Cruise Talk: ? Replacement for Pacific Sky

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Topic: ? Replacement for Pacific Sky

PeterUK
First Class Passenger
Member # 1898

posted 08-03-2001 01:11 AM

I have recently seen it reported that P&O are considering replacing the Pacific Sky as she consumes a lot of oil being driven by steam turbines. Also the 2002 advanced cruise brochure for P&O Cruises UK only has the Arcadia scheduled to the begining of November 2002 whilst the rest, apart from Victoria, are at least to the end of the year. Could it be that P&O are planning to replace Pacific Sky with Arcadia? It is interesting that the group have or are about to redeployed the three Sitmar designed cruise ships. As they all have some of the most spacious cabins through out the cabin grades of the fleet they presumably are not as profitable as the newer members of the fleet.

Posts: 217 | From: North of England | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

pungpui
First Class Passenger
Member # 1218

posted 08-03-2001 05:06 AM

that would be a great thing to consider...but really can P&O Australia afford it??

3 ships in 3 years...

Posts: 419 | From: Sydney, NSW, Australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

PauloMestre
First Class Passenger
Member # 1613

posted 08-03-2001 06:51 PM

I've read some articles regarding the 'perfomance' of PACIFIC SKY during the latest storm off Sidney, stating that the ship rode the storm with ease.
I wonder how the cumbersome, light built ARCADIA would have taken such a beating?

Regards

Paulo Mestre

Posts: 311 | From: Alhos Vedros, Setubal, Portugal | Registered: Sep 2000 | IP: Logged

TBirdFrank
First Class Passenger
Member # 2280

posted 08-06-2001 07:14 PM

They could send her up north anytime!

Did eleven nights on board to Alaska last year and it was a pleasure to ride a turbine again - smooth silent and graceful.

You can send these grotesque floating apartments to those who want them anyday - Class will out

Posts: 158 | From: Manchester, England | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-06-2001 07:55 PM

Paolo...remember the Arcadia was the follow on ship for Sitmar and was actually going to be called Fair Majesty. She certainly is not so litely built as some of the newer ones.
We had an encounter with Cyclone Paula in the South Pacific last March on the Crown Odyssey...winds up to 80 and max 35/40 ft seas...and she behaved very well indeed. I was very pleasantly surprised.
....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Scottylass
First Class Passenger
Member # 420

posted 08-07-2001 12:19 PM

I was on Arcadia in June and thought (only my opinion) that she did not get through the Bay of Biscay very well, she seemed to be almost down to a standstill, and I had to visit the Crew Office, Deck 3 in the bow and the noise of the water crashing against the hull was horrendous. Who knows what will happen with the P&O fleet in the future, maybe they don't know either

Cheers
M.

Posts: 648 | From: Stirlingshire, Scotland | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

vulcania
First Class Passenger
Member # 822

posted 08-07-2001 01:05 PM

I rode her on a 3 week trip in 1999 from San Fran to Vancouver and the Far East. We had some tough weather which she rode well but I didn't care. I just hated her and haven't sailed Princess since.

Posts: 182 | From: Baltimore, MD USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

bmajor
First Class Passenger
Member # 1754

posted 08-07-2001 02:43 PM

Arcadia is a P&O Cruises ship....not Princess Cruises!

Posts: 1371 | From: Orewa.New Zealand. | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-07-2001 03:01 PM

We did a repo from Fort Lauderdale to Vancouver on her years ago when she was Star Princess. Actually we prefer her to the newer 'Sun' class ships.
She had the first of the new design of hulls, and all the ones since are the same, just expanded.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

cottonwool
First Class Passenger
Member # 2232

posted 08-10-2001 11:28 PM

Well I'm off on Pacific Sky in February. She looks well suited for south pacific cruises, with lots of open spaces and pool areas you can see out of. A lot of ships seem more suited to cooler climes.Only my opinion. It still looks like a ship, which I think is great.

Posts: 33 | From: Sydney,Australia | Registered: Jul 2001 | IP: Logged

TBirdFrank
First Class Passenger
Member # 2280

posted 08-11-2001 07:16 AM

Pacific Sky was first delivered as the Fairsky for Sitmar, which was later purchased as a going concern by P & O. She is the last steam powered passenger vessel ever built.

She has nothing in common with the present "Princess" design and is really a very traditional, if minimalist, design and she is all the better for that.

Enjoy your cruise on her - she has good sea going qualities and the smoothness that only a turbine can produce.

Posts: 158 | From: Manchester, England | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

Grahame
First Class Passenger
Member # 2325

posted 09-01-2001 02:39 AM

re Peteruk ...I have just looked up the bookings for the Port of Sydney,and the last booking for the Pacific Sky is for the Passenger Terminal for 27 Jan 2003..and already listed are bookings up to and including march for Sun Princess,QE2,Aurora ,Oriana etc.In Fact Oriana seems to be doing a seperate three day trip from Sydney during her stay in feb 2003.So you may well be right that they are thinking of withdrawing the quite unique ex Sky Princess...it would be a great pity ,as she has settled into the Australian market with great success.

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Posts: 34 | From: Australia | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

PeterUK
First Class Passenger
Member # 1898

posted 09-01-2001 10:34 AM

I had originally suggested that Arcadia might have been considered as a replacement as she was not included in the 2002 UK cruise brochure beyond the end of October 2002. I now see from the P&O cruises web site that she is sailing to Acapulco then has a gap of 2 weeks or so, possibly a charter, and is doing a Christmas and New Year cruise from Santiago to Buenos Aires. There after the website is blank. It is still possible that she might go from there to Sydney or perhaps return to the UK round Africa. We will have to wait and see.

Posts: 217 | From: North of England | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged

SydneyBoy
First Class Passenger
Member # 2543

posted 02-03-2003 09:02 AM

Was just going through this old post and it is now clear that Arcadia's schedule was blank because she is becoming Ocean Village! Have got the new (very thick) brochure for this and it looks quite good! P&O are certainly becoing very diverse in the products they are offering!

Thankfully this means Pacific Sky is not going anywhere, P&O Australia is doing so well with her and now Pacific Princess I think they plan to keep her firmly within their control for a long while yet! I just hope Carnival doesnt decide they know better!

Posts: 180 | From: Sydney Australia | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Waynaro
First Class Passenger
Member # 3484

posted 02-03-2003 08:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by pungpui:
that would be a great thing to consider...but really can P&O Australia afford it??
3 ships in 3 years...

How did you get this? I only counted 1 newer ship witht the new Pacific Princess.

quote:
Originally posted by SydneyBoy:
SydneyBoy Was just going through this old post and it is now clear that Arcadia's schedule was blank because she is becoming Ocean Village! Have got the new (very thick) brochure for this and it looks quite good! P&O are certainly becoing very diverse in the products they are offering!
Thankfully this means Pacific Sky is not going anywhere, P&O Australia is doing so well with her and now Pacific Princess I think they plan to keep her firmly within their control for a long while yet! I just hope Carnival doesnt decide they know better!

You are right! The Arcadia is going to be Ocean Village of the new German(?) brand called Ocean Village. It is possible that P&O Princess might be thinking of another ship like the Sun/Dawn Princess?

Posts: 6108 | From: Vallejo,CA : California Maritime Academy!!! | Registered: Nov 2002 | IP: Logged

Britanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 2912

posted 02-03-2003 09:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by KeitaroHow did you get this? I only counted 1 newer ship witht the new Pacific Princess.

I think he as referring to the two other ships P&O operated in Australia prior to Pacific Sky? Fairstar- sold for scrap in '97; and Fair Princess- sold to new operators in 2001. Also, wasn't Fairstar technically the last ship under the Sitmar brand? For some reason I seem to remember P&O marketing her under "P&O-Sitmar Holidays"?

Posts: 944 | From: Philadelphia, USA- former home of International Merchantile and Marine Co. | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Karsten
First Class Passenger
Member # 1509

posted 02-04-2003 02:34 PM

ARCADIA is scheduled to arrive at Lloydwerft Bremerhaven shipyard on 28.03.2003. The yard will rebuild the ship to OCEAN VILLAGE. The ship will leave Bremerhaven on 17.04.2003 for Southampton.

Posts: 875 | From: NRW/Germany | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

PamM
First Class Passenger
Member # 2127

posted 02-04-2003 06:53 PM

Karsten there's a short article here about some of the firms involved in the refitting if you're interested.
Pam

Posts: 12176 | From: Cambridge, UK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

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