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Travel Weekly covered this too (I read the report early this morning, though it seems to have been removed now), reporting that the Pacific Sun has been sold to an "undisclosed buyer".
They wrote P&O as having stated that they knew that they were working the Pacific Sun on "challenging" itineraries in rough seas and were concerned over it's future reliability. They stated that this year (2011) has been a better year for their fleet in terms of reliability than last, but they were still concerned. (this is from memory).
It seems strange to me, that in such an emerging market where other lines and brands are adding ships to homeport in Australia that they would sell one at such short notice.
Who would buy the Pacific Sun? I think that even Pullmantur are beyond buying ships of this calbre now, and RCI have plenty of older tonnage that they could transfer if they needed or wanted a ship.
If they're losing a member of the fleet, would they replace her? I hope they would. Where would the replacement come from? My guess would be Costa, with something like Victoria - though I am not sure how she would handle in the South Pacific - thank goodness Oriana has juct completed a refit - or I would be worried right now!
LET THE SPECULATION COMMENCE ! !
I live in Newcastle and P&O shafted us here by basing it here for a season of broken down cruises that were cut short with little to no compensation offered. The ship was continually breaking down.
My grandparents did one sailing and they reported sewage and gunk entering their cabin from the overflowing drains in the bathroom floor. They were overwhelmed by strong stenches of sewage and the best advice they got was to sleep in the lounges.
Australians are pretty tollerant and accept scrappy ships like this for some unknown reason. If Princess tried to market it then no one would sail on it even if they were paid to.
I think P&O knew they had to get rid of it as it was a black mark on their fleet and its presence was eternally damaging their reputation and making them look cheap and tacky when they are trying to improve their image.
For too long P & O have put their old ships on cruising from Australia.
About the only one which ran with very few problems was the ss Oriana..
I do wonder where this old tub will go. Maybe Louis? Maybe an Asian start-up?
I know several people who have been on the Pacific Sun and were really disappointed. My grandparents were on one sailing where sewage was leaking into their cabin from drains on the bathroom floor.
Other relatives were on a New Zealand cruise that broke down. Some reported a foul smell from the drains coming from the bathroom and infesting the cabin and were told by reception "just sleep in the lounge if the smells that bad"
Unfortunately when North America and the UK market will reject a ship like Pacific Sun, Australians on the other hand enjoy and embrace these sub mediocrity ships whos days are over. I suspect that is why Carnival has not really bothered investing that much money in the Australian fleet when passengers are satisfied with very little.
The other ships they have like Pacific Dawn, Jewel and Pearl are at least of better quality with some life still left in them. Although they are no where near the new modern standards that we are seeing Carnival, RCI, Princess and P&O UK produce with their new ships.
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