Set Completed

P&O's Pacific Adventure arrives at Sydney for the first time since the end of the pandemic (September 9, 2022, local time), marking the return to Australia of all three ships in the P&O Australia fleet.

Photo courtesy of P&O Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Going Home

P&O Australia's Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure made a rare side-by-side appearance as they spent the night next to each other yesterday at the shipyard in Trieste. 

Pacific Encounter was preparing to leave for Australia to resume service in Australia on August 20, and Pacific Adventure was just arriving at the shipyard for its dry dock work. 

Australia's cruise industry is returning to work after a more than two-year pause during the pandemic. 

The complete story appeared in the June 29 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Open for Business

P&O Australia resumed cruising from Sydney today for the first time in more than two years. Shown below is Pacific Explorer arriving at Sydney this morning. The banner says it all. 

The complete story appeared in the May 31 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

It's Just a Few Days

It's just a few days until P&O Cruises Australia resumes service with a four-night aboard Pacific Explorer round trip cruise from Sydney to Brisbane on May 31. 

   The ship is crewed and excitement abounds. 

   As part of the process, the restaurant staff is seeing and sampling dozens of new menu items. 

The complete story appeared in the May 25 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

There's Something Familiar about Her

Most of the work has been completed to convert the former Star Princess into her new identity: Pacific Encounter for P&O Australia. She has left wet dock and has now taken her position at sea as part of the P&O family awaiting the time when cruising will again be permitted from Australia.    

During the wet dock, she got her new P&O livery and the interior has become “unmistakably P&O,” according to the line. Still, though, Princess fans will notice some of the classic Princess decor in these photos taken during the refurbishment. 

Photos courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

She's Got the Look

Thanks to a new livery and two 20-meter by 8-meter lighted signs on her funnel, the former Star Princess looks like the newest addition to the P&O Australia fleet. Thanks to completing the paperwork on Wednesday, she is. She became Pacific Encounter.

The complete story appeared in the January 29 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises. All rights reserved. may not be copied or used without express permission.

Australia Day!

It's Australia Day. Even though there are no cruises, the ships are nearby awaiting their time to return. Here you can see what the crews of P&O's Pacific Explorer and Carnival Spirt did to mark the occasion.

Photos courtesy of P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

No Longer a Star

Star Princess is soon to become P&O Cruises' (Australia) Pacific Encounter. It is soon to get its P&O “name badge” which is waiting on the dock in Singapore where the transformation will take place.  

The complete story appeared in the January 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Not Just for the Caribbean

Just as it's always five o'clock somewhere, it is also hurricane season somewhere, and now it's Australia's turn.

Just like in the Caribbean, cruise lines are moving their ships out of the way to keep them and their passengers safely away from Cyclone Oma, and proving the advantage of booking a cruise vacation.

A list of changes by Carnival Australia brands was included in the February 21 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 9, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Knowing who the King of Rock and Roll is in Australia without even mentioning his name

Details appeared in the January 9 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 29, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Cunard partnering with BAFTA LA
• Bitter Blanca propels P&O Australia into finals for first time

Details appeared in the October 29 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Bartender Siddhant Naik's Bitter Blanca

Photo courtesy of P&O Australia and CND. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - October 3, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• "Pizza Viennese" being served aboard Pacific Explorer. 
• In case Superman sail

Details appeared in the October 3 edition of Cruise News Daily

Pizza Viennese as served aboard Pacific Explorer

Photo courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

All that Glitters Is Not Golden

If you were to guess what the name will be of P&O Australia's first Grand Class ship, what would it be? Readers of P&O's Facebook page tried to guess. Six guessed Pacific Adventure - and they were right.

In October 2020, when Golden Princess is transferred to P&O Australia, after refurbishment to match the fresh and contemporary designs of the rest of the P&O fleet, it will become Pacific Adventure.

Details appeared in the September 26 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Rendering courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Simon & Garfunkel Had Scarborough Fair, P&O Has Strawberry Fair

P&O Cruises (Australia) is a major customer for Australian strawberry farmers, purchasing on average 6,000 kilograms (13,228 pounds) a year.

So when Australian strawberry farmers ran into a bit of trouble recently, P&O stood by their friends on the farm and organized Strawberry Fair aboard their ships.

Details appeared in the September 25 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

The Stamp of Approval

If anyone is mailing you something from Australia, check the stamp. They may be mailing you a tiny picture of P&O's Pacific Explorer.

The Australian postage stamp is actually celebrating Norfolk Island which is a popular cruise destination, but it prominently features the P&O Australia ship, which is a regular visitor there.

Details appear in the September 17 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Star Princess to Transfer to P&O Australia

Star Princess will move from Princess Cruises to P&O Australia at the end of 2021. That will replace the smaller Pacific Jewel, which has been with P&O since 2009.

The complete story appeared in the August 21 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

P&O Reveals Refurbished Pacific Aria

Pacific Aria is on her way back from dry dock in Singapore to her home port in Brisbane. During her time in dry dock, she received her new P&O Southern Cross livery as well as refurbishment to a number of areas of the ship.

Details appeared in the August 15 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Pacific Aria in its new Southern Cross livery

The Dome

The aft Oasis Pool

Photos courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

There's No Place Like Dome (or Dome Sweet Dome)

P&O's Pacific Aria has just begun its 12-day dry dock in Singapore, it's first since P&O acquired the ship in November 2015.

A key highlight of the refurbishment will be updating the look of The Dome, the popular late-night hot spot at the top of the ship overlooking the bow.

The complete story appeared in the August 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Rendering courtesy of P&O Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

The King Is Going Down Under

Prepare yourself. There is going to be another Elvis sighting. This time it will be Down Under.

Elvis will be seen aboard P&O's Pacific Explorer as it sails on a three-night cruise from Sydney on May 17. (Yes, that's almost a year away, but they are giving you plenty of time.) Coincidentally it will be a special sailing, which will be the second annual “Tribute to the King.”

Details appeared in the June 28 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Girl Power Down Under

When sailing on any of the Carnival Australia brands and you see a woman in a white uniform, don't assume she's a nurse. She's probably one of the ship's officers. The company says they are doing their part to achieve gender balance in seafaring careers.

Details appeared in the June 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Six third officers from Pacific Explorer, pictured here with Pacific Explorer Hotel Director Melissa Yates (centre), are (left to right) Hilary Cassano, Laura Abbruzetti, Rachel Davies, Lauren Brunton, Bryony Rodger and Emma Forbes-Gearey.

Photo courtesy of Carnival Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.