“Following the sale of Pacific Star, P&O Cruises’ fleet capacity will still increase by 20 per cent through the arrival of Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn, later this year,” P&O Cruises President Gavin Smith said.

“The sale of Pacific Star is part of our ongoing process of renewing our Australian fleet, while at the same time continuing to increase the capacity of P&O Cruises.
“Pacific Dawn will be the largest and most modern cruise ship in P&O Cruises’ fleet and will bring affordable balcony cabins and ‘your choice dining’ to the Australian market for the first time.”

Designed by acclaimed international architect Renzo Piano, Pacific Dawn features 184 balcony staterooms and is known for its distinctive appearance, including its unique dolphin-like prow and a domed observation lounge that curves around the ship’s front.

Mr Smith said Pacific Sun would operate the very popular 42-night Cherry Blossom cruise to Japan, originally scheduled for the smaller Pacific Star in March 2008.
“We apologise for any inconvenience the ship’s sale may have caused and will be contacting those passengers booked on Pacific Star sailings scheduled after March 2008 to discuss alternative cruises,” Mr Smith said.

Source: P&O Cruises Australia

Pacific Star is a rusty old bucket and that they got any money rather than having to flog it off to the Alang wreckers is amazing.

Pacific Sky which they also bought was not in the best of condition and had broken down off Singapore just prior to her transfer to Pullmantur.

She had engine problems on a regular basis and also had to have her hull repaired in Auckland as a result of corrosion after she started to take on water when on a trip between Auckland and Nuku'alofa.

Perhaps with the Pullmantur pricing being all inclusive, for some of their older ships, people do not notice if the ship is not up to standard after a few freebie drinks !

quote:

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Originally posted by Westerdam:
P&O Cruises Australia today announced the sale of Pacific Star as part of its rolling program to renew its fleet while continuing to grow its South Pacific cruise business.
The 1350-passenger Pacific Star has been sold to Spanish cruise operator, Pullmantur Cruises, and will leave the fleet in March 2008.
The move comes as P&O Cruises prepares to welcome its first superliner, the 2050-passenger Pacific Dawn, in November this year, which will substantially increase its overall fleet capacity.

“Following the sale of Pacific Star, P&O Cruises’ fleet capacity will still increase by 20 per cent through the arrival of Australia’s first superliner, Pacific Dawn, later this year,” P&O Cruises President Gavin Smith said.

“The sale of Pacific Star is part of our ongoing process of renewing our Australian fleet, while at the same time continuing to increase the capacity of P&O Cruises.
“Pacific Dawn will be the largest and most modern cruise ship in P&O Cruises’ fleet and will bring affordable balcony cabins and ‘your choice dining’ to the Australian market for the first time.”

Designed by acclaimed international architect Renzo Piano, Pacific Dawn features 184 balcony staterooms and is known for its distinctive appearance, including its unique dolphin-like prow and a domed observation lounge that curves around the ship’s front.

Mr Smith said Pacific Sun would operate the very popular 42-night Cherry Blossom cruise to Japan, originally scheduled for the smaller Pacific Star in March 2008.
“We apologise for any inconvenience the ship’s sale may have caused and will be contacting those passengers booked on Pacific Star sailings scheduled after March 2008 to discuss alternative cruises,” Mr Smith said.

Source: P&O Cruises Australia

I find it rather surprising that the Carnival Corp would sell one of its ships to someone in direct competition with them. It seems odd that they just did not transfer her over to Iberojet. I wonder if there is some sort of underlying story to the sale of this ship.

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This is excellent news for all Australians who love to cruise. It just proved what I suspected all along that P&O Australia were acquiring older ships to build a loyal following before Carnival entrusted them with more modern expensive ships. I have nothing against the ex Regal Princess joining the fleet at its age. It will be a valuble asset to P&O Austrlia.

quote:

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Originally posted by Pascal:
Absolutely amazing !
Carnival Corp sells a ship to one of its archrival (RCI) brand, and it will be in direct competition with a (soon to become) Carnival Corp brand Iberojet.
Obviously, Carnival has definitively given up their policy of non selling their ships to competitors.
Good news, it opens interesting perspectives of expansion for some independant cruise lines.

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As for Iberojet, I still doubt that the 2 older Carnival ships are destined for that market, even compared to Iberojets current ships they are old and past it, I think you will see other ships transferred of a more upmarket image especially now that the old Tropicale a slightly older and slightly smaller sister has gone to Pullmantur, I am still betting one and then maybe a second of the older HAL ships will go to Iberojet giving them a real competitive edge over Pullmantur, I cannot see why Carnival would want to compete on price alone with an identical product - either that or they do not think they will get clearance for the Iberojet purchase. HAL will simply order more new state of the art ships. Mind the same could apply to Princess - loose the Sun class altogether and build, they have no new ships on order past next years Crown clone.

One ship Pullmantur Cruises seem to look after and keep running OK is the Oceanic which they have owned for 6 years.

She was built in 1963 so it looks as if their engineers have the knowledge and experience to keep her 44 year old engines running with little in the way of problems.

Neil ( Bob )

[ 05-31-2007: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

Pullmantur now have 4 ex P&O or Princess ships sailing for them, Pacific, Sky Wonder, Oceanic 2 and what will no doubt be named Star.

Personally if I owned them I wanted to be recognised as the Spanish line I would give them all a new corporate look and Spainish names for all of them and make sure they got the care they needed - none seem to have nay real identity or common line link other than the name splashed allover the side - makes Carnival look discreet.

Carnival is facing a real problem with all of thier aging ships. They really only have three choices:
1. Move the older ships to another Carnival brand (This has been their strategy thus far by moving older ships to P&O Australia in particular.)

2. Launch new brands with the older ships to reach a new market. (They did this with Ocean Village, and may be an option for reaching Asia or the Middle East.)