base superliner Pacific Jewel – which has the biggest spa at sea in this region – in Sydney at the end of the year, rather than Brisbane as initially flagged.

Meanwhile, the stunning Pacific Dawn – with its large Dome entertainment complex – will switch to Brisbane.

"The wonderful promise of family relaxation was a universal reason why our passengers choose to cruise, but there are some fundamental differences in the holiday preferences between our two main markets of Sydney and Brisbane," Ms Lourey said.

"The research shows that Sydneysiders were keen to extend their relaxation with a massage, facial or other spa treatment, while our passengers from Brisbane emphasised entertainment and quality time spent together with the family as a key decision for booking their cruise.

"It seems cruise passengers from Brisbane put more value on maximising every moment of their holiday pursuing a varied range of family activities. The Pacific Dawn supports this with greater children’s capacity and a second multi-use entertainment venue."

The research showed*:

• A large range of entertainment was considered more important for those in Queensland (64%) than those in NSW (54%).

• Twice as many people from Brisbane placed emphasis on family time whilst on holiday compared to those from Sydney

• Sydneysiders were more than twice as likely to prioritise ‘taking time out for themselves’ compared to those from Brisbane.

Pacific Jewel and her sister ship, Pacific Dawn, are two of the most spacious and modern ships to cruise in Australian waters – both with an abundance of balcony cabins, high-quality children’s amenities and spa treatment facilities.

Although sisters, the two ships use the space above the bow of the ship to offer distinctly different facilities.

On Pacific Dawn this space is used to accommodate a massive entertainment area, the Dome, while Pacific Jewel houses a stunning 1300m² ocean-view spa and fitness centre.

Pacific Jewel will feature an amazing open-air deck with aerial stage for circus and music performances, a three-storey atrium foyer and almost 200 private balcony cabins, the most in the P&O Cruises’ fleet.

Brisbane-based superliner Pacific Dawn features 11 decks with two swimming pools, a choice of five evening dining areas, three large kids clubs, nine bars and lounges, a two-storey show lounge and fitness centre.

Pacific Jewel will be based in Sydney from 13 December 2009, following an extensive renovation and refit. Meanwhile, Pacific Dawn will commence the first ever year round program of cruises from Brisbane on 19 December 2009.

Itineraries for the new Pacific Jewel and Pacific Dawn deployments will go on sale on March 21.

For complete convenience, passengers booked on affected cruises departing from December 2009 have been automatically transferred to a cruise that best matches their original booking.

Quite interesting how they determined that Sidnysiders and Queenslanders have different tastes in cruising. And they are going to provide the ships to meet those divergent needs.

Wonder what Julie, our member from Australia, will have to say about the differences? Maybe give us an insiders view.

I am tinking about going on Pacific jewels out of Brisbane next year for my fourth cruise.

Hey Lars, are you aware that both the new ships are coming from the "Ocean Village" line?

Ocean Village will be the Pacific Pearl and was called "Arcadia" before that. Ocean Village II will be the Pacific Jewel.

Still luvin it,
Luv Cruzin

Hi a warm welcome to CLF!!

I didnt know that. Thank you for the information
But before they were Ocean Village didnt they belong to Princess???
(If I am thinking about the same ships....)

Originally Posted by Char

Quite interesting how they determined that Sidnysiders and Queenslanders have different tastes in cruising. And they are going to provide the ships to meet those divergent needs.

Wonder what Julie, our member from Australia, will have to say about the differences? Maybe give us an insiders view.

I found that interesting too. It would be fun to know what the differences are.

Yes the "Arcadia" was with Princess (P&O...same thing really :-) as much as Carnival would like to keep them separate).

Thank you for the welcome.

Also about the "differences" between Sydneysiders and queenslanders, Sydney is in a temperate region and the lifestyle there is also very hectic. Queensland covers a tropical/sub tropical region and the lifestyle there is very much more relaxed. I think the differences lay in there somewhere.

Thank you for letting us know the difference....So for the US it will, maybe, be like Chicago and Miami??!! (..probably..)

I'm going on pacific Jewels maiden voyage in december

Leah