P&O Cruises has announced an exotic new itinerary for Pacific Star – a six-week round trip voyage to Japan and China taking in many of the highlights of Asia, from the imperial capital of Kyoto to the dynamic metropolis of Shanghai and the golden palaces of Brunei.

Departing Sydney on March 8, 2008, the six-week cruise will visit 15 magical ports in Japan, China, South Korea, Borneo and the Pacific, and has been timed to coincide with Japan’s spectacular cherry blossom season.

Passengers will enjoy an eclectic mix of destinations, including some of the world’s most famous cities, such as Tokyo and Hong Kong, and historic WWII locations like Hiroshima and the island of Saipan.

The voyage represents P&O Cruises’ first visit to Japan in more than a decade, and will include return visits to many popular ports from past itineraries such as Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.

The cruise goes on sale June 1, with fares priced from $5245 per person compete quad-share or $9045 per person complete twin-share, including accommodation, all main meals and activities onboard.

P&O Cruises Managing Director Gavin Smith said he expected the voyage to be extremely popular with Australians keen to experience the diverse cultures and sights of Asia and the Pacific, while enjoying the comforts and ease of a cruising holiday.

Mr Smith described the cruise as a classic voyage, reminiscent of an era when cruise ships were the only way to visit far-off lands. The first round trip voyage to Japan from Australia was undertaken in 1957 by the famous P&O liner, Orcades.

“We’ve put together a fantastic itinerary for Pacific Star, featuring some of our region’s most exciting destinations, to create a truly memorable holiday. This is a cruise that passengers will talk about for years to come as they recall the many places they visited,” Mr Smith said.

After departing Sydney to sail to the Whitsundays and Darwin, Pacific Star will call at Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, famed for its golden, gem-encrusted buildings and magnificent mosques.

From there the 1350-passenger ship will sail to Sabah, and its capital Kota Kinabulu, gateway to one of the world’s largest rainforests, before heading to the bustling Chinese cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Following a call at Pusan in South Korea, Pacific Star will cruise to Hiroshima, the first of three ports of call in Japan, which will coincide with the blooming of Japan’s national flower, the beautiful cherry blossom, known as sakura. The viewing of the cherry blossoms has been a Japanese custom for hundreds of years, with the stunning show of flowers prompting festivals and celebrations nationwide.

During its time in Japanese waters, Pacific Star will sail to Osaka to enable passengers to visit the historical city of Kyoto, as well as Yokohama, gateway to Japan’s enthralling capital, Tokyo.

Heading south through the Pacific the voyage will cruise by Iwo Jima, the site of an infamous World War II battle where thousands lost their lives. From there, Pacific Star will sail to the Mariana Island destinations of Saipan and Guam, both known for their beautiful beaches, before cruising to the pristine islands and vast atoll of Chuuk in Micronesia.

The journey will draw to a close as Pacific Star visits the Papua New Guinea town of Rabaul, occupied by the Japanese during WWII and home to an active volcano, then calls at Brisbane before returning to Sydney.

For more information and bookings on Pacific Star’s voyage to Japan and China contact a licensed travel agent or P&O Cruises on 13 2469 or visit www.pocruises.com.au

Good trip. Only problem is the ship! Who in their right mind would pay that kind of price for a six week voyage on a ship that has seen better days and not designed for long cruises.

out of interest - how long did the pac sky's Asian series of cruises last? was it 4months? how sucessful was it? how did it rate up against star cruises?

I am writing to P&O's customer relations and explaining why I think Pacific Dawn will be a better choice. I am making it perfectly clear that I will never be seen dead or alive on Pacific Star nor I find it acceptable enough even for my dog.

P&O Cruises
Customer Relations
Locked Bag 1014
St. Leonards, NSW 1590

Any Australians or people prepared to come to Australia for this itinerary and are not happy with Pacific Star. Please write to them at the above address and make it clear.

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Originally posted by Waynaro:
Great itinerary! I wonder if this trip could be booked in segments? Six-weeks seems pretty long for a P&O Australia trip.

I agree PACIFIC STAR is not a good choice. PACIFIC PRINCESS would have been the best, followed by the PACIFIC DAWN. I haven't been on the ex. COSTA TROPICALE and certainly do not know her longer cruises success, but she worked for Costa right?

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I think that the Pacific Star isn't the right ship for this long cruise.

The Pacific Princess or the Pacific Dawn will be far better.

The cabins of the Pacific Star are on the small side.

During her career with Costa she was mostly employed for 7 days cruises. The only longer cruises were the two transatlantic crossings to and from Brasil.

I booked a transatlantic crossing in 2001, the inaugural season for the Costa Tropicale.

I still believe that the ship was too small for longer cruises.

Italianliners

[ 05-27-2006: Message edited by: Italianliners ]

The same group of us would meet every 2 days in the laundry room and goss about others onboard and we would even take some bottle of drinks there with us (all while washing and waiting for machines).I can truley say that after those 1st few weeks the whole mood onboard changes.

1. It is not designed for long voyages and to continually entertain ALL passengers at once. The public rooms and entertainment venues are limited and cannot handle all passengers at once. Passengers get board after a few sea days and need entertainment and not get left out.
2. Far too small and unseaworthy. The sea of Japan and areas of the Pacific are enough to rock even Aurora at 76,000tons. I know what those waters are like and there will be allot of uncomfotable passengers.
3. The ship is too old and run down. According to reviews you get left with foul stenches in cabins/hallways/public rooms. The facilities are inadequate for the amount of passengers it carries. There is not enough alternative food outlets for the amount of passengers.
4. passengers who can afford to part with $20,000+ for a 6 week voyage demand better facilities and luxuries than that ship provides. Lets face it you get what you pay for and people who pay $500 to $1000 for a week are satisfied. people who can afford to pay $20,000+ for a cruise are rich and stay in 5 star accommodation and enjoy eating in luxury restaurants etc. The ship caters for a different social ecenomic group than the type of group they are trying to attract for this voyage.

I have no problem with Pacific Star operating out of Australia and New Zealand giving young party goers and families a weeks holiday. I can only hope that it develops a market and we get newer and bigger ships.

I have been on a 49 night cruise though. I can say for certain that people who can afford those long voyages demand a certain level of luxury. If I am going to fork out $20,000 for a cruise that I can easily buy a new car with I want to know that I am getting value for money.

I am very keen on that itinerary and would go but not on Pacific Star. I would if it was Pacific Dawn.

We are talking about two different styles of cruising here. Pacific Star is built and designed for shorter/cheaper family friendly/fun cruises of only 7 nights. What P&O is trying to do is sell a 5 star itinerary on a 3 star ship. It is like charging someone the prices of 5 star accommodation and only giving them 3 star accommodation when they arrive.

[ 05-28-2006: Message edited by: Waynaro ]

My whole point is that it is a great itinerary, but people who can afford six week voyages like the 49 night trip I did on Aurora, do not pick ships like Pacific Star.

Like I said I would go on Pacific Dawn (ex Regal Princess)

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[ 05-30-2006: Message edited by: mollydulla ]

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phil_a wrote:
...Im guessing it would be an older crowd of people that can afford to take such a cruise- $$ and time...

...it all comes down to the lack of competition for P&O Aus... we've got great itineraries to choose from but only second grade ships

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A couple of valid points there Phil.

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By that time P&O will have 3 ships. The Pacific Sun, Pacific Star and Pacific Dawn.

Pacific Star and Pacific Sun will go down well with the young crowds and families looking for a weeks holiday and they are perfect to be operating out of Sydney and Brisbane.

Pacific Dawn will be the more Premium ship offering a premium service like the Pacific Princess did.

In my opinion based on the success of the Pacific Princess as a Premium service, Pacific Dawn will be a better choice for long voyages.

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Pacific Dawn will be the more Premium ship offering a premium service like the Pacific Princess did.

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