Princess transfer Golden And Star Princess today to P&O

[DuaneO]

Just received the cancellation of my upcoming cruise on the Star.  Looks like the accelerated the transfer of these two ships.    I've been on both many times...  Sad they are moving on.  Wonder what will replace them here in California for Hawall, Alaska and coastal trips.

 

I'm sure it impacts many folks like us who were booked and paid for the trip.  Oh well it's the second cancellation on this ship this year.

 

Let hope for a speedy return to all cruising soon!

Edited October 22, 2020 by DuaneO
Added text

[2 cruises a year]

45 minutes ago, DuaneO said:

Just received the cancellation of my upcoming cruise on the Star.  Looks like the accelerated the transfer of these two ships.    I've been on both many times...  Sad they are moving on.  Wonder what will replace them here in California for Hawall, Alaska and coastal trips.

 

I'm sure it impacts many folks like us who were booked and paid for the trip.  Oh well it's the second cancellation on this ship this year.

 

Let hope for a speedy return to all cruising soon!

This is sad, my wife and I love the Grand Class ships.  It is hard to believe that the Grand Princess was the largest cruise ship at the time when she was launched.

[Cruise Wonderland]

[SDWalt]

Us too, Mexican Riviera Jan 2021.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact these ships aren't Medallion Class yet.  I've been reading that the Medallion will be important in the future for contact tracing in the event of an on-board outbreak.

We have Panama scheduled for Jan 2022 so we'll probably wait until then.  Maybe we'll look for something in spring or summer where we can drive to LA or SF instead of flying. 😂

[bubbapuck]

The Crown is the ship doing Alaska, Mexico, and California Coast I starting in May 2021. I have a two week Alaska cruise in it. 

Edited October 22, 2020 by bubbapuck

[caribill]

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/po-cruises-australias-fleet-shape-bounce-back-pacific-adventure

 

P&O Cruises Australia’s Fleet in Shape for Bounce Back: Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter Join First Half of 2021

 

Australia’s home-grown cruise line, P&O Cruises Australia, today announced the next stage of its fleet transformation with both Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter arriving in the first half of 2021 in a mark of confidence in the expected rebound of the local cruise industry.

The much-anticipated Pacific Adventure is planned to begin sailing from Sydney on April 30 next year and the delivery of Pacific Encounter is being brought forward by at least six months to ensure the local fleet is poised to drive the resurgence of cruising at the right time.

Pacific Encounter is scheduled to call Brisbane home from May 7, 2021 – but additional voyages may be added even earlier, depending on the timing of the return of cruising in Australia.

The sister ships will sail alongside P&O’s current flagship, Pacific Explorer, which will extend its operational pause until January next year.

“The arrival of these much-anticipated ships, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter, in the first half of next year represents a step-change for the fleet and a sign of confidence in the market,” P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell said.

“This investment in our fleet is a demonstration that P&O Cruises Australia is ready to lead the industry in bouncing back when government and public health authorities agree it is appropriate to begin sailing again with protocols in place.

“It is also a mark of respect for our many loyal guests as well as crew, fresh food suppliers, entertainers and musicians, shore tour operators and port logistics partners who are looking to be a part of the resurgence of the Australian cruise sector over time.”

Mr Myrmell said both Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will offer something for everyone from a range of inclusive dining options, speciality restaurants by renowned chefs Luke Mangan and Johnny Di Francesco as well as family-friendly activities and vibrant night-time venues brought to life by some of Australia’s leading comedians, musicians and our own talented entertainment staff.

In recent weeks, P&O Cruises Australia announced the early departure of much-loved favourites Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria.  It had previously been announced the ships would leave as part of a fleet transformation.

“These have been challenging times for the entire community and, for our part, we have sought to use this operational pause to fast-track our planned fleet refresh.  Our pathway to a return to cruising may be unclear but we wanted to give our guests confidence about our future fleet and our commitment to Australia and New Zealand,” Mr Myrmell said.

Key elements of today’s announcement include:

• Pacific Adventure will call Sydney home. Her first voyage is a three-night Short Break scheduled for April 30, 2021.  Pacific Adventure was originally planned to debut in November this year but was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

• Brisbane’s new international cruise terminal will become the new home port for Pacific Encounter. At this stage, her first voyage is scheduled to depart Brisbane on May 7, 2021 and is a three-night Short Break.  Additional voyages may be added earlier.

• Pacific Explorer is planned to be homeporting from Auckland, New Zealand from February 6, 2021 to her last voyage on April 25, 2021.

• Extending the pause for Pacific Explorer until the end of the year, covering her Christmas and New Year cruises from Brisbane, to give certainty for guests over this important holiday period. Pacific Explorer’s first cruise is now scheduled for January 9, 2021.

“While the current pause in cruise operations is until 17 December in Australia, the pathway to re-start remains unclear. We felt the best approach was to cancel Pacific Explorer’s remaining 2020 cruises to allow families to plan with certainty for their Christmas and New Year activities. It was a difficult decision but in the end it was an effort to do the right thing by our guests on both Pacific Explorer and Pacific Adventure, which is also affected over the holiday period,” Mr Myrmell said.

P&O Cruises Australia will assist those guests whose bookings have been affected by the changes. Guests can choose alternative arrangements including an option to move their booking to the same time next year and receive bonus onboard credit, request a full refund or bonus onboard credit if they choose the future cruise credit option.

P&O will pay refunds back to travel agents for guests who booked through that sales channel. The cruise line will also protect travel agent commissions on all bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full as at October 21, 2020 and for the total amount of the future cruise credits.

Looking ahead, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will have the signature experiences, entertainment and programmed activities that sets apart P&O as a contemporary cruise holiday for everyone.

Due to the complexities created by COVID, the waterslides will be installed at a later date but the ships will be a step change with a mix of fresh offerings, such as Byron Beach Club and the family pool area.  With a retractable roof for all weather, the pool area is set to be one of the most popular areas on the ships with loads of family-oriented activities around the deck.

All the favourite dining options that guests love will continue such as The Pantry, Waterfront, Angelos, Dragon Lady, 400 Gradi and Luke Mangan’s restaurant and grill.  The best production shows at sea will be showcased in Black Circus and fantastic music and performances throughout the other entertainment venues, Blue Room, bars and pubs onboard both ships.  P&O will remain a major supporter of live Aussie comedy, a sector which has suffered in recent months.

The ships will also have Edge activities, kids clubs, top-class boutiques and a range of programmed events.

Media information, please contact:
Lyndsey Gordon
P&O Cruises Australia
M: 0468 521 799
E: lyndsey.gordon@pocruises.com.au

[eamondzhang]

2 hours ago, caribill said:

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/po-cruises-australias-fleet-shape-bounce-back-pacific-adventure

 

 

I know it's a bit OT but from the reading of this it sounds like Pacific Explorer will be retired after 25Apr??

 

Michael

[DDG 41]

1 hour ago, eamondzhang said:

I know it's a bit OT but from the reading of this it sounds like Pacific Explorer will be retired after 25Apr??

 

Michael

Nah mate, she was meant to go back to Brissy after the 25/4, They're probs waiting to redeploy her, somewhere else given Brissy's gettin Encounter. Also no brand would retire a ship on ANZAC day.

Edited October 22, 2020 by DDG 41
punctuation - sorry don't have my pen license for a reason

[eamondzhang]

15 minutes ago, DDG 41 said:

Nah mate, she was meant to go back to Brissy after the 25/4, They're probs waiting to redeploy her, somewhere else given Brissy's gettin Encounter. Also no brand would retire a ship on ANZAC day.

I would hope this is the case mate! We can use some more ships down here although I probably won't hold my breath for it.

 

Michael

[OC SeaPA]

5 hours ago, eamondzhang said:

I would hope this is the case mate! We can use some more ships down here although I probably won't hold my breath for it.

 

Michael

Just got my cancellation notice on the star.  Cancellation #6 in the last 2 years, between health & Covid!  Left message with my PVP- we had alot of FCC on this trip, but only paid a $200 deposit.  Not sure if we get the FCC on the $200 paid, or can carry over the FCC.  For the $200 I think I'll pass and not get disappointed again.  Meanwhile, I did book an all-inclusive.  Will probably switch to that for my traveling in the future. 

[CruzinNoony]

We were booked on the Jan. 31 Hawaii and the Feb. 14 Sea of Cortez.  We used an FCD of $100.00 for each, totally $400.00 for both cruises.  My question is: will we get 25% bonus or the minimum of $100.00 totally a bonus of $400.00 of non refundable FCC.

[By The Bay]

18 hours ago, 2 cruises a year said:

This is sad, my wife and I love the Grand Class ships.  It is hard to believe that the Grand Princess was the largest cruise ship at the time when she was launched.

Sad for you but good news for us downunder.😁

[By The Bay]

11 hours ago, eamondzhang said:

I know it's a bit OT but from the reading of this it sounds like Pacific Explorer will be retired after 25Apr??

 

Michael

They are advertising her as sailing from Auckland to Brisbane.

 

Auckland, New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia cruise

4 nights Auckland, New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia cruise onboard Pacific Explorer

03 May 2021

4 nights

Cruise Code X121N

[voljeep]

wonder if this signals the end of the "Princess" brand sailing in NZ and Australia ... after all the way the RUBY incident was portrayed and lawsuits filed

[DDG 41]

10 minutes ago, voljeep said:

wonder if this signals the end of the "Princess" brand sailing in NZ and Australia ... after all the way the RUBY incident was portrayed and lawsuits filed

Yeah totally, they are totally going to leave ANZ after already releasing itineraries and been cleared of an wrongdoing and Ruby Princess is not coming back so people will forget.

[gotta cruise again]

Golden has already been removed from the bridge cam list.

 

Here is what may be one of the final views from the Star while she’s with Princess:

 

 

[OccasionalSanta]

20 minutes ago, DDG 41 said:

Yeah totally, they are totally going to leave ANZ after already releasing itineraries and been cleared of an wrongdoing and Ruby Princess is not coming back so people will forget.

Looks like they still have Majestic and Pacific with a couple ANZ cruises scheduled in February and April 2021... Also looks like a number of them starting back up in the Fall

[SinbadThePorter]

3 hours ago, By The Bay said:

Sad for you but good news for us downunder.😁

 

Except for the upping of passenger capacity to 3000. 🥺

[By The Bay]

1 minute ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

Except for the upping of passenger capacity to 3000. 🥺

They will most likely be initially sailing at half capacity. 🤔

[Cruise Wonderland]

5 hours ago, gotta cruise again said:

Golden has already been removed from the bridge cam list.

 

Here is what may be one of the final views from the Star while she’s with Princess:

 

 

 

Indeed the cams of Golden / Sun / Sea / Star are still working until now (23 Oct).

You can click on the direct links below to watch them.

 

https://www.princess.com/webcam/golden_bridge.jpg

https://www.princess.com/webcam/star_bridge.jpg

https://www.princess.com/webcam/sun_bridge.jpg

https://www.princess.com/webcam/sea_bridge.jpg

[SinbadThePorter]

4 hours ago, By The Bay said:

They will most likely be initially sailing at half capacity. 🤔

 

Only if cruising in Oz/NZ starts before a vaccine is out there and working.

 

I don't think that will happen.

[gotta cruise again]

10 hours ago, Cruise Wonderland said:

 

Indeed the cams of Golden / Sun / Sea / Star are still working until now (23 Oct).

You can click on the direct links below to watch them.

 

https://www.princess.com/webcam/golden_bridge.jpg

https://www.princess.com/webcam/star_bridge.jpg

https://www.princess.com/webcam/sun_bridge.jpg

https://www.princess.com/webcam/sea_bridge.jpg

Thank you for the links as I’ve only ever accessed the Princess bridge cams from the Princess website. On the website list, Golden, Sun, & Sea are no longer on the list; though Star is still there this morning:

 

[Daniel A]

21 hours ago, CruzinNoony said:

We were booked on the Jan. 31 Hawaii and the Feb. 14 Sea of Cortez.  We used an FCD of $100.00 for each, totally $400.00 for both cruises.  My question is: will we get 25% bonus or the minimum of $100.00 totally a bonus of $400.00 of non refundable FCC.

My TA checked with Princess and found out that I will be getting $100 bonus FCC on top of my $100 deposit.  100% return isn't too shabby.  🙂

[CruzinNoony]

Well, that is good news.  We were also booked on the Sun Princess going to Alaska R/T out of LA that Princess cancelled and they promised the same bonus FCC.  Thank you for posting the info.

[Aus Traveller]

On 10/23/2020 at 6:59 AM, voljeep said:

wonder if this signals the end of the "Princess" brand sailing in NZ and Australia ... after all the way the RUBY incident was portrayed and lawsuits filed

Absolutely not. The Coral Princess will be home-ported in Brisbane. She is doing a full schedule of itineraries including the world cruise starting in May, 2022. There are also other Princess ships scheduled to operate out of Australia. I only mention the Coral because I have booked on her.

 

I cannot see that the class action lawsuit filed against Princess has a hope in h...  The main thrust of the claim is that Princess put passengers at risk by allowing them to board the ship when they 'knew' there had been COVID on board the previous cruise. The problem for the lawsuit is that there was absolutely no COVID on the previous cruise and this was proven in the official enquiry. If someone was to 'blame' it was the Australian Border Force or the Health Department that allowed an infected person to enter the country to board the Ruby Princess. To state the obvious - the infection was taken on board: Princess didn't manufacture the virus. Unfortunately, in the closed environment of a ship, the virus spread. I am not saying that someone knowingly took the virus on board. It is highly likely the person had little of no symptoms when he/she boarded the ship.